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stunnershades · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 32

Has anyone come to Taiwan from another country/teaching abroad situation? How does it compare? I'm in Korea now and I miss certain things about Taiwan I never really appreciated while i was there. I miss the dingy alleyways and twisting urban streets. I miss the food; the soups and the shrimp fried rice. I miss Chinese language and all the culture. I miss the beautiful Buddhist temples that impose upon every city block. I miss my scooter really bad and taking it up into the mountains. I miss the night markets and cheap everything. I miss the smell of baking sweet potatoes and the rattling sound of old men mixing up their mahjong blocks. What do you miss about the place you came from?

englishmaster · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

I spent three years in Taiwan, and even though I am in a good situation here in Malaysia, I feel some nostalgia for the place. I came to Taiwan from Korea, and found the island an immense relief, so I understand how you feel.

I miss the convenient supermarket shopping, the relative abundance of western restaurants and milder climate. Above all, I miss the general atmosphere of Taiwan. While I lived there, I thought it was pretty decent, and I especially think so now.

If you know of any good gigs in Taiwan that I might consider for the future, pm me.

My condolences on being in Korea.

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear Readers,

Nice to hear that someone appreciates Taiwan.

Just one clarification on the temples. Actually, many of the temples are Taoist. Without injecting my opinion, just let me say that 'pure' Buddhism is very rare in Taiwan.

Taylor

stunnershades · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 32

good call taylor. you're right. i had a friend who kept comparing the behavior of taiwanese people to some sort of buddhist ideal and it never lined up. nevertheless those temples are awesome. especially the one in taichung with a big red man sitting on top.

phdinfunk · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 69

I have a lot of college credit in Chinese religion.

I don't know if there is a coherent meaning to the phrase "pure Buddhism" in any historical or even doctrinal sense.

Chinese people have amalgamated their religions for as long as they've had them. It's called "syncretism," and it's why you'll find statues of Jiang Daoling in a Confucian Temple and statues of the Buddha in a Daoist Temple, etc, etc, etc...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your meaning to "pure Buddhism."

--Jonathan

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear Readers,

Well, I was trying to be polite when I said "pure Buddhism". Actually, I consider Buddhism to be one of the most baffling, paradoxical ideologies ever to exist. For example, many Buddhists do not believe in God, but they believe you can become 'a god'. Even the founder of Buddhism stated on his deathbed that 'gods' did not exist, but then his followers consider him to be a 'god'... Question

My point is that you will see plenty of non-vegetarians in Taiwan. It's my understanding that no 'true' Buddhist could eat meat.

Taylor

Justinelebonne · Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 42 Location: UK

Thanks so much for this.
I have spent hours reading all of these posts and have become extremely disheartened.
I had planned on moving to Taiwan in Feb of next year but have started having doubts.
I just want an easy life, to be a great teacher and to be near a beach.

Is Taiwan the place for me?