New to these fourms some questions

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
1

I’m currently 17 years old in US planning a study aborad for mandarin in taiwan. I got interested after looking at MTC chinese courses, have any of you done it? Would you recommend it?

Hows discrimination towards whites? (american)

How friendly are people in Taipei?

I’m pretty big into fitness and physical activity, how is taiwan in this regard? (compared to US lets say)

I’v always been interested in studying medical or finance. Lets say I enjoyed taiwan to the point I would like to make it my relocation. With one of either degree would employment be hard to obtain with these two fields? (also consider if i spoke perfect mando)

thanks for any help

2

Not sure you’d want to be an M.D. in Taiwan. It’s a fully socialized system, and the docs aren’t paid much.

3

i absolutely hate the US healthcare system, how bad is the pay? I’m not rely thinking of a job just for money but of course pay matters.

4

also what is with the architecture? I’m seeing some vids on youtube its strange looks like a western china. I would think taipei one of the most economically developed cities in asia to be a little more designed lol.

5

If you decide to come here that’s what the architecture will look like. I’m not sure why it looks like that, but it does. If ugly buildings are a deal breaker for you then Taiwan probably isn’t the place to choose.

6

If you decide to come here that’s what the architecture will look like. I’m not sure why it looks like that, but it does. If ugly buildings are a deal breaker for you then Taiwan probably isn’t the place to choose.[/quote]

architecture is even less of a deal breaker then amount of mosquites lol. It just seems so strange a mega city that looks liek that. taipei 101 and the buildings around that look very modern tho

7

If you decide to come here that’s what the architecture will look like. I’m not sure why it looks like that, but it does. If ugly buildings are a deal breaker for you then Taiwan probably isn’t the place to choose.[/quote]

architecture is even less of a deal breaker then amount of mosquites lol. It just seems so strange a mega city that looks liek that. taipei 101 and the buildings around that look very modern tho[/quote]

Yeah sorry bout that. We’ll have a word to the mayor and see if we can’t have the city knocked down and rebuilt just for your visit. Anything else we can fix for you before you come? :sunglasses:

8

If you decide to come here that’s what the architecture will look like. I’m not sure why it looks like that, but it does. If ugly buildings are a deal breaker for you then Taiwan probably isn’t the place to choose.[/quote]

architecture is even less of a deal breaker then amount of mosquites lol. It just seems so strange a mega city that looks liek that. taipei 101 and the buildings around that look very modern tho[/quote]

Yeah sorry bout that. We’ll have a word to the mayor and see if we can’t have the city knocked down and rebuilt just for your visit. Anything else we can fix for you before you come? :sunglasses:[/quote]

maybe you can fix the crazy drivers beforee i come. also I would like to be picked up by 100 10/10 girls and cater me thru the country. Hope im not asking to much, lol

9

Not really discrimination, no hateful stuff anyways. You are a young Whitey so you will be perceived as cute, nice, a bit dumb (compared to Chinese/Taiwanese) and capable of teaching English.

101 and center looks good, rest is some fenced greyish cheap housing non-architectural nightmare without sidewalks.

Not sure if you could ever get a license to be one of those underpaid medical doctors. However, you could take a phone and try to offer good finance investment to people, it is quite a sport here in Taiwan to do that actually. Focus on old people! :wink:

10

[quote=“bob_honest”]Not really discrimination, no hateful stuff anyways. You are a young Whitey so you will be perceived as cute, nice, a bit dumb (compared to Chinese/Taiwanese) and capable of teaching English.

101 and center looks good, rest is some fenced greyish cheap housing non-architectural nightmare without sidewalks.

Not sure if you could ever get a license to be one of those underpaid medical doctors. However, you could take a phone and try to offer good finance investment to people, it is quite a sport here in Taiwan to do that actually. Focus on old people! :wink:[/quote]

thanks for the reply,

any idea how MTC univeristy for mandarin is like? Or any others you’d recommend

11

[quote=“akikaki1”]I’m currently 17 years old in US planning a study aborad for Mandarin in Taiwan. I got interested after looking at MTC chinese courses, have any of you done it? Would you recommend it?

Hows discrimination towards whites? (American)

How friendly are people in Taipei?

I’m pretty big into fitness and physical activity, how is taiwan in this regard? (compared to US lets say)

I’v always been interested in studying medical or finance. Lets say I enjoyed taiwan to the point I would like to make it my relocation. With one of either degree would employment be hard to obtain with these two fields? (also consider if i spoke perfect mando)

thanks for any help[/quote]

Not much discrimination towards white people that is overt, they simply view it as you are different, you will always be different, at the end of the day you are welcome to stay, but if shit hits the fan, we will side with our kind and not yours.

Taipei people are really friendly IMHO. People on this forum like to say that Taipei is the least friendly but IMHO they seem to be the most civilized towards foreigners. All my friends in other Taiwan cities have stories about locals looking for fights with foreigners. This doesn’t happen in Taipei, so while they might not be as excited about seeing a foreigner, they won’t fuck with your shit.

In Taipei at least there are lots of sports leagues and plenty of exercise opportunities.

You would need two years experience in a related field in another country before doing it in Taiwan legally (unless you marry a local or the laws change).

12

[quote=“Deuce Dropper”][quote=“akikaki1”]I’m currently 17 years old in US planning a study aborad for Mandarin in Taiwan. I got interested after looking at MTC chinese courses, have any of you done it? Would you recommend it?

Hows discrimination towards whites? (American)

How friendly are people in Taipei?

I’m pretty big into fitness and physical activity, how is taiwan in this regard? (compared to US lets say)

I’v always been interested in studying medical or finance. Lets say I enjoyed taiwan to the point I would like to make it my relocation. With one of either degree would employment be hard to obtain with these two fields? (also consider if i spoke perfect mando)

thanks for any help[/quote]

Not much discrimination towards white people that is overt, they simply view it as you are different, you will always be different, at the end of the day you are welcome to stay, but if shit hits the fan, we will side with our kind and not yours.

Taipei people are really friendly IMHO. People on this forum like to say that Taipei is the least friendly but IMHO they seem to be the most civilized towards foreigners. All my friends in other Taiwan cities have stories about locals looking for fights with foreigners. This doesn’t happen in Taipei, so while they might not be as excited about seeing a foreigner, they won’t fuck with your shit.

In Taipei at least there are lots of sports leagues and plenty of exercise opportunities.

You would need two years experience in a related field in another country before doing it in Taiwan legally (unless you marry a local or the laws change).[/quote]

i’v looked into medical on other fourms and it looks terrible, 2x the work then US with half the pay. Al tho I think the taiwan has one of the best healthcare systems from looking online the doctors look to over worked and to under paid.

hows the finance field there?

13

Sorry, but I do not know anything about the University-Stuff. Only here since 2004, practically just arrived… :wink:

[didn’t update the browser window, so this answer is out of place now… never mind… sleepy this morning]

14

No one should go to Taiwan for the architecture. GO for the experience, the ladies, the food, the scenery in the areas outside of the cities, but not for architecture, please.

15

If you’re coming to live in Taipei, there isn’t. Unless you’re a noisy, culturally insensitive dimwit. There’s pockets of them around town. Unfortunately. And they tarnish our reputation :neutral:.

I have. I would recommend it. Intensive courses don’t permit for much of a social life, but you will learn a lot. Regular courses are for students who want a little more free time. The social life at MTC is good and you should make lots of friends.

16

If you’re coming to live in Taipei, there isn’t. Unless you’re a noisy, culturally insensitive dimwit. There’s pockets of them around town. Unfortunately. And they tarnish our reputation :neutral:.

I have. I would recommend it. Intensive courses don’t permit for much of a social life, but you will learn a lot. Regular courses are for students who want a little more free time. The social life at MTC is good and you should make lots of friends.[/quote]

Thanks to all for replies, this is one of the best expat fourms i’v ever been on people get straight to the point.

Thanks i cant think of any questions now but will post if i think of any.

17

Hi and Welcome. To our fellow members, don’t forget this boy is just seventeen. He’s a young man. As a student, I don’t think you would have much problem living in Taiwan. What the other posters said is true. Taiwan is a land of contrast. It can be the greatest friendliest place that is very fair. It can also be the ugliest meanest place too.

My daughter who is mixed and was born here is generally excepted. But they still kept calling her Foreigner Foreigner etc. Until she asserts herself. She is third grade. But just the other day… a boy, a sixth grader . Teased her and yelled Foreigner. Can you understand Chinese. I guess not Bitch.

She even had stupid conversations like… You are a foreigner you must be stupid. She said, I am not a foreigner, I was born in that hospital. You can even see it way over there! (From her school) . Reply: You are a foreigner, how come you can speak good Chinese. You must be a spy.
You will find nice logical and smart people. You will find stupid and ill mannered people. You will find the exact kind of people we Americans were in the seventies and early sixties before the political correct and anti discrimination Public Service Adds appeared on TV to brainwash us.

Check out the parenting forums. Check out employment and check out the legal forums…
Come here with a sociological mind. Enjoy and experience things for good or bad. Taiwan does get under your skin and you become attracted to it and also hate it.

Here are my first shocks when I came here… 1. I have been involved with the Taiwan community in America during my college years. Had a Taiwanese girlfriend. I went to cultural events. I had a few Chinese/Taiwanese and Hongkong roommates. They are great! Dorm room always quiet and I could really get studying done. In contrast, as a nerdy kid, I would find my Desk being used as a quarters table by my “American” roommate after a long day of studying.
Assumption: Chinese/Taiwanese People must be smart. I know a hell of a lot. They are all smart!

I came here as a Teacher… Wow… what a surprise! Stupid. Sometime too the point of Patrick Star. And some of them, actually quite a few would make my partying American room mate look like a nerd.

2nd Shock… I coined a new phrase to describe the buildings… from the south the the north… Contemporary Bathroom Tile Architecture. Even today they love to tear down those nice traditional U shaped homes and replace them with big concrete monstrosities decorated with bathroom tile.

18

[quote=“Taiwan_Student”]Hi and Welcome. To our fellow members, don’t forget this boy is just seventeen. He’s a young man. As a student, I don’t think you would have much problem living in Taiwan. What the other posters said is true. Taiwan is a land of contrast. It can be the greatest friendliest place that is very fair. It can also be the ugliest meanest place too.

My daughter who is mixed and was born here is generally excepted. But they still kept calling her Foreigner Foreigner etc. Until she asserts herself. She is third grade. But just the other day… a boy, a sixth grader . Teased her and yelled Foreigner. Can you understand Chinese. I guess not Bitch.

She even had stupid conversations like… You are a foreigner you must be stupid. She said, I am not a foreigner, I was born in that hospital. You can even see it way over there! (From her school) . Reply: You are a foreigner, how come you can speak good Chinese. You must be a spy.
You will find nice logical and smart people. You will find stupid and ill mannered people. You will find the exact kind of people we Americans were in the seventies and early sixties before the political correct and anti discrimination Public Service Adds appeared on TV to brainwash us.

Check out the parenting forums. Check out employment and check out the legal forums…
Come here with a sociological mind. Enjoy and experience things for good or bad. Taiwan does get under your skin and you become attracted to it and also hate it.

Here are my first shocks when I came here… 1. I have been involved with the Taiwan community in America during my college years. Had a Taiwanese girlfriend. I went to cultural events. I had a few Chinese/Taiwanese and Hongkong roommates. They are great! Dorm room always quiet and I could really get studying done. In contrast, as a nerdy kid, I would find my Desk being used as a quarters table by my “American” roommate after a long day of studying.
Assumption: Chinese/Taiwanese People must be smart. I know a hell of a lot. They are all smart!

I came here as a Teacher… Wow… what a surprise! Stupid. Sometime too the point of Patrick Star. And some of them, actually quite a few would make my partying American room mate look like a nerd.

2nd Shock… I coined a new phrase to describe the buildings… from the south the the north… Contemporary Bathroom Tile Architecture. Even today they love to tear down those nice traditional U shaped homes and replace them with big concrete monstrosities decorated with bathroom tile.[/quote]

thanks for that long detailed reply. Hopefully if i ever decide to settle down and have kids there it becomes more liberated and open minded. I dont wont to seem like im ranting but relly what is with that architect lol? considering how economically developed lets say taipei still looks like old broken down concrete. Is it just old buildings before the economic booms and they neevr remodeled lol?

Thanks for the reply

19

The architecture is something you get used to very quickly :slight_smile:. It won’t bother you after a few weeks.

20

You got the cream of the crop. If you ever set foot in Silicon Valley, CA, you’ll noticed a slew of Indians who are also the cream of the crop.

Unfortunately you don’t get that in India.

It’s normal to alter your view on Asian nerdiness once you set foot here.

[quote]
2nd Shock… I coined a new phrase to describe the buildings… from the south the the north… Contemporary Bathroom Tile Architecture. Even today they love to tear down those nice traditional U shaped homes and replace them with big concrete monstrosities decorated with bathroom tile.[/quote]

Blame it on the stinginess of the elder Taiwanese who would rather save their money for their sons/daughters who would then turn around and waste it than to spent just a tiny fraction of their fortune on making their homes look nice (both interior and exterior).