haha…glad it all worked out for you bob! i know the reality can be different from the vacation. i know that 1 year, or 3, or 10, is a lot different than a couple of months. even at that i think it is a way of life that you either like, or you don’t. i know many people in my same position that have went over there and can’t wait to leave! actually i think i will be able to pick up some side (contract) work because of this. so even the people that live there and are still bitchin’ about it…hey everyone has a choice, and allthough many are bitchin’, they are still there!haha
I think my experience as a returned expat may be relevant. I lived there about 8 years, and I had some of the negative parts of the culture shock experience.
But all and all, no matter what stage you’re at, I’ll attest that life in the US is pretty boring compared to Taiwan. The beautiful women could be the least of it. Being able to walk out on the street at 2 am and browse around a night market, being able to fly off to another country at a moment’s notice, hanging around with other expats from every part of the world–unless you’re someplace like New York, I suppose, I don’t think anyplace in the US can compare if you enjoy that kind of life.
With luck, I expect I’ll be travelling back and forth to TW for as long as I can. (Of course, I also have in-laws there.)
It may be hell sometimes, but what addiction isn’t at times? Welcome to the club, Sancho!
On the other hand, if you’re married or in a serious relationship over there in Miami, do realize that you’ve got some serious issues to confront, sooner or later. Be fair to her.
Agreed. Without sounding too much like a cheesedick, my opinion is no matter what kind of bad day you have or challenge you may face, a beautiful woman waiting at home for you , will make it all worthwhile.
If you don’t return home early … and she’s waiting alone 
Agreed. Without sounding too much like a cheesedick, my opinion is no matter what kind of bad day you have or challenge you may face, a beautiful woman waiting at home for you , will make it all worthwhile.[/quote]
A dog might do as well. Meh. Just a random thought.
[quote=“belgian pie”][quote=“Chewycorns”]
Agreed. Without sounding too much like a cheesedick, my opinion is no matter what kind of bad day you have or challenge you may face, a beautiful woman waiting at home for you , will make it all worthwhile.
[/quote]
If you don’t return home early … and she’s waiting alone 
[/quote]
That is what plastic was invented for 
The first two years I absolutely loved it and thought I would, perhaps, never leave. Now nearing the final stretch of my third year the reality of it all has really started to kick in. Having turned 30 here and realising, “What the HELL am I going to do with my life? I can’t be a buxiban teacher forever…” Has really had me bummed out for a few months. Feeling a little worried and depressed about that has also magnified the “imperfections” of living and working here.
Now I’m just enjoying it for what it is. Trying to do the things I like more. And hanging out with my friends (foreign and local) as often as possible. Also decided to use the wonderful opportunities I have here (practically full time study because of the few hours a week we work amongst other things) to realise a few of the dreams I have and would never have been able to do at home.
All in all I still love it here. The place and the people are wonderful. But I no longer have that halcyon illusion that it’s paradise.
But for a short while there…It was as close to paradise as most are likely to get.
Enjoy it for what it is…
IF the life in Taiwan sounds as good as people think,
why is there CONSTANT publicity on ICRT from the Service Comunity Center providing help to DEPRESSED people?
Someone a reasonable answer?
Though, today was not bad. 3 hours in the car and 1 hour on the beach as over-populated. :s
Bismarck, would you feel any different if you worked in an office or on a road crew or whatever? It’s just a typical male, “Most men live their lives in quite desperation” thing.
[quote=“Sam Vimes”]I think my experience as a returned expat may be relevant. I lived there about 8 years, and I had some of the negative parts of the culture shock experience.
But all and all, no matter what stage you’re at, I’ll attest that life in the US is pretty boring compared to Taiwan. The beautiful women could be the least of it. Being able to walk out on the street at 2 am and browse around a night market, being able to fly off to another country at a moment’s notice, hanging around with other expats from every part of the world–unless you’re someplace like New York, I suppose, I don’t think anyplace in the US can compare if you enjoy that kind of life.
With luck, I expect I’ll be travelling back and forth to TW for as long as I can. (Of course, I also have in-laws there.)
It may be hell sometimes, but what addiction isn’t at times? Welcome to the club, Sancho!
On the other hand, if you’re married or in a serious relationship over there in Miami, do realize that you’ve got some serious issues to confront, sooner or later. Be fair to her.[/quote]
i think we see things a lot alike! scary!!haha…yeh i’m not going to just up and move anytime soon, but i do have taiwan on my mind…big time! actually it’s funny that you say “be fair” to my woman, as that may be the only thing that keeps me from moving. damn taiwan…in my head like a hot girl when i was 20!! :loco:
hey where do you live in tejas? houston is my hometown…
haha…it’s funny to see the different levels of love/lust/hate on here!! i for sure don’t have the illusion that taiwan is paradise, but as a yacht captain i have lived and traveled in “paradise” and it’s not always all that it is supposed to be. the beautiful water and scenery only go so far. i would take kaohsiung over a beautiful island in the bahamas anyday! like i said before i think that you either like the way of life or not, and i think that most everyone on here either does or did at one time (before burnout!). burnout happens anywhere though. you don’t have to be in taiwan. i have been in south florida (many peoples paradise) for 2 years now and can’t stand it! well for now i think i will try to visit as much as possible. i know $1000 will get my tickets and i think i can slum it for pretty cheap while i am there. i think if i can get there for a couple of months a year, i can get my fix…haha
I’m in Austin for the most part.
Hey, I found the name for guys who become addicted to Taiwan: latter-day Lotophagi (AKA “Lotus Eaters”)
Its just the change in enviroment that attracted you. Im sure if you spend the same amount of time in Japan, you would be in love with it too.
Yeah, it’s the novelty.
[quote=“Sancho”][quote=“Bassman”]Sounds like the normal business trip thing, out drinking with the Sales team. Hmmm… I wonder if he went to a “KTV” 
Rub n tug anyone[/quote]
thanks for adding another ray of light to the thread! well I hope you do not make your living as a psychic, because you are not a very good one!
- I don’t drink…not a drop
- no sales team…over there by myself overseeing a boat build.
- hey you kind of got one right…ktv a couple of times but with local friends.
thanks for such great insight though! :loco:[/quote]
There you go, misunderstanding what I wrote. See the words, “SOUNDS LIKE”. That means the this kind of thing is normal business practice in Taiwan. They are supposed to do all those things. Take you out singing and drinking. So forgive us for thinking that you’d managed to go completely local.
Didn’t mention the rub ‘n’ tug. So, what was it like?
Honestly, a couple of months a year would be the best thing to do in Taiwan. You’d have a great time. See something new each time. If I had my way I’d be living 6 months in New Zealand and 6 months in Taiwan. It would be great.
I love this place though. However, it’s become day to day life for me. We all fall in love with something different. The acid test is living it everyday for over 2 years (I’m in my 7th year). So, don’t. Come and visit. Visit often, but leave before you get used to it. Go to different places. Make it your mission to discover something new each time.
I discovered a little peice of natural beauty at the weekend on a mountain bike ride. A bridge to ride accross that went over a river. A long tunnel to ride through. A perfect day.
[quote=“Bassman”][quote=“Sancho”][quote=“Bassman”]Sounds like the normal business trip thing, out drinking with the Sales team. Hmmm… I wonder if he went to a “KTV”
Rub n tug anyone[/quote]
thanks for adding another ray of light to the thread! well I hope you do not make your living as a psychic, because you are not a very good one!
- I don’t drink…not a drop
- no sales team…over there by myself overseeing a boat build.
- hey you kind of got one right…ktv a couple of times but with local friends.
thanks for such great insight though! :loco:[/quote]
There you go, misunderstanding what I wrote. See the words, “SOUNDS LIKE”. That means the this kind of thing is normal business practice in Taiwan. They are supposed to do all those things. Take you out singing and drinking. So forgive us for thinking that you’d managed to go completely local.
Didn’t mention the rub ‘n’ tug. So, what was it like?[/quote]
I misunderstood you as well, thought you were implying a “special ktv” with those quotation marks. What is a rub ‘n’ tug anyway?
[quote=“Bassman”][quote=“Sancho”][quote=“Bassman”]Sounds like the normal business trip thing, out drinking with the Sales team. Hmmm… I wonder if he went to a “KTV”
Rub n tug anyone[/quote]
thanks for adding another ray of light to the thread! well I hope you do not make your living as a psychic, because you are not a very good one!
- I don’t drink…not a drop
- no sales team…over there by myself overseeing a boat build.
- hey you kind of got one right…ktv a couple of times but with local friends.
thanks for such great insight though! :loco:[/quote]
There you go, misunderstanding what I wrote. See the words, “SOUNDS LIKE”. That means the this kind of thing is normal business practice in Taiwan. They are supposed to do all those things. Take you out singing and drinking. So forgive us for thinking that you’d managed to go completely local.
Didn’t mention the rub ‘n’ tug. So, what was it like?[/quote]
haha…pretty funny about the rub n tug…actually didn’t even put 2 and 2 together until you just mentioned that. not sure where to go with this one other than to say that, same as in the u.s. or anywhere, i would never pay for the rub n tug. sorry to toot my own horn, but at this point in my life i am still holding up very well. maybe 10 years from now i will be out searching for the paid rub n tug. we are talking paid right? if we are only talking about local “dating” i’m not saying shit 
!haha
there is no doubt that it is the novelty, or change in environment that attracted me. but it is that combined with a general overall like for how it is there. i have traveled to many places that are different, and maybe even pretty cool, but have no interest in them other than visiting once. i think it has a lot to do also with the group of friends that i met. i think i was very lucky to meet such a cool bunch, and i have no doubt that that made a huge difference. after all after my 1st trip last jan i was ready to get home…2nd trip not as ready…and my last trip i didn’t want to come home at all! i think it makes a huge difference if you are sitting in your hotel room bored trying to figure out what to do vs. being lucky enough to get to pick what you are going to do for the night because you have different options. if i was in “japan”(or any large asian city) and was lucky enough to have a great group of friends, i have no doubt that i would like it as well!
Quentin - You’re quite right. However, now I have a vision. Something that I really want to do (actually always wanted to do but was to afraid to “just do it” so to speak). It’ll take three to four years to realise this but the pay-off personally will be huge. I think the real secret, despite where you are and what you’re doing, is to continuosly challenge yourself and keep things interesting. Unfortunately for a while there I allowed things to stagnate.