On Living in Taiwan

Someone asked me the other day if living in Taiwan, which I’ve done for the past ten years, has meant a loss or dilution of my unique Australian heritage: my answer was an outraged “Fair suck of the sav, mate!” – a classic Australian expression to show amazement and incredulity, because in reality the opposite has been true. Since Australian and Chinese societies are so far apart in nature, it has been possible to eat, live, work and love in Taiwan without any cross-pollution of cultural characteristics or eccentricities; in fact, being a stranger in a strange land has meant . . . → Read More: On Living in Taiwan

Taiwan Comes With Dental

Sometimes on this blog Pete and I get into rants about the good, the bad and the ugly of a couple of western guys living in Taiwan. Coming as we do from Australia there is much to be found that is different in our new surroundings and culture. Some good… some not so good. For example sewerage pipes and restaurants. Sometimes it seems in Taiwan that there is some obligatory local council regulation that requires that any sewerage pipes in the vicinity of the front entrance to a restaurant must have some kind of fault or defect. The purpose being . . . → Read More: Taiwan Comes With Dental

Good and Bad Manners – Taiwan Style

I was talking to a friend the other day and the subject of manners came up. I did a search on the web to see if I could find some information but most sites refer to eating or table etiquette, which I guess is socially where manners seem to count the most. Each culture has its own idiosyncrasies. In the West it’s considered bad to belch at the table. In Asia it’s a sign of satisfaction with the meal. I was brought up to arrive on time everywhere – it’s a no-no in many countries, especially for dinner. A hearty . . . → Read More: Good and Bad Manners – Taiwan Style