[quote=“Taiwan_Student”]I’m sure this topic game up in the “you’ve been here too long” or the “why aren’t foreigner friendly to other foreigners” topics. But it’s strange.
Back in my day (I’m in my 40’s) I would travel. Meet those odd looking grey haired foregners say in Paris or outside a McDonalds in Tainan. I’d get to meet them. Maybe not invite them into my home, but I’d have coffee, listen to their stories or whatnot. Like the Gratefuldead song, "look into every eye your find value… " I’d at least learn something or at least be entertained.
Stories of Marshal law, stories of extra services being offered in MTV’s etc. I’ve been here since the end of the "slavery of foreigner spouse era to the almost free and easy market place of no work permits and fair laws (-thank Hartzel et al)
Newcomers just don’t seem to be interested in any incites, stories or anything that we have to offer. YOu watch as they go blindly through their jobs or being cheated by their bosses or even missing opportunities to get into the inner circle (drinking with the relatives, eathing stinky Tofu and chicken feet)
Maybe it’s my lazy eye, Einstien like hair (what’s left of it anyway) or non stylish clothing. But heck, I’ve got a house, car family and a source of income… at most people should be interested and say "how did this guy survive here for so long. Incidentally the average life of a foreigner not from South Africa in my village working for a language school is six months. They run away…
There goes an other one… I’d say… Now pass me the betel nut…[/quote]
I have two thoughts here.
Firstly part of the excitement of moving to a new country is the enjoyment of making mistakes and of struggling through things. The first time I went to Japan my school filed for my gaijin card. The second time I did it myself. It took fricking ages to do it alone, but the satisfaction of the achievement made the struggle more enjoyable.
Secondly, settling in Tawain, especially Taipei isn’t really all that hard. Stories of the past are fine and interesting, but they aren’t relevant to what Taiwan is like now. Taipei really is quite a modern city to live in. It’s not like moving to Fez in the Moroccan sticks. So the basic issues are rent, and job, and possibly a scooter. Food is too easy to sort out and the constant debate about Taiwanese food just highlights how dull some people’s lives are. Food is food. Find what you like, shove it in yer gob and move along. It isn’t a fricking topic for debate. Jobs are easy to come by if you are willing to be patient. And accommodation is simply a matter of looking on the internet. I once sorted out a job, a new apartment, and a car without even leaving my bed, and that was in the middle of bumfuck city.
So I guess that old timers are not needed by newbies because they don’t need the help, and the stories are not relevant to them.
