Living in Taiwan is part of David's plan to experience what it's like to live and work in a foreign country. Sure, there are things that he doesn't relish about living in Banqiao, but there are many things to appreciate, too - such as the friendly people and the beautiful places the island has to offer.	David Reid

September 04 2006

-Where were you born?
In a small country town in Victoria, Australia

-In which country and city are you living now?
Banqiao. It is a large city in Taipei County, Taiwan.

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I am living alone.

-How long have you been living in Taiwan?
I have been in Taiwan for five months now. Actually my history in Taiwan goes back a lot further. I first came to Taiwan in 1999 for a year. I have spent about two years living here in total.

-What is your age?
33

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Taiwan?
Initially I decided to come to Taiwan in 1999 to learn Mandarin Chinese and to gain experience living and working in a foreign country. That was just after I graduated from university.

I have since spent time living and working in China, Thailand and India as well. Taiwan is the country where I feel most comfortable.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
The paperwork takes a little while to process, but generally it is fairly easy. As long as you meet the criteria and have the required documents there shouldn't be any problems.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No. Most jobs will provide National Health Insurance.

-How do you make your living in Taiwan? Do you have any type of income generated?
I work as an English teacher. For native speakers it is not difficult to find a job. The only qualification required is a degree. While jobs are easy to find, good jobs are more difficult to find. Taiwan is probably not the best place to pursue a long-term career in TEFL.

I found my job by going around to different schools asking for work. That is probably the best way combined with ads on the internet and in newspapers. It is possible to get jobs through agents, but it is not necessary. I think it is better to find something yourself.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak Mandarin and I would also like to learn Taiwanese. Speaking the local language makes for a totally different experience. You are just so much more hooked into what is going on around you.

I think it is important to try and understand local customs. Spending time observing is important. Just because something is different doesn't mean it's wrong. It is good idea to try to understand the concept of "losing face" and "gaining face."

In general the risks of committing a great faux pas are not as great as in some other countries.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss my family, but otherwise I feel like this place is my home.

I love hiking and there are many great mountain trails that are easily accessible from Taipei. I also like cycling, but the traffic here is terrible and cycling is not always fun. If you like mountain biking then there are some great off-road trails.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
If I stay in Taiwan long term I either plan to do some post-graduate studies or find a job that is more challenging and interesting.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I am currently renting. I pay about US$270 for a large studio apartment. A good apartment in downtown Taipei would cost a lot more. In areas outside Taipei and the other major cities rent is very cheap. For what I pay for my studio apartment you could rent a big house.

If I stay here long term then I will probably buy an apartment. I haven't really investigated the housing market here much though.

-What is the cost of living in Taiwan?
I think it is a little cheaper than living in Australia, but much more expensive than Thailand. You can live here fairly cheaply if you want, but you can also very easily spend a lot of money, too.

-What do you think about the Taiwanese people?
Taiwanese people are generally fairly open and accepting of foreigners. One characteristic of Taiwanese culture is that people can be indifferent to strangers. Once you get to know people though, they are incredibly kind and generous.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Taiwan?
The negative aspects are definitely the appalling traffic conditions and pollution. By traffic conditions I don't just mean traffic jams. While the roads are very busy the traffic usually flows reasonably well. What bother me are the appalling driving habits. Most Taiwanese show no courtesy to other road users, have little understanding of road safety and no respect for the road rules.

Most of the urban areas are crowded and ugly. Although there is some interesting and even beautiful architecture here, most buildings are utilitarian concrete boxes. Little attempt is made to preserve buildings with historical and heritage values. Generally speaking Taiwanese people don't concern themselves much with aesthetics.

The upside is the ease of escaping from the above problems. Most places in Taiwan are close to the mountains which offer fresh air and beautiful views.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Taiwan?
Make an effort to learn the language. There seems to be a perception that Mandarin is an impossible language to learn. It is difficult, but if you apply yourself you can do it. The results are well worth it.

Also take some time to explore the island. There are many places of beauty and interest out there to discover.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Taiwan?
I have a blog called David on Formosa and also a website called David's Guide to Taiwan. Both of these contain a lot of useful information about living here and especially about travel and learning Chinese.

The website I would recommend as the best source of information for anyone living here or thinking about living here is Forumosa.com. Michael Turton's blog The View from Taiwan and website Michael Turton's Teaching English in Taiwan Web Pages are also packed with useful information.