New House, New Problems & A Sweet Collaboration

In my previous post, I mentioned a collaboration with a local art studio - and last weekend, I was invited again. This time, instead of posing for a pastel artwork (which, to be honest, wasn’t really my thing), I got to do something much more enjoyable: baking!

The studio hosted a small event that included a short talk about the history of art. Unfortunately, it was all in Chinese, so I didn’t understand much. My husband listened for a while and said it was great - very clear and well explained. While that was happening, I was slicing the cakes. I made several cakes and cookies, which were then shared with the attendees, along with some drinks. It was a lovely way to introduce more people to my desserts, especially since advertising has been such a struggle.

Seriously, all the local Facebook groups are so strang - they don’t allow any self-promotion or business posts, yet they’re constantly flooded with apartment listings. Half of them are just reposts of the same buildings over and over again.

Speaking of apartments… it’s been just over a month since we moved into our new place, and problems keep piling up. And it’s not just us - everyone seems to be having issues. We joined the community chat group, and honestly, there are complaints almost every day.

There were several incidents of leaking pipes recently - and not just fresh water leaks. One day, we went to the scooter parking area and were hit with a truly awful smell. Turned out, the leaking pipe was connected to the toilets… You can imagine how lovely that was.

As for us, we’ve had a few strange things happen too. Just this past Sunday, the water in our kitchen sink stopped draining. At first it was slow, then it completely stopped. We tried flushing it a few times but nothing worked. The plumber came the next day, checked both the sink pipe and the one under the floor - no clog. Nothing. And yet, suddenly the water started draining faster than we’d ever seen. It was like magic. Luckily, we had a video of the sink being blocked or else no one would’ve believed us.

The plumber said it could have been caused by recent rain messing with the underground pipes, but honestly - it was just weird.

Others in the building have it even worse. One resident said their window was stolen by the builders. Yes, stolen! And many apartments already have cracked walls - huge cracks, despite this being a brand new building. Most units are still empty, too. On our floor, we’ve only met one neighbor, and they haven’t even moved in yet - they’re still doing renovations. The other five units are completely quiet. The floor above us is totally empty as well.

At first, the landlord thought that we had clogged the sink and claimed everything was working well before. But they don’t live here and don’t actually do the dishes - they just flushed some water through and said it was fine.

After asking in the group chat, a few other people said they also have drainage issues and even leaks in the last few days. They all mentioned that the builders don’t care at all, so everyone has been fixing things on their own.

It was the same with the lack of electricity in the kitchen - we had to ask the landlord to find someone to fix it because the builders simply refuse to take responsibility for anything, even though they definitely should.

How do we know? Well, one night we heard loud banging noises from late afternoon well past 10 PM. My husband posted a message in the chat group, but no one replied. So he went upstairs to see where the noise was coming from - and it turned out to be two floors above us. That’s when we realized just how bad the noise insulation is. Not only can we hear people from above, but we can also hear our neighbors across in the next building! It’s about five meters away, yet we can hear when they shower, talk, even when they do laundry. Which makes us wonder… they probably hear us too. A bit unsettling, to be honest.

So yes—new house, new problems. But at least I have my cakes, and I'm grateful for opportunities like the art event to share them with more people. It’s small steps, but they feel meaningful.

Anyway, one more thing to add - soon we might be losing another friend. People always seem to be moving out of Taiwan. Originally, this couple we know planned for the wife to go to the UK for a year while her husband moved to Kaohsiung. But when we met them recently, they surprised us with completely different news: his company is transferring him to the U.S., so now they’re both planning to move there. No idea when exactly, as visas and paperwork take time, but yes - another friends are leaving.

Over the past eight years, nearly all of the people we’ve gotten close to here have already left. There’s only one couple we know who’s still in Taiwan (but 250km away...). The rest? Gone! 

Honestly, it's not surprising. Taiwan may look appealing from the outside, but living here long-term isn’t always easy - especially when you think about housing prices and the relatively low salaries (unless you’re an engineer… and even then, not all engineers earn a fortune). The gap between the rich and poor is definitely growing, and that reality is hard to ignore.

And the second most common thing people complain about is, of course, the traffic. Just in the past few days, there have been cases of elderly drivers causing accidents - some resulting in injuries or even deaths. But honestly, it’s not really about age, because you see bad drivers of all ages: running red lights, speeding, riding scooters with kids who have no helmets, and so on.

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Short Video Competition Reward Ceremony 第6屆 eye臺灣win兩岸

Two months ago, I came across a competition ''第6屆 eye臺灣win兩岸 短片徵選競賽'' organized by the Mainland Affairs Council, together with the Immigration Office and Cheers magazine. The main idea of the competition was to introduce your life in Taiwan in less than 3 minutes. I thought, "Why not join? There's nothing to lose!" So, I made a video, uploaded it to my channel, and joined the competition. 

More in my another post: HERE

Two weeks ago, the shortlisted list was released, and we were among the 25 selected. Shortly after, we received an email inviting us to the winners' ceremony held in Taipei.  

I don't have much experience making videos as I used to only write. So, being in the top 20 out of nearly 200 videos sounds great.

Only one thing made me feel it's a bit unfair, as the rules stated video has to be set to Public, but there were some Unlisted. I didn't check all of the videos, but I watched a few that sparked my interest or of those that I knew, for example video made by ''莎白Elizabeth''.  For those that don't know she is a famous YouTuber, originally from the USA. She made it into the shortlisted list which I felt is not fair since the video is hidden from people and only those opening the link from the website can see it but she wasn't disqualified. 

In the past, the competition was primarily for individuals from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. However, this year it was open to participants from any country. I wasn't the only non-Asian person to join, but I was the only white person at the award ceremony.

There were 20 winners in total, with 3 people chosen through online voting, and the rest selected by judges. We made it into the group of 8 people who received awards for excellent work. Two people were awarded for second and third place, and one lucky winner received 200,000 NTD.

Despite the cold front, the weather was great that day. We could even see Taipei 101. When I was here 6 years ago, half of the building was covered in clouds. 

For more travel and food-related content, feel free to check out my other posts, as well as my YouTube channel.

The winners list (https://storyintaiwan.cwg.tw/2023/winner)

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9th Edition of '"Dream-Building Project for New Immigrants and Their Children” Gala Event

Thank you to the Immigration Bureau for inviting us to this year's gala event. We were one of the three groups that participated in last year's program.

In order to allow new immigrants and their children to chase their dream in Taiwan, The Immigration Department of the Ministry of the Interior holds the "Dream-Building Project for New Immigrants and Their Children” each year.

This year marked the 9th edition, and we were invited to the inauguration gala as one of the three groups that won last year. If you are interested in participating, you can apply for next year's program. The registration deadline falls around December each year; you can obtain more information by contacting the Immigration Bureau.

Who can register for this program? It's open to both new immigrants and the children of new immigrants. The program is not restricted to any specific country, although I have observed that participants typically originate from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries.

The program encompasses several subject categories, including:

1. Entrepreneurship and Marketing Group

2. Educational Learning, Art, and Culture Group

3. Multimedia and Digital Technology Group

4. Social Welfare Service Group

5. Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Group

 

We have observed people pursuing a variety of paths, from musicians and dancers to individuals marketing their culinary creations and beverages, YouTubers, and those committed to helping those in need.

Registering for the program is a straightforward process. You only need to complete a form introducing yourself, outlining your dream, and explaining how you intend to utilize the government subsidy. While selection is not guaranteed, if chosen, you will receive guidance and support throughout the process of realizing your dream. Subsequently, a video profiling you and your dream will be recorded and showcased at the gala event.

However, it's important to remember that enrollment in the program is restricted to a one-time opportunity. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure that your plan aligns with your long-term goals.

I provide further information about this program on my blog, where I describe the entire journey we underwent. Feel free to check it out as well. [HERE]

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Joining New Residence and Their Children Dream Building Program in Taiwan

In December 2021, my husband and I applied for the New Residence and Children Dream Building Program, which is the 8th edition of the program. In early February, the winners were announced, and fortunately, we made it! I feel especially honored to be the only winner from Europe, representing Poland. This program might not be well-known to many people, and we ourselves would not have known about it if not for our local Shanhua immigration bureau. As winners, we are entitled to receive 80,000 NT (72,000 NT after tax). So, how do we receive the funds?

The application period for the program takes place in the last quarter of each year. For the 2021 application, it was open from October 7 to December 31. It's important to note that you cannot apply individually; this program is specifically for new residents and their children, so you need to include at least two names on the application form. Additionally, it doesn't matter if you have been living in Taiwan for several years like me—I have been here for five years—because you can still participate in the program. However, it's crucial to remember that you can only join the program once, so you need to ensure that your plan aligns with your long-term goals.

There are five categories to choose from: Entrepreneurship and Marketing Group, Education/Learning: Multimedia, Social Welfare Service, and Environmental Protection. As part of the application process, you need to introduce yourself and share your story of why you are in Taiwan and what your dreams are. It's also important to explain why you need the funding and list a few items that you would like to purchase with the money. Along with the application form, you will need to submit a signed paper copy, a copy of your Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) card, and a household copy. The application should be sent via email and in printed form to the Taipei Immigration Bureau. For more information, you can check their Facebook page or the Immigration Government website.

As the application form is in Chinese, my husband helped me fill it out. We wrote a short story about why I came to Taiwan and what I am currently doing, such as running a cake shop, writing a blog about Taiwan, giving speeches at universities, and even being featured in the news (we attached pictures as proof). Since we have a business, we listed some important appliances that could help us grow our business, such as a larger oven, a stand mixer, and a bigger fridge.

The winners were announced on February 9, and we received an email with some documents to be signed and sent back, as well as a copy of our bank book. Soon after, someone from the Immigration Bureau contacted us, and we were required to provide weekly progress reports. The deadline to complete our project is November of this year. Once the project is finished, there will be a video featuring us shared on their social media platforms.

That's what the application form looked like last year:

The Immigration Bureau provided us with the contact information of an agent whom we need to report to regarding our progress and any changes. We had to make a change to our plan when our fridge broke at the end of January, and we had already purchased a new one. Since it was the most expensive item on our list, replacing it with other things was quite challenging. We had to submit an updated list via email, which was then checked and approved by the Immigration Bureau. On March 4, we received the funds, and from that point onward, we were able to purchase all the appliances from our list. We had to report our progress weekly, including taking pictures of the items and their receipts as proof, which we sent to the agent via email.

Unfortunately, while purchasing the items, we encountered situations where some products were sold out or certain services were no longer available (for example, printing our logo on aprons). We also had to give up on creating a trademark as it would have taken several months, which was longer than the project's deadline. Each change we made had to be reported to the agent, but the approval process took around two weeks. Finally, at the end of March, our final change was approved. We were thrilled to have bought everything we needed, but then one of the items we purchased appeared to be used instead of new. As a result, we had to return it and wait for a replacement.

Additionally, we had to schedule online consultations, totaling five sessions. However, the available timings we initially chose were not always available, and there were changes made later on as well. During these consultations, we had meetings with Lee Mona, the CEO of a coffee shop. We learned more about calculating the costs of ingredients and labor, as well as how to collaborate with coffee shops and other aspects of business promotion. These meetings were very insightful, although she acknowledged that we already had a good understanding of many aspects, such as creating a logo to establish brand recognition.

On June 16, an employee from the Immigration Bureau, along with a camera crew, came to conduct a video interview. I had to introduce myself, share our plan, and explain how the purchased items had helped us. They also filmed me baking cakes. The advantage was that I could speak in English, and my husband provided the translation.

The program culminated with a gala event on August 13, where all the winners from various categories gathered in Hsinchu. Since we were also in the process of moving houses, we rented a place in Toufen, Miaoli. We had to carry many things and unpack early in the morning. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law took the High-Speed Rail to join us and take care of our son while we attended the Immigration Gala. The venue, Amazing Hall, was quite spacious, and everyone had a place to showcase what they were doing. We only brought our laptop and a short video presentation, but many people brought food, clothes, paintings, and other items related to their businesses. We received a certificate for participating, and it was presented to us by high-ranking officials from the Immigration Bureau. We had to walk to the stage in front of everyone else, and surprisingly, I didn't feel nervous. Afterwards, they visited each presentation area, and each of us had to introduce our business. Since my Chinese skills are not very good, my husband did the talking for me. Lunch was provided, and there was unlimited tea to drink. We also had an article published in a magazine, and we received a power bank as a gift. All we had to do was recommend their group on the Line app. The only mistake my husband made was parking in the wrong parking lot, which didn't belong to the Immigration Bureau, so we had to pay for it ourselves.

Everything ended with gala that all group joined on 08/13. We had to drive to Hsinchu, it was held in an Amazing Hall. At the same time we are moving house, so we just rented place in Toufen, Miaoli. We carried plenty of things and unpacked early morning. Mother-in-law and sister-in-law took HSR to come here as well, to watch our son for us while we went to Immigration Gala.

The place was quite big, everyone had a place to showcase what they are doing. We only brought laptop and made short video, but many people carried food, clothes, paintings or other things that they are doing. We got certificate for joining, it looked very official as high position people working for Immigration Bureau held it to us. We had to walk to the stage in front of everyone else. Surprisingly I didn't feel nervous! After that, they walked to every presentation area and each of us had to introduce our business. Since my Chinese sucks, my husband did that for me lol 

They served us lunch, there was unlimited tea to drink as well. We have another article in magazine. We also got powerbank, all we had to do is to recommend they group on Line app. The only mistake my husband did was to park in wrong car parking that didn't belong to them, so we had to pay for it on our own lol

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