Presentation of Chinese Words & Names
Here is a quick rundown of how I present Chinese terms and proper names on the site and in the book. A lot of extra blood, sweat and tears—and probably carpal tunnel—went into adding Chinese characters and Romanizations for EVERY single Mandarin word I present. I have done this to help Mandarin learners to 1) correctly pronounce Chinese words and 2) learn how to write them, and also to help native speakers in case you fail in either one or two. In such cases, your Taiwanese counterpart can simply look at the Chinese charactes on the page to figure out what you are talking about. But for the sake of actually learning the language, I highly suggest that you at least try their hand at saying the word first.
Read MoreDeciphering Street Addresses and Phone Numbers in Taiwan
As you would imagine, addresses and phone numbers work a little (in fact, quite a bit) differently in Taiwan than they do back home. Here is some essential address and phone number info you will need to get around in Taiwan. Fortunately, the Taiwan system is pretty easy to get used to once you've been here for a few weeks. Good luck!
Read MoreTaiwan: An Historical Context
Before we get into living in Taipei, let’s quickly set the historical and cultural stages on which this vibrant city rests. Throughout this site, I use the term “Taiwan” loosely to refer to the island on which Taipei City is located. If you still confuse “Taiwan” with “Thailand,” please invest in an atlas immediately, and request a refund from your Alma Mater. There are two other names, however, that we need to keep straight: “R.O.C.” and “P.R.C.” If you watched the Beijing Olympics, you know just how controversial these names can be. But what’s the big deal, anyway? Below is a quick look at some significant historical events and figures that molded modern Taiwan and China, and the tense political situation between them. Buckle your seatbelt folks, things are about get a little bumpy……
Read MoreTaiwan: A Cultural Context
In addition to the above historical crosswinds, Tawain’s modern culture is also the product of several religions and belief systems. Most of these cultural facets were brought to Taiwan from Mainland China, though there are also notable influences from Japan, Europe, North America, and Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes.
Read MoreGetting the Right Kind of Visa to Work or Study in Taiwan
To legally work or study in Taiwan, you must get the right kind of visa. If you are smart (i.e. you are not like me), you will come into Taiwan on a 60-day tourist visa. This is the ONLY visa type that can be later changed into a resident visa. But if you come in on a landing visa like the aforementioned idiot, you will have to leave the country again and obtain a tourist visa at one of the TECOs listed in the Appendix before being able to get a job in Taiwan. Here's the scoop...
Read MoreWhat to Bring With You to Taiwan
Assuming you already have your tourist visa squared, it’s time to pack for your trip. Otherwise, go back and complete the instructions in the previous post before you even begin thinking about packing! Fortunately, you don’t need to bring very much with you as Taiwan is a modern, industrialized nation where you can find just about everything you could possibly need. There are, however, a few items that are hard to find and are worth bringing with you. Some of these may surprise you...
Read More