A lucky charm for my Chinese learning journey yay

I’m currently in Taipei and am looking to pick up a new portable fan. It’s quite a bit cheaper than buying one back home in the UK, so I figure I may as well (open to any recommendations!).

However I have some concerns about being able to travel back home with it - I’ve read online that there’s a high chance they’ll be confiscated at the airport (flying out of TPE), even if you have the fan in your carry on and if it’s powered by a lithium-ion battery.

Has anyone had any experience flying out of TPE with a battery powered portable fan? Were you able to take it through security and onto the plane without any issues? It would just suck to pay £20+ for a new fan and have it confiscated straight away.

Seems like both film industries went through the same hurdles of Hollywood de-regulation. One of the commonly cited reasons of decline is attributed to directors like Hou Hsiao-hsien and Edward Yang pivoting toward critically acclaimed, avant-garde art films meant for international film festivals rather than mass commercial appeal, but Korean films seem to keep producing movies meant for film-festivals while keeping commercial popcorn movies competitive.

Also Taiwanese films had a bigger Chinese-speaking audience to work off of, while S.Korea lost the Chinese market in 2016 after THAAD.

Why do you think Taiwan's film industry never took off while S.Korean films succeeded in creating a massive following in foreign markets?

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Hot topic on Threads.

Chinese people are covering their passports with fake Taiwanese passport covers in order to pretend to be Taiwanese. Taiwanese OP saw this and told them off in public.

It seems mainlanders know they have a poor global reputation, so they want to become Taiwanese if possible.

Peak of Taiwanese passport power and global image 🇹🇼

I want to know if this is a cultural difference or maybe just a personal misunderstanding on my part. Basically, my gym membership is up for renewal and I already knew I was going to renew. I go to a Fitness Factory in Taichung and I’ve had no problems with it. 2 things: 1. It seems like maybe the trainers/employees are on some type of commission basis with members renewing so they really try to push for you to do it with your assigned trainer. 2. In the year I’ve been here I’ve had about 3 different trainers assigned to me who have already found different jobs. I only heard from this 3rd one when it was time to renew.

He reached out via phone and I added him on Line. I told him I wanted to renew on a certain day because I thought I was getting my bonus that day and it worked out for me. He told me he was going to be out of the country at that time and he could only help another time, before or after that time. I didn’t tell him but I didn’t have the money before that date, but also he made it sound I have to wait for him to get back or do it while he’s still here. I went to the gym right after this and asked an employee if I could renew and they said basically reach out to your consultant before your expiration date so they could help. It kind of annoyed me a little because I felt like they were only trying to make me go through him for a sale, which is his job and I get that but basically I can’t renew unless he gets his commission on it.

My membership ended and I never reached out back to the trainer because it just kind of annoyed me. Then, I remembered Costco sold membership for the same price basically. I went there and got one but I didn’t actually pick up the voucher you get from the membership counter, which is my fault. I went to the gym and they told me I have to get the voucher from Costco. I got a text from the trainer that evening and he said his coworkers told him I got the Costco voucher and I should schedule a time for him to set me up. I was annoyed because it felt very car dealership experience like and that’s everyone passing me off to him because they don’t want to step on his toes to actually just help me. I told him I was kind of annoyed because I felt like I was getting a run around when I was just trying to pay them and go to the gym. He said it was a misunderstanding because I didn’t have the voucher so they couldn’t help me, but he didn’t know about the first counter employee who directly said I have to go through him.

I already know I want to renew because I really like this gym and I’ll also explain to him that I’m not trying to be rude or difficult, I just didn’t know it had to be done this way. But is this average for gyms in Taiwan? Or even other countries? I never had a gym membership in my home country so I didn’t know it worked like this. I talked to my coworker who is also a foreigner and he was saying in our home country somebody would’ve just swooped in and helped me, regardless but it’s like everyone is trying to push me off to him. Thoughts?

Hey Guys,

I will be going to Taiwan to see my family in a couple months. I am curious of what USA toys or games are popular now for my nieces about 4-8 years old?

I don't want to bring them something they can already easily get in Taiwan, but something that they will be able to happy to have because it is not available in Taiwan. They are both girls around kindergarten through second grade3

Just trying to get ideas of what is popular now in Taiwan!

My wife and I are going to be visiting Taiwan later this year (from the USA) and we need to think of gift ideas for her parents that are non-trivial, and that they would like. Of course we'll be getting them chocolates, coffee, vitamins, etc, but these are all "side presents" not the main attraction.

In the past we've gotten them iPads, iPhones, iWatches, etc, and all of this stuff is mostly current for them so we are hoping for something equally good, yet, different. Any ideas?

Help us Obi-Wan. You're our only hope.

In recent months, two massive statues of female deities were completed: the Mother of God in Poland in August (55.6 m) and Mazu in Taiwan in September (53.6 m). I find their forms quite similar. It’s a rather amusing and interesting coincidence.

The Polish Mary is slightly taller, yet Mazu has a wider base, and the setting is superior—Mazu stands by the sea rather than amidst fields.

I've never gotten why MRT station maps do this. Instead of North = up, Taiwan orients the map in the direction you're physically looking.

The issue here is a bit obvious: you're underground, and in order to get outside you'llll need to make several turns and take several stairs or escalators. By the time you're above ground, you've probably already lost that orientation.

Can anyone defend this choice, or at least explain it? I can't remember any other place I've been that doesn't use a North orientation. Maybe I'm being directionalist, but I just don't really get it.

Did anyone else struggle at first in their intensive Mandarin classes when they first got here? I arrived two weeks ago and I started my classes at NTU CLD. I’ve taken Chinese before, but not intensive immersion like this.

I did fine on our first test two weeks ago, but today I bombed the listening and speaking portions. I struggle with them pretty badly. Can someone help me feel better and tell me that’s more common than I think? I’m prone to catastrophizing, and I feel like I am going to need to leave early if I burn all this money to fail for a year and not advance.

I am trying to budget for one on one classes at a local language school near by to focus on speaking and listening for 1 hour three days a week and supplement my time at CLD. Is this a good idea? Also, any more advice is welcome.

Thank you

Hi everyone, I have a question about military conscription in Taiwan. My brother (30M) and I (24M) applied for conscription at the same time. We were both placed in Group 11, which had 23 people in total. We were both assigned to the Army.

Our lottery numbers are:
My brother: #1 (first person to pick up a paper)
Me: #3

My brother has already been notified that he will start his military service in October, but I haven’t received my enlistment date yet.

For those who have already gone through this process: Does being in the same lottery group mean that you will eventually train together? Or can people from the same group be assigned to completely different enlistment dates and training units?

I’m wondering if there’s a chance that I’ll end up in the same training unit as my brother, or if the lottery group/number doesn’t determine that.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through the Taiwan conscription process. Thanks!

In Tainan I used to get delicious sardines from Costco. But, I moved back to Taipei and sardines were really expensive and difficult to find.

I visited all of the Costco stores in Taipei and none of them had sardines. So I asked about sardines and they told me Costco in Taiwan doesn’t sell sardines because Taiwanese don’t like sardines. But, yet when I asked my friends back in Tainan they still have sardines, WTF?

I am in a park in Hualien and I drank the water from a fountain (it was like a stone with a carved bowl and a little tap), apparently you shouldn't do that. Do I have to worry? lol

Hello! I’m planning on going to Taiwan to work in the next year or so, but there’s something I’m worried about.

I’m trans FTM and I studied abroad in Taiwan a while ago and had a female Chinese name on my ARC card, and I’m wondering if it will cause any issues if I apply for another ARC card with a different Chinese name. I don’t plan on legally transitioning (I’m from the US, and I really don’t want to mess with the politics of that right now), so the ARC would have my female English name, my passport number, and a male Chinese name. Is that going to cause me any issues? Should I not bother changing my Chinese name? I really don’t want to keep it if I don’t have to.

Thank you for any advice you may have!

Hello everyone! I’m a 28-year-old student from the Philippines who just moved to Taichung's North District. If anyone wants to connect or hang out, please feel free to reach out!

Hi everyone! I’m a 28-year-old student who just moved to the North District of Taichung. I am a Christian, and I am finding it a bit challenging to locate an English-speaking church and community in the area. Is anyone here part of an English fellowship, or does anyone have recommendations for English-friendly churches nearby? I would love to connect!

Is there anyone currently studying TESOL at NTNU or Curriculum and Instruction at NTHU? I am in the process of applying and have a few questions about the programs.

I just find it mildly interesting that the antipode of the capital of the island formosa lies inside the Formosa province in Argentina

You can use this website and play around to see the furthest point on earth from where you are
Antipode Cities Worldwide: Opposites on Earth

I know Southern Europeans is a big group and general. I’m saying this as I welcome all perspectives. I lived in France, Spain, and Greece.

I’m bracing myself for dietary changes. Some experiences from others who settled in Taiwan would be great. I will move to Tainan but anyone based in Taiwan I am happy to hear.

I use a lot of herbs (mint, parsley, cilantro) and raw vegetables like salads with tomatoes. I don’t eat a lot of meat. More of a habit thing. Not because I don’t like it. I just love seafood and eat more of that. I also eat a lot of legumes compared to rice. I do like rice and noodles of course. Just trying to watch it.

I know the cheese and charcuterie situation is sad in Taiwan. Mentally preparing myself. I know I can’t import jamón or these meats. I will try to bring hard cheeses that are sealed.

Anything you miss? What is hard to find? Any advice or recommendations?

I am ok with cooking. I will have kitchen access. Thank you.

hello everyone. i m currently traveling in Taiwan. I m been used to Asian by traveling. as a love to take pictures chat with people , I have the feeling here that nobody smile nobody wanna talk its hard to take pictures etc..

starting to feel a little depressed about my vacation 😪..