If you’ve lived in Taiwan for a couple of years and a good friend of yours asked you for some tips on life in Taiwan, what would the most important ten be? (Let’s just suppose that your friend was planning to stay for at least five years). My list will include as many tips as I get which I will reorder later according to their importance.
As soon as I see a good tip, I’ll add it to my own list below (it will be edited later). Don’t feel snubbed if I don’t add your’s immediately. I’m not going to act as if I’m impartial or objective, but I’m open to be persuaded to a different point of view. Please keep your tips concise.
Don’t often make comparisons to your home country because you will quickly become homesick. (Matchstic_man)
Look more than both ways in traffic. (Matchstic_man)
Don’t get a scooter until you’re confident riding a bicycle in traffic. (Matchstic_man)
If you become confident riding a bicycle, why change to a scooter, stick to the bike.(Tash)
Get a good helmet. (Matchstic_man)
Exercise. (Matchstic_man)
Go home or get off the island once in a while and keep in touch with friends and family from home. (Matchstic_man)
Eat right. (Matchstic_man)
Maintain your standards, but lower your expectations. (TainanCowboy)
Get out of the city at least once every two weeks. (dangerousapple)
Get Digital Cable TV ASAP (Truant)
If you didn’t bring a computer, buy one ASAP. (AAF)
Get ADSL at home ASAP. (AAF)
Move into a comfortable apartment with good flatmates. (AAF)
Make a goal to meet new people once a month.(Namahottie)
17.Try different things.(Namahottie)
A good digital camera can help you to record and relay messages.
A picture is worth a thousand words in situations you are trying to explain, prove or find things.
If you get sick, remember that a course only lasts for three days. If you don’t feel well by then, go back to the doctor for a second course ASAP.
If you go to a doctor on a Wednesday/Friday, your course might run out on a Sunday.
(AAF)
Have a good sense of humour.
Don’t take things too seriously. Shit happens. You’re living in a foreign country. Don’t forget that.
(canucktyuktuk)
TANSTAAFL(canucktyuktuk)
22.Relax and enjoy it.
This can be a stressful place, but despite appearances to the contrary they aren’t out to get you. Unless you’re on a motorbike in the arse end of nowhere.
(StuartCa)
23. If ya gonna ride a motorcycle, get a licence. The po po are out there and they will crack down on the Waiguo… (Namahottie)
24. Don’t ride a scooter (Spook)
25. Be your own boss. Start your own business. Don’t bother working for anyone else here. (Spook)
26. If you plan to do any serious business in Taiwan, get a Chinese name and a chop to go with it. (Spook)
27. Don’t waste your time with language exchange or language schools. Hire a college student to be your private Chinese tutor.(Spook)
28. Skype (Spook)
29. Taiwanese culture has a very strong herding instinct. To get ahead here be a shrewd contrarian and avoid getting caught up in it. (Spook)
30. Avoid the Forumosa IP forum. It’s an addictive complete waste of time.(Spook)
31. Find places to eat at least 3 foods you miss from home.(SuchAFob)
32. Find quiet places that you can be alone…(SuchAFob)
33. Ear phones and a low hat can make the MRT MUCH more liveable. (SuchAFob)
34. Sunglasses and a hat are good for staving off headaches. (sometimes even in doors) .(SuchAFob)
35. Always carry a jacket. If it is 110 outside it is 20 bellow indoors .(SuchAFob)
36. Always wash dishes imediately and put food trash in the fridge… (My apartment hasn’t had a bug in over a year).(SuchAFob)
37. Always ask a local friend if you are unsure about manners.(SuchAFob)
38. Always make a list of things you need before you go home or you will forget. .(SuchAFob)
39. Carry an extra pair of socks.(SuchAFob)
40.Any time a friend goes home check to see which necessities you are almost out of.(SuchAFob)
41. Any time you are supposed to meet up with a local, bring something to read while you wait.(SuchAFob)
42. And MP3 of white noise on my ipod. I can listen to birds or waves when taking a walk instead of horns and jackhammers.(SuchAFob)
43. And girls, buy girly stuff any trip home because the girly stuff here sucks.(SuchAFob)
Don’t often make comparisons to your home country because you will quickly become homesick.
Look more than both ways in traffic.
Don’t get a scooter until you’re confident riding a bicycle in traffic.
Get a good helmet.
Exercise.
Go home or get off the island once in a while and keep in touch with friends and family from home.
Eat right.
Set goals.
Side question: Does anyone actually plan to stay five years? Most long-termers I met in Taiwan didn’t originally plan on being long-termers.
[quote=“Matchstick_man”]
Side question: Does anyone actually plan to stay five years? Most long-termers I met in Taiwan didn’t originally plan on being long-termers.[/quote]
I have been here for more than four years now and I never thought of staying longer than two. However, the decisions we make when we come for a year are usually inferior to those we make when we decide to stay for a long time. If you knew you would stay for a long time, wouldn’t you have bought a car and gone in for a much better apartment?
I’d like to comment on No. 5:
If you become confident riding a bicycle, why change to a scooter, stick to the bike.
I’m sure others will have enough good general tips, can I add some tips that are more specific to women or do you want to keep this relative to you and your friends?
[quote=“tash”]
I’m sure others will have enough good general tips, can I add some tips that are more specific to women or do you want to keep this relative to you and your friends?[/quote]
I’m not sure. I think we should stick to generalities first, or I could start other lists in the first post on specific topics like “dating” and “transport”. The main thing is that the tips have to be concise. Although there are forums where you could get all these tips, they are not concentrated.
[quote=“AAF”][quote=“Edgar Allen”]Join forumosa
Learn Chinese
In that order[/quote]
I like forumosa, but does it necessarily have to be forumosa? I was also wondering if you would like to expand on “learn Chinese” a little?[/quote]
Yes it absolutely HAS to be Forumosa. The where can I find section, and the ability to ask someone how to write an address or important instruction in Chinese is completely invaluable. Thankyou thankyou thankyou Maoman!
Learning Chinese is different for everyone, I find 1 on 1 conversations with my teacher the best way to solidify my practise and am very shy using my Mandarin unless forced, or drunk. Other people are naturally into trying it out on everyone and bugger the mistakes. Long hair dictionaries don’t work until you have a basic understanding and I think this has all been covered more comprehensively in another thread…is that sufficeint detail?
[quote=“AAF”][quote=“Namahottie”]Make a goal to meet new people once a month.
Try different things.
Keep the Tianmu Consuling services number available.[/quote]
Tell us more about the Tianmu Cosuling services please, Namahottie.[/quote]
Everyone hits a patch in Tiawan where they need to have a professional “listener” or support. It would be helpful to have the number on hand in case you or a friend ever need consuling.
[quote=“Namahottie”][quote=“AAF”][quote=“Namahottie”]Make a goal to meet new people once a month.
Try different things.
Keep the Tianmu Consuling services number available.[/quote]
Tell us more about the Tianmu Cosuling services please, Namahottie.[/quote]
Everyone hits a patch in Tiawan where they need to have a professional “listener” or support. It would be helpful to have the number on hand in case you or a friend ever need consuling.[/quote]
Hi Namahottie, I tried to google it, but couldn’t find it. Could you provide the details?
[quote=“AAF”][quote=“Namahottie”][quote=“AAF”][quote=“Namahottie”]Make a goal to meet new people once a month.
Try different things.
Keep the Tianmu Consuling services number available.[/quote]
Tell us more about the Tianmu Cosuling services please, Namahottie.[/quote]
Everyone hits a patch in Tiawan where they need to have a professional “listener” or support. It would be helpful to have the number on hand in case you or a friend ever need consuling.[/quote]
Hi Namahottie, I tried to google it, but couldn’t find it. Could you provide the details?[/quote]
I have posted this address at least 3 times on the boards. Why it’s not a sticky I will never know… (not to you AFF)
(not to you AFF)