Baby, It's Hot Outside

So this is the weather forecast in Taipei for the upcoming days:

As you can see, we're hitting the low to mid-90s in Fahrenheit here (around mid-30s in Celsius), which is standard mid-summer (think July, August) temperature for New York City. Meanwhile the temperature here in Taipei has already been in the high 80s, low 90s since at least mid-May. However, we're only in early June and from what I understand, the worst is yet to come. Moreover, it is not only hot, but humid as well. If you're from the Northeastern United States like me, you can understand hot and humid summers, but as Taiwan is a located in a subtropical area, the humidity here is a lot higher, so much so that you can practically feel the air smothering you at times or feel your skin getting moist and sticky the moment you step foot out the door. Furthermore the sunlight can get pretty intense and you will often find both guys and girls alike going outside armed with a sun umbrella, and no I'm not talking about those pretty lace parasols, I'm talking waterproof UV sun umbrellas (which can probably double as a rain umbrella as well).

No not these delicate parasols

An umbrella for all seasons--pretty isn't it?

In fact, what with all the rain and sun Taiwan gets, umbrella shops are pretty prominent around Taipei (and probably around other parts of Taiwan as well). In addition to protecting against the heat of the sun and health concerns, I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that the Taiwanese (girls especially) do not want to get darker. In Taiwan (and many parts of East Asia actually), whiter skin is considered to be more beautiful and the idea of tanning, of wanting to get darker skin, is considered kind of strange. It does seem however, that down south or in the countryside, girls are not as concerned about being dark. In context it makes sense, as back in the day it was not uncommon to see children helping their parents out in the fields; all that time spent in the sun turned their skin dark hence dark skin was a normal thing. In the city however, I think if you were not dark it meant that you spent your time indoors, either in some office job, or at home because you didn't even have to work, thus whiter skin was associated with prosperity and a life of luxury. 

Anyways, with the rising temperature, another thing to worry about are these little buggers:

It's amazing how much the images differ if you type "mosquito" in Chinese as opposed to in English on Google

MOSQUITOES. Taiwan is teeming with mosquitoes buzzing around in the hot humid weather waiting to get a taste of your blood, those nasty little buggers. If you don't often get bitten (like my roommate), consider yourself lucky. If however, you are like me (T^T) and are constantly getting bitten left and right (I once got bitten 20+ times in the time span of 50 minutes while in class) then this is for you. New York City has its fair share of mosquitoes, but never have I been bitten so many times back home as I have been here (the mosquitoes here will also get you through your jeggings and leggings too so beware!).

I had previously been using this Japanese-brand ointment for my mosquito bites:

which is pretty easy enough to find in Chinatown, New York and serves as an effective anti-itch, anti-swelling ointment. With all the bites I have been getting however, I was quickly running low. Unfortunately I couldn't seem to find it here in Taiwan, so I had to go hunting for something different to treat my bites.

Found at any Watsons for NT$264 for both of them

Now in the past I have gotten by alright with not using any insect repellent, plus I don't really like the idea of spraying myself with chemicals, or just having to spray myself anytime I leave the house. However seeing as how frequently I have been getting bitten I figured I might as well invest in some bug spray as well. So I decided to head over to Watsons to see what I could find.

In addition to Taiwanese bug sprays, they also had some American companies such as Burt's Bees and Off! as well, so if those are your go-to companies for bug spray you are in luck. Of course, being that they are foreign companies, they were pricier than the local brands and as I did not have any preference, I decided to go with the cheaper 綠油精叮寧 bug spray.

There was a wide variety of sprays from this one company and as I couldn't exactly read all the Chinese to be able to differentiate between them I decided to go with the one which had characters I recognized--namely 綠茶 (green tea) and 長效 (long-lasting) because I figured a long-lasting green tea scented bug spray was a pretty safe bet. Also if you are one of those people who are concerned about spraying chemicals on your skin, these bug sprays are DEET-free so you can be rest assured.

If you are one of those people are picky about brands or sensitive to certain scents I would suggest packing a lot of insect repellent before you come to Taiwan, otherwise you can find a variety of bug sprays (and insect repellent patches) at any local drugstore such as Watsons for anywhere between NT$60 to NT$350. In my opinion it works pretty well as I haven't gotten bitten since I've started using it (except for that one time I was lazy about applying it and as a result am currently sporting ten bites; to be fair though, three of them were through my legging-clad legs and two were on the back of my hands which I am constantly washing throughout the course of a day).

The next thing I want to talk about is my Mopiko-S ointment replacement.

Also from the same company as my big spray, this 綠油精 serves as a multi-purpose oil which, in addition to treating mosquito bites, can also be used to treat headaches, nose complaints, seasickness, stomachache, abrasions, burns, cuts, and muscular pain and comes in two scents--verbena and geranium. Normally Watsons would have samples for customers to sniff, but for some reason the samples were missing the day I went so, as I tend to be wary of floral scents, I decided to go with verbena which smells kind of like a milder version of the Salonpas patch my mother uses for her headaches.

What I like about this is that the scent is not too strong and it's also really light, so even in this hot weather you can apply it without feeling like you're adding extra layers on your skin. Plus the fact that it's a rollerball means that it is a lot cleaner to apply. Also because it contains eucalyptus oil and camphor oil (both of which are supposed to be unappealing to mosquitoes), this Green Oil can double as both a mosquito repellent and a treatment for mosquito bites. In terms of effectiveness, I think that this works pretty well, both to alleviate the itch and reduce swelling and redness. I would definitely recommend this as well. And the Hsin Wan Jen company that produces both of these products seems to be a good, reliable brand.

Everyday Chinese

• 溼 (Shī) - Humid
• 傘 (Sǎn) - Umbrella/Parasol
• 雨傘 (Yǔsǎn) - (Rain) umbrella
• 陽傘 (Yángsǎn) - (Sun) Umbrella/Parasol
• 蚊子 (Wénzi) - Mosquito
• 防蚊液 (Fáng wén yè) - Insect repellent
• 長效 (Cháng xiào) - Long-lasting
• 風油精 (Fēng yóu jīng) - Essential oil containing menthol and eucalyptus oil used to repel insects
• 桉葉油 (Ān yè yóu) - Eucalyptus oil
• 樟 (Zhāng) - Camphor

Things to Know, Part II

Part II of things you to know before you go to Taiwan

Resident Visa vs. Visitor Visa

If you have a U.S. passport and would like to vacation in Taiwan, you're good to go: visitors with a U.S. passport are visa-exempt for 90 days. But if you are in Taiwan to study, obviously you're going to be there for more than three months, which means you need to apply for a visa at your nearest Taiwan consulate (for a list of Taiwan embassies in the U.S. check out the website here. [Link also to the side under the "Study Abroad in Taiwan" section, listed as "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S."]). Although I was able to go pick it up three business days after I dropped off all the necessary documents, I recommend taking care of any visa business early just to be on the safe side. Especially if you don't have an embassy in your city/need to travel further to get there, in which case you might have to mail in all your documents, which means in addition to processing time, you also have to factor in shipping and handling time. So yes, take care of that early!

For Taiwan, there are two types of visas that you can apply for: a resident visa and a visitor visa. There is no specific student visa for international students who want to study in Taiwan. The type of visa you should get depends on how long you plan on staying in Taiwan. A visitor visa is for those who plan on staying in Taiwan for less than 180 days (about six months), while a resident visa is for those planning on staying in Taiwan for more than 180 days.

For visitor visas, you can apply for either single or multiple entry, the latter of which is recommended if you plan on traveling internationally during your stay in Taiwan. Last I checked both cost the same price. If, while in Taiwan, you decide to stay for a full year instead of a semester, or if you want to stay a little longer after your visitor's visa's date of expiration, you can change your visitor's visa to a resident visa or get  your visitor visa extended. In the case of the former, you will need to visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while in the case of the latter, you will need to visit the National Immigration Agency.

Whether you enter Taiwan on a resident visa or if you decide to change your visitor visa to a resident visa while in Taiwan, you will need to apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) within 15 days of your arrival, in the case of the former, and within 15 days of the issuance of your resident visa, in the case of the latter. This is to be done at the National Immigration Agency. Since you can only get a single entry resident visa, while applying for your ARC, you can also apply for a re-entry permit will allow you to leave and return to Taiwan. So here is the general process for applying for a visa:

And your visa will look something like this:

 Or this:

1. Visa Type (簽證類別)：
• Visitor Visa (停留簽證)：Short-term visa for stays in Taiwan that are less than 180 days.
• Resident Visa (居留簽證)：Long-term visa for stays in Taiwan greater than 180 days.
2. Valid Until / Enter Before (入境限期)：the last day the visa holder is permitted to enter Taiwan.
3. Duration of stay (停留期限)：The length of the visa holder’s stay in Taiwan; it is counted from the arrival date. Extensions should be made within 15 days of the duration deadline.
4. Entries (入境次數)：Single or multiple.
5. Visa Number (簽證號碼)：Visitors should fill it in E/D card at immigration.
6. Remarks (註記)：A specific code represents the applicant’s identification or reason for visiting Taiwan (e.g. the code for exchange students is FS).

Visa Application Documents
This is just a general list of documents required to apply for a visa for studying purposes. Additional documents may be requested; for a complete list of required documents, see the links to the side under "Study Abroad in Taiwan."

• Completed & signed visa application form
• Two passport photos (taken within the last six months)
• Passport (original & a photocopy)
• Travel itinerary (with both a date of arrival and a date of departure)
• Admission letter (from the university you intend to attend in Taiwan)
• Proof of financial support
• Health certificate

Also, before you apply for a visa, make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your intended date of travel. If not, it's time to renew it!

Also, remember to make photocopies (or at least scans) of the identification page of your passport, your visa, and your admission letter, and remember to bring lots of passport photos, these will be useful for obtaining/extending/changing your visa and for whatever you may need to apply for.

Money & Banking

One thing that I found useful while in South Korea was having my own bank account and debit card. I have Bank of America here in the States and I think it charges about 3% for every overseas purchase you make. I could be wrong--I did the math at one point but I forget. The point is, you don't want to incur charges every time you make a purchase or withdrawal so bring some money beforehand and withdraw infrequently. Or open up a bank account. From what I've been able to find, opening up a bank account in Taiwan doesn't seem too difficult--you'll need your passport, your ARC (or an ROC ID number), and, at some banks, an initial deposit. You should also apply for a bank card so you can withdraw from an ATM at any time.

New Taiwan Dollars come in NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100 bank notes

Having a bank account in South Korea was useful because I didn't have to worry about carrying around too much (or too little) money and I didn't have to keep withdrawing from my Bank of America account (thus incurring charges), although I will say that at a lot of places in South Korea, they will charge you around ₩2000 (about $2) less for paying in cash instead of card. Even if you plan on opening a bank account while in Taiwan however, make sure to let your bank know that you are going to be out of the country so it doesn't look suspicious or get refused when you try to use your home credit/debit card in Taiwan. More on banking in a later post once I open an account.

Coins come in amounts of NT$½, NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$20, and NT$50

From what I've heard, it seems the best place to exchange your currency is at the airport in Taiwan, because they offer the best rates. So make sure to exchange your money before you leave the airport!

As for how much to bring, you have to consider things like payments you have to make, for your ARC, to housing, for transportation, food, school fees and the like. And then bring extra. It's also wise to keep track of your spendings (especially if you're like me and perpetually broke) and make sure you don't spend your money too quickly!

Phone & Wi-Fi

If you plan on using your phone abroad, make sure it's unlocked or else you won't be able to use it. Also, it might be wise to call your phone company to suspend your service, since you won't be using it to prevent unnecessary charges. I'm not so sure on that though--my sister did that when she studied abroad a few years back, but I didn't do that in Korea because I didn't get a new SIM card while in Korea and was able to get away with just having Wi-fi. However, Taiwan isn't as wi-fi friendly as South Korea. 

Anyways, from what I've heard (again, my knowledge on this is very limited), it would be best to purchase a prepaid SIM card at the airport in Taiwan. Stores will carry both SIM and micro-SIM cards so there's no need to worry if you have a micro-SIM. Again, more on this in a later post once I've figured it out.

Now I didn't know about this the first time I went to Taiwan so big shout-out to my awesome cousin for telling me about Taiwan's wi-fi service, iTaiwan (link now in side under "Other Useful Resources." Apparently over 5,000 wi-fi hotspots have been established in an initiative to provide free wi-fi to the public. 

And finally...

Go With All Your Heart

If you've noticed, the url for this blog is go-with-all-your-heart-taiwan.blogspot.com. Also this quote is featured in the subheading under the title. And this applies to study abroad anywhere, not just Taiwan. But what's with the obsession with this quote?

This is where I admit that I didn't always have as much fun in Seoul as I could've had. I'm shy, painfully so. And introverted. And anti-social. And I don't make friends or strike up conversation very easily. In short, I'm that quietly awkward person who keeps to herself in the (hypothetical) corner. I admit that I spent a lot of my free time in my room doing homework and studying or else on my computer. In my two classes where I was the only American, I didn't talk to my classmates unless I had to. I'm sure I came off as cold, if not rude, but I'm just not the type of person who can communicate easily. It made me realize (a little too late but still), that if I really wanted to enjoy my time there, I should have put myself out there a little (okay, a lot) more. Actually it was sort of a battle to convince the study away office at my school to even let me go away for two semesters and well, I let my first semester almost go to a waste. I did have fun, and I did make friends, but I didn't immerse myself into Korean culture as much as I would have liked, by no fault of anyone but myself. Hence this obsession with Confucius's quote.

You're going to be abroad for at least four months, that's a third of the year; you should want to be there and not be there to play around, to pick up girls/guys, or just because you can. It should be the best darn experience it can be. You're not a tourist on vacation. That implies that you're just there for the short-term to take in the scenery without really partaking in it. You should go out and practice your language skills, learn about the culture you're in, try all the local foods (yes, even the "weird" ones!), mingle with the locals and other international students (and not just others from your country), do touristy things, get out there and see the sights, partake in local activities and make it a memorable experience.

Of course, schoolwork and classes are important too, but make sure to take some time to go out and explore, even if it's just for a short walk around the neighborhood. You don't have to do everything in groups or pairs--sometimes it's just nice to go out by yourself, but don't always be by yourself. If making friends isn't your strong suit (it certainly isn't mine), that's okay too, but you should at least try to step outside your comfort zone. You don't want to spend what precious little time you have abroad cooped up in your room. Also, it's okay to be homesick and to have some comfort food that reminds you of home every now and then but don't be averse to trying new things, local things, because what's the point of being in a new country if you're not going to experience it? What's the point of being in a new culture if you're just going to carry around the old? Don't write something off without trying it and don't bash on something because it's not what you're used to. Be friendly and open, open to new experiences, to unfamiliar customs, to different cultures, to meeting new people, to making mistakes every now and then, and to having the time of your life.

And at the end of the day, don't forget about your family and friends back home. Keep in touch, whether it be by snail mail, phone calls, video chats, or text message, because they miss you too. And even if they can't be there with you, you can at least share your experiences with them and let them know that you're doing alright and make sure they are too.

So in short,

Before You Go, Things You Need to Know

I finished packing! Sort of. I finished packing all my clothes, minus one sweater that needs to go in the wash and a jacket. But other than that I'm pretty much set clothes wise, with still some extra room to spare no less! Actually it doesn't really count as spare room because my multitude of bags are going in there (I have way too many types of bags, but you can't deny that each have come in handy in different situations), plus my shoes (just a pair of flats, a pair of wedge sneakers, and a pair of ankle boots), but I think I am definitely in better shape than when I went off to Korea.

The seat of packing honor (or horror) within reach of all your subjects

I also have my backpack to pack, but after five hours of dealing with that ring of mess up there, I decided that it would probably be best to call it a day. Plus I'm currently sitting here nursing a slight head and eye-ache (or that might be from going to sleep so late last night. Or spending too much time blogging hahaha). Although admittedly I didn't spend all five of those hours studiously packing. In fact I spent a lot of it gazing at everything trying not to be overwhelmed. And also part of it getting a distracted by the fresh lemon lavender scent of some clothes I haven't worn since I came back from South Korea (seriously though, if you're ever in Korea for the long term and need detergent, lemon lavender [레몬 라벤더 세제 in Korean] is the way to go!).

You want the purple one at the front center (And yes, that's LG as in the electronics company)

Anyways, I am getting totally off track here.

Packing. Luckily for me, since I'll be going to Taiwan for the spring term and since Taiwan is pretty much tropical year round anyways, I packed mostly summer and spring clothes which take up a lot less room than winter clothes.

That being said, before you start packing your clothes it's important to look into things like temperature, weather, and...etiquette. Huh? Well for example, in South Korea, short shorts and miniskirts are okay, but spaghetti straps and tube tops? Bared shoulders and shoulder blades are almost...scandalous, if you will. I mean sure if you're an (obvious) foreigner, they might be more forgiving, but in any case it's best to not draw negative attention by disrespecting customs.

In terms of Taiwanese dress code, as far as I could tell, there did not seem to be any fashion faux pas to avoid. In fact several articles I read online said that Taiwanese dress code was similar to that of the United State's or Europe's.

Besides clothes, I would also recommend packing toiletries, like toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap (especially if you're particularly particular about brand and scent), because it's nice to have these things already on hand when you first arrive. That way you won't be scrambling to buy them when there are probably more pressing and immediate matters you have to deal with first. Also you'll probably want to settle down a bit before you start making that shopping list so that you can buy everything in one go instead of having to make a bunch of return trips.

Don't forget your trusty stuffed animals!

Other things to consider are medicine, outfits for different occasions (some formal wear and semi-formal wear), plus the shoes to go with said outfits (but don't bring a whole luggage of shoes!), electrical appliances (chargers, adapters if need be [in the case of Taiwan, their outlets are the same as that of the United States']), and a pair of scissors, for opening packages and the like (trust me on that--just don't put it in your carry-on and package it well so it doesn't have the potential of poking or cutting through your things). That's all for now cause I'm so ready to turn in.

Language and culture books! (Please ignore the fact that none of these are even related to Taiwan)

And your favorite botany books ^-^ hehe

T-12 Days: Let the Packing Begin

大家好！

In a little over 12 days and 12 hours, I will be sitting on the plane to Taiwan! Gulp! Funny how time flies, especially when your days have been passing by as monotonously as mine have been . 12 days, a little under two weeks, about half a month. Seems so far away yet before I know it, I'll be nervously making my way to the airport hoping that I have everything I need, that I'll remember how to speak Chinese, that I will be able to find the shuttle that'll take me to my school...all the fun stuff in other words. But for now, I am still at home, and need to prepare. And what does that entail but packing of course.

Anyone who knows me knows that I dislike packing. Immensely. Despise it. I find it to be a stressful, overwhelming endeavor. Or maybe that has to do with the fact that most of my packing occurs in the midst of finals. I wish schools would give you time after finals ended to pack without rush, instead of kicking you off campus right away, but I digress.

Pack light, all the travel guides (and sisters) will tell you. Well, easier said than done. It baffles me how I'm supposed to pack for six months into two suitcases--with the expectation that I'll be bringing home more, no less! Then again, this coming from someone who is awful at packing. Or maybe it's having to make all those decisions about what to bring and what not to bring that makes this such a terrible experience for me--I pretty much fail when it comes to making decisions too. Haha.

Anyways, my goal is to fit everything I need into those two suitcases and the backpack, which will be my carry-on. Wish me luck! 

下次再聊！(Xià cì zài liáo) (Can I say it like that?)

下次再傾！(haa6 ci3 zoi3 king1)

Everyday Chinese

• 旅行 (Lǚxíng) - To travel
• 行李 (Xínglǐ) - Luggage
• 整理行李 (Zhěnglǐ xínglǐ) - To pack one's luggage
• 留學 (Liúxué) - Study abroad
• 留學生 (Liúxuéshēng) - Study abroad student