Waiguoren in Taiwan — What it Means, Why it Matters
Waiguoren (外國人) is an interesting word that doesn’t simply mean “foreigner.” Waiguoren’s polysemic meanings as a word are diverse, meaning, it has multiple meanings depending on who the person is saying it, and the person hearing it. As much as we like to simplify the meaning of words as having definite meanings, I think this […]
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Advice on How to Choose a University in Taiwan for International students – Degrees, Master’s and Automobiles
You know what the question I get asked the most? “Which university should I pick in Taiwan for a degree/master’s/Mandarin program?” There is no easy answer to give people. It really depends on what you want to major in, what city you want to live in, and if you have a scholarship. If you’re interested […]
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5 Tips for Transitioning from English Teaching to a Business Job in Taiwan
By and large, the single biggest sector for professional foreigners in Taiwan is English teaching. Naturally, many people are attracted to the above-average pay ($600-$800 NTD an hour starting off) and might not be aware that English teaching is a very challenging job and it’s not for everyone. This article isn’t about putting down teaching […]
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6 Blogs Worth Following in Taiwan For History, Culture, Politics, and All Things Current
I am always grateful for bloggers. Think about it, what are bloggers getting in return for their work? Some bloggers make a living out of it, but the vast majority of expat bloggers in Asia do it as a passion, and not for a source of income. I’ve been accused of being an attention seeker […]
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Realizing What A “Straight White Male” Is In Taiwan
There was a time when I cringed at people saying “straight white male.” It was a strange statement to me. The kind of statement that bunched together a very large group of men together and treated their entirety as wrong. But the more, and more I live in Asia and see how US politics is […]
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Getting a Master’s degree in Taiwan: Likes and dislikes of Taiwanese universities from a international student’s perspective
After completing my Master’s in June 2018, I sighed because I was so relieved. For a long time, I was quite dissuaded from finishing my program. I was never sure what I was doing, learning, or even knew how this was going to help me. What kept me going was realizing the opportunity afforded to […]
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The Problem of Taiwan’s Libel Laws – How to avoid being sued and understanding the law
Taiwan’s democracy, civil society, and all round freedoms are something to be proud of. But, there is one problem, freedom of speech isn’t so free. In Taiwan, defamation and public humiliation is, incredibly, a criminal offense under Article 310 of the Criminal Code. You might be thinking, “what’s the big deal about Taiwan’s libel law then?”, well, […]
Read moreSmall World in Beijing: How I Randomly Met Family in a Hutong Bar
There’s nothing more cringeworthy than being asked if you know someone from Ireland because you’re Irish. I remember drinking with Americans that were tracing their roots in Dublin, and they kept asking me if I had ever heard of their great aunt this, great Peter Willy Malone, and whatever they were going on about like […]
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English Teaching in Taiwan – Overt Racism That Everyone Knows About
News broke that a school in Taipei was discriminating against black and dark-skinned people in their hiring practices and everyone lost it. By everyone, I mean mostly the international community and some locals. As quickly as the story broke, it was gone. There hasn’t been much discussion on the topic since. I didn’t want to […]
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