A thread for those who are stuck here in Taiwan for whatever reason (legal or otherwise) and can’t leave or due to responsibilities, should not leave. Please use this to talk about your struggles, happy moments, and things you learned.
Let her rip…
I felt I was exiled to America when I had to leave Taiwan. AFter 12 years here though, iv gotten used to it and like many things about it.
You are stuck there, and you cant change that? Then change the way you think about that.
I’d trade places with you if I could !
Maybe its your profession you don’t like? Try to change that? Maybe its your social network you don’t like? Try to change that.
You may end up with a totally new outlook.
And if it just doesnt cut it any which way, then try to emigrate. Even if not to your original choice of a place.
Try Indonesia for example, instead of the US. Or something.
And if you really are stuck stuck? Then you can only change your view of your life sentence in your prison.
Make your “prison” your home, if thats the only choice you got.
A day may yet come when your “prison” really becomes your “choice”.
Be smart, change must come from within if it can not come from without - tommy525
[quote=“Taiwan Luthiers”]Another rant thread for those who are stuck here due to immigration (for many former overseas Chinese), marriage, jobs, etc. This is a thread for those who is stuck here and hate it, and any struggle you face trying to adjust to life here…
Let her rip…[/quote]
It would certainly be prudent for you to type out your own situation to encourage others to wade in. I would suggest, actually, that you do something about your life to make positive changes, rather than to find other mud caked hippos to join you in your wallowing. You will get no benefit from the ‘misery loves company,’ approach aside from some short term gratification. Leave your wife, punch your boss in the cock and book a plane ticket home. See how simple it all is? 
It’s not my profession… its generally the lack of a market in my profession, but in general I like my profession. I wouldn’t go work for any Taiwanese even if I have to starve… in my opinion looking for a job in Taiwan is more like begging and you’re often looked as though you are a beggar (wearing a suit and a tie no less, but still a beggar).
As for social circles, well its hard to find that… I am not in school and as you know, most Taiwanese uses school, work, etc. as social circles and in every Taiwanese social places, I get rejected.
Sorry, but I’m not buying that anyone is stuck here. There may be those that are married or got stationed here, or whatever, who would prefer to live elsewhere. But they still have a choice. No place is perfect. If you don’t like something change it, if you’re unable or unwilling then move on or learn to deal with it.
So Taiwan doesn’t really suck, what sucks is the job market in your chosen profession. Have you thought about changing professions or moving to another location where the market is better? You don’t sound like you are living in poverty, collecting recyclable waste out of the Maro river in Irin Jaya, so why persist in an activity which fails to bring you joy if you do have the ability to change your situation?
As for social circles… There are hundreds of people on this website you can be friends with. Go to a happy hour, give out your phone number and life will never be the same again.
In my opinion, this thought that you have formed is not going to serve you well.
Come on TL, sort yourself out mate. 
It can be tough in taiwan. But if your present niche is a hiccup, then you must circulate yourself to a wider audience to find your pitch.
And if where you live is a pain due to it being in the hicks. Then you must migrate yourself come hell or high water to the big city !
Hsinchu to me is like Sacramento. Put it this way, I can understand the high suicide rate !
some places just bore the hell out of you.
not sayin you are in hsinchu, just using it as an example
[quote=“tommy525”]It can be tough in Taiwan. But if your present niche is a hiccup, then you must circulate yourself to a wider audience to find your pitch.
And if where you live is a pain due to it being in the hicks. Then you must migrate yourself come hell or high water to the big city !
Hsinchu to me is like Sacramento. Put it this way, I can understand the high suicide rate !
some places just bore the hell out of you.[/quote]
Spoken like someone who grew up in Sac
didnt grow up in sac but just driving thru on my way to/from lake tahoe and listenin to the local radio stations is enough to just bout do me in ! 
edit: and it CAN be worse. You could live in VALLEJO !
Coming from someone that grew up there, i can tell you it’s not all that bad. Because it’s in a great location to go somewhere better.
haha i know, just think of the mid west ! Sacramento aint that bad at all. And its close to tons of awesome places.
Better then Alabama.
And of course one man’s hell can be another man’s hog heaven !
[quote=“Taiwan Luthiers”]Another rant thread for those who are stuck here due to immigration (for many former overseas Chinese), marriage, jobs, etc. This is a thread for those who is stuck here and hate it, and any struggle you face trying to adjust to life here…
Let her rip…[/quote]
I can think of far, far worse places to live. F’rinstance, Taiwan is one of the few places on the planet where you’re unlikely to be shot or knifed by some random idiot, or by the police. That’s got to count for something. OK, you might well be run over by a blue truck, but at least they’re blue and truck-like, so you recognise them and stay away from them.
I enjoy a good moan and a whinge as much as the next guy, but when things are looking like crap (and they really do, sometimes), I don’t just blame it on Taiwan. If you do that, the implication is that there’s nothing you can do - it’s “just the way it is”. If you feel you have no control, you’re headed for stress, depression, and blocked arteries. Find out what the actual problem is and see if you can do something about it.
The radio station here sucks too, about the only one that’s remotely good is ICRT and only during certain times (like M-F 10am to 12am).
I didn’t make this thread so I can complain about my own situation… if you looked far back enough you’ll know all about it anyways. I made this thread to sort of mirror other threads like “I’m cold and this weather sucks”, or “too hot, too humid, the weather sucks”, etc… That’s why I didn’t write about my own struggles.
[quote=“Taiwan Luthiers”]The radio station here sucks too, about the only one that’s remotely good is ICRT and only during certain times (like M-F 10am to 12am).
I didn’t make this thread so I can complain about my own situation… if you looked far back enough you’ll know all about it anyways. I made this thread to sort of mirror other threads like “I’m cold and this weather sucks”, or “too hot, too humid, the weather sucks”, etc… That’s why I didn’t write about my own struggles.[/quote]
- This thing you are using… the INTERNET… you can access ANY RADIO STATION IN THE WORLD ON IT (with a few exceptions). Anyone listening to and moaning about ICRT must be either so lazy or utterly incompetent that they deserve to listen to it.
- This moan zone is not an act of egrariousness then, rather an act of selfless charity. I had you pegged all wrong.
Thank you for providing this cathartic channel for people to pour all their negativity about Taiwan into.
Well yes but since you started it, we kinda like using you as an example.
The weather is impersonal, its the weather but a persons perception of a place is personal. Its that persons perception of a place.
I must say, one way to get some relief is to travel. Say you dont like living in Taiwan and like living where you used to live? Then go back for visits. As much as you can. Sort of let your spirit restart itself. Reconnect with some lost energy.
I didnt visit Taiwan for a whole ten years when i left in 99. I came back for my first visit in 2009. It was something really. I didnt go back because I didnt think I could handle having to leave (and knowing leave I must). But after ten years, it was a great visit. It felt to me like a different country. MY Taiwan had changed because ten years is a long time.
I didnt like leaving but I did leave. And I went back again this year (2012) . And the second visit was much more familiar to me, because it was only a less then 3 year gap.
And i left again.
Taiwan is my home, but so is california. California more so then it had been in my younger years when i only lived here short times and most times in Taiwan.
Its a feeling hard to explain, but going back made me reconnect with my “being” so to speak.
And gave me a lot of peace.
I am still in exile, but I am happier.
And also rested in the knowledge that “my” taiwan. The place i had left had also left Taiwan. Because the Taiwan of today is not exactly the same.
Not maybe because only Taiwan has changed. But because I have changed as well.
Gives you peace.
消す
I am for legal reasons. And very close to finding the only way out of it I can see after a year of this shit.[/quote]
Stay on the bright side of the trail Kelun, an avenue will open up for you that may not have existed earlier.
I wish I could travel, because being in Taiwan for years and years really gets to me. Just that so far I’ve never managed to make enough to be able to travel. I am not too interested in traveling to Thailand or anywhere else in Asia and a vacation to Europe needs at least 100,000nt in budget to reflect the more expensive stuff there…
This choice you have made to do a job you love is clearly not the best strategy for you if it means you can’t afford to travel once in a while and reel regret about it. It seems like your career choice sucks, rather than anything else.
What is your profession if you don’t mind me asking? DO you pick betelnut from the teeth of the interminably lazy, or paint blue trucks blue, are you a professional funeral wailer or the lighter of smokes for TaiKe mouthbreathers? What is it exaclty that is so specialist that it keeps you in Taiwan earning a pittance?
[quote=“superking”]This choice you have made to do a job you love is clearly not the best strategy for you if it means you can’t afford to travel once in a while and reel regret about it. It seems like your career choice sucks, rather than anything else.
What is your profession if you don’t mind me asking? DO you pick betelnut from the teeth of the interminably lazy, or paint blue trucks blue, are you a professional funeral wailer or the lighter of smokes for TaiKe mouthbreathers? What is it exaclty that is so specialist that it keeps you in Taiwan earning a pittance?[/quote]
Repairing guitars and stuff… just starting out in that and don’t really have the connection to make word of mouth to help me earn a crapload of money each month. It’s just that most Taiwanese don’t repair anything. There are only a handful of luthiers in Taiwan, most of them have been in the trade for over 10 years, and have more business than they know to do with. However I haven’t mustered up the courage to go ask them to send work my way…