Does anyone know a native speaking Tibetan? I have already tried the Tibetan Mongolian centre in Taipei and they are not helpful. My previous teacher is away teaching in Virginia.
I need someone to help key in a few characters and also make some phone calls (I will pay for them of course) to Tibet. Pay negotiable.
Send me a pm if you know anyone.
Thanks.
Spin or TU, but you might have to wait until after hours
Sent you a PM.
Amazing.
Whoever heard of someone looking for a native Tibetan speaker?
Whoever heard of a city with a Tibetan Monogolian center?
What are the odds of those two coinciding?
Who would have thought the center wouldn’t have a native Tibetan sitting behind the front desk or in a back room or could at least give you a whole list of phone numbers of Tibetans to call?
Strange.
Amazing.
Whoever heard of someone looking for a native Tibetan speaker?
Whoever heard of a city with a Tibetan Monogolian center?
What are the odds of those two coinciding?
Who would have thought the center wouldn’t have a native Tibetan sitting behind the front desk or in a back room or could at least give you a whole list of phone numbers of Tibetans to call?
Strange.[/quote]
This is a strange town. Yes, there are Tibetans at the centre but no, none of them have the time to help me and while yes one did have some friends, no one responded though I left my number.
I also went to National Chenghchi University downtown campus where they have Tibetan lessons and left my number for the teacher but again, no call.
I suggest you contact the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Taipei. The contact details are:
Tibet Religious Foundation of H.H. the Dalai Lama
10th Fl. - 4 & 5 No. 189
Sector 2, Keelung Road
Taipei - Taiwan
Tel: (886)-2-27360366; Fax: (886)-2-23779163
e-mail: ottaiwan@ms75.hinet.net
Managing Director: Mr. Tsegyam
Good one, David. The Dalai Lama actually endorsed the last LP Tibet guide so these people have to help. 
Great leads from everyone so far, and an interesting thread.
This may be a long shot, but how about trying the Tibetan restaurant near Shida Lu?
Restaurant: Samdon Tibetan Restaurant 藏味館
Address: 18-1, Ln 13, Pucheng St, Taipei (台北市浦城街13巷18-1號)
Telephone: (02) 2362-0211
Open: Daily from 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm
taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar … 0833/print
From the article:
So, maybe this might be a lead to investigate, or at least a place to get a Tibetan meal. You’re probably already missing the Tibetan cuisine, right? (They have tsampa there.)
Best of luck.
Interesting, when I first moved to Taiwan in 1991, it was from a homestay in Nepal with a Tibetan family (I lived in Jawalakhel near the refugee camp). When I left for Taiwan they told me that I could not write them as they did not want anyone to see correspondance from Taiwan. They were worried that people would think they were involved with Taiwan.
Is is still that way?
[quote=“Elegua”]Interesting, when I first moved to Taiwan in 1991, it was from a homestay in Nepal with a Tibetan family (I lived in Jawalakhel near the refugee camp). When I left for Taiwan they told me that I could not write them as they did not want anyone to see correspondance from Taiwan. They were worried that people would think they were involved with Taiwan.
Is is still that way?[/quote]
Don’t think so. NO one had any second thoughts about giving me their email address. And I was corresponding with my travel agencies before I left and they knew I was in Taiwan.
Strange that Tibetans in Nepal would worry about that. Not sure why the Nepalese government would care. Maybe they were just politely blowing you off.
[quote=“Muzha Man”][quote=“Elegua”]Interesting, when I first moved to Taiwan in 1991, it was from a homestay in Nepal with a Tibetan family (I lived in Jawalakhel near the refugee camp). When I left for Taiwan they told me that I could not write them as they did not want anyone to see correspondance from Taiwan. They were worried that people would think they were involved with Taiwan.
Is is still that way?[/quote]
Don’t think so. NO one had any second thoughts about giving me their email address. And I was corresponding with my travel agencies before I left and they knew I was in Taiwan.
Strange that Tibetans in Nepal would worry about that. Not sure why the Nepalese government would care. Maybe they were just politely blowing you off. [/quote]
No, I don’t think so. They told me to write when I got back to the US. They mentioned to the school I attended that I was neglecting them since I wrote so seldom. 
I think of them every once in a while when reminded (like this thread).
The Nepalese gov. did not care as long as you didn’t disturb the Chinese. However, among the Tibetan’s it was a big deal (i.e. bad) if you were seen as supported by the Chinese or taking development money from either Taiwan or China. Like if you took too many trips to HKG people started to whisper a bit. Tibetan’s who went to Taiwan were seen by them as ‘selling out’. Seems that it was hard to re-integrate back into the Tibetan community if you did go to Taiwan. But, these were also the days when you’d get nuns coming over the border with their insides burned out by electrodes. Maybe times have changed.
I know you’re going to think I’m being a wiseass, but in this particular case I’m not.
There used to be a whole slough of FOB Tibetan waitress/bartenders up in the Zone.
The only specific bar I can recall was the Montana, which is long gone, but the girls usually move on to another Zone bar when that happens.
Could be fun finding out, anyway.
They used to break out the yak phlegm tea after midnight and share it around.
Try that on top of a gutful of cheap draft some time, I dare ya.
[quote=“the chief”]They used to break out the yak phlegm tea after midnight and share it around.
Try that on top of a gutful of cheap draft some time, I dare ya.[/quote]
You lose. Had such a delightful refreshment many times.
But I haven’t time to get shitfaced. I think that restaurant sounds best.
How about talking to/ asking the various lamas you see walking about?
Unless movies have lied to me, be very careful as the lamas are the enemies of shaolin
YMMV
[quote=“Funk500”]How about talking to/ asking the various lamas you see walking about?
Unless movies have lied to me, be very careful as the lamas are the enemies of shaolin
YMMV[/quote]
Um, I don’t really like the idea of approaching complete strangers on the street to ask them if they are willing to work for me for a few hours. Hence this thread.
It doesn’t stop the locals. 
My point was that maybe they can put you in the right direction, or at least teach a technique to deal with those pesky Shaolin.
It doesn’t stop the locals. [/quote]
Good one.
[quote=“Muzha Man”][quote=“the chief”]They used to break out the yak phlegm tea after midnight and share it around.
Try that on top of a gutful of cheap draft some time, I dare ya.[/quote]
You lose. Had such a delightful refreshment many times.[/quote]
I would like to try yak butter tea, not I’ll leave the yak phlegm tea to you hardcore adventurers.
Welcome back MM.
Either way, highly preferable to the modern subsitiute of hot Tang or squash like subtance
[quote=“Funk500”]How about talking to/ asking the various lamas you see walking about?
Unless movies have lied to me, be very careful as the lamas are the enemies of shaolin
YMMV[/quote]
Don’t be daft. Everybody knows lamas can only be found in Peru.