LIVING IN TAIWAN

"Convenient, convenient and convenient" is probably the most suitable phrase to life in Taiwan. Restaurants and stores are close to your living place. Cost of living in Taiwan is low compared to the living in the West. However, most people in Taiwan live in a crowded environment with a high population density. Accommodation price and space is different from place to place. In the countryside, you can spend less than US$200 a month to rent a three-story house. In big cities, everything is convenient but more expensive. Spending US$200~300 on a room shared with two or three roommates in an apartment is very common in big cities. If you are not a city dreamer, you can always find a peaceful and spacious living place within a half-hour driving distance from your teaching schools.

Housing and Accommodations

Taiwan offers all sorts of housing and accommodation for visitors from low budget hostels to fully-furnished houses depending on your needs. While most of the hostels are found within major cities, there is affordable housing all over the island.

Hostels

If you are financially constrained (especially when you first start out), or you enjoy the communal feeling of a hostel, the price will range from 500 NTD to 700 NTD a night. The hostels are convenient because they are generally located near public transportation. In major cities, they are located around the central train station so you will be able to access all the train and subway lines.

Generally, teachers in Taiwan will rent a fully-furnished apartment once a job is secured. Like everywhere else in the world, rent is dependable on the location. In Taipei, housing units are more expensive ranging from 12000 NTD (small bachelor unit) to 25000 NTD (2 bedroom or more) a month and again, the conditions at can also vary depending on the location within Taipei. Outside of Taipei, the rent drops considerably and while the salary remains in the relative range, this is generally a consideration when teachers are deciding a place to settle down.

Transportation

Getting around
One of the great things about Taiwan is its size. Being only 394km long and 144km wide at its broadest point, it is relatively easy to get around. This makes it extremely easy to access every location around the island whether your purpose is sightseeing or extra-curricular activities such as surfing or hiking.

Almost every household has at least one car used for their daily transportation in Taiwan. However, buses and yellow cabs (taxi) are around to bring you to any designate place. There are transit and subway systems (MRT) in big cities for the daily commute.

Monorail System (MRT)
Only available in Taipei and Kaoshiung. It allows easy access to various points in the cities without having to deal with the traffic and smog caused by the cars and scooters. An EasyCard can be purchased at every MRT station or Seven Eleven near the station to make your travel in the city more convenient. A first time purchase is 500 NTD and 100 NTD is used as a deposit for the card. When the amount is used up, you can simply charge the card at any MRT station.

Highway Bus System
The highway bus system in Taiwan offers a distinct form of public transportation unseen in other countries. Private transportation companies have upgraded their buses to first-class seats with private audio/video systems for your entertainment. At a cheaper cost than the HSR, you can enjoy the ride and travel to any designated city in Taiwan.

The High Speed Train (HSR) The Taiwan high speed rail is the latest addition to Taiwan’s modern public transportation. Inaugurated in 2007, it successfully linked all the major cities along the west coast and now from Taipei to Kaoshiung is only 90 minutes of a comfortable ride.

The Taiwan Railway Administration provides electrified round-the-island services between cities on the west and the east coasts. Traveling with train from the north to south takes 5 to 8 hours depending on the types of train you take. Domestic flights are very popular between the northern tip, Taipei, and the southern tip, Kaosiang for 30 minute of travel time. Foreign teachers can take buses, subways or get a scooter from a rental company for their transportation in between schools and living place.

Scooter
The scooter is the most common form of local transportation for Taiwanese people. It is a great way to avoid city traffic and it is the easiest and cheapest way to get around. To purchase a 50cc (the smallest engine) scooter, you will only need an ARC with an international license and you can find an abundance of used scooters for about $20000 to $30000NTD. (Our local area delegate will assist you for the purchase of a scooter)

Shopping

Taipei 101 skyscraper, the tallest building in the world, is the landmark in Taiwan after 2004.

Selected international fashion and gourmet restaurants make the world-class design and artistic architecture a joyfully pleasant place to shopping (window-shopping) and eat. All the big cities have large department stores and shopping centers. Convenient stores are around your living corner.You can find very competitive prices and good quality electronic products ranging from VCR, TV, camera, computer.etc in Taiwan and the service warranty is usually insured for at least a year after the purchase.

The design of clothing is versatile with up-to-date fashions. You can buy any type of clothing ranging from inexpensive to very high quality. There are also many stores targeted to the customers from the West. In general, you can find anything in Taiwan at very reasonable prices.

Cuisine

Eating and Drinking
Eating will make up for a big part of your life in Taiwan unless you are queasy about the Taiwanese culinary practices, which doesn’t waste much of anything. However, Taiwan offers a wide range of food at various prices and you are never too far away from something edible regardless of time and day (with the exception of Chinese New Year’s day when the whole island shuts down). However, Western food is generally a little pricy and slightly more difficult to locate while Chinese food is in abundance. Regardless of your eating habits, you will be able to satisfy your hunger in Taiwan.

The food in Taiwan is a simple, rustic cuisine which makes the best use of the most naturally abundant ingredients. Taiwanese cuisine is unique for the reasons of its geographical location and international influences.

People rely on the sea to provide the essential proteins because the natural resources have always been limited in Taiwan. Taiwan is full of gourmet food from the roast duck, smoked chicken, lamb hotpot, fish in wine sauce, beef with green peppers, salty fried chicken with spices, honey ham, stir-fried shrimp, dry-fried eggplant, and spicy bean curd. You can almost taste any type of food in Taiwan.

Eating in food court is popular and in a crowded shopping mall or a department store. As the island's economy has developed rapidly in recent years, its culinary culture has expanded beyond the traditional Chinese foods to Chinese-style fast-food chains.

Restaurants are in abundance in Taiwan no matter where you go because it is such a big part of Taiwanese culture. In the major cities, you can eat anything from family restaurants to fine dining in big hotels offering every possible cuisine imaginable. Although a little more expensive than the street vendors, Taiwanese restaurants are much more sanitary and comfortable.

Vegetarian Cuisine
Due to the large Buddhist population in Taiwan, vegetarian cooking has evolved into a renowned specialty cuisine around the World. It is an excellent option for vegetarians or those who needs to cleanse their system. The price is also relatively cheap and easy to locate around the city.

Food stands are everywhere in your living neighborhood. You can spend US$2 for a simple meal or buy a food box with four choices at a price of 3 $US dollars. The world renowned fast food franchise stores are here for you to choose. They are such as American hamburgers, Italian pizza, Japanese sashimi, German pig's knuckles, Swiss fondue.etc.

Night Markets
One of the most vivid aspects of the Taiwanese lifestyle is the night markets in each city. These markets are usually out in the open on the streets when the lights go on. You will find an assortment of street vendors selling all sorts of merchandise from clothes, accessories, to knock-off goods. You will find all kinds of food and drinks in the market at a very affordable price as long as you are able to stomach eating on the streets with hundreds of people passing by.

Festivals and National Holidays

There are official and civic holidays on the chronological orders either with Sun Calendar or the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Some of Taiwan's most important annual holidays and festivals include the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, Lovers' Day, and the Hungry Ghosts Festival. But Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, the Goddess Mazu Making Rounds of Inspection in Beigang, the City God Welcoming in Taipei, the Burning of the Plague God Boat in Donggang are some of the famous local Taiwanese folk events.

Taiwan also developed its own Taiwanese opera and the famous glove puppet theater.Taiwanese opera combines local opera and music into one performing art,while the puppet theater has undergone great modernization in recent years and many special effects are added to performances, which attracts great attention among the younger generation.

The followings are the Festivals and some important days in Taiwan. Taiwan has days off on New Year Day, Chinese New Year Holidays (usually one week), 228 Memorial Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.