April 20, 2018

12 things you (probably) didn't know about Taiwan!

1. No rubbish bins/garbage cans, but garbage trucks play music

When walking on the streets in Taiwan, you won't see any rubbish bins. People collect their rubbish at home and throw it into garbage trucks. The garbage trucks can be easily heard as they drive around, playing Beethoven's Für Elise.

2. Public toilets are everywhere

There are a lot of public toilets in Taiwan, and they are all free. Additionally, most shops like Family Mart or 7/11 will have a toilet. This is not the case in many European countries where you often have to pay to use public toilets, even in shopping malls!

3. There are no sidewalks

Many places in Taiwan don't have sidewalks, so pedestrians need to walk on the street. Sidewalks are mostly found near schools or parks. People also drive quite recklessly, so unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear news about pedestrians dying on the roads.

4. Digital bus stops

Many bus stops in Taiwan (in the cities) have digital panels that display the actual bus schedule. Buses are equipped with USB ports and Wi-Fi. In some cities, there are also free buses depending on the distance you need to travel.

5. Shops open 24/7 on almost every street

Family Mart and 7/11 are two of the most popular convenience stores in Taiwan. You can find them on almost every street in cities, often right next to each other. They are open 24 hours a day, even during holidays like New Year. You can find almost everything you need there, including hot food like boiled eggs, baked sweet potatoes, or sausages.

6. Most people eat out

Many people in Taiwan don't know how to cook or don't have the time for it. Additionally, many houses in the city don't have kitchens, and those that do are much more expensive. There are plenty of breakfast shops and other small restaurants where you can find food.

7. Uniforms and 12 hours of learning

From kindergarten, kids in Taiwan wear uniforms that are different for each school. Kids also have a heavy workload of studying. Families place a strong emphasis on education, which can put a lot of pressure on children to excel. Many kids start school at 7 am and return home between 5 pm and 9 pm, depending on whether they attend cram school or not.

8. Different meanings of colors

In the West, black is a common color for funerals. In Taiwan, you will see many people wearing white. Additionally, on wedding days, girls may wear red dresses instead of white, which represents good luck.

9. Overtime work is normal

An 8-hour workday should be the norm, right? Not in Taiwan. Many people work overtime, sometimes up to 70 hours a week. People are very busy with work and have limited time for their personal lives. This is also a reason why many people aged 35+ haven't gotten married or had children yet.

10. Women don't change their surnames after marriage

In many countries, it's common for married women to take their husband's surname. However, in Taiwan, this is not an option. Even after marriage, the surname cannot be changed. In my case, I changed my surname in my home country, so now many documents used in Taiwan have three different names: my Chinese name, maiden name, and my actual surname - super annoying!

11. Houses are built vertically

Many houses in Taiwan have three to even five floors, with usually one or two rooms on each floor. Wealthier individuals may also have elevators in their houses for convenience. You won't find gardens near cities, and often there are no garages either.

12. People avoid sunlight

Many people in Taiwan, especially girls, aspire to have fair skin, so they actively seek shade to avoid sunlight. It's common to see people walking with umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. On the other hand, I love sunshine even if I get sunburned. I'm tan, often even darker than many Taiwanese people I have met.

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