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3 Things NOT to do in Taiwan

As a foreigner living in Taiwan there is a pretty solid chance that you’ll get a lot of attention. Because you are often under the microscope, there are some things that you might want to avoid.

Basically, there are some social faux pas that you can get away with because you are a foreigner, but it’s best to just avoid making these mistakes.

1. Don’t Stab Your Rice with Your Chopsticks

If you are coming to Taiwan from a country that is heavily influenced by religion, you may be surprised by the lack of religion that you see in Taiwanese daily life. There are temples everywhere, and there are lots of little symbols you run across, such as burning ghost money and lighting firecrackers, but overall, it’s very minor and it often flies under the radar. Don’t be fooled though. Taiwanese are very spiritual and quite often superstitious.

One recurring superstition you will run across here is the fear of anything related to death. An example of this is the number 4. In Chinese, the number 4 and the word for death sound incredibly similar. You’ll find that many people avoid this number when ever possible, like when choosing a mobile phone number or a floor to live on in an apartment building. This is just one of many of these little superstitions you’ll run across while living in Taiwan.

A common mistake many foreigners make during their first few weeks here is while eating out. Many meals come with a bowl of white rice. It’s very easy and convenient to just jam your chopsticks into your rice while you are taking a rest or reaching for your water or tea so that they don’t roll away. This is a big no-no.

Chopsticks sticking up from a bowl of rice resemble the incense that is burned at temples. It’s one of those things that reminds locals of death. Instead, rest your chopsticks on the top of the bowl. They may roll off, but you can always get a new pair. It’s better than giving the entire eatery heart palpitations.

2. Keep Your Fingers Down When You Gesture Someone to “Come Here”

I am not really sure about the origin of this one, but it’s less of a superstition and more of a generally accepted sign of being polite. In America it’s normal for us to beckon a friend by giving them the come here gesture with an index finger or our hand. We usually do so with our palm turned upwards towards the sky. For some reason that is considered rude in Taiwan.

Here in Taiwan the proper way to wave someone over to you is a little different. The first thing is that you should use your entire hand and not just your index finger. The other thing is that you should do so with your palm facing the ground. It’s a very small difference, but many of these little social quirks usually are. After a few days you get used to it, and now that I have been here for years I almost get offended if I see someone do it the American way.

3. Don’t Expect Special Treatment

Taiwanese are generally extremely polite and accommodating to foreign guests. Most Taiwanese want the outside world to look highly upon their country. It’s true that we often get treated better than locals. My wife is Taiwanese (that’s actually her photo at the top of this post), and she constantly comments how when we go out to eat as a couple we get better service than when she goes out with her friends. It’s not always the case, but it does happen a lot.

With that being said, don’t expect special treatment. The quickest way to wear out your welcome is to act like you are the king of the world. Like anywhere else, Taiwanese courtesy only goes so far. There isn’t any room for arrogance or rudeness, and once you cross the line you’ll find your hosts doing everything in their power to shuffle you out of the door, with a smile.

Overall, the atmosphere is Taiwan is pretty relaxed. If you do something stupid many people just brush it off as a simple mistake made by a foreigner who doesn’t know any better. They don’t take it personally. Furthermore, they don’t want to embarrass you either by making a big stink about it.

If you find yourself getting corrected by a friend for something that you did, it will usually be in the form of a whisper. Just apologize, thank them for their help, file the info in your head to avoid future mistakes, move along without making a big deal of it, and enjoy your time in Taiwan.

Filed Under: Living Abroad Tagged With: Taiwan

Comments

  1. James Lucas says

    January 7, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Hi Tim,

    First of all I would like to thank you for your wonderful blog. I am looking to move to Taiwan in the summer to find a teaching position and the information here has been fantastic.
    I was wondering if you could help me with a query. Do you need a degree to obtain a work visa in Taiwan? I currently teach in Indonesia and was able to obtain my visa through my vocational qualifications (as a tertiary diploma equivalent). I have started applying for positions but just wondered if you had any solid information as I hear different things from different people.
    Keep up the good work.
    James

    Reply
    • Tim says

      January 7, 2014 at 7:44 pm

      Hi James,

      Thanks for stopping by. I see Nick got to your question via email, and as he stated, to our knowledge you do need a degree (4-year or 2-year +TEFL).

      Reply
  2. bodzio says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    Hi Tim,

    here is a little broader explanation about the rice and chopsticks.
    As much as this is a inappropriate thing in Taichung night market some noodle sellers they do stick chopsticks right into a big pile of noodles.
    I have a picture but not very clear.

    you can always find me at

    https://www.facebook.com/Bodzio.The.Waffle.King

    The chopsticks in rice is riced offered to the deceased, as well as the incense stock in rice for the ancestors

    please view article here, the picture is quite convincing 🙂

    http://24.media.tumblr.com/a23cc021e13e635b9a25bca4ee1c4b6b/tumblr_mp0t9osR7M1r4hzrvo1_1280.png

    http://25.media.tumblr.com/f751e209a3ba9b769aec8f74d3c20636/tumblr_mp0t9osR7M1r4hzrvo2_500.png

    Incense is usually offered at funerals and at the home shrine by family
    and friends following a death. Family graves almost always have a small
    place to put incense and other offerings to the deceased, and the sight
    of many curls of smoke rising from incense before the graves is a
    common feature in Japanese horror, or even art, which gives the area an
    ethereal feel, as if the smoke were spirits. But more on that later.

    Buddhist
    temples often will have large bronze pots filled with white ash
    (occasionally sand) to hold sticks of incense offered by visitors and
    pilgrims. You may have noticed that most incense censers have your
    incense lit at an angle. This is not necessarily for any sort of
    aesthetic or fire safety purposes, but because the sight of incense
    sticking straight up is specifically associated with the dead, and is
    extremely unlucky. As such, it is very bad luck to stick your
    chopsticks into your rice bowl in this manner, since people usually
    offer rice for the dead with the chopsticks jutting out of it like
    incense.
    Also, never stick your chopsticks in your food, or on your plate, or
    play with them, or drum with them, or separate them, or cross them, or
    do anything other than sit there quietly with them resting benignly in
    front of of you facing to the left. Some of it is considered bad luck,
    but most of it is because old people you’ve never seen before in your
    life will shout at you for improper table manners. Maybe ask for a
    fork.

    source:
    http://tamamushi.livejournal.com/39996.html
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incense

    here is the photo from night market disobeying the rule of chopsticks int the food

    Reply
  3. bodzio says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    Hi Tim just wanted to add to the
    “Keep Your Fingers Down When You Gesture Someone to “Come Here”

    Where palm facing up is like to provoking or summon someone to fight.

    Reply
  4. bodzio says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    and the last thing but not least

    “Don’t Expect Special Treatment”
    its a call to all foreigners in Taiwan.

    Taiwanese people are quite forgiving as Tim said and they are fascinated with foreigners as they do not see much of them or know much of them a part of TV.

    Taiwanese welcome foreigners with curiosity and curtsey, mostly because for them are exotic and don’t really know them that well.

    Foreigners in Taiwan often abuse the hospitality and spoil reputation for the others, they may not care much about it as they just come and go, but with the time it may have big effect and foreigners wont be welcome in Taiwan.

    Please try to behave here in Taiwan try to respect the rules and reputation of your country.
    as silly as it may sound but it worth it.

    thank you

    Reply
    • Tim says

      March 13, 2014 at 8:12 am

      Hi,

      Thanks for all of the input. You make some very good points.

      Thanks for reading too!

      Reply
  5. Anonymouse says

    January 24, 2016 at 10:26 am

    URGENT PETITION!!!
    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reaffirm-commitments-taiwan-roc-and-work-toward-recognizing-it-independent-and-sovereign-country

    If you support Taiwan, please sign and share this petition.

    Reply
  6. zizi Newton says

    February 29, 2016 at 3:03 am

    I have been thinking on and off about moving to Taiwan, may be just for a year or two. But some friends keep saying that I wouldn’t be used to it. I wonder if I would or not.

    Reply
  7. Nick Van Smizzle says

    July 8, 2016 at 9:00 am

    Let me explain in my own words what all foreigners should know. If you believe that being culturally sensitive and respectful and open minded and flexable should earn you social acceptance, do yourself a favor. Don’t come. Because you will never truly belong in a proud society like this. Yes being openminded and culturally sensitive is a good thing, but it won’t diminish the social segregation, and most of all DISCRIMINATION!!! Yes people are friendly. But being friendly, but only in appearance. It’s extremely tough becoming part of people’s lives.

    I used to live in China. Everywhere in Asia is like this. Including Taiwan. If you have a desire to immerse into their culture, language, society, and if you desire to expand your horizons and go from being an English teacher to something else like a mechanic or a mailman, it ain’t gonna happen. Society won’t let you out of the ESL environment. Also, when it comes to interacting with society, getting into community projects, and such. Interaction with the society and actually being part of something, ain’t gonna happen. Nothing outside the ESL environment anyway. Just so you know.

    Reply
  8. Ken Barloh says

    February 27, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    I’ve been here a month and this famous special treatment is shit, they are no different different​ to anyone else maybe because I’m living out in the sticks in shit yunlin tho the people are not friendly here they seem stupid and dont even talk or attempt to anyway I’ll get out of this place and go to Taipei

    Reply
    • Alastair Chen says

      July 19, 2017 at 2:59 am

      in your words, should there be a difference just because you are Caucasian? OMG
      People are generally more friendly from south, trust me. Maybe they don’t speak much English and that make you think they are stupid?? WOW I believe you can only speak English.

      Reply

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