Tuesday's Taiwan-ism {Cost of Living}

I wrote this post on money and Taiwan's currency several months ago for a previous Tuesday Taiwan-ism post, but wanted to touch a little more on it today.

I am asked quite often from people back home if I am getting paid to work in Taiwan {I mean I absolutely LOVE teaching, but sorry...I can't do it for a year for free!}, if I'm able to save money here, and how much things cost here. Cost of living withing different parts of the world {and let's be honest even within the same country} is always an interesting comparison topic as spending money and paying bills is something that we all do [side note: if you've managed to figure out how NOT to do this...please let me know asap!] So today I'll include a list of common things a person might buy or spend money on here in Taiwan and include the price both in NTD (New Taiwanese Dollar) and USD (United States Dollar).

**Remember, I am living in a semi-rural area about 20 minutes drive from a large city, yet still surrounded by rice fields! If I were to go more rural things would cheapen and if you went to Taipei your money wouldn't take you nearly as far, so these prices are approximates for where I live in Hsinchu**

Living Expenses

Rent (for a glorified dorm room) -- $5,000 -- $154.64

Water (monthly/varies) -- $260 -- $8.04

Electric (monthly/varies) -- $325 -- $10.05

Gas for a scooter driven moderately (monthly) -- $170 -- $5.26

Eating Expenses

Local dinner -- $40 -- $1.24

Western dinner -- $350 -- $10.82

Bubble Tea -- $35 -- $1.08

Bottle of water -- $20 -- $0.62

Liter of milk -- $90 -- $2.78

12 eggs -- $58 -- $1.79

McDonalds meal -- $100

Transportation Expenses

Train ride 20 minutes -- $18 -- $0.56

Bus ride 20 minutes -- $14 -- $0.43

Taxi ride 20 minutes -- $170 -- $5.26

What other costs of living are you interested in knowing about? Leave a comment and let me know!

A Slight Change of Plans

A few weekends ago I was eager to join several other foreign English teachers in Taoyun at the opening day baseball game. My ticket was bought, plans were made, and I was as excited as can be. But, instead of watching a fly ball at the game, life through me a curveball as well!

I woke up Saturday morning and took a nice long shower before I started to get ready for my day (the game wasn't until 7). Not too long after my shower though I started to feel a little "off" and decided I needed a nap {I'm not a napper generally}. Well I laid down around 11am and honestly I don't even remember if I set an alarm or not. What I do remember though is that I didn't wake up until almost 9pm almost 10 hours later!! And to make matters worse, I felt 100X worse than before. 

I was disorientated, had a pounding headache, and dizzy to the point of not being able to walk on my own. I quickly called my neighbor across the hall and not having transportation of his own called our landlords daughter that lives in the house next door and is an English teacher herself. Chaou came to my room and all but had to carry me down the 3 flights of steps to her car. I fell back asleep in the car and could hardly muster up the eneegy to answer her questions about how I was feeling. 

Once to the hospital they did some blood tests, gave me meds for my nausea, and promptly hooked me up to an IV. Almost 3 hours later my test results came back negative for any sort of flu and they sent me home chalking my illness up to a cold or dehydration... I wasn't buying it. 

The following weekend I again showered before getting ready for my day and almost instantly began to feel "funny" again...and Ben it hit me. My #@$*% gas water heater is INSIDE my bedroom and I had taken a long shower this releasing large amounts of gas into the air. I checked my symptoms, and sure enough I hit each and everyone of them; I had had carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Needless to say my landlord was contacted immediately, an electric heater was installed, and disorientated Tracy began to return to her normal self. Check your carbon monoxide detectors friends, this stuff is no joke!

Tuesday's Taiwan-ism {Shower Room}

When I first moved to Taiwan and walked into my new apartment I thought I might have a mental breakdown right then and there {here it is in all it's glory!} as saying my emotions were running high was an understatement. But, when I glanced in the bathroom and had to actually ask "where's my shower?" I knew I might actually be going insane.

They simply pointed at the wall and showed me "my shower" or the shower head that happens to be attached to the wall of my bathroom, or as I've lovingly dubbed it...my shower-room!

Now trust me, it took some getting used to and some slight rearranging at first. Like obviously the toilet paper needs to be far away from the water stream & you can't really store your blow drying or bobby  pins in the bathroom {hello rusty pins!} but as time has gone on I've seen some real benefits to these goofy set up's as well!

"Benefits" of a Shower Room

1. My bathroom is always cleaned!
2. I can wash dishes while waiting for the shower to warm up
3. I can wash clothes while waiting for the shower to warm up
4. I can wash the sink while waiting for the shower to warm up :)
5. can wash the bathroom mirror daily if I wish
6. Mopping the tile floor in there has never been easier
7. Shaving is a breeze with the toilet and sink within arms reach!
8. Its ok if you splash everywhere!
9. You can never make too much of a mess in the bathroom
10. If the urge strikes, you don't have to dry off before using the toilet
11. Everything in there is always wet...ok so maybe this one isn't quite as beneficial!

Taiwan Apartment Tour!!!

Here it is, in all it's glory! May I introduce you to my new "apartment"! 

Although this is by no means a "standard American apartment" (or anything close to  my 2 story 2 bedroom townhouse from Ohio :(  ) this is pretty typical (if not considered large) for a Taiwanese apartment. I am living on the 3rd floor of a couples home and enter and exit through their front entry way to get to my apartment. It is located in the small farming community of Xinfeng within Hsinchu County. I am only about 2 miles from my town's center (though I am by no means in the town!) and 6 miles from Hsinchu City, but they take about 9 minutes and 30 minutes respectively to get to each by bus and/or train.

I can't say my little room feels like home yet, but I'm sure it will come! (I can't lie I've already scoped out several stores sell paint and various art supplies...so these walls won't be bare and lonely much longer!)