Job Discussion Forums

cangirl · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

I am a canadian female and have just accepted a job in Taichung. I'm wondering about the availability and cost of personal items (north american brands) such as deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash etc. Should I stock up on these items or is it readily available in Taiwan?

Polina · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 71

You can get deodorant which works, toothpaste of any brand I can remember, mouthwash, European tampons etc. and usually for reasonable prices, although sometimes a little on the expensive side - but why would you want North American brands?

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

I never have found my favorite brand of anti-perspirant (Degree) in Taiwan. I always take over several and have my folks mail some over if I run out.

It is also difficult to find Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine. I am not sure how popular these brands are in Canada, but I always stock up on these before I go.

Also, Centrum vitamins cost a LOT more over there.

Best wishes!

Taylor
Kaohsiung 1995 to 2003

alexandra1818 · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 6

There's only one thing I've been told to pack for sure..... Tampax Compac the small ones.... there is apparently no equivalent over there...

MTurton · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 107

I'd stock up on your favorite brands of menstrual stuff, but everything else or equivalent is available (Colgate, Crest, etc). I'd bring vitamins, a digital thermometer, tylenol or equivalent in a big 1000 pill bottle. But don't worry about it. Lots of stuff is available here. One thing I can't find is cold sore medicine with benzocane.

Michael

cangirl · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

Thank you for all the feedback! Thats's a good point Polina. I should have been more clear. My concern is not so much about using actual North American brands so much as it is about obtaining things of similiar quality. Wouldn't want to be all stinky because the deodorant is not nearly as strong!! Laughing

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

I buy Ban here--works fine. BTW the "clear" versions aren't as strong as the regular white stick. The white version is here, so pull your shirt over your head carefully. OB brand tampons freely available outside the US. (Guys don't read on) they don't come with an applicator, but they work just the same. Yes, vitamins are SO expensive--over USD20 for a bottle, but worth it. Also flouride rinse is pricey but a sound investment. Save your space for stuff you can't buy here at any price. You can buy the expensive imports after your first paycheck, or you could get a box sent from home.
You know the funny thing is I'm Caucasian and I couldn't buy a new eyelash curler over here. I bought two and they were made for the east Asian eye shape. They should sell that version in the States to help out all those with lovely almond eyes. Brilliant for 99% of the people here, but that was my only hiccup.
Oh yes, if your body is significantly different from the norm here, you might want to come equipped--bras in larger sizes that aren't matronly are quite tricky to find. I used to stock up on foundation, powder and concealor before leaving, but the lightest color stuff is now sold here.

Okami · Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 121 Location: Sunny Sanxia

I would highly recommend the following:

Halls-Save your voice from the colds you will get

Nyquil and Dayquil- This will save you from the disaster of socialist medicine known as NHI. If this doesn't make you feel better than it's bacterial infection or something serious. If it does work it will save you from taking unneeded medication. Doctors here believe in the shotgun approach to medicine since it lines their pockets. They'll prescribe up to 5 different medications almost everytime and you will have to fight with them sometimes just to get to know what they do. My personal favorite is the pill for your stomach so you can handle taking all the medication they prescribed.

Aspirin-I'm sure they sell it here, but I wouldn't take chances. You will get a headache and you will need something to make it go away

CYA
Okami

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

Must agree with Okami's point about doctors using the shotgun approach.

If you go see a doctor, you will be given little packets of medicine---perhaps 6 or 7 different pills in one little pack.

For the SAKE OF YOUR STOMACH AND KIDNEYS---DO NOT TAKE THAT MEDICINE!!!

I have never felt that pain/tightness in my kidneys until I took that Crap!

Unless you truly need anti-biotics, do not even go to the doctors here.

Wash your hands often, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water when you feel ill and you should be fine.

Best wishes,

Taylor
Texas/Taiwan

Fortigurn · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 390

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Costco is a good source for alot of western personal stuff over here. I found their vitamins to be quite reasonable in price. I think clothing might be something you should stock up on. The local women are petite to extreme. Unless you are something like a size 2 or something, you will be quite a bit larger than average here. My girlfriend can't get anything here to fit her (and she's definitely not plus-size). She has more trouble than I do buying clothes over here. On trips home, she blows alot of money on new clothes.

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

Good point, Steve. Costco does have reasonable prices on vitamins. You have to be a member to shop or you can tag along with a member-friend to buy. Kind of like a military commisary. Steve also touched on the size issue. I used to buy through Victoria's Secret to get lingerie in my size, because anything over a B-cup is hard to find or matronly. Then I got wise and bought duplicates before getting on the plane. I shop in Tien Mu and in stores like Single Noble (British) for clothes. No problem, but I'm not plus-sized. But there is not a single woven shirt (with buttons) in the country that fits me--gaposis. I try to stay cool in knit tops; harder than it sounds in the humidity. I also sew. You should take it up if you don't like/can't fit into the clothes here! It's really rewarding (OK, that was my plug)

Yeah, I get that pill to tolerate the meds also! Okami gives sage advice to bring medicines for any illness you might get right away. I think Lonely Planet also recommends a thermometer--definetly a good idea in the SARS era. I like TCM doctors for common illnesses. I go to one who just gives me a packet of freeze-dried medicine (herbs) that looks like it comes in a tea bag. If I'm really sick I get acupuncture. No side effects, and they seem to work faster than Western cold medicines that leave a feeling of dried up congestion. All for a USD3.50 copay. That is the beauty of NHI! But you won't get insured until you have a legit job and your ARC/resident visa are ready. Come prepared with a minimal amount of medicine so if you're so sick you can scarcely stagger out the door--you can take it. Tummy or airsickness medicine for the flight. There is plenty of medicine here to re-stock.