Tag: living in taiwan

February 20, 2019

Taking on Taiwan: The Ups and the Downs

During the first six months of my time in Taiwan, the world was shiny and new.  I remember–quite vividly–walking into any store (even a 7/11) and being over the top excited about everything that I saw.  The snack packs of seaweed, sushi, soy milk, Coca-Cola, tissue, toiletries, disposable underwear, literally everything I saw, because everything was new.  And for a long time, that’s what life was like in Taiwan: a mix of terrifyingly brand new and exciting.  There is, however, that time when your everyday life becomes the norm.
February 6, 2019

Taking on Taiwan: The (Not so) Skinny on Street Food

If you’ve ever been to America, grew up, or lived in America at some point during your life, chances are you have been to a farmer’s market or two.  You’ve walked along the street, glancing at all the fresh produce and baked goods, and tested a couple of items before you decided to purchase something, or maybe walk over to the corner store to pick up something different.  Open air markets, from my experience, were not a plenty in Taiwan.  Which is why upon coming to Taiwan, night markets were one of the most amazing spectacles I’d ever laid my eyes on.
February 3, 2019

Taking on Taiwan: Learning the Lingo

Ah, Mandarin Chinese.  I’m sure many of you know that it is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn, for speakers of alphabet based languages, that is.  Here in Taiwan, Traditional Mandarin Chinese is spoken.  It is nearly the same as Simplified Chinese when you hear it spoken, but taking a look at the characters, you notice the difference.  Traditional Mandarin Chinese has more strokes and more complexity to it.  Taiwan has kept the traditional writing alive despite China’s transition to a simple version of the original language.
January 20, 2019

Taking on Taiwan: The Unexpected Bonuses

For those of you who keep up regularly with my blog, you’re probably familiar with my fun experience in the ER a little while back.  I’ve never been a fan of the doctor–as I am sure not many people are–but honestly, visiting the doctor in Taiwan is one of the many bonuses to living here.  As an expat, I definitely have a different experience than the locals when it comes to daily life, but there are bonuses to living in Taiwan, and perhaps living in Asia in general.  So let’s break down just a few of the pros to moving to this island:
January 6, 2019

Taking on Taiwan: Blank Slate

I’ve always loved travel, and my vacation in Taiwan in the spring of 2016 was a game changer.  I can still remember the goosebumps I felt across my skin as we descended into Taoyuan Airport in Taipei.  The first country I ever visited in Asia, and definitely not the last.  Stepping off the plane, it was one of the only times in my life I felt completely anonymous.  Everywhere I turned, Mandarin Chinese covered the signs and people spoke words I didn’t understand.  Even today, I don’t understand everything entirely.  
September 16, 2018

Crazy Girls Racing In the Rain

A few weekends ago, the city of Taichung was informed that we would be having no work or classes.  That meant for the first time in my entire time here, I had a three day weekend that wasn’t a scheduled holiday.  Businesses and malls would be open, but I would not have anywhere or anyone to see.  No classes to teach.  Nothing.  And ironically, it also happened to be the same week I finished my latest manuscript and had given myself a proper break from writing my books.  I decided there was only one thing to do: reevaluate.