It was a good decision I think to go to Taiwan, despite knowing nothing about the country apart from Taipei 101 which, when built in 2004, was the world’s tallest skyscraper. It’s already been surpassed now on the race towards the skies by two towers, Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It still has the world’s fastest elevator.
Taipei 101, Taiwan.
Taipei 101 at night.
Taipei’s main train station. Taiwan.
I made the decision to visit Taiwan while I was in Manila, Philippines. I had been thinking of booking a flight to somewhere in southern Japan. On looking at a map for a suitable landing spot in Japan and an ideal flight to go there, I noticed that Taiwan is nestled between the other two nations of islands. So, why not visit a new country that I know nothing about? Why? Because it’s there! (That statement works in many situations). Now to find Taipei, the capital city on the map. It sits near the northern coast of the island which has the East China Sea above it and the South China Sea below it on the map.
In central Taipei, Taiwan.
I have gotten into the habit of checking how many days each country gives a visitor on an entry visa. Taiwan gives 90. Three whole months! So I wanted to find a way to spend a bit of time in Taiwan without having to pay hotel prices every night.
Some evidence of the importance of education in Taiwan. Taipei.
Through the magic of the internet and the help of the website HelpX I found DADA School in Zhong Li city, an hour west of central Taipei. Asian people in general are especially dedicated to education and a big part is learning English as a foreign language (EFL). The younger generations spend so much time watching English language television and films and many of them express a desire to see Europe and other parts of the western world. Therefore, for anybody who’s a native speaker of English there are millions of people, not only in Asia, desperate to learn the international language.
Helping out with a class at DADA school, Taiwan.
The school at DADA in Zhong Li is mostly for younger children who arrive after they finish at their elementary or high schools. Most engage in extra English classes in the afternoon. Public schools usually start at 8.00am and with additional lessons at a school like DADA some of the kids spend 10-12 hours a day studying. One of the differences though with a lot of schools in Asia is that more time is devoted to physical activities. In the mornings they do a routine to get the brain functioning. The children often get time to play in the park or play football at a school yard.
On a day trip to Taoyuan International Airport’s Aviation Museum, Taiwan.
Getting some recreation time in between classes.
By the time I’d spent a month working with the kids at DADA School, one of the things I noticed is how well behaved they are. Obviously the little ones get a bit restless on occasions but rarely cause problems. They come in and quietly study and do homework, help with keeping the place clean and wash their own dishes.
The people who run DADA School are a wonderful couple Ching and John, and their hard working assistant Sunny. They do so much to make the school enjoyable for the children, yet when it’s time to learn, it’s time to learn! They also include visits to parks, school playgrounds, the swimming pool as well as camping trips and other days out. The kids are well fed at meal times and treated really well. Ching is such a great cook too.
Making pizzas in DADA school with Belgian chef Roger.
There isn’t poverty in Taiwan like there is in Cambodia for example – Taiwan is one of the best countries to live in overall that I’ve seen. I’ve only encountered a handful of beggars really which is rare. On the other hand I saw more exotic cars in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that around Taipei. Maybe the Taiwanese people are just happy to be happy without being flashy or showing status. It’s good that the children all wear school uniforms too because I believe that removes a huge amount of competitiveness in style and fashions while they are too young to know better, and it takes a burden off the parents to have to buy new clothes constantly for school kids.
It’s unusual to be in a capital city like Taipei and to see so few foreigners, or non-Asians either traveling or living there. Maybe because it’s a small country, an island, and backpackers especially probably won’t spend money on a return flight for a short trip. Most young backpackers claim “I can do a city in 24 hours”, or “a day and a half is enough there” (because a guide book says so). I absolutely don’t agree with that science. I intended to use as much of Taiwan’s 90 day visa as I possibly can. Next, on to KAOHSIUNG in the south.
A street vendor sells food at a Taipei market. A very cheap way to eat in Asia. Choices often include chicken hearts, pork belly, chicken feet and dumplings.
The big guy. Taichung, Taiwan.