|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
katie19
Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 4
Location: boulder, co
|
 Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:34 pm Post subject: Is it legal to live together if you're not married? |
 |
|
Hi everyone,
I've read that in places like Vietnam, it is illegal for everyone, including foreigners, to live together if they're not married. Is the same true of Taiwan? And on the subject of living...what's the best way to go about getting an apartment? What are leases like and are utilities included in rent? Please help! Thank you! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
markholmes
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No it is not illegal to live together in Taiwan. Taiwan is a democratic country. The government's control does not extend past your front door (well, no more than in a western country anyway).
I don't know about Vietnam, but I lived in an apartment with my girlfriend in south west China. Whilst it was illegal, because we were both foreigner, it was tolerated. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| The government's control does not extend past your front door (well, no more than in a western country anyway). |
Don't be so sure, Holmes. While this likely won't apply to the OP--unless she wants to shack up with married Taiwanese, that is-- issues like extramarital relations are criminal offences here, punishable by prison terms. A couple of foreigners living together is no issue; that's true. There's nothing illegal about cohabitation (that I know of). However, it is incorrect to say that the goverment's control on one's private life is no different here than in a western country. Another shockingly antiquated law is the one that states a woman cannot live anywhere but her husband's house without his permission. So, if a woman is having problems with her marriage and moves back to mom and dad's suddenly, she's breaking the law. Weird. I found out a lot of this from a friend going through a divorce from a local woman. Taiwan may be a democracy, but it is still not a fully developed country, especially where its laws are concerned.
As for apartments , many just get assistance from their employers here. Typically assistance from an English speaking local is a good idea for newly arrived people to find a place. Also, the local expat hangouts often have places for rent in English on their bulletin boards. Leases are much like western countries, with one or two months deposit needed. Luckily no rip-off key money as in Korea and Japan. Utilities usually aren't included, unless you are renting a room in someone else's place. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markholmes
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
I stand corrected, although I do know an unmarried Taiwanese and foreigner living together and it doesn't seem to be a problem.
Perhaps it's all hush hush |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| markholmes wrote: |
I stand corrected, although I do know an unmarried Taiwanese and foreigner living together and it doesn't seem to be a problem.
Perhaps it's all hush hush |
Unmarried wouldn't be a problem (as far as I know, at any rate). Cohabitation or sexual relations with a married person could be, depending on what the cuckholded spouse wanted to do about it. It's kind of irrelevent, I know, for a foreign cohabitating couple. I guess the only thing I latched onto was the statement about Taiwan's democracy and it's government's control on individuals being supposedly no different than in the west. Though the average foreign teacher will enjoy a life, during their stay here, with freedoms much like what they enjoy at home, there are still some backward laws that may or may not affect him/her, depending on the nature of one's life and relationships here.
However, the essence of your initial reply is correct, Holmes. I'm just bored on a rainy morning here in Taiwan. A foreign couple living together is no big deal. I've been doing that since I got here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SanChong
Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Unmarried wouldn't be a problem (as far as I know, at any rate). Cohabitation or sexual relations with a married person could be, depending on what the cuckholded spouse wanted to do about it. It's kind of irrelevent, I know, for a foreign cohabitating couple. I guess the only thing I latched onto was the statement about Taiwan's democracy and it's government's control on individuals being supposedly no different than in the west. Though the average foreign teacher will enjoy a life, during their stay here, with freedoms much like what they enjoy at home, there are still some backward laws that may or may not affect him/her, depending on the nature of one's life and relationships here.
|
When have you ever heard of a law in Taiwan affecting a foreigner in the way you are suggesting is possible? I've never heard of any limitations of personal liberties in Taiwan the way you are implying. There aren't any more silly laws here than there are in our home countries (aside from some of the laws surrounding English teaching, which can certainly use some improvements). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
markholmes
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| You should have been in Vancouver. Not a cloud in the sky today. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| SanChong wrote: |
| Quote: |
Unmarried wouldn't be a problem (as far as I know, at any rate). Cohabitation or sexual relations with a married person could be, depending on what the cuckholded spouse wanted to do about it. It's kind of irrelevent, I know, for a foreign cohabitating couple. I guess the only thing I latched onto was the statement about Taiwan's democracy and it's government's control on individuals being supposedly no different than in the west. Though the average foreign teacher will enjoy a life, during their stay here, with freedoms much like what they enjoy at home, there are still some backward laws that may or may not affect him/her, depending on the nature of one's life and relationships here.
|
When have you ever heard of a law in Taiwan affecting a foreigner in the way you are suggesting is possible? I've never heard of any limitations of personal liberties in Taiwan the way you are implying. There aren't any more silly laws here than there are in our home countries (aside from some of the laws surrounding English teaching, which can certainly use some improvements). |
I didn't merely "hear" about it. It is something that affects one of my closer friends currently here in his divorce from a local. He woke up one night to find a gang of thugs in his house trying to gather "evidence" of his infidelity (he is separated but not yet formally divorced). If they had got what they were looking for, he would have been up the creek. SanChong, if you do not know for sure what you are talking about, do not come on here accusing others of not knowing. I'm not writing tinfoil hat stuff here, but conditions that actually exist. The laws concerning adultery here exist and are real, as are the laws dealing with wives residing outside their marriage home.
| Quote: |
| You should have been in Vancouver. |
You're making me homesick. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SanChong
Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
What does a gang of thugs have to do with the government? Do people not beat people up back in the States?
As I recall, many States back in the US have recently made sodomy illegal by referendum. They have been talking about legalizing Gay marriage in Taiwan. I'm not seeing any severe restriction of our rights here.
Have you ever known someone to get divorced in the States? If a man isn't faithful in the States, he can get nailed to the wall as far as alimony, child support, distribution of assets, etc.
Your original reads very critically of Taiwan. Please give some concrete examples if you are going to deride Taiwan as such a non-progressive country. Has anyone actually ever been sent to jail here for adultery? I've never heard of it, yet you mention it as though it happens regularly.
Last edited by SanChong on Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:35 am; edited 3 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| SanChong wrote: |
What does a gang of thugs have to do with the government? Do people not beat people up back in the States?
As I recall, many States back in the US have recently made sodomy illegal by referendum. They have been talking about legalizing Gay marriage in Taiwan. I'm not seeing any severe restriction of our rights here.
Have you ever known someone to get divorced in the States? If a man isn't faithful in the States, he can get nailed to the wall as far as alimony, child support, distribution of assets, etc.
Your original reads very critically of Taiwan. Please give some concrete examples if you are going to der | | | |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
