Doh!
Mar 24th 2012, 10:50 pm
#1
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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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Doh!
I've already been chatting in The Lounge and only just noticed this place! Now I'll properly introduce myself.
We moved to Taipei, Taiwan about six months ago. We decided to relocate for a bit of variety in life and so that our 8 year old son could learn another language.
Taipei is a very nice place to live (except for the pollution). The people are great and we're finding new things to do and see every day. But I'm looking forward to chatting with like-minded Brits on here for a taste of home every now and then too.
We moved to Taipei, Taiwan about six months ago. We decided to relocate for a bit of variety in life and so that our 8 year old son could learn another language.
Taipei is a very nice place to live (except for the pollution). The people are great and we're finding new things to do and see every day. But I'm looking forward to chatting with like-minded Brits on here for a taste of home every now and then too.
Mar 25th 2012, 12:01 am
#2
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Doh!
Welcome to BE!
Sounds like an exciting move! So where abouts in the UK did you move from?
Sounds like an exciting move! So where abouts in the UK did you move from?
Mar 25th 2012, 12:03 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Doh!
Welcome! What made you choose Taiwan? It sounds fascinating.
Mar 25th 2012, 1:43 am
#4
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Re: Doh!
Hi both and thanks for the welcome.
We moved from a village near Kettering, Northants, and we chose Taiwan for several reasons. I personally like Asia because it's cheap to live here, has warm weather and I like the friendly, relaxed culture. My husband had worked for a Taiwanese company for a while and made some friends here too.
But probably the factor that swayed us was the fact that the main language spoken is Mandarin. We realised that moving to another country would be a great opportunity for our son to learn another language (he's 8) and we thought that Mandarin would be the most useful other language to have when he's grown up. (China was another possibility but Taiwan is less rough around the edges!)
We moved from a village near Kettering, Northants, and we chose Taiwan for several reasons. I personally like Asia because it's cheap to live here, has warm weather and I like the friendly, relaxed culture. My husband had worked for a Taiwanese company for a while and made some friends here too.
But probably the factor that swayed us was the fact that the main language spoken is Mandarin. We realised that moving to another country would be a great opportunity for our son to learn another language (he's 8) and we thought that Mandarin would be the most useful other language to have when he's grown up. (China was another possibility but Taiwan is less rough around the edges!)
Mar 25th 2012, 8:17 am
#5
...............
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Far North Queensland
Posts: 17,625
Re: Doh!
Hello from just down the road in Malaysia 
That's great that your son is learning Mandarin - that will be very useful in the future no doubt.
We have a Far East and Asia forum here which is where you'll normally find me, though unfortunately not too many threads about Taiwan.
That's great that your son is learning Mandarin - that will be very useful in the future no doubt.We have a Far East and Asia forum here which is where you'll normally find me, though unfortunately not too many threads about Taiwan.
Mar 25th 2012, 9:46 am
#6
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,680
Re: Doh!
Hello and welcome from me too
Dread - x
Dread - x
Mar 25th 2012, 10:29 am
#7
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Re: Doh!
Hi dread and bakedbean and thanks for the welcome.
I'll check out the Far East forum. I think Taiwan is too small a destination to have much interest. Most people we know think we've gone to live in Thailand.
I'll check out the Far East forum. I think Taiwan is too small a destination to have much interest. Most people we know think we've gone to live in Thailand.
Mar 25th 2012, 5:23 pm
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Doh!
Hi both and thanks for the welcome.
We moved from a village near Kettering, Northants, and we chose Taiwan for several reasons. I personally like Asia because it's cheap to live here, has warm weather and I like the friendly, relaxed culture. My husband had worked for a Taiwanese company for a while and made some friends here too.
But probably the factor that swayed us was the fact that the main language spoken is Mandarin. We realised that moving to another country would be a great opportunity for our son to learn another language (he's 8) and we thought that Mandarin would be the most useful other language to have when he's grown up. (China was another possibility but Taiwan is less rough around the edges!)
We moved from a village near Kettering, Northants, and we chose Taiwan for several reasons. I personally like Asia because it's cheap to live here, has warm weather and I like the friendly, relaxed culture. My husband had worked for a Taiwanese company for a while and made some friends here too.
But probably the factor that swayed us was the fact that the main language spoken is Mandarin. We realised that moving to another country would be a great opportunity for our son to learn another language (he's 8) and we thought that Mandarin would be the most useful other language to have when he's grown up. (China was another possibility but Taiwan is less rough around the edges!)
Mar 25th 2012, 10:27 pm
#9
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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Re: Doh!
He had a very difficult first few months, which wasn't helped by his worse-than-average social skills, nor his teacher who basically isolated him and another foreign child from the rest of the class. Then I managed to get him moved and now he's much happier. He can now play in Chinese, if that makes any sense. So he knows the phrases for various games, and can count and knows colours etc. He can also read and write a little, enough that, for example, he can do the maths in the class with no problems, and obviously his English is excellent! He's gradually making good friends.
There is no doubt that it's a hard task, though, for a child to learn Chinese at such a comparatively late age. We would have come a couple of years earlier except that we were waiting for my middle son to finish his A' levels and go to university.
There is no doubt that it's a hard task, though, for a child to learn Chinese at such a comparatively late age. We would have come a couple of years earlier except that we were waiting for my middle son to finish his A' levels and go to university.
Mar 26th 2012, 4:52 pm
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Doh!
He had a very difficult first few months, which wasn't helped by his worse-than-average social skills, nor his teacher who basically isolated him and another foreign child from the rest of the class. Then I managed to get him moved and now he's much happier. He can now play in Chinese, if that makes any sense. So he knows the phrases for various games, and can count and knows colours etc. He can also read and write a little, enough that, for example, he can do the maths in the class with no problems, and obviously his English is excellent! He's gradually making good friends.
There is no doubt that it's a hard task, though, for a child to learn Chinese at such a comparatively late age. We would have come a couple of years earlier except that we were waiting for my middle son to finish his A' levels and go to university.
There is no doubt that it's a hard task, though, for a child to learn Chinese at such a comparatively late age. We would have come a couple of years earlier except that we were waiting for my middle son to finish his A' levels and go to university.
Mar 26th 2012, 10:46 pm
#11
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Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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Re: Doh!
Thanks Sally. Love your avatar!
Mar 29th 2012, 3:34 pm
#12
MODERATOR
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Costa Valencia
Posts: 14,796
Re: Doh!
Hello and a big welcome to BE.
Excellent information can be found in the BE Wiki, not forgetting the Living and Moving Abroad forum that will help you, another set of great help is the permanent threads at the TOP of each forum, they are very pertinent to that particular forum and makes sensible reading.
Moderators deal with any problems that arise such as inappropriate posts, spammers etc, you will find their names at the bottom right hand side of each forum's index in bold font.
Please contact me if I can give you any further help.
Rosemary
Excellent information can be found in the BE Wiki, not forgetting the Living and Moving Abroad forum that will help you, another set of great help is the permanent threads at the TOP of each forum, they are very pertinent to that particular forum and makes sensible reading.
Moderators deal with any problems that arise such as inappropriate posts, spammers etc, you will find their names at the bottom right hand side of each forum's index in bold font.
Please contact me if I can give you any further help.
Rosemary
Mar 29th 2012, 9:47 pm
#13
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Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Posts: 235
Re: Doh!
Many thanks Rosemary.
