I’ve lived in Taiwan 5 years or so. Also lived in Singapore. Been working, living, vacationing, roaming, around Asia for years. Traveled and could be a tour guide or advisor on long term living, buying house, vacationing, in other places like Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing.
Taiwan is really the last choice of all those, except for those that want to be unconnected from the rest of the world with a simple life.
Don’t get me wrong, Taiwan is a nice place to live. But it is a nice place, in a sad “disconnected from the rest of the world” kind of way.
[quote=“tango42”]Don’t come, or get out if you can.
[/quote]What does that mean? Pray tell. Most of us are a little thick. Educate us with specifics.
That’s an impeccable résumé. :bravo:
[quote]
Taiwan is really the last choice of all those, except for those that want to be unconnected from the rest of the world with a simple life.[/quote]
I don’t get it. Please can you be more specific? Or at least cogent?
Which country, in particular, do you consider to be “connected to the rest of the world”?
[quote]
Don’t come here and lose yourself.
Get out of Taiwan and get a life.[/quote]
Cutting-edge.
I found Taiwan to be much better for fresh graduates than Singapore.
One of the my first jobs out of grad school was in Singapore for a state-owned Singaporean company, not a MNC. The affirmative action programs for Malay Singaporeans, the bonding requirements for training (where you have to pay some of your money for a useless local qualification), the PAP-party watchdogs everywhere, and the overt dislike of foreigners by the heartlanders was only tolerable to be a part of for a few years. That being said, the salary, food, dating scene, and top notch infrastructure were pretty impressive, not to mention weekly/monthly trips to Bintan/Batam.
I’d contrast this to Taiwan where I was able to get some pretty cool experience in my 20s in the government and technology sectors. Taiwan isn’t as convenient to live in as city-state Singapore, the food isn’t nearly as good, and it’s a lot more chaotic, but Taiwan has better companies, it’s easier to meet or work for the movers and shakers, it’s a lot more friendlier towards foreigners, there is less resentment by lower and middle class locals that you’re being paid more than them, and there is less nepotism in government.
While Singapore would probably be more comfortable now that I’m older, I disagree with your belief that Thailand, Malaysia, the PI, Brunei etc. are better places to work. Japan is also closed in so many respects to outsiders, and China has a number of cons.
I think you are unfairly critical of Taiwan (although there are some downsides to working in Taiwan as well, and Taiwan could look to Singapore as a model in some respects–e.g., foreigner PR in two years, a world-class public housing scheme [HDB flats], higher salaries, cleaner environment/better education system).
[quote=“ChewDawg”]
I think you are unfairly critical of Taiwan.[/quote]
He’s not “unfairly critical”, Chewy, he’s just going blahblahblah. No basis, no structure to the tirade.
Fair enough, we all have those times. Some SPECIFICS would be nice, though.
No, I think the OP is sincere with his/her opinion and is not looking to rile anyone up.[/quote]
I agree. I merely don’t know what the OP is trying to say, precisely.
[quote=“tango42”]Don’t come, or get out if you can.
I’ve lived in Taiwan 5 years or so. Also lived in Singapore. Been working, living, vacationing, roaming, around Asia for years. Traveled and could be a tour guide or advisor on long term living, buying house, vacationing, in other places like Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing.
Taiwan is really the last choice of all those, except for those that want to be unconnected from the rest of the world with a simple life.
Don’t get me wrong, Taiwan is a nice place to live. But it is a nice place, in a sad “disconnected from the rest of the world” kind of way.
Don’t come here and lose yourself.
Get out of Taiwan and get a life.[/quote]
Er … tango. From your post count and number of years on the flob, I’d expect more of an explanation. I live for people saying that a movie, book, or country is crap - but I DO expect a reason.
I’ve been to all those places and Taiwan is my favourite.
As far as not having a life (not even sure what that means), Taiwan has much more to offer than Malaysia or Philippines.
I find Taipei more enjoyable than Beijing and Shanghai. Once you’ve seen the tourist stuff, how is it better to live there? You enjoy smog and not accessing half of the Internet?
You’re just as disconnected from the rest of the world in Japan.
With no argument though, this is just a troll thread.
I think the OP is just severely depressed. Probably just had a bad run of luck lately … lost his job, broke up with his girlfriend, lost a loved one back home, something making him/her feel ‘disconnected.’
Maybe even culture shock. This time of year can be lonely and boring for expats in Taiwan, particularly if single and no family connections.
Dude is depressed, that’s all there is to it. I travel to those places and all of them have their own issues in different ways. You can’t compare Taiwan to Singapore or HK, one is a country type state, the others are cities. Even if you want to argue economically with regard to Taipei being the capital most of the output is not from Taipei! If you want to argue population wise the Kaoshiung area has 7 million people.
Taiwan has 22 million people, 3 major metro areas, innumerable towns and villages and importantly major agricultural areas, mountains and national parks.
Finally the whole premise is wrong because it depends on your financial background, career, hobbies, language ability, family links etc.
[quote=“tango42”]Don’t come, or get out if you can.
I’ve lived in Taiwan 5 years or so. Also lived in Singapore. Been working, living, vacationing, roaming, around Asia for years. Traveled and could be a tour guide or advisor on long term living, buying house, vacationing, in other places like Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing.
Taiwan is really the last choice of all those, except for those that want to be unconnected from the rest of the world with a simple life.
Don’t get me wrong, Taiwan is a nice place to live. But it is a nice place, in a sad “disconnected from the rest of the world” kind of way.
Don’t come here and lose yourself.
Get out of Taiwan and get a life.[/quote]
If Taiwan sucks so badly, why don’t you make like a banana? Your rant above creates the impression that you’re very “lost” indeed. Maybe it’s time to go find happiness elsewhere. From my experience, a lot of foreigners go through this phase sooner or later in Taiwan. Hope you find a place where you can feel “connected.”
It’s the last day of our longest vacation; I think a lot of us are down about that.
I think he’s got a point if he says Taiwan feels less connected to the outside world than Singapore or Hong Kong do. They (HK and Sing) cater more to English speakers and have travelers of all sorts passing through. They also are very small, so you’re more likely to come in contact with non-Chinese. In Hong Kong and Singapore, you are clearly on the backpacker’s trail, and they have colonial pasts, so you feel like you are rubbing elbows with the world each time you take the MTR/SMRT. Go to Kashgar or Samye (western China), and you won’t feel so connected.
I used to (pre-internet age) travel a lot, and I enjoyed feeling disconnected. I’d tell Mom, “You can contact me via Poste Restante Kisangani, Zaire in March or Poste Restante Kano, Nigeria in May.” And I love my family.
My third trip to Asia was my first trip to Taiwan. That was 1984. At that time I said Taiwan was the second or third least interesting country I had visited (to Bangladesh and Singapore). Taiwan is home for me now, and I love it. But Taiwan is not for everyone. My first trip to Singapore and Hong Kong were in 1981. I loved Hong Kong, but I found Singapore too clean/sterile. Singapore has grown on me over the years. The year before last we took a family vacation to Malaysia and Singapore, and my kids loved it. On the last day there I gave the kids the religion tour. We went to a Mosque, an Indian temple, a church and a Chinese temple. God, was that boring for them! But I know what you’re sayin’ if you think Singapore is more connected.
Living in Beijing and shanghai has no real appeal to me. Full of cars, smog, too big and worst bit is full of Chinese! Culture… Whatever you are having.
Hong kong is really crowded and expensive. Singapore is nice enough but expensive and crowded and a police state and very muggy.
Philippines, beautiful country, dangerous to live in and poor state.
Thailand, beautiful but messy and poor and full of dodgy expats and tourists. Bangkok , better than Chinese cities but againto big and jammed all the time and polluted.
Japan, depends what you are into really, under appreciated by also quite rigid.
Taiwan, messy but beautiful spots, safe, cheap enough, easy to get around, great food equivalent or better than Singapore despite what anybody says, actually well connected to Asia now with flights.
I don’t know, these are all such big generalizations aren’t they.
Weird. I had a friend many years past who was in a sort of similar situation like the OP. He liked it here, but couldn’t find a job in his field to stay on The Island. Worse, he fell for the clutches of one of the most sociopathic psycho-xiajie I’ve ever had the disgrace of meeting, who used her guile to recruit men for this cult, and to make matters worse, he also had a girl back home waiting for him. Of course, his conclusion at the end of this affair, was that Taiwan was like a bubble, removed from reality. That those who remained here did it because it was easy and remote, and were not actually living a “real” life. He ended up hating the Island, calling those who stayed eejits. He now has a “real” job, travels occasionally to Mainland, drinks, parties and lives merrily to all outside appearances. But something was lost on Taiwan and the spark in his eyes cannot be repaired.
Its like marriage sometimes you just love her for no reason. Sometimes you just cant stand being in the same room as her. Sometimes you want to run, other times, you cant wait to open your eyes and see her.
You are going to hate her just as much as you love her and love her just as much as you hate her. There comes a time of reckoning, are you going to put away that parachute for good or bail out. Either way at one point you have to make your move or make your stay worth something.
[quote=“tango42”]Don’t come, or get out if you can.
I’ve lived in Taiwan 5 years or so. Also lived in Singapore. Been working, living, vacationing, roaming, around Asia for years. Traveled and could be a tour guide or advisor on long term living, buying house, vacationing, in other places like Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing.
Taiwan is really the last choice of all those, except for those that want to be unconnected from the rest of the world with a simple life.
Don’t get me wrong, Taiwan is a nice place to live. But it is a nice place, in a sad “disconnected from the rest of the world” kind of way.
Don’t come here and lose yourself.
Get out of Taiwan and get a life.[/quote]
Complete fucking rubbish. Sorry you feel ‘unconnected from the rest of the world’ by your simple life in Taiwan but your description IN NO WAY describes my existence here and I am guessing many others as well.
Your rant above creates the impression that you’re very “lost” indeed. Maybe it’s time to go find happiness elsewhere. From my experience, a lot of foreigners go through this phase sooner or later in Taiwan. Hope you find a place where you can feel “connected.”