Comments on: Foreigners and Locals : Do Taiwanese like foreigners in Taiwan? http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/ A different look at Chinese cultures - China, Hong Kong and Taiwan Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:20:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dominix http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-85107 Dominix Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:46:17 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-85107 It's more of a cultural difference than a "xenophobic" issue. The culture demands perfection - you don't get 99% right on a test, you get 1% wrong, and they only focus on that 1%. It's a culture that places a lot of stress on people.<br><br>This also translates to the work place. If a students doesn't do well, it becomes your fault, and that is the only metric they use to evaluate you. If you can't put up the results they expect from you (an expectation due to the culture), it doesn't matter what type of degree you obtained before. <br><br>If you feel they don't respect you, it's because you "failed" to meet their expectations. They only respect perfection (or the closest thing to it since true perfection is impossible). It's more of a cultural difference than a “xenophobic” issue. The culture demands perfection – you don't get 99% right on a test, you get 1% wrong, and they only focus on that 1%. It's a culture that places a lot of stress on people.

This also translates to the work place. If a students doesn't do well, it becomes your fault, and that is the only metric they use to evaluate you. If you can't put up the results they expect from you (an expectation due to the culture), it doesn't matter what type of degree you obtained before.

If you feel they don't respect you, it's because you “failed” to meet their expectations. They only respect perfection (or the closest thing to it since true perfection is impossible).

]]> By: Dan http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-85027 Dan Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:58:34 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-85027 James - what a level headed and pertinent response. I thank you for it. I've been here for 13 years or so and I agree with nearly everything you said. The Taiwanese do have mechanisms in place to distance other cultures - this should be expected in such a strong culture, made up by a majortiy with the same racial background and more importantly by a people who receive a universal, across the board education. But as the original post hinted at - there is a difference between the mainlanders and the Taiwanese. A pleasant difference (which is not to blame the mainlanders - they have been through what they've been through to entrench such attitudes). In general you will receive preferential treatment as a "white" ambassador for the countries of advanced civilisation, but at the same time you are guilty for said countries' decadence. This is all assumed - because it is taught as stereotype in the schools here. <br><br>Which brings me to the point of racism - make no mistake it is as alive and well here as it is anywhere. Someone up above on this thread said it was not racism but in fact a sort of class thing, but if your class distinction is mostly determined by the way you appear then there is no real need for any other word. So what whities experience is a form of postive racism, wherein they are given privieleges, but priveleges which at the same time distance.Higher pay -but no say. Darker people (because associated with lower classes, "undevelopment") are not given the same leeway. <br><br>I'm sure this happens in most countries. Either way - I'll take it coz as people said up above, overall the people here are really nice if you yourself just make an effort. <br><br>Take a trip to China to practice your Chinese and you quickly find out what has happened to common courtesy. James – what a level headed and pertinent response. I thank you for it. I've been here for 13 years or so and I agree with nearly everything you said. The Taiwanese do have mechanisms in place to distance other cultures – this should be expected in such a strong culture, made up by a majortiy with the same racial background and more importantly by a people who receive a universal, across the board education. But as the original post hinted at – there is a difference between the mainlanders and the Taiwanese. A pleasant difference (which is not to blame the mainlanders – they have been through what they've been through to entrench such attitudes). In general you will receive preferential treatment as a “white” ambassador for the countries of advanced civilisation, but at the same time you are guilty for said countries' decadence. This is all assumed – because it is taught as stereotype in the schools here.

Which brings me to the point of racism – make no mistake it is as alive and well here as it is anywhere. Someone up above on this thread said it was not racism but in fact a sort of class thing, but if your class distinction is mostly determined by the way you appear then there is no real need for any other word. So what whities experience is a form of postive racism, wherein they are given privieleges, but priveleges which at the same time distance.Higher pay -but no say. Darker people (because associated with lower classes, “undevelopment”) are not given the same leeway.

I'm sure this happens in most countries. Either way – I'll take it coz as people said up above, overall the people here are really nice if you yourself just make an effort.

Take a trip to China to practice your Chinese and you quickly find out what has happened to common courtesy.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-85026 Daniel Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:37:38 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-85026 yes jiao jiao.... you are right yes jiao jiao…. you are right

]]> By: paiwan http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-84925 paiwan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:23:59 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-84925 If you have anyone tell you to leave TAiwan and you look like an Aboriginal person, tell them to go the fuck back to China. This is what MY people in OUR country believe.... If you have anyone tell you to leave TAiwan and you look like an Aboriginal person, tell them to go the fuck back to China. This is what MY people in OUR country believe….

]]> By: paiwan http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-84692 paiwan Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:23:59 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-84692 If you have anyone tell you to leave TAiwan and you look like an Aboriginal person, tell them to go the fuck back to China. This is what MY people in OUR country believe.... If you have anyone tell you to leave TAiwan and you look like an Aboriginal person, tell them to go the fuck back to China. This is what MY people in OUR country believe….

]]> By: Monica http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-84349 Monica Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:10:35 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/10/12/foreigners-and-locals-do-taiwanese-like-foreigners-in-taiwan/#comment-84349 I was born and raised in Taiwan. Came to the US 9 years ago for grad school and have been staying since. As someone grew up in Taiwan, I could tell you that "Knight Rider", "The A-Team", and "Airwolf" were my favorite tv shows when I was a kid. I watched more US tv series than Taiwanese ones. I listened to Madonna and Michael Jackson through the 80s. Before I actually started to learn English, I thought it must be a magical language because all the beautiful people speaking it on TV! In Taiwan, American pop culture was a major influence. Our idea about western culture was totally coming from American tv shows, movies, and pop music. Therefore, lot of Taiwanese thought American is the only representative of the western world. And the US, is the greatest country in the world with all the rich and beautiful people. Because that was the only thing we saw and heard about the western world. Even now, some of the Taiwanese still think that everything in the US must be better. All the Americans are richer and living a much better life than Taiwanese. I was born and raised in Taiwan. Came to the US 9 years ago for grad school and have been staying since. As someone grew up in Taiwan, I could tell you that “Knight Rider”, “The A-Team”, and “Airwolf” were my favorite tv shows when I was a kid.
I watched more US tv series than Taiwanese ones. I listened to Madonna and Michael Jackson through the 80s. Before I actually started to learn English, I thought it must be a magical language because all the beautiful people speaking it on TV!
In Taiwan, American pop culture was a major influence. Our idea about western culture was totally coming from American tv shows, movies, and pop music. Therefore, lot of Taiwanese thought American is the only representative of the western world. And the US, is the greatest country in the world with all the rich and beautiful people. Because that was the only thing we saw and heard about the western world. Even now, some of the Taiwanese still think that everything in the US must be
better. All the Americans are richer and living a much better life than Taiwanese.

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