I think I've bit off a little more than I can chew... or swallow for that matter. Taiwan is blooming difficult. Already here for one day and I've still not been able to sort myself out for accomodation, and I've not been able to figure out how to get my suits dry cleaned, a local SIM card and other basic aspects of livingin in a new country. It's taken me ages to locate the foreigner forums (www.forumosa.com/taiwan/), now it's probably too late to try to find a flatshare...
Still, it's really exciting to be here, and I'm really liking the "feel" of the place. My expectations had been considerably lowered by most people I've spoken to. Most have pointed out that it's an inreadibly ugly city, with no city center. I understand what they mean, but I must say I quite like the narrow lanes penetrating all the blocks, which in turn provide access to even narrower alleyes that lead to god knows what.
While I couldn't locate a local SIM card, I did have the most beautiful experience of trying to buy one at a phone shop, completely in chinese. English is not well spoken here, and if you say "ni hao" the locals kind of expect you to speak good chinese. I had no clue whatsoever what the woman was explaining to me, but I managed to nod at reasonbly well timed intervals and managed to fool her that I did in fact understand.
BTW, pre-paid is YuFu in chinese. Need to remember that.
Right, back to hunting for accomodation.
