Job Discussion Forums

[americancolleen]

Hello,

I am considering pursuing some teaching opportunities outside of the three major urban areas. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has lived or traveled in rural or small town Taiwan. What is life like there?

I understand that there are not a lot of Westerners, but I am wondering about amenities--internet access, medical care, etc. I am not much of a cook--are restaurants and take-out food readily available? Is transportation to major cities accessible?

I'd appreciate any insights you could share.

Thanks!
americancolleen

[creztor]

There is food everywhere in Taiwan because Taiwanese love to eat. Internet cafes can be found without much trouble and the same should be true for clinics/medical care. You won't have much trouble living outside of Taipei, Taichung or Kaohsiung, just don't expect much in the way of stuff to do (unless you are going for the countryside and people etc).

[Dr_Zoidberg]

In my experience, and I have lived in small rural towns in Taiwan, there is little to nothing in the way of amenities. The pattern invariably seems to be: Housing, convenience store, scooter shop, tea stand. Housing, convenience store, scooter shop, tea stand. Housing, convenience store, scooter shop, tea stand. Are you seeing a pattern here?

Generally speaking, Taiwanese don't do anything. As anyone who's taught here any length of time knows, ask a Taiwanese of any age what they do in their spare time and the answer will always be: Sleep, watch TV, play computer.

As for medical care, you might be pressed to find an English-speaking doctor in rural areas. There's always some place to buy food, but if you value your health, I'd highly recommend putting in the effort to cook. Transportation to major cities is almost always available (bus or train). However, if you're not on the train line, you might find bus service infrequent (depending where exactly you are).

Unless you want to go native, I highly recommend you settle for one of the three big cities: Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung.

[BigWally]

[JZer]

[phdinfunk]

I lived in Sansia, which is a little ways outside Taipei by map, but it took two to two and a half hours to get to, say, Nehu or a sold hour and a half or two hours to ShiDa.

I loved every minute of the year and a half I was there. I rode my motorcycle around and explored. Every day I'd have lunch outside ZuShih temple by the river or near my house which was close to old street. I got a bicycle and rode it up the river, through Banciao and out to XinDian and back down route 110. Or I'd ride out to Dasi. I hiked. I spent free time at DaBanGun hot springs any time I wanted to unwind with 300NTD. I learned a bit of Mandarin.

I enjoyed the night markets almost every evening they had 'em, and I discovered new places all the time I was there. I also had a MUCH bigger and nicer apartment than most of my friends in Taipei, for less cash. And ironically since they opened Patio 28, there was more Western (Belgian) food near me (run by a Flemish fellow and very authentic) than most of my friends in Taipei.

However, I wouldn't move to many places on the West coast if you paid me a lot of money, due to the depressing industry and constant pollution. Job most places on the east coast, I'd sign up to live in a hut and work.

Also, you may not be into that sorta stuff. Be really honest with yourself if you'd prefer to drink a lot (many of the foreigners I knew found they drank more in Taipei than they had before, because for a lot of early twenties expats life is about partying). Also, I'll say that I was living with my girlfriend for the first 8 of the last 10 months of that time. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the time up to that point and the two months by myself afterwards. Also, I played Dungeons and Dragons every couple of weeks with my friends in nearby JongHe and I didn't care to go into Taipei more than once a month or so.

I guess it depends on your personality and likes. To me, all cities are about the same (except maybe Belfast and definitely Vienna) and I may as well be in Lyon, Atlanta, NY City, Detroit, Taipei or Geneva. Some of those stand out as particularly boring (Geneva, Detroit and Taipei, actually would bottom out my list). But somehow they always just feel about the same to me. Countryside is where its at, so far as I'm concerned, but as you see I like to be outside and about. So, it just depends on what you like.

JP

[JZer]

You left off Berlin. Berlin is a great city. The only reason that I would live in an American city is access to universities and libraries.

[killian]

i dunno. i lived in fenglin, about eqidistant between hualian and taidong. that is about as "remote" as taiwan has to offer (save some remote chalet too small to support a foreign teacher) and all was well. between the bus/train and hitching..."big" enough cities were always nearby.

[phdinfunk]

I left of Dublin, Frankfurt, Marseilles, Manilla and a few others too...

I guess Zurich was nice, because it's just super high class, clean and beautiful. I've never been to Berlin.

But I'll stand by my statement that most cities are about the same, notwithstanding the "Asian" flavor of Taipei. I mean, it's first world but it's a different kind of first world. Compared to Manilla, which feels basically Western but third world to me. I'm kind of done with cities, though... I think the original poster may be a city person or not. I kinda posted all that so she'd get the idea of where I was coming from and take my thoughts in context.

[markcmc]

Food, internet access and transport to major cities shouldn't be a problem.

You will lose certain things though:

a nightlife,
western products,
Chinese language schools,
fellow westerners,
English speaking Taiwanese (to some extent),
convenient taxis and metro,
cinemas,
cultural life,
the opportunity to meet a wide range of locals,
a good choice of language schools if you need to make a change,
opportunities to take part in sports/martial arts - apart from hiking, which should be better in the countryside,
a wide range of international restaurants,
contact with modern Taiwanese society...

Of course, if you really want to live in the countryside, then it might be good for you. I lived in Miaoli County for 1 year and enjoyed it, but I did take a bus back to Taipei most weekends. I spent many more years in Taipei for some of the reasons listed above.

[Modest Mouse]

How do you go about finding a job in a rural area on the east coast of Taiwan? Through an agent?

[JZer]

Yes, it does seem that most jobs in small towns go through agents. You might want to check out www.esldewey.com

[poetryjim]

Any thoughts from anybody about Huwei, Yunlin County? Or has it all been said in the other responses to the original question? It was described by the recruiter to me as being scenically beautiful with hiking trails, caves, waterfalls, and organic fruit farms. To me, it sounds awesome and I'm psyched to go. But still, curious if anybody has thoughts and experience in the area. Thanks

[JZer]

I have been to Huwei. The surrounding areas might be cool but the town itself is not beautiful. Huwei is a small town.

[Dr_Zoidberg]