This is totally fair on their part. The point of language exchange is to learn or practice a new language and they have the right to choose a certain accent. The fact that simply stating you lived in the states was enough for them should actually show you they don’t care about your ethnicity just your accent.
Edit: Ethnicity probably plays a part I just don’t think it’s a big part
All the evidence you alluded to was related to comments and things you saw on Language Exchange apps and FB groups, if it’s not directly the source of your concerns, you are using them to reinforce them.
I’ve had my life ruined multiple times by Facebook, I got rid of it nearly 10 years ago now. I’m still in regular contact with the people that matter to me.
Thanks man.
People that know me interact with me same as anyone else as far as I can tell though. Coworkers, friends, friend-in-laws and even the community manager guy.
I’ve had the same experience with these “professional” interactions. But I’ve had a hard time making good friends. For example, if I get hit by a car tomorrow (very possible in Taipei), I can’t name a single person who would come to the hospital to see me. In my three years, I can’t name more than two instances where a friend invited me to get a meal or get a drink at a bar. I even tried taking the initiative in many friendships but hardly saw any reciprocation.
The fact that simply stating you lived in the states was enough for them should actually show you they don’t care about your ethnicity just your accent.
I wish that were true, but the numbers still painted a different story. I went from having 6 likes to ~30 likes, but I see most posts with 100+ likes (even some with 1000+) when made by Caucasians.
Note: Both posts were made months ago and the screenshots were taken a day or two after the post. The current like counts are basically the same.
This is just one example and not definitive proof, but you can easily find this correlation in the group by just scrolling through the posts. Note that the content is literally the same, but the engagement is vastly different. (This is not me BTW, my particular case would better elucidate your point, but I don’t want to share here as it might reveal my identity)
Which is why I try not to be so definitive. 
It is what it is. Taiwanese look down on certain groups.
But don’t think that just because you are white that Taiwanese magically start making friends with you.
Personally I’m starting to believe they are just awkward around all foreigner’s.
Oh for god sake.
Sorry to offend you mate, but numbers don’t lie. I shared one example for you in the above post, but you can scroll through the group and see for yourself…
Agree. I would consider “neutral” or “no negative prejudices” towards south Asians as a huge win!
I think that might be an expat phenomenon. People come and people go. No one really intends on living here forever.
Someone with ten years in might not want to take the time to develop a friendship with someone who will bolt when their contract is up. 
It is what it is. Get a social hobby and make those folks your go to people.
People with twenty years in might just put a hand on your chest and say,”No.” 
I think that might be an expat phenomenon
You might be right.
I often feel especially prejudiced against just because of my nationality, and I’m not sure how to ignore that long-term. I often ask myself, will things change if I stayed here for a couple more decades? I’m not so sure.
I’ve lived in the US and UK before and although I didn’t like a lot of aspects of life in those places (and chose TW over them), I really appreciated the multiculturalism and didn’t feel as much like an outsider…
Learning the language does not make much difference. I speak it pretty much fluently too. It makes you sound less “International”.
Why not start a guitar club or offer to teach guitar. You can sing Taiwanese songs in the park with your guitar . You could even offer to teach Indian music. Everybody faces some prejudices , yes I think Indians have it worse , but not everyone is like that. Language exchange has a kind of bad rep anyway ha.
I honestly think locals will be more interested if you sing songs from India. Singing songs in Mandarin tends to be like a novelty but not lasting. Yes, there is negative news about India , so show them the other side of India’s rich culture.
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Everyone here knows most Taiwanese people are prejudiced against South Asians and SE Asians. Anyone who questions that fact just has their head in the sand.
I’ve had personal conversations with you on Line (a long time ago) and you seemed like a warm, friendly, and intelligent guy. Believe me, you’re not the problem.
Have you had much luck making friends with more Westernized Taiwanese people who speak English with you? Is there a possibility that in your effort to be super “Taiwanese” that you’ve skipped all the Westernized folks, and went straight to the super local folks who do nothing but KTV every weekend? The more “local” people are naturally going to be more prejudiced.
I was trying to say that but you said it better.
Thanks for your good words.
Is there a possibility that in your effort to be super “Taiwanese” that you’ve skipped all the Westernized folks, and went straight to the super local folks who do nothing but KTV every weekend? The more “local” people are naturally going to be more prejudiced.
I don’t think I’ve skipped anyone. The people I see most often right now are other westernized folks here, most of them foreigners like myself. To be honest, I used to have a few good foreigner friends but they all left Taiwan in the past couple of years. I started to feel a bit jaded in investing in those friendships, especially since most foreigners I meet here do not intend on staying here long term.
Yup it’s like being a gypsy. Everything is transient. However, that can make the time you spend together more valuable.
It’ll change a little as Taiwan has to open up to immigration but it’ll never go away completely.
Unwelcome local vs welcome outsider. I’ll always choose latter over the former
I do think being Indian does impact your social life in Taiwan. I would say many places as India doesn’t have the best reputation in many countries I’ve been to, not saying it’s right or wrong. It just is.
But what you’re experiencing sounds like what many men experience. Compounded by the fact you’re in a new country and its well known expats have a harder time making deep friendships.
I’m 31 now and I don’t really have many close friendships. I’ve moved so much in my life and it’s one of the sacrifices of having a nomadic lifestyle. I’ve already moved many times when I was kid so I have no close childhood friends.
I have no issues making lots of friends but nothing too deep. I spend most of my time with my significant other and I’m fine with that. I like to think my employees and I are close but it can never be a very close friendship with the employer employee dynamic. I feel a strong obligation to take care of and do right by them but it’s still a business.
This post is blowing up and I’m glad to hear the different perspectives of so many people. I’m already starting to get some clarity and feel like my thought process is getting more organized. Thanks so much 
!
If there is someone who can really understand your pain, its me.
