The way my dad explained it is, that in the minds of Taiwanese, once you go to America, you don’t come back. If you come back, it’s because you fucked up, regardless of what you tell them, in their mind they think you fucked up. Unless you’re Morris Chang or coming back as a millionaire, anyone else coming back is assumed to have fucked up. Basically America is the land of milk and honey, why would anyone come back to barren Taiwan?
Little do they know that America isn’t the land of milk and honey.
You know many Taiwanese assumes that American healthcare system is really good and is free, or that the government provides free or cheap healthcare that is world class, etc. They assume that the US healthcare system is better than NHI.
Or that your salary is much higher regardless (even if you make 3x the salary of Taiwan while your expenses is 10x)
I’m a Taiwanese and I do feel bad about what you’ve experienced. I’m so sorry. Our people shouldn’t act like this Maybe the situation will be better if you move to Taipei? 大安區 or 天母 may be better. Anyway, hope you can feel welcomed in Taiwan in the near future! If you don’t want to give Taiwan a chance, then go to some countries/cities which are more inclusive:)
I don’t think it’s a time waste if you leave Taiwan because you may be able to combine Mandarin to your new role! Or you can talk to more ppl who speak Mandarin……
I’m interested if you think people there are better, or that all foreigners in Taiwan should just live in those places? (which by the way still don’t have a lot of foreigners lol…I used to live in tianmu and laugh at its description as a ‘foreign neighbourhood’).
He also gave Taiwan a HUGE effort already, it’s not like he didn’t already try. Nothing much will change moving to Taipei, DaAn or Tianmu, why would it?
Why suppose that USA will deport non resident Taiwanese? Taiwan Luthier was deported from the USA. He was an illegal immigrant. He wrote a blog about it.
Multiple people have pointed out that American citizens cannot be deported. People would only assume you failed because you give them reasons to assume that.
I don’t think ppl there are better in general, but I think ppl there have more opportunities to contact foreigners. For example, some Taiwanese living in some cities have only seen less than 5 foreigners in their hometown. So when they meet or even just see (sorry I don’t know how to express better) them, they feel curious. And normally Taiwanese won’t talk to strangers (in my opinion, only if you look like you need help🤣). All the things that we know about some specific countries are from local news, very low quality news or even……the fake news🥲 We have so many stereotypes on many countries (it’s so terrible I know but it’s true, ppl here really need to be educated on this point) So I think if foreigners don’t feel welcomed or face some challenges, at first maybe they can move to the places where lots of foreigners have same situations, then when they meet more ppl (foreigners or locals), they may get used to the culture more here and can try to more some other places?
I used to live in the UK for 3 years and tbh sometimes I don’t feel welcomed. I chose to hang out with my Taiwanese friends first, then when I got more energy?! I started socialising with local ppl again. I think the key thing is taking care of our (mental) health, instead of being inclusive in the local culture.
At last, I live in Xinzhuang and am trying to find the language exchange partner (English - Mandarin/台語), so if @DunderMifflin still want to have a partner of language exchange, or just want to have a drink, please feel free to contact me
Still hope everything enjoy their times in Taiwan!!
You can’t compare UK with Taiwan, UK has a massive immigrant population. Taiwan is way more challenging.
I agree hanging out with your own ‘type’ (if you can find any) is fine too.
Still its good you acknowledge the ridiculous stereotypes that exist here, but it’s not just stereotypes, legal and abusive discrimination that makes most foreigners walled off from society and having far less rights than locals is at play too.
I’m not the one suggesting that America deports Americans, and I don’t think that’s what happened to TL in the most recent attempt to make the disillusioned Indians thread more TL-related.
Hey Brian thanks for letting me know your thoughts
I don’t mean to compare UK and Taiwan, I just want to let ppl know the way I use helping me live in the other country
Totally agree with what you said at the last paragraph. Maybe it’s bc there’re not lots of foreigners in TW comparing with some Western countries, so this kind of topics don’t really be attractive:smiling_face_with_tear: Ppl here are not “don’t care”, we even “don’t notice”
I appreciate Cinnamon’s candidness and willingness to talk openly about what can be improved here. I think many of us are used to the fact that when we express our opinion about something that needs to improve in Taiwan, many Taiwanese will become defensive and say it’s the same in other countries. As if that were an excuse for things not to change.
I know you’re not doing that and appreciate your contribution.
I get often told that I am looking for a fight because I am equally defensive. I am tired of correcting strangers calling my kid a foreigner who is in fact Taiwanese and whose mother tongue is Mandarin. This is in a supposedly diverse part of Taipei.
Taiwan is a society where the notion of being defensive or fighting and making efforts to bring change is rarely seen in my opinion. Most people i meet day to day believe on the idea that “Something bothering you? Just leave”
Your school isnt making u happy? Just find new one
Your work isnt making u happy? Just find a new one
Your relationship isnt making you happy? Just find a new one
Taiwan isnt making u happy? Go to another country
Now i do believe that in many cases, finding a new alternative is a good thing and we should never be stuck in a toxic environment where no amount of effort brings any change BUT first we must make some effort to bring a change. Some effort to make things right because life rarely spoonfeed us. There are issues and struggles everywhere but most people around me always have one solution to all my sadness- Just leave. It took me some time before i realised that the reason they say it because thats the solution people believe in for every sort of problems in life.
So don’t leave , as that’s probably what they want you to do. I wouldn’t leave somewhere because someone else just wanted me too. Theyd have to physically remove me, fire me or whatever. I’d leave when I wanted too not because they want me out the way.
Maybe the situation will be better if you move to Taipei? 大安區 or 天母 may be better. Anyway, hope you can feel welcomed in Taiwan in the near future! If you don’t want to give Taiwan a chance, then go to some countries/cities which are more inclusive:)
