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10 Things You Should Know About Life as a Foreigner in Taiwan

12/2/2020

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As someone contemplating expat life in Taiwan, you may be afraid of what life is actually like living here as a foreigner. Therefore we have created this short list of the main things you should consider before taking the plunge and moving to Taiwan. All things considered, you should move here; it's perhaps the best country in the world to live for expats.

​Let's get this listicle started.

1. Taiwan has Excellent Healthcare 台灣的健保非常棒
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Taiwan has recently received a lot of press for its great response to the Covid-19 outbreak. But Taiwan has had a world class universal healthcare system for decades, known as National Health Insurance (NHI). People have long been coming to Taiwan for "medical tourism," due to Taiwan's low cost and high quality medical care. You can read more in our guide to Taiwan's healthcare system here. 

2. Be Wary of Bad Landlords 當心惡劣房東
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One of the main reasons for people moving in Taiwan is bad landlords. If your landlord charges you left and right for extra utilities, is invading your privacy, or doesn't fix/replace appliances as stated in the contract, you will want to move. To avoid this, talk about these issues before you sign the contract and avoid anything that will make your life uncomfortable in the future. This might mean bringing in a friend that speaks Chinese to help understand your future landlord. ​For more tips on choosing an apartment in Taiwan, check out our apartment rental guide here.
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​​3. Taiwanese Food is Delicious! 臺灣食物好吃!
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We love Taiwan food! Don’t be the expat that eats at McDonald’s for every meal. There is so much delicious food everywhere! Get out of your comfort zone and try some of the amazing food in Taiwan, you won't regret it. Besides Taiwanese food, you can also find authentic cuisine from all countries throughout Asia here.

​4. Taiwan's Banking System is Outdated 台灣銀行制度很落後
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Banking in Taiwan as a foreigner can be a frustrating experience, especially with a language barrier and cultural gaps. Banking still is a major pain even for long time residents. However we have made this guide to help make banking in Taiwan a little easier, more efficient, and more beneficial especially for expats new to Taiwan. For a full guide on Taiwan's banking system, click here. 

5. Taiwanese People are Super Friendly 臺灣人很友善
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Taiwanese people are really nice, especially to western foreigners. However, this cannot be said for all foreigners, especially Southeast Asians. Many love to practice English and make friends from "richer" countries. For this reason, Taiwan might be one of the most foreign friendly countries in the world. However, unfortunately many Taiwan look down upon foreigners from Southeast Asian countries that usually do migrant blue collar work. But, if you need your picture taken, you can be sure Taiwanese people will be happy and willing to help, and they will not steal your camera. Need directions? They are happy to help even if it is in broken English. Need to use the restroom in the middle of nowhere? I was camping in the middle of nowhere and suddenly had explosive diarrhea. The neighbors nearby let me take a shower in their house and showed me to the nearest clinic. They can be the nicest people on the planet. ​

6. Many Foreigners are Working in Slave Like Conditions 很多外國人的工作環境像到奴役制度
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Most foreigners in Taiwan are blue collar laborers are from Indonesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, and Thailand. According to Taiwan's government database, there are roughly 700,000 foreign blue collar workers in Taiwan. Most of these people either work in manufacturing or caring for Taiwan's elderly. 
​Most of your fellow foreigners in Taiwan are from Southeast Asian countries coming here to do blue collar jobs that nobody else wants to do for very long hours and for very low wages. We want to give them a voice and hope these people are not forgotten.

7. Taiwan is a Free and Independent Nation! 臺灣是個自由獨立的國家!
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If you respect democratic freedom, you should also respect Taiwan independence, or at least recognize the current status quo that means Taiwan an independent nation state, even if it is a geo-political absurdity and not recognized by most of the world. Taiwan has its own independent democratically elected government. It was the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage. It has its own military, legal system, tax system, and immigration system. Also, it has a unique culture and history separate from PRC China. 

​8. Taiwan is Safe 臺灣很安全
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​Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world;  it was named in the top global peace index and was named the safest country in the world in 2016. People are not allowed to own guns in Taiwan. You don’t need to worry about getting mugged in the street when you are here, being racially profiled by police, or walking alone on the street at night. People here are nice to people they don't know, especially if they are from a vibrant (rich) foreign country. Also, Taiwan is politically stable, even with pressure from China.

9. Taiwan is Convenient 臺灣很方便
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Taiwan is one of the most convenient countries in the world. There are almost 10,000 convenience stores, putting them in walking distance for most people. It is hard to tour Taiwan without seeing a 7-11, Family Mart, OK Mart, or Hi-Life everywhere you go. These stores also let people pay their bills with cash, purchase travel tickets, print pictures, ship and receive packages, buy everyday items, and much more.
In addition, Taiwan has some of the most convenient public transport anywhere, from the MRT, lots of buses, to the train and high speed rail.
Also, health clinics are everywhere, and even if you don’t have insurance a checkup is very affordable. A normal checkup is no more than $30 USD, and if you are enrolled in NHI, the copay will range from $2 - $8 USD.

10. Taiwan has enldless places to explore! 臺灣很好玩!
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​Because Taiwan is so convenient and has such a developed transportation system, it is easy to travel and have fun. Two thirds of Taiwan is covered in mountains. It has the highest mountain in East Asia (Jade Mountain), and the world's deepest marble gorge (Taroko Gorge). You can also visit Kenting’s tropical beaches, beautiful beaches and snorkeling locations on outer islands, to Hot Springs in nearly every county, to night markets and endless shopping. Check out our blog index for more places you should check out. 

For more pertinent information for foreigners new to Taiwan, check out our foreigner survival guide here.
​

Please like and share! If we forgot something, please tell us in the comments below!
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15 Comments
Anonymous
12/2/2020 10:37:30 am

I think this heavily depends on skin color. As an American of Asian decent, I am not treated the same as other Americans. I have been told to act more "lady like" and have been told told that I am not like "other Americans." I find that hilarious since I'm an American born and raised. When I tutor or teach English, I am constantly questioned whether or not English is my native language. Although I do agree that there are many many benefits of being here, at the same time, being a person of Asian decent, at times I wonder if it better to deal with the ignorant discrimination here or the discrimination in the USA where I can easily fight back.

Reply
Darcy Cardinal
12/2/2020 10:55:14 am

For sure the experience is different for everyone, I'm darker skinned so I wasn't sure what to expect when I went to TW in 2019. From my own memory, I didn't notice much out of place in terms of how I was treated, but then again, I've never really cared about what others think of me in that regards.

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Anonymous
12/2/2020 12:34:03 pm

It definitely depends on everyone's own experience. I just think it's important for people to know all sides before making a decision.

I did my Master's in Taiwan and had to deal with a bunch of ignorance, which initially was just annoying, but increasingly became frustrating. When I first arrived in Taiwan I would try to use Chinese as much as possible as I wanted to assimilate (took some classes in college, no where near fluent, but I figured that I'd try). However, just by saying simple phrases other students assumed I was perfect at Mandarin and would just give me full blown Chinese instructions instead of walking me thoroughly. Even after explaining that I can't really read well, they'd simply respond with, "Just tell us if you don't understand something." The answer is everything. I don't understand everything. It never sunk in. So, I'd spend hours trying to figure out how to translate it into English, then when a new lab mate came in (looks white), EVERYTHING magically turned into English. Whenever I asked for help, people would be confused when I'd ask in English instead of Chinese and give me a hard time, but everything was perfectly fine if I brought my white lab mate around (with new equipment, I prefer speaking solely in English because I don't want to destroy the instrument).

And yet, at the end, I'd have to correct everyone's English thesis. Go figure.

Essentially, in my case, I'm not foreign enough to be considered a "real" foreigner. Personally, I'm probably more sensitive to these types of situations because I grew up with similar situations just in reverse (always seen as a foreigner in the US despite not being a foreigner). So, it simply gets tiring especially after a long day.

Taiwan is a great place, please don't misunderstand. Day to day life has been great since graduation, but I personally wished I knew about the cons to being in Taiwan in addition to the pros. I probably just got super unlucky with the school and lab. (don't want to name the school, but it is a "National" university) Who knows.

Sabrina Sutherland
12/2/2020 11:21:01 am

I'm sorry to hear that and that you have to experience that.

Reply
Anon
12/2/2020 12:23:23 pm

I love seeing Americans who move out of a western first world country complaining about other parts of the world being "ignorant" or "regressive". Be it Japan, China, Taiwan, or India, where ever they go, they always choose to live an easy life teaching English as expats, and take it extremely for granted, while making minimum effort trying to learn the local language.

Most Asians from Asia don't try to "change" other countries when traveling to a foreign country. No offense but it's a uniquely westerner thing to live in a place for 3 months and feeling entitled to tell locals how to live their life.

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Anonymous
12/2/2020 12:42:26 pm

I never told others how to live and I've been here for over 5 years. I clearly love being in Taiwan otherwise I wouldn't have stayed. I have learned Mandarin and am now conversationally proficient and I am not an English teacher. I simply tutored/taught as a side gig when I was studying for my Master's. Day to day life after graduation has been great. However, I simply wanted to state my experience as a student for others just in case someone else in a similar position wanted to come here for school. It still rubs me the wrong way when people question my identity, but isn't an impact on my employment anymore. So, I typically let it slide.

However, as an international student, I simply expected to receive the same help as other international student.

Tina
12/2/2020 09:16:31 pm

It is also quite common for complications to happen when immigrants "return to the motherland" due to cultural differences. I think this articles sums it up well:

https://matadornetwork.com/abroad/traveling-to-the-motherland-motherland-travel/

David
12/2/2020 11:13:37 am

Be Wary of Bad Landlords 當心惡劣房東. I have lived here for 25 year and never had a bad landlord. All have been kind. Taiwan's Banking System is Outdated 台灣銀行制度很落後 I have never had a problem banking in Taiwan. Many Foreigners are Working in Slave Like Conditions 很多外國人的工作環境像到奴役制度 Why do hyou think they leave their native countries? Because the salariy they earn in Taiwan is often 4 times what they can make in their own country and they have enough to send back home to support their families.

Reply
Red
12/2/2020 01:37:52 pm

No, it’s just clearly you don’t spend time out of your comfort zone, mate! You really don’t know what is really happening to those Southeast Asian workers. I have a lot of friends from those said countries. It is indeed, they are suffering here though it’s all on them because they chose to work here but the thing is, THEY DON’T EXPECT TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT, & they just looking for way more better opportunities than they thought. LET’S JUST ACCEPT THAT Westerners(i.e white) has more privileges than Asian ones, and that’s the tea!

Reply
Richintaiwan
12/2/2020 10:53:43 pm

So sick of you sheep repeating white privileged garbage vomit..no such thing

Richintaiwan
12/2/2020 10:50:58 pm

Spot on comment

Reply
Darcy Cardinal
12/2/2020 01:16:35 pm

I am for sure considering moving to Taiwan, but I do need to go back and stay for at least 90 days just make sure I'm making a smart decision. As a foreigner, I can see it's easy to view a new exotic place like Taiwan through rose tinted glasses. I don't want to be like those kind of people, just be realistic and go in with an open mind. I can agree that the crime thing is a refreshing change from where I'm from.

Reply
Akram Elhalawany link
12/2/2020 03:56:27 pm

I LOVE TAIWAN
I LOVE Every thing in Taiwan ....peoples, streets,night markets,.......ect.
hope to visit it again

Reply
David
12/4/2020 05:07:04 pm

I love Taiwan. I was there for one year and I want to live there for a while again!!

Reply
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     Author 作家

    We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. ​Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country.

    ​​我們是在台灣的外國人!我們透過額部落格想要幫助外國人了解台灣生活,旅遊,和商業的環境!我們不代表所有在台灣的外國人, 我們只是想要幫助世界各地的人了解台灣美好的一切! (美國人在管理)

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