Taiwan? (I know it's not japan)

[RedSith]

I'm in the foreign exchange program in my school. I tried to go to Japan, but something happened and they screwed up my application. It got sent in late and i had like no countries to choose from. So, i'm now going to Taiwan.

Does anyone know anything about it? Is it a nice place? I've looked at some pictures and it seems like every place is the same with a lot of crime and so on, but this is just from some websites.

Anyway, the bottom line is, is taiwan a nice place to live in?

[bookie]

I love Taiwan, but I've never spent more than a few months there (and I was very young when I spent the most time)

Taiwan is relatively clean for SE asian countries, and rather dirty in comparsion to Japan and parts of the US. The biggest problem I had was with roaches, who remind me of small, terrifyingly ugly dogs.

If you're going to Taipei there is a -lot- to see and do. Besides the sparkly clean center of the city with places like Taipai 101 and Posh theatres and humongeous department stores, the more 'suburb' like places are good to visit too. There's a zoo you can visit (but it's boring) and the night markets are /the best/! The're soooo much fun! However, if you don't speak chinese be wary of getting ripped off. If something doesn't have a price tag on it I wouldn't buy it because the sales person will most probably try to sell it to you at 3 times the price.

That said everything in Taiwan is quite cheap -much- cheaper than in Japan. I was in a music store once and there were a pair of Japanese guys looking at Japanese music imports and gawking at how low the price was. Needless to say I grabbed a lot of music while I was there.

The food can be both very tasty and very gross. Stinky dofu is not my thing at all. If you're lucky you will be able to find places or friends who are senstive to your palatte, because it's very different there.

I don't know a think about the education I'm afraid.

The countryside is -beautiful- I love the mountains and the forests, and there are many temples and such hiding around. If you've ever seen Totoro, when I was little I used to think the movie was about Taiwan because it was so similar to my experiences there.

However, I've always been with family while in Japan, which made things easy for me. You'll probably have to work harder to have a good time, but it's definitely there.

[RedSith]

Alright good to know people like it.

I'm going to be placed with a family, and since i wont know whats going on i wont be wandering around by myself for a while.

I'm glad to know that theres some forests and countryside. All the pictures i've seen were of the towns and cities, never of any grass or trees.

The towns kinda turn me off. They seem extremely cluttered and dirty-ish, but still the stores and night markets look pretty cool.

If anyone could tell me about the education system that would be great. I've heard about the high school systems. After junior high you have to test into high school, and theres like 4 different kinds of highschools. If someone could tell me what the schools actually look like on the inside that would be cool.

[Druid]

Two big gangs in Taiwan. I forgot who they are.....

Board officially taken over.

[bookie]

I can't explain the system but I can show you pictures.

Well, I can tell you that as a former Japanese colony, Taiwan's educational system does have some Japanese influence. They wear sailor suits too! XD

http://www.spymonkey.co.uk/images/taiwan/taiwan-school2.jpg
see?

The schools I've seen are sort of like outdoor schools, like in Hawaii.
http://www.taiwanschoolofthefuture.com/images/img3.jpg
Like, this, with no internal hallways but outdoor passages. However, they usually don't look nearly as nice.

The downtown area of Taipei looks like a sparkling metropolitan city. You probably will be in the suburbs if you're going to homestay, which -does- look like the ghetto. But it's not in terms of what an American would think of as Ghetto. It's much more orderly and safe. (I wouldn't walk alone at night in any city though, and Taipei is no exception)

[RedSith]

Two big gangs in Taiwan. I forgot who they are.....


Pfft i'll just join em.

[RedSith]

The downtown area of Taipei looks like a sparkling metropolitan city. You probably will be in the suburbs if you're going to homestay, which -does- look like the ghetto. But it's not in terms of what an American would think of as Ghetto. It's much more orderly and safe. (I wouldn't walk alone at night in any city though, and Taipei is no exception)

Wait so the suburbs -are- safe? I've seen pictures and they look really run down.

sry double post

[Druid]

Hmm? Safe. From what i hear, nowhere is safe. Thats where the gangs are.
XD

[NERD]

I wouldn't worry too much about Taiwan. If you were asking about the security in certain parts of Africa, Eastern Europe, South America, maybe, but Taiwan?

As long as you stay away from suspicious areas (Unless, oh yeah, dark alleys are the best place to hang out), have a common sense of what to do in an unfamiliar area, you should be fine. In fact, I'd prefer to be in Taiwan than in certain parts of China.

[ZaichikArky]

Taipei is comparative to Tokyo really. I believe it's more polluted there, though. You get acid rain >_<. Recently for Sex class(okay, it's called "Sex and Society") we had to read a book about the Taiwanese bridal industry that had very little to do with sexuality. I suggest paying attention to bridal photos while you're there. They're really beautiful and couples go through all sorts of hoops to acquire *enormous* beautiful bridal albums. Surprisingly, I know little about Taiwan even though one of my best friends for about 8 years now is Taiwanese.

I do know that there are a lot of outdoor fleamarkets that sell really cute, really Engrish shirts. Problem is they are "asian size" which means REALLY SMALL. So if you're really tiny, you could get really spiffy shirts for the equivalent of 3 dollars. There's all kinds of other stuff there, but the cheap clothing is what those outdoor markets are best known for.

[Aria]

Awww, I <3 Taiwan. I was only there for a month, but it was a ton of fun. Clubbing every other night and night markets in between! But if you're Chinese (not Taiwanese), don't tell them, or they'll think you're a communist. And if you're Taiwanese but don't speak Mandarin...don't tell them you're Taiwanese, or they'll think you're disgraceful! So you're pretty much just best off if you're non-asian.

But the best of luck to you! Get beauty shots taken! They're super fun!

[Bruce86]

Two big gangs in Taiwan. I forgot who they are.....

Board officially taken over.

reminds me of a conversation i've heard.

Jim: Hey eddy, you know how in China you got the triad, and japan you got the yakuza? What do the taiwainiese have?
Ed: Umm... Not really anything, just guys with dyed hair and run around with bricks in their bookbags.

[Pierrot le Fou]

I went for a few days in January 2005. 'Twas fun says I. Great food, cheap as Hell, wonderful foot massages. Don't know how it'd be to live though. Learn Chinese though. The girlfriend and I got by mostly with English, and the ability to read Chinese characters well enough to read signs and menus (and write down questions if need be).

[RedSith]

Wow thanks everyone.

The only thing i can't seem to find out about is the schools. How many hours am i going to be there!? And do they have school on saturday!>

[paul]

Stinky tofu rocks, you know it!

[ssai]

hey, I'm taiwanese, but I live in Australia now. My family goes back to visit our relatives at least once a year, and I've always enjoyed those trips going back.

If you're going to Taipei there is a -lot- to see and do. Besides the sparkly clean center of the city with places like Taipai 101 and Posh theatres and humongeous department stores
yub! and I can even give you the names of the department stores if you want them. and make sure that you ALWAYS visit their food court (bottom levels), because they sell really really nice desserts etc there

That said everything in Taiwan is quite cheap -much- cheaper than in Japan. I was in a music store once and there were a pair of Japanese guys looking at Japanese music imports and gawking at how low the price was. Needless to say I grabbed a lot of music while I was there.
yub! everthing is CHEAP!! srsly!! I even know that sells cds/dvds that are even cheaper than the music shops there!

The food can be both very tasty and very gross. Stinky dofu is not my thing at all. If you're lucky you will be able to find places or friends who are senstive to your palatte, because it's very different there.
yes, you have to know the right places to go... usually, the places with the most people in it, even if you have to wait for a big long line because it WILL be worth it! and if a place has little to no people at all, don't even think about going in to try :D and also, most night market foods are really REALLY GREAT! omg, don't get me started on the nightmarket food!! *drills* I'll tell you more about it if you'r interested to find out exactly what kind of food I'm talking about.

They're really beautiful and couples go through all sorts of hoops to acquire *enormous* beautiful bridal albums.
hehe yeah, but not just couples, big families go there to take family photos, and ALOT of girls go there and take enormous albums just of themselves!! lol
I do know that there are a lot of outdoor fleamarkets that sell really cute, really Engrish shirts. Problem is they are "asian size" which means REALLY SMALL. So if you're really tiny, you could get really spiffy shirts for the equivalent of 3 dollars. There's all kinds of other stuff there, but the cheap clothing is what those outdoor markets are best known for.
yes you MUST visit those night markets!!i even like to shop there than the normal department stores because all the goods are just sooo cheap. and yes, their cloths have so much design and colour!

The only thing i can't seem to find out about is the schools. How many hours am i going to be there!? And do they have school on saturday!>
hmm, education....well, taiwanese educations are tough, same idea as the japanese...and the number of hrs..well, i think it depends on whether you'r a middle school student or a high school student....



anyway, I just want to make a point. Don't take the taiwanese taxi...because about 80% of the taxi drivers are involved with marfias LOLs, take the bus or the subway. Their subway is quite new (only a few years old) so quite clean. And talking about transport in taiwan, did you guys know that taiwan will soon be having bullet trains as well?!

anyway, if you want to, I'm happy to tell you more about taiwan

[RedSith]

Ah, thank you ssai!

I will be going to a high school... so if you could tell me anything about them that would be awesome! I really can't seem to find any info about schools in Taiwan.

[Goat]

Just watch out if Taiwan wants to become independeny you will have 1.2 billion communist swimming over to tawian, so the others can walk over there backs..nothing like have a disposable population like China. And i have nothing against the Chinese, my wife is chinese, my baby is half chinese, and all my inlaws are...you guessd it Chinese,