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House Louse posted:Yeah, but there's fewer of them, and you can't really spot them from outside the island. Whatever you think about Hess, it's great for newbies. I applied for my job from overseas and got hired without so much as a skype interview. I also got incredibly lucky. They were fairly flexible with contracts after my first year. A year was minimum for paperwork, but I was getting 2 year contracts which was more convenient for ARC reasons and when I didn't complete the second year on my final contract I wasn't docked any part of my bonus.
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Jul 29, 2015 17:55
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Can anyone give me some advice about renting and riding scooters in Taiwan. I've put a day trip to Haulien to Toroko Gorge and back on the to do list. I ride a 500 cc standard at home so two wheels is not new to me. (as previously mentioned, I've done this before but as a pillion passenger, I have drove up the west coast however) prices, road rules... Negative Entropy fucked around with this message at 07:35 on Aug 3, 2015 |
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Aug 3, 2015 07:33
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So the Minister of Education managed to get himself into a further kerfuffle on the whole history textbooks front. He met with students and whatnot yesterday, and was snapped rolling his eyes at them: After which he noticed the camera again and halfway forced a smile out. His official excuse is "My eyes were tired, I was just
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Aug 4, 2015 06:44
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TetsuoTW posted:So the Minister of Education managed to get himself into a further kerfuffle on the whole history textbooks front. He met with students and whatnot yesterday, and was snapped rolling his eyes at them: 
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Aug 4, 2015 07:03
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TetsuoTW posted:So the Minister of Education managed to get himself into a further kerfuffle on the whole history textbooks front. He met with students and whatnot yesterday, and was snapped rolling his eyes at them: What a loving choad. I wonder who did what to make him actually show up this time. Otherwise, I'm not as familiar with local politics as I'd like to think I am, but how strong is the "independent Taiwan" ideology? I mean, most of the folks I talk to around here, I get the feeling of a lot of anti-China/reunification sentiment, so it just seems really surprising to me that the KMT would struggle to hold onto the idea of reunification if their plan is to hold any kind of popular power. I don't know, I just feel like I'm missing something.
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Aug 4, 2015 07:47
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Only the Tea Party equivalent of the KMT wants actual reunification under Beijing. The more mainstream of the party wants a "special relationship" (if you're forgiving) or "to be like Hong Kong" (if you're cynical). Also, don't you live in the south? That's deep pan-green country, so yeah your going to get a disproportionate level of anti-China/reunification sentiment. It's like living in Oklahoma and wondering how the Democrats keep getting elected President because everyone you talk to is so anti-liberal.
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Aug 4, 2015 08:03
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Nobody of any importance in the KMT is publicly advocating reunification anymore, the KMT now stands for closer ties to China so they are in favor of trade agreements, direct flights, looser visa controls on mainland tourists, etc... The DPP would love independence but they're wise enough to understand even if they were to sweep both houses of the Legislative Yuan and win the presidency, standing up and declaring a "Republic of Taiwan" is the fastest way to get Taiwan carpet-bombed while simultaneously absolving the US of any obligation to come to their defense. That's just the 1-sentence summaries though, there's more nuance than that. From my anecdotal experience literally 0% of people under the age of 40 have any desire for reunification and most are vaguely in favor of independence in some way at some time that works for Taiwan but are in no rush because why piss off China when they don't have to, and right now they have it pretty good. Of course the above is only about the role of China. There are also arguments over local things like nuclear power, growing income disparities, etc...
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Aug 4, 2015 08:04
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I was really confused by Taiwanese politics until someone (a highly-educated Taiwanese person) explained that the parties here don't follow the liberal/conservative divide like in most other countries, but are pretty much solely divided by their opinion on the relationship with China. So that's why you get the KMT (which I had perceived as the conservative party) being fiercely in favor of free trade and more open borders and the DPP (which I thought was the left-wingers) throwing around "keep foreign businesses out, Taiwan for the Taiwanese" rhetoric.
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Aug 4, 2015 08:14
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Those are both positions pretty consistent with the political left and right in America though. The political left is labor-friendly and protectionist, the political right is business-friendly and globalist.
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Aug 4, 2015 08:17
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I just remember that a lot of the DPP critiques of last year's trade deal could have come from the Republicans talking about the TPP or NAFTA.
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Aug 4, 2015 08:23
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Moon Slayer posted:Also, don't you live in the south? That's deep pan-green country, so yeah your going to get a disproportionate level of anti-China/reunification sentiment. It's like living in Oklahoma and wondering how the Democrats keep getting elected President because everyone you talk to is so anti-liberal. Yeah, Chiayi. I figured as much, and was wondering if the sentiment was different in Taipei or the other big cities. I know there's that Taiwanese Independence Party which seems to be the "slightly popular, but still viewed as a bit too crazy" party. The impression I get from the KMT (which could be totally wrong) is this idea that there's China, and the Communists control *this area* (circles all of mainland China) while the KMT/RoC controls *this area* (circles Taiwan); as though it were two political parities dividing up territory rather than two governments. But then again, having lived in Oklahoma City for a few months, what you say is completely right, and I try not to get into lengthy political talks to avoid being the nosy expat who thinks he knows better because he's not from here. It's just with the presidential elections coming up, I'm curious what the thoughts and public sentiments are. Ah well, I just wish they would relax the laws on importing bikes and using large bikes on the freeways. I'm wanting to upgrade from my SR150 to something bigger in the next year or so depending on how things go job wise. Will probably buy a second hand 250 or 300 if I can find one, because buying new is laughably expensive.
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Aug 4, 2015 09:21
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Bloodnose posted:Those are both positions pretty consistent with the political left and right in America though. The political left is labor-friendly and protectionist, the political right is business-friendly and globalist. I think the general point that Taiwanese politics doesn't follow the Western left/right deal is true though, based on talking to some friends about this. Moon Slayer posted:Only the Tea Party equivalent of the KMT wants actual reunification under Beijing. The more mainstream of the party wants a "special relationship" (if you're forgiving) or "to be like Hong Kong" (if you're cynical). UK and US have a "special relationship", isn't that cynical enough?
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Aug 4, 2015 09:37
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YF19pilot posted:Yeah, Chiayi. I figured as much, and was wondering if the sentiment was different in Taipei or the other big cities. I know there's that Taiwanese Independence Party which seems to be the "slightly popular, but still viewed as a bit too crazy" party. From the university students and Taiwanese-and-proud business owners I talked to in the Taipei area, most of them liked the idea of an independent Taiwan but have sort of resigned themselves to Chinese assimilation as an eventuality. They don't know if it will happen tomorrow or in a hundred years, but they see a Hong Kong type of situation as the most likely outcome. That said, they're not fans of any kind of policy or legislation that might allow Chinese influence sooner rather than later and so as a result weren't big fans of the KMT. Does anyone know anything about how voting culture works in Taiwan? What's the biggest factor in affecting someone's vote? As in, do people tend to make up their own minds or do they tend to vote alongside their families, social groups, etc.
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Aug 4, 2015 09:47
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Atlas Hugged posted:they tend to vote alongside their families, social groups, etc.
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Aug 4, 2015 09:58
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Since we're doing election talk, I remember back in 2011 for the last presidential election what I heard the most from Taiwanese people was "I really don't like Ma but if Tsai wins there will be a war with China, so ..." I guess it says something that the administration has managed to make itself so unpopular that war with China is preferable to four more years of KMT rule. EDIT: There won't really be a war if/when Tsai wins in January. Moon Slayer fucked around with this message at 10:12 on Aug 4, 2015 |
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Aug 4, 2015 10:09
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War with China would probably be preferable to a Hung administration though. Honestly a Tsai administration is just four years for China to throw a big hissy baby fit and do everything in their power to show people that a DPP administration is bad for Taiwan's economy wink wink.
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Aug 4, 2015 11:22
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One of our doormen downstairs came over from China way back when and he's firmly of the belief that there will be a war with China or a Chinese invasion in our lifetimes. As for unification/independence views, TISR has data from February showing pretty consistently higher expectations that "Taiwan will ultimately become independent" over "Taiwan will ultimately unify with China"  Overall, in my limited experience, most people's opinion on the independence/unification thing is "couldn't give an active gently caress." The status quo tends to win out in polling, and since the status quo is, in reality, "Taiwan is functionally independent" there's not so much call for active pro-independence agitation. It's also worth noting that as far as the "they control that, we control this" territorial thing goes, it will remain for a good long time the case that the ROC continues to claim the mainland, because that's how the ROC's territory is defined in the constitution and the moment anyone even thinks about changing that China will poo poo blood. Moon Slayer posted:2011 for the last presidential election what I heard the most from Taiwanese people was "I really don't like Ma but if Tsai wins there will be a war with China, so ..." quote:EDIT: There won't really be a war if/when Tsai wins in January. Spanish Matlock posted:do everything in their power to show people that a DPP administration is bad for Taiwan's economy wink wink. e: If you're into all this poo poo, Frozen Garlic is a p. good blog by a dude who works for the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica and has been in Taiwan (to some degree or other) since 1989. As a start, have the most recent article, about Hung Hsiu-chu likening her imagined DPP igniting of the current student protests to Mao's kicking off the Cultural Revolution (for gently caress's sake). sub supau fucked around with this message at 11:48 on Aug 4, 2015 |
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Aug 4, 2015 11:40
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Also, it's dangerous to go alone, take this:
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Aug 4, 2015 11:42
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So Typhoon Soudelor is gonna kill us all. I'm flying out to Hong Kong friday morning and coming back Sunday night, so we'll see if any of those flights get canceled.
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Aug 6, 2015 01:13
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GoutPatrol posted:So Typhoon Soudelor is gonna kill us all. I'm flying out to Hong Kong friday morning and coming back Sunday night, so we'll see if any of those flights get canceled. Still haven't heard what days we're getting off. It just sucks that Friday will probably get cancelled, damnit I want to get paid!
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Aug 6, 2015 07:00
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Here's the info I got in an e-mail from AIT this morning:AIT posted:This Emergency Message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Taiwan about Typhoon Soudelor, currently in the western Pacific Ocean southeast of Taiwan. Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau (CWB) projects this storm will make landfall in Taiwan late Friday night. Taiwan is projected to begin feeling the effects of the storm late Thursday or early Friday. After that it was standard safety instructions. Stock up on food and water today, I guess!
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Aug 6, 2015 07:03
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Moon Slayer posted:Here's the info I got in an e-mail from AIT this morning: Looking at the map, looks like the eye may just pass over Chiayi or Taichung. I'll have to get some photos of the eye wall if I can; but being a veteran of hurricanes, I don't like the idea of hunkering down in my apartment while a Cat 5, possibly weakening to a Cat 4 is passing overhead - I'd much rather skip town if I could, but that's not a possibility right now. I'll probably pull some money off my credit card, buy a Gunpla to build, or maybe hook up with friends and play some Mahjong.
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Aug 6, 2015 07:14
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YF19pilot posted:
The best typhoon activities. As a side note, my family visited Taiwan and my dad lost his wallet and phone in a bag with 喜餅. Two months later after being found and winding its way from the finder to police to immigration to AIT the stuff was returned without a single cent missing. I sure do miss Taiawn!
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Aug 6, 2015 07:45
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In my (more limited) experience, by the time typhoons pass over the mountains of central Taiwan, they're barely holding together. When I lived in the Taichung area we had one follow this path and it was barely some rain showers by the time it reached us. West coast is going to get wrecked, though.
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Aug 6, 2015 07:46
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USDA Choice posted:The best typhoon activities. drat. So did he eat it?
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Aug 6, 2015 08:29
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Who would eat a wallet?
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Aug 6, 2015 08:32
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Wallets are my favorite Taiwanese cuisine
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Aug 6, 2015 13:12
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So, who's not dead?
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Aug 8, 2015 07:05
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I've been dead... on the inside... for a long time.
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Aug 8, 2015 07:44
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im ded
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Aug 8, 2015 08:22
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Not dead. Also no longer living this typhoon Amish style.
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Aug 8, 2015 12:10
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THE TYPHOON CLAIMS ANOTHER LIFE http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/08/10/2003625021
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Aug 11, 2015 12:48
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*stabs a man in the chest* *expects it won't be fatal*
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Aug 11, 2015 13:02
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Ah bian inside job
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Aug 11, 2015 16:40
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Hey guys, I'm heading to Taiwan in a few weeks and was wondering if you guys have any advice/experience with getting a place to stay in the more rural parts of Taiwan.
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Aug 12, 2015 04:37
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duckfarts posted:THE TYPHOON CLAIMS ANOTHER LIFE Man, I don't know if it's societal pressure to start a family, a focus on studying instead of social interaction as a kid or just Taiwanese dudes being dense, but you see a lot of toxic relationships here. I've got two sets of neighbors that are young couples, and both of them are just always screaming at each other.  At least nobody has been stabbed yet.
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Aug 12, 2015 06:08
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Sea Monkey posted:Hey guys, I'm heading to Taiwan in a few weeks and was wondering if you guys have any advice/experience with getting a place to stay in the more rural parts of Taiwan. Where exactly? Hope you speak Chinese, or even better Taiwanese, and have a local phone number. Pickings are slim online at sites like 591.com.tw for rural areas so you might need to drive around wherever you want to live and look for giant red and white signs that have the character 租 and then a phone number. Bring a friend/classmate/colleague/craigslist buddy that can help with the language if need be. And be prepared to pay rent in cash.
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Aug 12, 2015 06:16
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Also how long? Like if it's a vacation, you can probably find bed-and-breakfasts easy enough. If it's in a touristy-enough location you might be lucky enough to get English-capable operators, but I wouldn't want to bet on it.
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Aug 12, 2015 06:27
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Moon Slayer posted:Man, I don't know if it's societal pressure to start a family, a focus on studying instead of social interaction as a kid or just Taiwanese dudes being dense, but you see a lot of toxic relationships here. I've got two sets of neighbors that are young couples, and both of them are just always screaming at each other. you're right; if they had a kid, they could've just sent them out for the pizza
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Aug 12, 2015 08:15
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duckfarts posted:you're right; if they had a kid, they could've just sent them out for the pizza
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Aug 12, 2015 08:35
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