Tag: living in Taiwan

Now that spring is in full swing in Taiwan, it’s time to unpack sundresses and sandals. Andy Williams may have sung that winter was the most wonderful time of the year, but that man didn’t live in Taiwan.

Whether you are apartment hunting or just looking for a cool place to hang out, this brief guide to Taipei’s neighborhoods gives you the important details about each different part of Taipei and the surrounding area.

For fear of scaring off any new readers or first-timers in Asia, let me clarify the possibly startling title. I love Asia. I love it so much that when the time comes to go back home, getting used to the swing of things is going to be more difficult than I anticipated.

Meet Jimmy Hunt, an Australian teacher who has been teaching at a Reach To Teach school in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Jimmy is a young and adventurous guy with a real thirst to see the world. He has explored a great deal of South East Asia, South America, New Zealand and the USA, and he has recently arrived in Taiwan.

Back in college, a cup of ramen and a lemon-lime Gatorade was all I needed to survive the dreadful “Sunday Hangover,” which always showed up after a fun Saturday night. You beg forgiveness and offer your first born in exchange of the relief from the pounding in your head. In Taiwan, there’s no need to go to such extremes because the cure to your dilemma is right outside your door. That cure is food, delicious Taiwanese food. The food is so good it has magical healing powers. Just don’t quote me on that last promise.

Transitioning to the slow rhythmic flow of Taiwan’s lifestyle was confusing after living for a year in the balli balli (hurry, hurry) mindset of Korea. A place where people eat a breakfast of street food while speed walking to their morning jobs, push through crowds to get to their destination first, and have no concept of queuing because it’s considered too slow.

So what makes Taiwan’s tea plantations so special? For one thing, the climate is perfect for growing tea. High mountains provide the cool temperatures needed. Combine that with high humidity and fertile soil, and the tea leaves have the exact conditions they need to grow slowly and develop their flavor.

Today’s interview is with Sara Keyes, an American teacher in Taipei, Taiwan. Sara shares her story about teaching in Taiwan and traveling to nearby destinations.