|
I can't wait until they open Dongmen so I never ever have to deal with Taipei loving Main loving Station ever again
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 05:16
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 16, 2024 05:48 |
|
|
quadrophrenic posted:I can't wait until they open Dongmen so I never ever have to deal with Taipei loving Main loving Station ever again Ximen <-> CKS already exists. I've lived at both of these stations, and it makes it so easy to avoid Taipei Main Station. Dongmen is basically the YongKang Street stop, and should be huge for that area. It's also the closest stop to my school, which is making me ponder moving to NanShiJiao, the far end of that line, where you can keep nice housing for cheap.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 05:52
|
|
|
What type of allowance do you all put yourself on a day? If I'm going to be there traveling and sight-seeing in Taipei, what allowance am I looking at?
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 06:06
|
|
|
My food/beverages budget is usually about $200/day. I generally eat two big meals a day, so $70 biandang and some dumplings/noodles cost maybe $80-100, enough left over for water/tea/snacks/street food/whatever. I eat pretty frugally, so Taiwan is great. e: and if you're just going to be romping around Taipei, keep in mind trips on the MRT cost from $15-40, depending on how far you go of course. The MRT is super ridiculously cheap and you should use it as much as you need to. Ravendas posted:Ximen <-> CKS already exists. I've lived at both of these stations, and it makes it so easy to avoid Taipei Main Station. Yeah I live off Yongan Market, so pretty much any time I want to head anywhere on the blue line or the upper yellow line (HESS Main Office/friends' places/cool things in Taipei) I've gotta do the old Bannan Transfer and drat I hate swimming through packed crowds. quadrophrenic fucked around with this message at 06:43 on Sep 11, 2012 |
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 06:38
|
|
|
quadrophrenic posted:Yeah I live off Yongan Market, so pretty much any time I want to head anywhere on the blue line or the upper yellow line (HESS Main Office/friends' places/cool things in Taipei) I've gotta do the old Bannan Transfer and drat I hate swimming through packed crowds. That yellow line is new too, it used to be much harder to get to Hess Main Office. It was either go to the red line's MinQuan station and walk 20 minutes, take some random bus I could never remember, or in my lazy case, just take a taxi. You are one of the new Hess teachers right? Just got a big bunch of new teachers this semester. Whereas I just signed on for a 4th (and last?) year.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 06:49
|
|
|
Yeah, I was part of the first training group. 180 new teachers in all, split into groups of 60. My branch got 5 (!) new teachers, with a 6th on the way.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 06:50
|
|
|
There's a bunch of Hess teachers out here, but they all seem to keep to themselves for some reason. They're pretty bad at socializing outside of their comfort zone it seems. I wonder if that's because most of them have never taught before and likely haven't lived overseas and so just stick to the immediately recognizable surroundings of their school and the people at it.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 06:57
|
|
|
Haraksha posted:There's a bunch of Hess teachers out here, but they all seem to keep to themselves for some reason. They're pretty bad at socializing outside of their comfort zone it seems. I wonder if that's because most of them have never taught before and likely haven't lived overseas and so just stick to the immediately recognizable surroundings of their school and the people at it. I think its a combination of: 1) Many people I've met who work at HESS have no intention of staying more than a year maybe two so they don't really try to socialize much. 2) A lot of people coming here through HESS don't already have friends here. So there is no one to introduce them into the the existing social networks here. Instead they just make friends out of convenience with the people they train/work with.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 07:59
|
|
|
Oh poo poo I've been to that bakery with the awesome cinnamon buns, it's loving GREAT. There's another one in a back alley as you go toward like Heping from there that has amazing gorgonzola bread.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 08:16
|
|
|
duckfarts posted:Lurpak I haven't tried a city super yet, it's on some vague todo list i have somewhere. I mentally categorise pickles with relish and salsa, all of which I consider awesome snack enhancer things. I'm currently boycotting Danish stuff out of some unrealistic sense of something or other. (Carlsberg (no real issue there), Bear Beer (The adverts say German or Swedish but it's actually Danish (see also 1970's porn), and Lurpack)) I think I remember seeing Anchor butter at Carrefour, I'll probably end up using that. Last time around I picked up "snow" margarine which was passable but I could quite easily believe it wasn't butter. HappyHelmet posted:Costco is really the only realistic answer for these things. You can find some of them elsewhere, but its always priced at a premium and usually only available in small quantities. I still didn't get myself a costco card - which is kinda dumb since I work right next to a fairly sizable looking one. Ravendas posted:which is making me ponder moving to NanShiJiao, the far end of that line, where you can keep nice housing for cheap. I lived in NanShiJiao with a friend for a short period when I first arrived. I liked it enough, and I'd consider living there again if I was moving away from XinZhuang. Spanish Matlock posted:amazing gorgonzola bread. This is going to require me to explore.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 08:23
|
|
|
I use Anchor butter. You can get it at just about any grocery store, not even just ones with an import section.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 08:33
|
|
|
Haraksha posted:There's a bunch of Hess teachers out here, but they all seem to keep to themselves for some reason. They're pretty bad at socializing outside of their comfort zone it seems. I wonder if that's because most of them have never taught before and likely haven't lived overseas and so just stick to the immediately recognizable surroundings of their school and the people at it. I'm not sure, sometimes I think I went to the wrong school. My branch, or any branch of Hess, has produced 0 players for my AD&D group. On the other hand, a single branch of Kojen has gained me 5 or 6 players over the years. Wishing more gaming nerds came to Hess. Instead we get people that are all about golf, hiking, and exploring the countryside. Buncha weirdos! At Hess, they have the big training sessions, where you get a little group and stay in a hotel for a week with all the other people in your group, work together to get through the teaching demos, and crap like that. Since it's literally their first week in a new country, and they tend to not know anyone else, they try to make lots of friends within the training group. I never went through that really, because I was at a different school for a few years before coming to Hess, so I didn't stay in the hotel with everyone else, I didn't hang out with the people in my group, and because I already had experience I just breezed through the training without really needing to interact with the others very much. I didn't even have the same "Ooh new to Taiwan~" mindset, so I just kept to myself and got out of it as fast as possible.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 08:37
|
|
|
Hey, thinking of going to the brass monkey ladies' night this thursday evening. Nothing crazy just a night of drinking in front of a seven eleven and maybe even inside of a bar full of girls!
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 10:02
|
|
|
Someone along the line told me that Brass Monkey was some chill cozy sports bar with a nice relaxed atmosphere. First time I went it was ladies night, and that couldn't have been farther from the truth. And not to cast aspersions, but Hess Training Group 1 seemed to be disproportionately full of precious cliquey people who are only interested in hitting up Luxy twice a week with their other white friends. Group 2 seemed to be much more open-minded, and I haven't met Group 3. I'm not free from judgement, I've haven't been having the easiest time making Taiwanese friends myself. But I certainly want to, and I've been trying as much as I can to work on my Chinese for it.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 10:12
|
|
|
I'm missing you guys, I think it must be closing in on time to plan a feast or some poo poo.
|
|
#
?
Sep 11, 2012 18:52
|
|
|
Brass monkey is a pretty chill sports bar if you go to see a sporting event, otherwise it's all about the meat market.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 11:55
|
|
|
quadrophrenic posted:And not to cast aspersions, but Hess Training Group 1 seemed to be disproportionately full of precious cliquey people who are only interested in hitting up Luxy twice a week with their other white friends. Group 2 seemed to be much more open-minded, and I haven't met Group 3. As a graduate of this year's group 3, I'd say it's pretty much 50/50 between the two. As an aside, living in Taoyuan City is kinda poo poo.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 12:59
|
|
|
Internet is finally back on after a 36 hour black out. Fsck Taiwan. Heads would be rolling in Japan over this.. .. Anyways... I have stick and skates in Taipei, so at least one guy does  I'm clearly spending too much on food @ about 500/day.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 14:39
|
|
|
I don't know how you could spend 500 a day on food and not be the fattest man on the island. That's a ton of food. That's like an all-you-can-eat plus unlimited beer meat barbecue every single day.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 15:06
|
|
|
Spanish Matlock posted:I don't know how you could spend 500 a day on food and not be the fattest man on the island. That's a ton of food. That's like an all-you-can-eat plus unlimited beer meat barbecue every single day. Most of the all-you-can eat places here run $500 a head so I'd say that is about right if a person was eating at those places everyday. However, nobody does that and $500 a day really is quite a bit. Even if you were only eating Subway that is like 4 footlong sandwiches a day. I spend an average of about $200 a day myself.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 15:39
|
|
|
Dark Onion posted:As a graduate of this year's group 3, I'd say it's pretty much 50/50 between the two. That's not too far from Sanxia, actually. We should get a bottle of whiskey to celebrate.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 16:02
|
|
|
Subway lunch = 180 Choose your own adventure buffet = 200 Jug-o-water = 30 Pearl Tea = 100
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 16:15
|
|
|
Haraksha posted:That's not too far from Sanxia, actually. We should get a bottle of whiskey to celebrate. Count me in!
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 16:16
|
|
|
dtb posted:Subway lunch = 180 You drink 2-3 pearl teas a day? Yikes. Those things are too heavy for me, they make me feel nauseous. Buy some looseleaf at some place, boil up some tea at home (and quickly fill it with ice). Way cheaper than buying tons of tea at the shops every day. I usually get one tea outside for lunch, and then make my own at night. Try and eat other things besides subway though, you'll go crazy. I limit myself to once a week, then just eat dumplings, guotieh or noodles for lunch. Luckily dinner is usually handled by my wife who likes to cook.
|
|
#
?
Sep 12, 2012 17:01
|
|
|
dtb posted:Subway lunch = 180 Ravendas already answered this, but that is quite a lot to spend every day. Like Rav I limit myself to Subway once a week. I'd say try to find a noodle shop you like near your place, and a lunch box place you can go to a few times a week to help break things up. Those kinds of places are everywhere and often pretty cheap. Despite my bitching the last few pages several supermarkets in Taiwan to do have a bakery section with some loaves of white sandwich bread that is about on par with Wonder bread back in the USA. It's not perfect, but it's ok to snack on/make sandwiches out of.
|
|
#
?
Sep 13, 2012 02:09
|
|
|
Oh, and for water, just get a Brita filter. I think the filters themselves are something like 200nt each (3pack for 580 last I remember?). I use it, and they last a few months each. So 200nt for a few months of easily obtained water is good for me. I've been drinking it for a few years now and I've yet to get sick or die from anything in the (Taipei) water, so it seems to work well enough. Tastes good too. I even use the filtered water to fill up my hot water heater, and noticed a huge decrease in sediment at the bottom I used to have to clean up. By hot water heater, I mean that "Push a button, hot water comes out" kinda thing for tea and soup.
|
|
#
?
Sep 13, 2012 04:50
|
|
|
Yeah I've got to find the super market nearest me. I just moved on Saturday after being here for only for two weeks so I'm a little disorientated. I'm not in to investing anything here though since I'll be leaving in ~3 months pending something crazy life changing happening so I'll skip on the filter. Even if it pays for itself, throwing it away will be hassle.
|
|
#
?
Sep 13, 2012 13:32
|
|
|
You could always give it to me.
|
|
#
?
Sep 13, 2012 14:33
|
|
|
Haraksha posted:That's not too far from Sanxia, actually. We should get a bottle of whiskey to celebrate. There's a very good chance I'll take you up on that, depending on how much progress I can make on my grad school applications this weekend. Most of the people I work with seem to have kids/significant others/whatevers so I haven't had a chance to get trashed with strangers in some time. I don't even have a phone yet haha.
|
|
#
?
Sep 13, 2012 15:01
|
|
|
I'm usually available. Not sure how to get between the cities. I would just drive. Is there a bus?
|
|
#
?
Sep 13, 2012 15:36
|
|
|
I was offered a job teaching in Kaohsiung, I was really excited to go, but I just now cancelled after my school changed my arrival date three times in three weeks. It didn't give me confidence it would be a good place to work. There seems to be a lot of teachers here so a quick question: I've got three years teaching experience in Italy, plus a Bsc and CELTA, would it be safe for me to go to Taiwan before securing a job?
|
|
#
?
Sep 15, 2012 17:40
|
|
|
Yeah, a lot of places actually want an in person interview and teaching demonstration, so most people come here without a job lined up.
|
|
#
?
Sep 15, 2012 18:24
|
|
|
Hey Taiwan goons, how is the situation with Diao Yu Dao in Taiwan? People in China are going ballistic, letting off steam to trash Chinese made Japanese cars and Chinese owned Japanese restaurants. Heck the ever non sensational Apple news reported that even Rolex Stores and 7-11 got trashed. Funny how all this started from boats leaving HK and Taiwan. And even more funny how "patriotic" the HK guys were about the island that they are labeled as dissenters in China and are barred to go to China. Flying the PRC flag but hating the PRC for not being real communists.
|
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 00:29
|
|
|
I guess technically Taiwan has a claim to the islands, but I don't think many Taiwanese people care all that much, certainly not enough to protest. I get the impression that most Taiwanese are fairly realistic when it comes to global politics. Even if they don't like what's happening, they understand there's little if anything they can do about it. Apparently the government is holding an essay contest about the islands though! Edit: I'm browsing the major Taiwanese news sites right now, and most of them seem to focus on the dispute through the lens of protests in China and Japan buying the islands. They usually make a quick mention of Taiwanese sovereignty, but it doesn't really go anywhere. I guess some lawmakers have been stomping their feet, but the Taiwanese legislature is kind of known for making a lot of noise. None of the Taiwanese people I know even talk about it. Atlas Hugged fucked around with this message at 02:58 on Sep 16, 2012 |
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 02:50
|
|
|
^^^Yeah, basically this. Aside from a tenuous claim to the islands by Taiwan that would be impossible for them to try and enforce it doesn't really involve Taiwan.caberham posted:Hey Taiwan goons, how is the situation with Diao Yu Dao in Taiwan? People in China are going ballistic, letting off steam to trash Chinese made Japanese cars and Chinese owned Japanese restaurants. Heck the ever non sensational Apple news reported that even Rolex Stores and 7-11 got trashed. I haven't heard anything, but I don't follow the news as closely as some of the other people here. Many Taiwanese people have closer ties to Japan than China, and many straight up hate China. So besides maybe some bitching about the islands REALLY belonging to Taiwan it will probably mostly be indifference here.
|
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 02:55
|
|
|
caberham posted:Hey Taiwan goons, how is the situation with Diao Yu Dao in Taiwan? People in China are going ballistic, letting off steam to trash Chinese made Japanese cars and Chinese owned Japanese restaurants. Heck the ever non sensational Apple news reported that even Rolex Stores and 7-11 got trashed. Apologies for the long post, but here's a little more detail from the political side of the Diaoyutai/Senkaku issue in Taiwan. Taiwan's claim is based mainly off a mix of traditional fishing grounds (probably our strongest argument), and/or the old ROC irredentionist argument (Diaoyutai were part of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which was a Chinese tributary state before the Japanese annexed it in the 19th century... long story). The most common response you'll normally hear is "Why should we care, they're Japanese anyhow" to "Yeah, would be nice if be got them, but get real." The response you'll get does seem to break down roughly along partisan lines: Green / Deep Green (DPP, TSU): Ambivalent ("The economy is crap and you're concerned about a couple of uninhabited rocks?") to favoring Japanese ownership (ex-president Lee says the whole thing is a fishing rights question, not a territorial dispute) Blue (KMT): Ambivalent ("The economy is crap and you're concerned about a couple of uninhabited rocks?") to favoring Taiwan/ROC ownership (President Ma just recalled our pseudo-ambassador to Japan over the whole mess) Deep Blue (KMT old guard, various PRC front groups): "DIAOYUTAI IS SOVEREIGN CHINESE TERRITORY BELONGING TO THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA!!! LITTLE JAPANESE GET OUT OF THE CHINESE TERRITORY OF TAIWAN!!!!! ALL CHINESE IN TAIWAN AND THE MAINLAND STAND AGAINST JAPANESE IMPERIALISM!!!!" These would be the 70-some odd people who actually went and protested outside the Japanese pseudo-embassy the other day, while everyone else looked at them funny. There are a few things to remember though, when considering Taiwan's current position on the issue: - The Diaoyutai issue really resonates primarily with the old guard KMT Chinese Nationalists, who tend to be the only group in Taiwan with any really appreciable level of anti-Japanese sentiment. This is a small, and dwindlling group, as the 1949 era migrants die out / assimilate into mainstream society. - Some local fishing associations are also involved in the issue, but mainly from a fishing rights standpoint. - Most Taiwanese tend to be pretty pro-Japan. This is a combination of 50 years as a Japanese colony (1895-1945), which was probably the first time anyone had tried to impose some semblance of order or development on what was once a very lawless frontier island. It also helps that the KMT administration that followed immediately after WWII was pretty horrible in comparison, as well as the fact that Japan is one of our current neighbors with a high standard of development that is not actively trying to conquer us. - Despite being reelected earlier this year, President Ma's (KMT) approval rating (never high), has been close to rock bottom lately, since his promises of closer ties with China delivering economic benefits have not really paid off for anyone but the top 1% here. Additionally, it is becoming clear that the PRC's position of forcibly absorbing Taiwan hasn't changed, with the military buildup on the other side of the strait accelerating. Also insert corruption scandals, being generally aloof, and Beijing being Beijing. Long story short: the Ma administration has pretty much lost your average middle of the road voter, as well as many moderates in his own party. He's not going to risk being deserted by the hardcore KMT supporters by looking soft on the Diaoyutai issue. Hence his uncharacteristically strong response to the issue. - On the other hand, it is well known that Beijing has been trying to create a united front between Taipei and Beijing on the Diaoyutai issue. Likely as an attempt to drive a wedge between Taiwan and Japan (with whom we've traditionally had good relations). Ma knows that allying with Beijing on this issue is going to be bad from a domestic political standpoint (most Taiwanese like Japan), as well as from a strategic standpoint (no one, short of the most rabid Chinese nationalist, wants to see a PRC military outpost on Diaoyutai), as well as from a foreign relations standpoint (Ma received tacit support from the U.S. during his reelection bid by presenting himself as being "pragmatic and rational"). So he's also put out a proposal for shelving territorial claims while pursuing "joint development". Naturally, this approach has pleased almost no one. skysedge fucked around with this message at 06:33 on Sep 16, 2012 |
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 06:29
|
|
|
If anyone is interested in classical music, you should check out the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. I saw them perform last night, and they are really good.
|
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 06:37
|
|
|
nubdestoryer posted:I was offered a job teaching in Kaohsiung, I was really excited to go, but I just now cancelled after my school changed my arrival date three times in three weeks. It didn't give me confidence it would be a good place to work. What school was it ?
|
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 07:30
|
|
|
skysedge posted:... Great summary.謝謝
|
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 09:35
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 16, 2024 05:48 |
|
|
thegoat posted:What school was it ? Shane's. The wage wasn't great but I figured I could have worked there for some months while I got my feet and found somewhere better. But yeah, they were constantly changing the date they wanted me to arrive, screwing with my plans.
|
|
#
?
Sep 16, 2012 09:38
|
|