Job Discussion Forums

AQUA MARINA

I have a couple quesitons on Taichung.

1) Which districts offer lots of teaching positions? I need to find somthing ASAP after I arrive as I will only have around $1,500 CAN to get me by.
I'm hopeing to find a quiet, nice neighbourhood with cheap 1 bedroom rental. I've been reading about a couple of Districts that caught my eye:

*Tunghai Village (also known as Art Street). Art Street (known as YiShu Jie in Chinese). The closest comparison to the wonderfully-quaint, western-style ambiance experienced on Art Street is the popular, European-style . ALso , European-style JingMing 1st Street known to many residents as "cafe street" or "tea street"

*Little Europe, Tea (JingMing 1st) Street and Soho Street

*WuQuan Parkway and CunZhong strip

*TaiZhongGang (Taichung Harbor) Road from GuoJi Street

*Tunghai Bieshu or Donghai BeiShu (university district)

*Canal District that runs between HuaMei Street and HuaMei West Street

WIll i be able to find work easily in ALL of these districts if i wanted to settle and If not, suggestions please.

2) Recruitment agancies aren't doing anything for me right now to give me an idea if there's lots of jobs available in Taichung. Anyone who is there right now or who have lived there, please confirm this and some direction where to look *specifically for Taichung.

3)About the higher leveks water contamination in Taichung, even if we don't drink th tap water, we still bathe and brush our teeth in it. Is this a big health concern there that i need to worry about? Also, cooking and drinking water, how does that work? Is it expensive for clean water?

Dr_Zoidberg

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

I live in Taichung.

Basically, all the areas you listed have possibilities for work and accommodation. You will fine expensive and cheap places all over those areas as well as a variety of schools.

Taichung isn't really that big and if you have a scooter everything is accessible within the city. I live a long way from where I work and it takes me about 20 to 30 minutes to drive there. I don't mind the commute though. It's easy to find somewhere close to where you will be working.

Find a job first and then set about getting a place to live. Then you have more freedom to pick and choose locations.

Any more info needed on Taichung specifics let me know by PM.

Shaun

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

Overlooked the note on clean water.

No worries. I have been showering, shaving, brushing and s****ing in it for a while now and I haven't grown a spare limb. I wouldn't advise drinking it but I have been told it's ok. Buy bottle water to drink. It is sold everywhere and cheaply. Some apartments may have a water filter unit inside. My place I am in now has one, but the last few didn't.

Cooking water - just boil tap water. Spaghtetti won't turn green, don't worry! Laughing

Specific job info - beats me. Get here and get on foot to find the local public schools and surrounding them will be plenty of cram schools. John Dewey I heard is the better of the recruiters out there but that is what I hear. No personal experience.

Shaun

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject:

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

depends on how much spaghetti you eat....

Smile

craigzy · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 87 Location: taichung

im trying to leave for taichung in february and was going to ask you guys all the questions that aqua marina asked. thanks for the info.

BigWally · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:00 am Post subject:

i found a place here in Kaohsiung, that rents out water coolers for your home.

basically, you pay $4000 up front, and that entitles you to 60 refill bottles, plus the rental of the unit. they deliver the water to your door, and pick up the refills a day after you call. its awesome, and the cooler comes with 3 taps, boiling, warm and ice cold. WAYYYY cheaper than going to the local 7/11 and buying water all the time!

SIDE NOTE: POST 150!!!! Surprised

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:05 am Post subject:

If you do a search under Wikepidia, there's an actual fact that Taichung seems to have higher levels of water contamination.

I don't want to worry about this, worrying bout a filter system in the apt building or eating out at restaurants that don't filter thier water. It Extra hassels. I'm looking in to others cities like Tainan. If the island is accessable thru train, that I should be fine.

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:35 am Post subject:

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:56 pm Post subject:

I've looked up other cities and there seems to be no mention specifically of water contamination except for Taichung. I mean if they named a city out, uaually there's a bit of a problem area more so than others.

DOn't get me wrong, I would love to go visit Taichung, but don't want to catch cancer 10 year lator either.

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject:

"Water contamination is a primary cause of intestinal infections and dysentery in Taichung and poses a serious health risk to infants, children and the elderly"

Under Water Pollution :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taichung

BigWally · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:12 am Post subject:

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject:

Any advice on a list International banks in Taichung City that I won't have any problems cashing my Travellers cheques in Canadian funds to TWD?

PLease share your experiences with bringing over Travellers cheques in CAD.

BigWally · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:00 am Post subject:

Why bother with travelers cheques? You don't need them. You can access money from your Canadian Account from basically any 7/11 ATM.

Taiwan has more 7/11's than any country in the world. Just bring money that your going to have on your person while you are traveling here, and keep the rest in your Canadian account.