How Russians are treated in Taiwan

The attitude towards the inhabitants of any country develops over a long time and depends on many factors: the foreign policy of the state in relation to the country, socio-economic characteristics, and many others.

In recent years, Taiwan has become an increasingly popular holiday destination among Europeans and Americans, which is no surprise to local residents for a long time. But the words "Russian" or "Russia" always surprise the people of Taiwan. Therefore, Russian tourists enjoy increased attention and always arouse interest among Taiwanese. And most of all, the people of Taiwan are interested in what they eat in Russia, and whether it is very cold in Russia.

How do they treat Russians in Taiwan? So far so good, but it depends on us...

Many tourists from Russia who visited Taiwan said that they felt like an outlandish animal under close supervision. We tried not to speak much Russian, so as not to "give out" ourselves.

Why did it happen? We answer. For almost forty years, Russia and Taiwan had no contact at all; after the war, all ties were broken, and no one was in a hurry to restore them. In 2000, about 90 Russian citizens lived in Taiwan, who unofficially united in a kind of community.

A fairly large number of Russian scientists, musicians, actors, university professors, students, journalists, and businessmen live in Taiwan. Many of them have a residence permit (or foreign resident certificate), which means that they live in Taiwan for more than six months. It is also interesting that about thirty Russian students study at Taiwan universities. Also, a lot of Russian teachers go to Taiwan, because now in China, in general, the Russian language is becoming very popular. Also here you can meet music teachers from Russia.

In the capital of Taiwan - Taipei, an initiative group of Russians living on the island organized a coordinating commission, where you can contact at any time of your trip if any difficulties arise.

Now there is an active rapprochement between Russia and Taiwan. The stereotypes that have developed over the years are gradually being destroyed. Taiwan is gradually getting used to the fact that in Russia there is no communist system, but in Russia, that Taiwan has ceased to be a pawn of the United States. And taking into account the fact that the Russian authorities are actively rapprochement with China (and Taiwan is still part of China), we think that in Taiwan they will not be surprised at Russian tourists like Bigfoot.

The attitude of the Taiwanese towards the Russians is very kind-hearted ....

In China, Russian tourists are no longer a novelty and therefore do not cause such strong emotions. But Taiwan is generally a special place. During the long history of Taiwan, it tried to somehow separate itself from China, to gain independence (the insular position contributes to this). And the Chinese authorities, on the contrary, are striving with all their might for the integrity of the state, and this is impossible without the full annexation of Taiwan. In 2005 V.V. Putin spoke in support of the Chinese government and expressed his agreement with the law "On counteracting the split of the country." Perhaps such a political step may affect the attitude towards tourists from Russia. The people of Taiwan will treat you with some caution.

But by and large, even if Russian tourists are of great interest to Taiwanese, this does not mean at all that you will be treated with less respect than tourists from other countries. The people of Taiwan, like all the people of the east, are very calm people, so their surprise will be very short. The main thing is to show friendliness and tolerance. It is also important to familiarize yourself with the traditions and customs of the locals so that you can feel confident. Then you will definitely be able to establish contact with the Taiwanese, and there will be no unpleasant situations or misunderstandings between you.

If a person always lives in the same cultural environment, then he unconsciously believes that the rest of the world lives exactly the same way. He will think, for example, that tanned skin is beautiful, and pallor is a sign of sickness; that stilettos for work are okay, but spanking is crazy. They even tell him ten times that in Asia girls whiten their skin, although the Western man in the street will be surprised, he will not fully believe in it. It will be too different from his experience.

In my opinion, Asia is interesting precisely because it lives by its own standards (and especially beauty), although it periodically succumbs to the influence of the West, it even processes Western trends to its own taste.

Tatyana Trosheva is a Russian model and student in Taiwan. Like me, he personally observes the peculiarities of Asian fashion, but unlike me, he also takes part in all this action.

Tatyana Trosheva

Tatyana has been living in Taiwan for three years now, studying management for a doctorate, and in her free time she shoots commercials for Taiwanese and Chinese brands.

How would you characterize the style that is most popular in Taiwan, and maybe in Asia in general? And what do you think of him?

As I see, and I know from the Taiwanese, they are very fond of everything Japanese and Korean - sushi, ramen (Japanese noodles), short haircuts, cartoon characters and clothes. Things are sold very well, if somehow applies to these countries!

I think "kawaii" (from Japanesekawaii- cute, adorable- this is cute and unusual for Europeans, and since we live in Taiwan, we should adapt at least something from local preferences. I like the food, and the clothes too.

Taipei street...

What surprised you the most about the clothes of the locals when you arrived in Taiwan? Have any of your stereotypes been broken?

Taiwanese style is more sporty, homely and generally casual compared to Hong Kong or Japan. I think it's because of the humid climate and calm environment on the island.

I had no particular stereotypes about Asia and Taiwan in particular, simply because I knew little about traditions and culture, but I understand much more now.

Taiwanese. Photo by Andrey Kuzin

What do you think is the difference between the ideals of beauty in the West and in Asia?

Asians prefer a touch of childishness, while Europeans prefer femininity.

Models from Russia and Eastern Europe in general are incredibly popular in Asia and Taiwan in particular. How can you explain it? And generally speaking , Is there a chance for a model famous in Asia to get to Europe?

It seems to me that in Europe they prefer a different type of face, body shape, hair color, etc. At the same time, many Slavic girls are quite thin, tall, with a doll face, blond hair, mixed European-Asian appearance. And that's exactly what they love here.

In Asia, you can get a lot of low-paying jobs - the most popular is shooting in catalogs. But to become famous, of course, you need to have almost perfect command of the Chinese language.

Tatyana in an advertisement for a Shanghai bridal salon

Name some of our compatriots who have become incredibly popular here.

I know that there is a girl named Larisa from Ukraine, she once starred in a Taiwanese drama (from English drama - Asian soap opera) and became famous.

Larisa Bakurova

What is the general development of the modeling business in Asia and will the focus ever shift from Europe to Asia? In your opinion, will Korea, for example, be able to become a trendsetter or will it remain only at the local-regional level?

Probably many years will pass and only then the situation can change. However, I believe that Japan, for example, is already in some sense a trendsetter. In addition, there are many talented designers from Asia on the world catwalks.

Tell me something about the modeling business in Asia (Asian models)? I heard they are generally incredibly popular on the catwalks of the world now. Which is largely due to the growing influence and purchasing power of Asia in general.

I agree that Asia is a giant market and Asian models can help promote the brand in their countries. At the same time, I think that Asian models have some “cosmic” or something, and this in itself is also a current trend.

Stranger from Japan. Photo by Andrey Kuzin

Can you give examples of successful top models (male and female) from Taiwan or from Asia in general?

I can give one example - Fei Fei Sun, who participated in shows and starred for many global brands Dries Van Noten Louis Vuitton and others.

Chinese top model Fei Fei Song

From myself I will add: Taiwanese Godfrey Gao, model and actor, starred for Louis Vuitton and participates in fashion week in Milan.

Godfrey Gao in an advertising campaign for Louis Vuitton

Is there something like Fashion in Taiwan week ?

I know that Vogue Taiwan holds Fashion Night Out, a fashion event not only in Taiwan, but all over the world.

Tatiana has started a blog dedicated to stylerules.co and plans to develop her career in marketing.

Taiwan Island is located in the Pacific Ocean, 150 kilometers from the People's Republic of China. Formally, it is part of the PRC, but in fact it considers itself a separate state. When the Portuguese arrived on the island in the 16th century, they named it Formosa or the Beautiful Island. Taiwan has retained its beauty to this day, despite the fact that the economy and industry began to develop at an accelerated pace, and the island has become one of the most economically successful regions in Asia. For more than a decade, it has attracted travelers, businessmen and students from all over the world, because life in Taiwan is exceptionally rich and diverse.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in Taiwan

Speaking about the positive aspects of life in Taiwan, the first thing to note is the benevolence and responsiveness of the local population. The culture of behavior of the inhabitants of the island is the first thing that catches the eye of any foreigner. Russians in Taiwan often point out that Taiwanese do not throw garbage on the street, do not take places on public transport intended for the elderly, and even line up at bus stops.

Food deserves special attention. The local cuisine is a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese and Korean culinary traditions. The cult of food reigns here. Instagram and Facebook of young Taiwanese are literally inundated with food photos. Small shops are scattered all over the island where you can buy ready-made food that you only need to warm up (this can be done right in the store).

The only drawback is the very expensive dairy products that are brought from Australia or New Zealand. For example, 100 grams of cheese will cost about 200 rubles. Although, if you are only going to relax in Taiwan, and not move there to live, this will not be a problem.

The main disadvantage of living in Taiwan is the weather. It rains very often here: during the so-called rainy season, tropical showers can last for weeks. In winter, the humidity is very high and quite cold, and there is no central heating in the houses. In summer it is also very humid, which, combined with the heat, creates the effect of a real steam room. However, there are some charms: in the south of the island, even in winter, it is warm enough, so you can swim in the ocean all year round.

High quality of life

In 1987, the country set a course for economic freedom and the democratization of society, and from that moment the rapid growth of the economy began. Now we can safely say that over the years, Taiwan has become a highly competitive country with a developed technology sector.

Taiwan has one of the highest living standards in Asia. There is freedom of the press, affordable medicine, political and economic rights and freedoms. At the same time, it should be noted that the Taiwanese economy is very different from the economic structure of mainland China. At one time, Taiwan benefited from the flight of well-educated wealthy Chinese from mainland China - at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, supporters of the previous Ming Dynasty moved to this island in a short time to survive.

healthcare

overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2018, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a proven service not to fly.rf

The basis of Taiwanese healthcare is insurance medicine.

Established in 1995, Taiwan's universal health insurance program is now considered one of the most effective in the world.

Its characteristic features are active support from the state and a low level of contributions. The amount of the contribution depends on the amount of annual income and the number of so-called dependents in the family (children and the elderly).

Monthly deductions are made by all working citizens. For those who are just starting to work, the amount of the insurance premium does not exceed 5% of the monthly salary. Every citizen of Taiwan who has reached the age of 40 has the right to receive free medical care once a year, and citizens who have reached the age of 65 are entitled to twice a year. Health insurance is voluntary but covers 97% of the population.

Education system

Almost all the inhabitants of the island are graduates, since it is almost impossible to get a job in Taiwan without a higher education.

Children go to school early (ages 4-6) and study for 12 years. After the 9th grade, you can go to work, but few choose this option, since without completing school education, you cannot enter a higher educational institution. Admission to the university is based on the results of the selection, which is held in the final year of study at school.

The bachelor's degree (4 years) is the most popular, and only half of the students go further to the master's degree (2 years). At the same time, it should be taken into account that training in some specialties requires more time: for example, it takes seven years to study as a doctor. Knowledge of Chinese or English is required to enter the university. Moreover, the choice of the language of instruction remains with the student.

Higher Education Institutions in Taiwan

There are private and public universities on this sunny island, however, both of them are paid for both local residents and visitors. At the same time, you can always take a loan from a bank for education. Sometimes universities offer their own scholarship programs. In Taiwan, the Bologna system of education operates: 4 years of bachelor's and two years of master's degree.

Many local universities have received international recognition and occupy quite high places in various educational rankings. For example, the National Taiwan University is in the top 100 best universities in the world and in the top three universities in Asia.

Moreover, studying here is more like studying at Harvard than at Moscow State University. The following are also very popular: Pedagogical University (Taiwan Normal University, Political University (National Chengchi University), Chenggong University and Tamkang University.

If the purpose of your trip is to study Chinese, you should pay attention to the Pedagogical University (Taiwan Normal University). The best teachers of the country work there, publishing 99% of methodological literature.

If you decide to enter a higher educational institution in Taiwan, be sure to be patient - usually the admission process takes up to six months.

How much does it cost to study in Taiwan

The cost of education varies depending on the institution, but on average, the semester will cost 1,300 US dollars (from 1,000 to 1,670). Of course, a semester at a private university will cost significantly more than at a public one. The same is true for textbooks: materials for studying at a private university will cost an average of $250, while textbooks for a state one will cost only $70.

As elsewhere in the world, Taiwanese students mostly live in dormitories, but there is a division into male and female dormitories. Two to four people can live in one room. More affluent students have the opportunity to rent a room or even an apartment. Read more about real estate prices below.

Real estate prices

Talking about real estate prices in Taiwan, measuring the area in square meters, is not entirely correct. They have their own system of measures. So, the area is measured not in square meters, but in pins (a pin is a square measuring 1.82 by 1.82 meters with an area of ​​​​3.312 sq. M).

According to available data, in 2020 one pin costs an average of $22,650. If we count in square meters, then in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei, 1 meter of housing costs an average of $ 6,851, in the cities of Taoyuan and Taichung a little cheaper - $ 6,666.

How much does it cost to rent a house

Monitoring of rental prices in the capital of the island provides the following information:

• The average monthly rent for a $2 million home is $2,000.
• A room of 12 square meters (with a shared bathroom for four rooms) will cost only $100.
• A one-room apartment without a kitchen will cost an average of $175.
• A one-room apartment with a kitchen will cost about $225 per month.

These prices are relevant for not the most prestigious areas of Taipei. Speaking of other cities, we can safely divide the above figures in two.

How much will it cost to buy a home

Real estate prices in the center of Taipei and in the so-called good areas are two to three times higher than in the rest of the island.

Since 2008, property prices in Taiwan have risen 90% since 2008, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch news agency. For clarity, it will take the average Taipei with a salary of a thousand dollars about 15 years to acquire a one-room apartment in a less than elite area of ​​15 pins.

Residential property tax

According to Taiwanese land law, the annual rent from residential real estate must not exceed 10% of the value of the property. As for foreign citizens who own real estate in Taiwan, they are supposed to annually transfer 1.38% of the current value of the property to the state as real estate tax.

Security questions

Today, Taiwan is considered one of the safest countries in the world - the police here really know their stuff. Also, this country is considered one of the most comfortable for travelers, because it is calm here, and the crime rate is extremely low.

It also makes life easier for travelers that many locals know English, and all signs and signs are necessarily duplicated in English, which greatly simplifies orientation in space for those who do not speak Chinese.

The only thing that a traveler who is going to visit this country should definitely take care of is medical insurance and vaccinations.

For example, vacationers are strongly advised to be vaccinated against yellow fever in advance, which poses a direct threat to human health and life. You should also follow the standard rules: do not drink unboiled water and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

Job Opportunities in Taiwan

Taiwan is rightfully considered one of the world leaders in the production of high-tech products. Such industries as petrochemistry, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, textile industry, financial market, tourism and the service sector as a whole are actively developing here.

Prices in Taiwan

With the exception of real estate, prices for all other goods and services in Taiwan do not “bite” much - $ 500 is enough for a month of modest living for an entire family, including food, rent, clothes, and even education. If you move inland, away from Taipei, the prices there will be even more budgetary: on average, two times lower, so a month of life will cost only $ 250 for the whole family.

A small portion of food from the stall will cost 50 rubles (Russian, of course), a bottle of wine - 250 rubles, rice in bamboo will cost about 135 rubles, and a three-course set meal in a Taiwanese restaurant - from 150 to 200 rubles.

An entrance ticket to the Taipei Zoo costs only 116 rubles, and a ride on the historic Japanese train in Yun Hsien Park costs 193 rubles.

Attitude towards Russians

The attitude of the local population towards the inhabitants of a country is formed for a reason: it usually depends on the geopolitical situation, relations between countries, the characteristics of socio-economic life, and other factors.

Over the past decades, Taiwan has become a very popular holiday destination among Americans and Europeans, but there are still very few Russian tourists here, not to mention the fact that Russian emigrants in Taiwan are generally very rare.

The words "Russia" or "Russian" always surprise the people of Taiwan, so our tourists enjoy increased interest from the local population.

If you strike up a conversation with a local resident, he will definitely ask you about what they eat in Russia and is it true that it is as cold there as they say?

The thing is that for almost half a century, Taiwan and Russia did not have any contact: after the Second World War, ties between the states were broken, and no one was eager to restore them. In 2000, about 90 Russian citizens lived on the island, who unofficially united in a kind of Russian community in Taiwan. Now, of course, there are more of them, but not by much.

15 facts about Taiwan: Video

And, finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is about the status of the debtor that it is easiest to “forget” when going on another vacation abroad. The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2020, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a proven service not to fly.rf

In which he asks Ukrainians living in other countries of the world to tell about their new life. This week Ekaterina Gulenok talks about life in Taiwan.

WHY I MOVED

Before moving, I had a completely arranged life: work in a PR agency, an established comfortable life, frequent travels. But something was missing. This is how the idea of ​​a second higher education arose. I did not consider Europe and America, I decided to stay in the Eastern Hemisphere, namely, in Taiwan - there is education in English and a state scholarship.

It took a year to prepare - I collected and certified papers, passed exams. All this time I was tormented by doubts, but in the end I bought a big yellow suitcase, put my things in it and flew to Formosa (from the Portuguese “beautiful island” - this is a former colony of Portugal).

Fears and adaptation

At first it was difficult: you don’t know anyone how and what to eat - it’s not clear, the climate is difficult - high humidity, frequent rains, and in the fall, when I arrived, it was also very hot. In addition to everything, the scholarship requirements made me nervous - at the end of the semester you must have at least 80 points (100 point system). Then I realized that I get 85-92 points in all subjects without any problems, and I stopped thinking about it.

But most of all I was worried about earthquakes. Taiwan is located in a seismically active zone, so the island shakes quite often.

Serious earthquakes have not happened for a long time, but the walls shake once or twice a month.

Living on the island do not attach any importance to this, and foreigners eventually get used to not hiding under the table every time everything around starts to vibrate. But I consistently unsubscribe to my parents after each such case - our Internet media sometimes write about earthquakes in Taiwan, and it is important for me to inform my home that everything is in order with me.

About prices and purchases

Grocery shopping is my big passion and one of my favorite things to do in Taiwan. Throughout the island, chains of small convenience stores are very developed: convenience stores, milk, sandwiches, sweets, snacks, personal care items and household items. There are several such chains, and the density of 7/11 stores, for example, is the highest in the world.

Clothes are the cheapest to buy in the night markets, but I never got around to it. Very often, clothes are not measured, and the styles are very specific - Taiwanese inherit Korean and Japanese street fashion, and this is an amateur aesthetic. So, in terms of clothing shopping, conservatism, unusual for me in other areas, manifested itself: I prefer familiar mass-market brands. Clothing prices are comparable to ours, but shoes in the same Aldo and Nine West are much more expensive.

Studying at the University

I don't go to university every day. It's a completely different system here. In the semester, the student chooses 3-4 subjects, each of which - once a week. At the same time, studying takes a lot, independent work and preparation for lectures are 2/3 of the work. Working on a government scholarship is strictly prohibited. This ban even applies to university practice (if it is not mandatory) and unpaid volunteer projects.

How friends are made

Taiwan is a special place. Virtually no one sees the island as their final destination - people don't come here to stay forever. As a rule, this is some intermediate point on the way from one goal to another. People communicate with each other not because they have a lot in common and some kind of spiritual connection, but because for a number of reasons they ended up at the same time in the same place. And when the link temporarily disappears, the relationship will dissolve by itself. Nobody regrets it.

Taiwan gave me a couple of close people, but in general, the older you are, the less new real friendships happen - everyone has their own world. It doesn't matter if it's Taiwan or Ukraine.

Is it easy to become

I do not believe in assimilation, and in the case of Asian countries, this is simply impossible - you will always be a stranger, a wonderful creature from another world. As elsewhere, interracial marriages happen here - among the younger generation, for example, it is prestigious to create families with representatives of the Caucasian race. There is also a category of expat men who marry Taiwanese women (the reverse trend - a foreign woman to marry a Taiwanese - is less pronounced).

There is an opinion that Taiwanese women are capricious and very demanding wives, they don’t bother around the house, but “in the load” the newly-made husband gets a considerable number of relatives with whom you need to maintain relations.

The Taiwanese are friendly and helpful, but our worlds are so different that it is almost impossible to integrate into this culture. Expats here, as a rule, "huddle in packs" and communicate with their own circle. The Russian-speaking community, as elsewhere, in Taiwan is quite extensive.

New gastronomic habits

Taiwanese are very fond of bakeries and coffee houses - the trend of inheriting Western traditions is very strong here. Taipei is considered the coffee capital of Asia, and the coffee here is really delicious. But the abundance of bakeries does not save - the bread here is very different from the one we are used to. It is too airy, sweet and, in my opinion, tasteless.

In Taiwan, I gave up meat - it happened somehow naturally. There is an abundance of vegetables, fruits and herbs all year round, always fresh seafood. The most popular drink is soy milk. Asians began to consume cow's milk not so long ago, respectively, it is difficult here with milk. Cheeses are only imported and very expensive. So I also switched to soy milk and tofu. Of course, it cannot be eaten in its pure form, but it is quite possible to cook it.

The language barrier

Many people in Taiwan speak English. Those who studied abroad (and there are many) speak it perfectly. But in general, you should not count on full-fledged communication. There is a certain stratum of expats who have been living here for years and from the Chinese lexicon they get by with only “Ni Hao” and “Xie Xie” (“hello” and “thank you”). I studied Chinese at the university and my knowledge is enough for the everyday level of communication. However, I avoid telephone conversations.

mentality

It so happened that the Taiwanese live under the same roof with their parents for a very long time, and they, in turn, protect children from all the problems of the outside world. Children do not help their parents with the housework, they never wash the dishes after themselves, and in transport even old people jump up as if stung, giving way to children of almost adolescence.

When they go to university and move to a hostel, they do not know how to turn on the washing machine, they try to fill it from a bucket and leave food to rot in the common refrigerator.

At first, this annoyed me, and in the second year of my life I moved to a separate apartment, so as not to shudder every time I open the common refrigerator in the hostel and not be the only person on the whole floor who sometimes cleans it.

But the Taiwanese are kind. Often complete strangers helped me with a variety of problems. They sincerely delved into tasks that were not always clear to them, wasted their time and, if they could not help themselves, found someone else.

Taiwan has shown me that people are good. I learned to believe in them, and this is perhaps one of the main gifts of the island.

Standard of living

Taiwan is a developed capitalist country (albeit with a controversial status). There is a fairly high standard of living. A salary of about $1,000 for an office worker is considered very low. As a rule, it is rather 1500$. It’s enough to live on, if you don’t rent an apartment - rent, as well as buying a home, is expensive

Not pursuing large purchases as obviously impossible, Taiwanese are simply obsessed with smaller-scale shopping. The cult of consumerism reigns here - from night markets to Louis Vuitton. Moreover, every local girl has a Louis Vuitton bag here. This is a kind of must have - regardless of the status of the owner, she just has to be. There is no counterfeit, everything is original.

They also do not spare money for education - a very large percentage of young people receive a bachelor's degree in America. They are friends with America at the political level, and this extends to all spheres of life.

Weekend

On weekends, locals like to barbecue. But this has little to do with our trip “to barbecues”. The Taiwanese go to the embankment (the river crosses the entire city and flows into the ocean in the north), take out their small barbecue and fry micro-kebabs. It is allowed to do this in strictly defined places and seasonally.

My schedule allows me not to tie active leisure to the weekend, and this is a big plus - I manage to avoid queues and crowds - from cinema to national parks. When I set a day off for myself, I like to explore new places: I go to the mountains, walk in parks, go to some small picturesque town near Taipei, or come to the ocean.

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Asia is a very delicate matter. Someone falls in love with this region at first sight, someone can't get used to unusual traditions. As part of a project about Russians living abroad, Lenta.ru publishes the story of Arina, who moved from Ulan-Ude to Taiwan.

One in a million

The island of Taiwan, with a population of 24 million, is located in the Pacific Ocean, near the Fujian province of mainland China. You can drive around it in a day. “The spool is small and expensive” - this is just about him.

I graduated from Tomsk State University, studied Chinese. I got into the master's program for a double degree program in partnership with one of the private universities in Taichung. Interestingly, I was almost the only participant in the program in 2013. I saved up money, my parents helped a little, and a year later I was already in Taiwan.

Tomatoes in caramel

Taichung is the third largest city in Taiwan after the capital Taipei (about two hours by car). It is located in the middle of the island. It is believed that the weather is better here. If it rains in Taipei, you can be sure that the sun is shining brightly in Taichung. Plus free transportation, and it's no joke. Eight kilometers around the city on any bus can be traveled for free.

It is the largest night market in Taiwan. This is a favorite Friday-Saturday pastime for the local population, where you can buy consumer goods and taste local culinary delights - rice in pig's blood on a stick, chicken feet, fried cakes with dried pork meat, ice cream in the shape of a male genital organ, caramelized tomatoes and so on. .

The Taiwanese have a cult of food: at breakfast they discuss what they will eat for lunch, at lunch they discuss where to go for dinner, and where the most delicious noodles are nearby. Even on local television, 50 percent of the air time is occupied by programs about restaurants and cafes.

Surprisingly, in such a small area there is still room for untouched forests, waterfalls and wild springs hidden among the jungle. In the resort town of Kenting in the south of the island, the Spring Scream rock music festival is held every spring. There it seems that you are in another state, where there are no these glass skyscrapers, factories and weekly reports.

Asian equanimity

Life in Taichung is calm and measured. Noise after 11 pm is suppressed by vigilant neighbors who, for any reason, are happy to report violations of public order to the police.

For me, the first year was a period of student asceticism. Sometimes my neighbor and I had to undereat at lunchtime to have leftovers for dinner. She earned money by translating, teaching the Russian language. The university paid a small stipend. In general, they survived as best they could.

Taiwanese education has remained a mystery to me. It is a combination of absolutely standardized thinking, high methodicalness and efficient teamwork. The stiffness, the fear of expressing one's point of view of my Taiwanese classmates was very unusual after the intensity of the seminar discussions of the Tomsk undergraduates.

Our categories

The Russian-speaking community in Taiwan can be roughly divided into several categories: students, foreign trade workers, local wives, dancers, acrobats, as well as a small group of engineers, programmers and other representatives of technical specialties.

Most of all there are Filipinos, Indonesians, Thais, who are hired as laborers in factories or as nannies, governesses. Lots of English - they mostly teach the language.

Some Americans specially come to Taiwan, China, Korea for a couple of years to earn money to pay off their student loans. As a native of a poor family with many children, to be honest, I can thank our state for little, but for free education - thank you.

There are no snitches

I started my career in a family company with a small office in the rice fields. The company manages to supply premium bathroom accessories to the international market. I was engaged in the development of the client base in the CIS countries. The team sat together at work from 8 am to 9 pm, sometimes on weekends.

After the next training on labor legislation, our HR reported that from 2015, the practice of overtime work without pay will be punished with heavy fines. It was unofficially decided that officials could only learn about this from a snitch, and there are no such people in our company. So we continued to work as we did. In the company of my friend, the issue was solved in a more original way: at 6 pm everyone goes to check in that they leave work, fixing it on an electronic counter, and return to the workplace.

A year later, I decided to move to the capital - I felt the need for a metropolis and further development.

To the capital

In rainy Taipei, I immediately liked the rhythm of life, more acquaintances, impressions. Sport played a big role in this - at the insistence of my friend from Scotland, I signed up for rugby and have no regrets. The increased risk of injury is offset by a frantic drive. There are many sports clubs created by foreigners. This is a great way to socialize: Gaelic football, regular football, frisbee, flag football and so on.

Compared to other cities, the Russian-speaking community here is more colorful. There is a restaurant of Russian cuisine, sometimes musicians come with concerts.

Our locals are treated well, as well as other foreigners. The first reaction is “Russia, cool! And where from Russia? From Siberia? Wow, it's cold out there! Does it snow in summer? Most Taiwanese only know about the existence of Moscow, St. Petersburg and famous Siberia. In fact, they have little interest in international politics and in general the events in the world.

Kind and slender

The Taiwanese are very friendly and hospitable. At every opportunity, they will say thank you a hundred times and apologize the same number of times if they suddenly hit you with a shoulder in the elevator. It's captivating, you'll get better yourself.

That's probably why it's safe here. In my hometown of Ulan-Ude, only kamikazes walk around the yards at night, but here, for example, it could be a couple who decided to have a bite to eat at the night market. I’ll deviate a little from the topic, but for the third year now it has amazed me how local girls can wrap chicken in fatty batter late in the evening, and this does not affect the figure in any way. And at 50, women look 35.

However, my local friend who works for the Women's and Children's Social Services believes that Taiwan is a safe place for adults only. You can’t see children running freely along the street, because they can easily become victims of rapists, of which, according to her, there are a lot.

The theft rate here is much lower than in Russia. Although they just pulled out my bag with a wallet and documents. Let's put it down to my bad luck. The immigration service issued new documents in just four days.

coin crisis

In Taipei, I was horrified to realize that with an equal level of salaries, the costs here are completely different. Suppose, with an income of 1.5 thousand dollars, from 300 to 500 dollars will go to rent. An apartment with two bedrooms will cost 1.2 thousand dollars a month. And if you want to buy apartments in the city center, then the average cost per square meter is from 9.5 thousand to 10 thousand dollars.

If you regularly engage in home cooking of familiar Russian dishes, then going to the store causes significant blows to your wallet. I have not seen sour cream for 1.5 years - if you add such exotic to the grocery basket, you will have to look for work on the night shift.

Marry a local?

I plan to live in Taiwan for a couple of years. I want stability, at least for a certain period of time. I do not rule out a return to Russia, because this island is not the most suitable place for realizing ambitions.

Sooner or later, you will have to think about creating a family and, most importantly, about a child. But here, not everyone finds family happiness: the difference of cultures and the language barrier, the need to join the family of the future husband, the thinness of local men, their reduced hairiness, and further down the list are embarrassing. Although, from what I heard, they are wonderful husbands.

If the husband is not Taiwanese, then it seems illogical to me to raise a child in a country of which he will never become a citizen (unless through marriage). In addition, I am not satisfied with the Taiwanese education system.

Of course I miss Russia. Here you begin to truly appreciate the clear starry sky over Baikal, Tula gingerbread, dill from the garden, the opportunity to go to the drama theater, fresh winter air and our humor.