Table of Contents Chapter 1: Why Taiwan? What Is Unique About Taiwan? Deep Chinese Culture Foreign Influence on Taiwan Taiwan''s Religious Atmosphere Taiwan Is Compact but Varied How Is Taiwan Different than Mainland China? The Chinese Language in Taiwan Studying Chinese in Taiwan Taiwan Has a Different Vibe Taiwan Is Easy for Travelers and Students Highlights of Taiwan History Endnotes Chapter 2: Who Lives in Taiwan? Taiwanese Aboriginals and Austronesian Languages Outsiders Hakka kèjia rén () and Their Language Taiwanese táiwan rén () and Southern Min Language mnnán huà () Bensheng rén () vs. Wàisheng rén () Chinese zhongguó rén () or Taiwanese táiwan rén () Insiders vs. Outsiders New Residents xinzhù mín () and Their Languages Fitting in as A Foreigner in Taiwan Culture Shock and Dealing with Change The Honeymoon Stage The Negotiation Stage The Adjustment Stage The Mastery Stage Endnotes Chapter 3: Getting around in Taiwan Flying in and out of Taiwan Other Transportation Options Taiwan High Speed Rail/HSR (táiwan gaotie ) Taiwan Railway (táiwan tielù) Via Highways Inter-city Bus (guódào kèyùn ) Driving in Taiwan Fantastic Highway Rest Stations Taiwan''s Metro System (jiéyùn) Taipei Metro (Taipei Mass Rapid Transit or MRT, táibei jiéyùn) The EasyCard (youyóu k ) Public Busses (gongche ) Bicycles Bicycling Infrastructure in Taiwan Scooters, Scooters, and More Scooters (mótuoche ) Taxis (jìchéng che ) Travel to Taiwan''s Outlying Islands Chapter 4: Taiwan''s Food Scene Taiwan Food as Regional Cuisine Taiwan''s Take on Chinese Food Tainan, Taiwan''s Traditional Sweet Tooth Capital Taiwan''s Fusion Cuisine: Japanese, Western, Southeast Asian Taiwan''s Street Food Phenomenon xiochi () Taiwan''s Amazing Fruit What Is for Breakfast? Convenience Store Food and Fast Food Taiwan''s Fast Food Chains The Taiwan Box Lunch, biàndang () Eating Hot Pot, huguo () Vegetarian Cuisine in Taiwan Taiwan''s Tea Culture How to Eat Well in Taiwan Eating in a Chinese Restaurant How to Make Sense of a Chinese Menu càidan () How a Dish Is Prepared How the Ingredients Are Cut Endnotes Chapter 5: Living in Taiwan Housing Overview On-Campus vs. Off Hotels Long-term Residence in Taiwan Taking Care of Daily Needs Post Offices Convenience Stores Coffee Shops Banking and Money Phones and Sim Cards Trash and Recycling Collection Public Toilets The 7-ELEVEN Effect in Taiwan Health and Safety National Holidays Useful Apps and Social Media Endnotes Chapter 6: Studying in Taiwan The Value of Education in Taiwanese Society Traditional Asian Paradigms about Education Taiwan''s University System Why Study in Taiwan Where to Study Chinese Making the Most of Your Time in Taiwan How to Make the Most of Your Chinese Language Studies Endnotes Chapter 7: Working and Interning in Taiwan How to Land an Internship or Job? Industry-Academic Collaboration Job Searching Websites Taiwan''s LinkedIn 1111 (1111 rénlì yínháng, 1111 human power bank) 104 (104 rénlì yínháng, 104 human power bank) Through Connections (guanxi ) Taiwanese Business Culture Strategies to Make the Most of Your Work/Internship Endnotes Chapter 8: Taiwan''s Diverse Geography Taipei and Northern Taiwan Taichung and Western Taiwan Hualien and Eastern Taiwan Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Southern Taiwan Outlying Islands Endnotes 0013;) or Taiwanese táiwan rén () Insiders vs. Outsiders New Residents xinzhù mín () and Their Languages Fitting in as A Foreigner in Taiwan Culture Shock and Dealing with Change The Honeymoon Stage The Negotiation Stage The Adjustment Stage The Mastery Stage Endnotes Chapter 3: Getting around in Taiwan Flying in and out of Taiwan Other Transportation Options Taiwan High Speed Rail/HSR (táiwan gaotie ) Taiwan Railway (táiwan tielù) Via Highways Inter-city Bus (guódào kèyùn ) Driving in Taiwan Fantastic Highway Rest Stations Taiwan''s Metro System (jiéyùn) Taipei Metro (Taipei Mass Rapid Transit or MRT, táibei jiéyùn) The EasyCard (youyóu k ) Public Busses (gongche ) Bicycles Bicycling Infrastructure in Taiwan Scooters, Scooters, and More Scooters (mótuoche ) Taxis (jìchéng che ) Travel to Taiwan''s Outlying Islands Chapter 4: Taiwan''s Food Scene Taiwan Food as Regional Cuisine Taiwan''s Take on Chinese Food Tainan, Taiwan''s Traditional Sweet Tooth Capital Taiwan''s Fusion Cuisine: Japanese, Western, Southeast Asian Taiwan''s Street Food Phenomenon xiochi () Taiwan''s Amazing Fruit What Is for Breakfast? Convenience Store Food and Fast Food Taiwan''s Fast Food Chains The Taiwan Box Lunch, biàndang () Eating Hot Pot, huguo () Vegetarian Cuisine in Taiwan Taiwan''s Tea Culture How to Eat Well in Taiwan Eating in a Chinese Restaurant How to Make Sense of a Chinese Menu càidan () How a Dish Is Prepared How the Ingredients Are Cut Endnotes Chapter 5: Living in Taiwan Housing Overview On-Campus vs. Off Hotels Long-term Residence in Taiwan Taking Care of Daily Needs Post Offices Convenience Stores Coffee Shops Banking and Money Phones and Sim Cards Trash and Recycling Collection Public Toilets The 7-ELEVEN Effect in Taiwan Health and Safety National Holidays Useful Apps and Social Media Endnotes Chapter 6: Studying in Taiwan The Value of Education in Taiwanese Society Traditional Asian Paradigms about Education Taiwan''s University System Why Study in Taiwan Where to Study Chinese Making the Most of Your Time in Taiwan How to Make the Most of Your Chinese Language Studies Endnotes Chapter 7: Working and Interning in Taiwan How to Land an Internship or Job? Industry-Academic Collaboration Job Searching Websites Taiwan''s LinkedIn 1111 (1111 rénlì yínháng, 1111 human power bank) 104 (104 rénlì yínháng, 104 human power bank) Through Connections (guanxi ) Taiwanese Business Culture Strategies to Make the Most of Your Work/Internship Endnotes Chapter 8: Taiwan''s Diverse Geography Taipei and Northern Taiwan Taichung and Western Taiwan Hualien and Eastern Taiwan Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Southern Taiwan Outlying Islands Endnotes ipei Metro (Taipei Mass Rapid Transit or MRT, táibei jiéyùn) The EasyCard (youyóu k ) Public Busses (gongche ) Bicycles Bicycling Infrastructure in Taiwan Scooters, Scooters, and More Scooters (mótuoche ) Taxis (jìchéng che ) Travel to Taiwan''s Outlying Islands Chapter 4: Taiwan''s Food Scene Taiwan Food as Regional Cuisine Taiwan''s Take on Chinese Food Tainan, Taiwan''s Traditional Sweet Tooth Capital Taiwan''s Fusion Cuisine: Japanese, Western, Southeast Asian Taiwan''s Street Food Phenomenon xiochi () Taiwan''s Amazing Fruit What Is for Breakfast? Convenience Store Food and Fast Food Taiwan''s Fast Food Chains The Taiwan Box Lunch, biàndang () Eating Hot Pot, huguo () Vegetarian Cuisine in Taiwan Taiwan''s Tea Culture How to Eat Well in Taiwan Eating in a Chinese Restaurant How to Make Sense of a Chinese Menu càidan () How a Dish Is Prepared How the Ingredients Are Cut En.