Job Discussion Forums

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

There are some very beautiful spots in Taiwan. The problem is you will have to spend at least a half of day traveling to find them. Even then they can be a bit of a disappointment. I remember my first trip to Toroka Gorge in Hualien. It was a bit overwhelming with it's beauty, until one looks a little closer. The trash and pollution piled up everywhere, I have pictures of barrels of toxic waste dumped into the river that runs through the Gorge. I sent them to the local EPA, only to be told that they can't clean it up as fast as it being dumped. They did offer me a small reward for the pictures.
A.

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

Aristotle:

I had posted a few photos of Fukuoka, Japan but I guess the moderator tells me they take up too much space and slow the show down.

I had to laugh, because now they won't even allow me to type the word Fukuoka, let alone post a photo or 2 of the place!!

Ha, aha, haaa!!

Yrs.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

The auto editor function for phpBB can be a little touchy for those not familiar with this system's little quirks. We have been using it on one of our forums for a while, and it actually works well once the operator learns how to adjust the settings. The problem with F u k u o k a is that it looks a little to much like the word F * c k. Very easy to get around, just type a space between each letter and the auto editor sees it as individual words.
A.

itchy · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 28 Location: Toronto

Taichung! It has everything. Wild dogs, gangsters, typhoons, some of the best earthquakes on the island, lawlessness, smoke thick air pollution, dangerous traffic, and giant flying cockroaches. You will not be happier anywhere else. Taichung is the best. Oh did I mention it has a killer nightlife? No. Good, because it doesn't.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Come now Itchy, it really isn't that hard to find work down there.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I have not seen much of the night-life, as I am in Chunghwa and all the foreigners here are "too busy" to hang out with me (I'm a newbie and not in their clique I guess...)

I would like to go into Taichung but....lack of friends does not help matters..

I look in the mirror and wonder "Am I ugly?".

I smell my clothes and wonder "do I smell?"

Hm....

No to both....what is up?

itchy · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 28 Location: Toronto

Maybe you smell and you're ugly. Probably it's just the usual "I've been in Asia longer than you so I'm God and you aren't" stuff that you get there (SOUTH KOREA!!!!). I found the foreigners in Taichung to be the easiest people in the world to meet. I just went to the foreigner bars and stood around and stared at people. Then people came up and talked to me. It was soooooo easy. I met everyone. Taichung is actually a pretty happening place foreigner wise if you know where to go, and there's plenty of freaky people hanging out over there. Chunghwa is a whistle stop. You need to get into a big city. The smaller towns are always cliqueish and anal, with everyone pretending to be Chinese (look at me, I understand the culture!!!). It also helps to get a good motorbike (*beep* scooters). Then people respect you. Cool

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Thanks. I think I will hit into Taichung and see if I can fidn some nightclubs or pubs.

Not knowing any will be a bit of a stretch.

I was in South Korea for a while so I'm still getting used to it here in Taiwan. At least in Korea, one could read or make out what the signs meant.

TheyCallMeTrinity

I agree. Taichung is a miserable place. Nightlife is lame. Expats tended to be indifferent. Locals were cold and the traffic was insane. I survived three particularly nasty hit and runs in one year (I was the one "hit" mind you!). The cost of living is not bad but it's days of being a pearl in the center of the Taiwan oyster died a wahile back, when everyone told folks to come here. The pollution is really bad there too - as you will notice if you ride a scooter. Snot will be gray or black much of your stay there and the public transit system is a travesty. Taichung was never boring but it was never fun. Find your job first, then your apartment since headaches will be lessened if you live close to your school. Your will learn, living in Taiwan, that the more you go out of your way to prevent headaches the better your transition will be. Taichung gets the brunt of most earthquakes, second to Hualien.

Good Luck.

chi-chi · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 127 Location: Back in Asia!

What about Kaoshuing?
It looks like I may be about to receive a job offer there.
I heard that Taipei is the Best city, is that correct?
I may hold out for a job offer there, if that's the case....
Can somebody tell me what you know about Kaoshuing....

Stormcloud · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 1

I've been in a city of 200k people abut 20 min from Taichiung (city). Catch train there if I want a night out (last train 11:13). Come back in the morning (7-9 am).

Might be an option to think of as you don't have the stress of big city living during the week and going out is easy. On that note i've found both
foreigners and locals very friendly at clubs. However I must hasten to add that the places I've been to have not been the usual ex-pat hangouts so this may be the reason.

squid · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 10 Location: Taiwan

Post deleted by author.

EOD · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 167 Location: Taiwan

Be a beach bum until you can find a job. You may even want to try diving or surfing instruction.
It has an ESl school but it is well over staffed.

travelgoddess · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 6:43 am Post subject: Photos of Taiwan

Did I hear someone say that they want photos of Taiwan?

Your wish is my command:

http://mitphotos.blogspot.com/

Taipei, Tainan, Taitung, Chiayi, Kaoshung and more!

D

delian · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 40 Location: Hong Kong

When I was a newbie EFL teacher I lived in Tainan for 3.5 years, and beyond the ever-present air-pollution, I really liked it. I felt that the weather was great (but I like the heat), the people were friendly (both locals and expats) and it had a pretty ok social scene considering it's a smaller-sized city. There are many many temples to look at if you're into it and I felt that with a motorcycle it was an easy city to navigate even if you can't read any Chinese. Plus, if you have motorcycle you can access the mountains and the beaches in the South relatively easily on the weekends.
I hated Taipei because of the horrible weather in the winter - the way the pollution and clouds seemed to hang over the valley Taipei is in really didn't appeal to me.
I would vote for Tainan over Taipei, Kaoshiung and Taichung.