Is there a Siren call to Taiwan. And when did YOU hear it?

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
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[quote=“almondcookie”][quote=“tommy525”]

YES if the father is Taiwanese the child is AUTOMATICALLY given Taiwanese citizenship and can have any other citizenship he can get. NO problems whatsoever. But if the MOTHER is Taiwanese??? then the child CAN NOT have another citizenship as well if he/she is to get Taiwanese citizenship. This was later amended to read ok for children born AFTER 1986. Which i think is very stupid and inhuman. ARe children born BEFORE 1986 as i was less human?? and less entitled somehow???

very strange laws. and then again very typical of planet taiwan.[/quote]

hehe, very sexist and yeah typical of Taiwan. apparently your paternal relatives are supposed to be “closer” than those on your maternal side!!!

[quote=“tommy525”]TAiwan is a place where everyone has some sort of love/hate relationship with :slight_smile::slight_smile:

i love much about it and i do hate a few things bout it too, trust me on that.

but since i was born and raised there, when i am somewhere else. The air just doesnt feel the same, it doesnt smell the same, the air density is not the same. the climate is not the same, etc.

it just AINT the same.[/quote]

last year, b4 i moved back here, i was standing on the curb and i suddenly got this really nostalgic feeling. i realised it was the combination of exhaust fumes, the flooded drain at my feet, and the rain on concrete - a very taiwan smell. :slight_smile:

[quote=“tommy525”]i brought two Taiwanese persian cats with me to the USA . One has since died , but the other will come running to the computer if he hears a Taiwanese/chinese girl speaking chinese.

he doesnt run over when i play a vid on youtube in japanese, or Korean , but he will come when i play something that has a girl speaking Mandarin. Wierdest thing !!! he will jump on the table and put his head right next to the speaker :slight_smile:[/quote]

what a smart cat! only girl’s voices though?[/quote]

ya hes a boy cat and he LOVES girls (especially PRETTY ONES ) I used to take him to a few fav cafes in Taipei and the girls will play with him. And he even looks out the window and if you follow his gaze? Invariably hes looking at a cute chick walking down the road (same as his owner is doing).

EDIT: p.S. i got a real laugh out of your ‘a very taiwan smell’ , soo true soo true

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Tommy said: but since i was born and raised there, when i am somewhere else. The air just doesnt feel the same, it doesnt smell the same, the air density is not the same. the climate is not the same, etc.

v says: I knew a guy from Taiwan who said something similar, only he said the sunshine in the US is different. The sunshine in Taiwan made him feel secure, and he doesn’t feel that way in the US. When I was in Taiwan, I missed the forests and open spaces of NJ, which is I think the most densely populated state in the US. I missed the seasons too. What I miss about Taiwan is not just the place, it’s who I was at that time in my life: my early 20s. I’m also more bored in the US. In Taiwan I got a lot of attention, people were always curious about me, I was learning things all the time…But the US is a better environment for my children to grow up in (except for the food culture), so it’s a tradeoff. My eldest was born in Taiwan, so she has the 2 passports. I, however, would have had to give up my US citizenship to get a Taiwan passport, so I had a visa that allowed me to stay without having to take visa trips to HK. I don’t remember having to check in with the foreign affairs police, but maybe my husband took care of that with guanxi- it was a while ago. Take your time and find a good woman, Tommy. Don’t be in a rush. You are an attractive man, but more importantly you have a great disposition (piqi hen hao).

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[quote=“v”]Tommy said: but since i was born and raised there, when i am somewhere else. The air just doesnt feel the same, it doesnt smell the same, the air density is not the same. the climate is not the same, etc.

v says: I knew a guy from Taiwan who said something similar, only he said the sunshine in the US is different. The sunshine in Taiwan made him feel secure, and he doesn’t feel that way in the US. When I was in Taiwan, I missed the forests and open spaces of NJ, which is I think the most densely populated state in the US. I missed the seasons too. What I miss about Taiwan is not just the place, it’s who I was at that time in my life: my early 20s. I’m also more bored in the US. In Taiwan I got a lot of attention, people were always curious about me, I was learning things all the time…But the US is a better environment for my children to grow up in (except for the food culture), so it’s a tradeoff. My eldest was born in Taiwan, so she has the 2 passports. I, however, would have had to give up my US citizenship to get a Taiwan passport, so I had a visa that allowed me to stay without having to take visa trips to HK. I don’t remember having to check in with the foreign affairs police, but maybe my husband took care of that with guanxi- it was a while ago. Take your time and find a good woman, Tommy. Don’t be in a rush. You are an attractive man, but more importantly you have a great disposition (piqi hen hao).[/quote]

hehe GRAZIE V. ITS not that America isnt beautiful. IT IS, very beautiful. ITs a question (and im sure all expats feel this at times) that home is where you are used to. Warts and all, sometimes. But then for others HOME is really where the HEart is.

And its true bout what you said. Often it isnt the place per se, its the fact that you were young and that was a special time , and it wouldve been special practically where ever you were at the time. MY colleague keeps telling me bout Paris , cuz thats where he spent a few years of his younger days.

Could be i like Taiwan so much cuz thats also the place where i was in my twenties/thirties too. And all the fun THAT entails :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

Now you couldnt drag me onto a dance floor with wild horses. :slight_smile::slight_smile: I dont even like the taste of alchohol anymore. WOW. times they are a changin !

this taipei girl came to visit me (on her way to visit a college she wants to attend) and her first comment was "ohh , its soo strange, the sun is soo bright here but , its soo COLD. " :slight_smile:

cuz normally in taipei when the sun is that bright, its summer and very hot. winter in taipei tends to consist mainly of cloudy days

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sdw

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[quote=“tommy525”] honestly i really want to. But its wierd for me cuz im born and raised in Taiwan but yet i CAN NOT get Taiwanese citizenship unless i give up my US citizenship (which i refuse to do). Only children born AFTER 1986 can be dual nationals apparently without giving up their “other” citizenship if their MOTHER is Taiwanese and their dad is not.

STUPID RULES , VERY STUPID. i think its a human rights violation. How can a person who grew up in taiwan and was born there be allowed to be treated like a tourist?? Shameful really !!![/quote]

It applies those those born from 1980 and before the new rules which came into place in 2000 and must apply before their 20th birthday.

I was discussing this with Miltown’s wife last night. She will work in the new Immigration Dept being created 02 January 2007.

If affrects many children born here with no ROC nationality. My son is one of them.

So when were you born? If you really wanted to live here you could do so. You just dont want to that much.

I gave up my Australian Nationality so it’s only fair you give up your USA nationality :wink: :wink:

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Write for the Daily Mail?

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Your wife’s pulling you around by your balls again? Or should I say “ball”.

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[quote=“Satellite TV”][quote=“tommy525”] honestly i really want to. But its wierd for me cuz im born and raised in Taiwan but yet i CAN NOT get Taiwanese citizenship unless i give up my US citizenship (which i refuse to do). Only children born AFTER 1986 can be dual nationals apparently without giving up their “other” citizenship if their MOTHER is Taiwanese and their dad is not.

STUPID RULES , VERY STUPID. i think its a human rights violation. How can a person who grew up in taiwan and was born there be allowed to be treated like a tourist?? Shameful really !!![/quote]

It applies those those born from 1980 and before the new rules which came into place in 2000 and must apply before their 20th birthday.

I was discussing this with Miltown’s wife last night. She will work in the new Immigration Dept being created 02 January 2007.

If affrects many children born here with no ROC nationality. My son is one of them.

So when were you born? If you really wanted to live here you could do so. You just dont want to that much.

I gave up my Australian Nationality so it’s only fair you give up your USA nationality :wink: :wink:[/quote]

see my view is that i am a true ‘taiwanese american’ and i have family in both places. ITs very unfair to restrict me citizenship wise when picture this: A child is born in the usa of taiwanese parents who may only be visiting the country and has no real ties to america and yet taiwan happily gives that child (if his dads a taiwanese person, then and now if one parent is taiwanese , mother or father) citizenship and america happily gives that child citizenship too. And that child really has no real ties to america. I have friends whos children are exactly like that. I have real ties to america and dont feel its fair that i should have to choose between one or the other. I have real ties and family in both places. I was born BEFORE 1980 when the rules were that a childs Father needs to be taiwanese in order to claim taiwanese citizenship but not applicable if the childs Mother is taiwanese and the childs father is not (as in my case). And in fact the US govt rules were similar at that time as well. I was not born in usa (was born in taiwan) and thus i could only claim US citizenship if i had no other citizenship at that time.

so in fact both governments were exclusive to one another at that time. I think the rules have softened on both sides now. But i think that these rules should be retroactive to anyone living at this time who met the requirements.

I wouldnt consider giving up us citizenship unless i was living in taiwan and making TONS AND TONS Of bucks and dont want to pay US TAXES. HAHAHAHA And then only if i never planned to go/come back to the usa.

Cuz the US DOES HAVE a law that is very unfair regarding taxation. I understand that the USA is the only govt in the world that taxes people on worldwide income. I think all other countries or at least most only tax you on what you actually make in that country.

LIke for example , Taiwan doesnt tax any taiwanese for money made in usa or china .

has this changed??

I was born in Taiwan , and yet i am under the law just a TOURIST. I dont think thats right at all.

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Your wife’s pulling you around by your balls again? Or should I say “ball”.[/quote]
Who the fuck rattled your cage? You boring cretin. If you’re going to troll, at least have a modicum of wit. Or style. Or humour. You lack all three.

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[quote=“tommy525”] I was born BEFORE 1980 when the rules were that a childs Father needs to be Taiwanese in order to claim Taiwanese citizenship but not applicable if the childs Mother is Taiwanese and the childs father is not (as in my case). And in fact the US govt rules were similar at that time as well. I was not born in USA (was born in taiwan) and thus i could only claim US citizenship if i had no other citizenship at that time.

.[/quote]

Well Tommy sorry to rain on your parade but the rules for allowing dual nationality came into force in 2000.

My son was born in Taiwan in 1991. He has only Australian Citizenship. When he is 20 he will no longer be able to live here unless he first renounces his Australain Citizenship for ROC Nationality before he turns 20. Many children fall into this loophole.

People make choices. Your choice is to remain a US citizen and live in the USA. So be it.

If you want to give up paying taxes in the USA and live in Taiwan do what Cooling Tower did. He gave up his US Citizenship. Neither of his parents are ROC nationals. You think the rules should be adjusted to suit you. Well they arent so thats all she wrote on the matter.

Choices mate choices. We all make choices when choosing to live in Taiwan. Just ask Sandman. :smiley: :smiley:

It’s obvious that Siren Call doesn’t mean you.

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[quote=“Satellite TV”][quote=“tommy525”] I was born BEFORE 1980 when the rules were that a childs Father needs to be Taiwanese in order to claim Taiwanese citizenship but not applicable if the childs Mother is Taiwanese and the childs father is not (as in my case). And in fact the US govt rules were similar at that time as well. I was not born in USA (was born in taiwan) and thus i could only claim US citizenship if i had no other citizenship at that time.

.[/quote]

Well Tommy sorry to rain on your parade but the rules for allowing dual nationality came into force in 2000.

My son was born in Taiwan in 1991. He has only Australian Citizenship. When he is 20 he will no longer be able to live here unless he first renounces his Australain Citizenship for ROC Nationality before he turns 20. Many children fall into this loophole.

People make choices. Your choice is to remain a US citizen and live in the USA. So be it.

If you want to give up paying taxes in the USA and live in Taiwan do what Cooling Tower did. He gave up his US Citizenship. Neither of his parents are ROC nationals. You think the rules should be adjusted to suit you. Well they arent so thats all she wrote on the matter.

Choices mate choices. We all make choices when choosing to live in Taiwan. Just ask Sandman. :smiley: :smiley:

It’s obvious that Siren Call doesn’t mean you.[/quote]

well there is that OTHER way to live in taiwan (but without citizenship) and thas to marry a local gal ?? me thinks thats a pretty good way?

EDIT: p.s. yes the siren call is calling me. thats why i spend so much time here on forumosa :slight_smile: Cuz im living vicariously in taiwan thru you guys at the moment. I think that the writer who wrote that “once taiwan gets its hooks into you, you will eventually return” (or something like that) is right.

like the Terminator said "ah’ll be BAHHCK " (or something like that)

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Interesting thread. I’ve now spent 50% of my life in Taiwan. Even though I’ve just left, I don’t think I could ever fully let go of Taiwan. I had the best time coming back to visit - made me happier than I’ve been for some time.

My kids were born in 1997-1998, so at least the girl can choose. I’m not sure I want the boy serving in the military.

Anyway, my ARC is fresh for another 5yrs. :smiley:

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[quote=“Elegua”]Interesting thread. I’ve now spent 50% of my life in Taiwan. Even though I’ve just left, I don’t think I could ever fully let go of Taiwan. I had the best time coming back to visit - made me happier than I’ve been for some time.

My kids were born in 1997-1998, so at least the girl can choose. I’m not sure I want the boy serving in the military.

Anyway, my ARC is fresh for another 5yrs. :smiley:[/quote]

WELL i tell you, these days its better to serve in the Taiwanese military then the US military where you can actually get killed (being sent to Iraq or some such) !!! The taiwan military has been accused of being too soft and actually a lot of soldiers actually go home for the night :slight_smile:) Funny huh? The taiwanese soldiers are all becoming office soldiers nowadays it seems. Not much good for fighting and only in it for the shortest terms. I heard you draw straws. And some straws only show a 3 month military service??? They are more like TOY soldiers if you ask some veterans.

Ya i wish that Taiwan would give something like the US Green CArd to people born there regardless of whether they get citizenship and to people who have lived there over five years. . Cuz i do believe that everyone who has been in Taiwan over five years has at least some sort of connection there (be it friends or even family) and should have the right to work/live there. And return anytime just showing that card.

I understand in HK , after living there 7 years you can get HK residency and you dont have to renounce your citizenship?? Something like that? MY ex GF who was a stew for CAthay got that after living/working in HK for seven years. And she retained her Taiwanese citizenship.

Now what i dont like is that , for example, had YOU been a Taiwan citizen your children wouldve gotten Taiwanese citizenship AND they could have any other citizenship they are entitled to. So why is there MALE/FEMALE inequality?? Thats my beef !!

I say that IF one parent is Taiwanese, then the children should automatically get Taiwan citizenship no matter what. I think thats the case now. See the case with the mother who “kidnapped” her child back to Taiwan. And that child is born in USA and was already a US citizen before her mom asked for and got Taiwanese citizenship for her?

see the thread in the OPEN FORUM. bout the custody battle Taiwan/USA. I forgot the exact wording.

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I spent the other night chatting and flirting with the beautiful Kat and River in Bob’s while drinking hot mulled wine after buying a butter-soft heavy leather jacket. I love Taiwan. The Daily Mail’ll just have to wait.

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Or you could just get a job that comes with an ARC. That works too.

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Or you could just get a job that comes with an ARC. That works too.[/quote]

I think Tommy wants to do it the hard way. :smiley:

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[b][quote]See the case with the mother who “kidnapped” her child back to Taiwan. And that child is born in USA and was already a US citizen before her mom asked for and got Taiwanese citizenship for her?

see the thread in the OPEN FORUM. bout the custody battle Taiwan/USA. I forgot the exact wording.[/quote][/b]

Yeah, maybe tommy could go marry this lass… She’ll be needing money and a father for her kid.

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[b][quote]See the case with the mother who “kidnapped” her child back to Taiwan. And that child is born in USA and was already a US citizen before her mom asked for and got Taiwanese citizenship for her?

see the thread in the OPEN FORUM. bout the custody battle Taiwan/USA. I forgot the exact wording.[/quote][/b]

Yeah, maybe tommy could go marry this lass… She’ll be needing money and a father for her kid.[/quote]

haha thats what i like bout you taiwanese, always match making :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

and you have a point, at least SHE will be the one Taiwanese girl that wont be thinking of living in the USA?? (Because she cant go there again EVER, without gettin her butt jailed, and she cant even travel outside of taiwan EVER cuz INTERPOL is ready to grab her and take her to the USA, where , you guessed it…her ass is gonna be JAILED )

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VERY interesting. Do tell !!

p…s have made a few EDITS to previous comments. SCROLL to read