Taiwan Travel Archives | Talking Taiwan Podcast

Dr. Michi Fu Straddles Between Living in Taiwan and the U.S. Ep 118

Felicia Lin — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:58:23 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Dr. Michi Fu is a professor, psychologist, writer, public speaker and experience creator. She spoke with me about how her mother’s decision to retire in Taiwan led her to decide to take a one-year sabbatical in Taiwan and to apply for Taiwan citizenship- which proved to be an arduous process but well worth it in the end. It has allowed her to more easily travel and straddle between living in the U.S. and Taiwan. As she’s spent more time residing in Taiwan, she’s faced challenges adulting in Taiwan due to limited language and cultural proficiency. We spoke in depth about how she’s dealt with all this by learning to let go of cultural norms and expectations, and found ways to build a community for herself in Taiwan.

While in Taiwan she’s connected with expat communities like the Black lives Matter and Burning Man Taiwan communities, participated in a bilingual version of the Vagina Monologues, and she’s also been invited to participate in the 228 Transitional Justice Project. I found that to be a timely topic of conversation indeed, with the 74^th anniversary of the 228 Incident having just passed.

Also referred to as The 228 Massacre, or The 228 Uprising, 228 is February 28, 1947, the date that the arrest of a cigarette seller in Taipei sparked protests over the corruption and repression of the ruling Kuomintang party at the time. What followed were the disappearance and execution of thousands by the Kuomintang. Some say up to 20 thousand were murdered. It led to the declaration of martial law and it was the beginning of the reign of White Terror in Taiwan that lasted for decades.

CORRECTION: At the 45-minute mark of Michi’s interview when she stated that she had arrived on holiday for her dissertation, she had arrived during the Dragon Boat Holiday for her sabbatical not her dissertation.

Photo above of Dr. Michi Fu is courtesy of Tobie Openshaw

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Michi’s upbringing and where she grew up
Michi’s connection to Taiwan
The study tour that Michi has co-organized with Dr. Tsuann Kuo (Founder of NATWA II)
How Michi’s perception of Taiwan has changed over time
How she’s met expats who have made Taiwan their home and out be interested in applying for citizenship in Taiwan
The reason why Michi decided to apply for citizenship and residency in Taiwan, and to split her time between the U.S. and Taiwan
What’s involved in the process to apply for citizenship and residency in Taiwan if you have a Taiwan birthright (i.e. parents born in Taiwan, and have residency and citizenship in Taiwan)
What the Yo yo card is and how to use it
Residency status that children of Taiwanese nationals can apply for to stay longer than a passport visa
The number of days required to stay in Taiwan in order to able to apply for citizenship
Michi’s sense of Taiwanese and Taiwanese American identity
Michi’s participation in the 228 Transitional Justice Project
The challenges of learning a language later in life
How Michi sometimes feels like a Third Culture Kid
How Michi has learned from cultural misunderstandings
How Michi has connected with and made friends through the expat community in Taiwan
What Michi misses about the U.S. when she’s in Taiwan
What Michi misses about Taiwan when she’s in the U.S.
What advice Michi has for those considering applying for Taiwan residency and citizenship
What advice Michi has for those considering spending more of the calendar year living in Taiwan
The different cultural expectations of Taiwan and the U.S.
The challenges of adulting in Taiwan with limited language and cultural proficiency
The wage gap for certain professions in Taiwan vs. the U.S.
The things Michi considers in deciding to live in Taiwan full-time
How Michi built her own sense of community by connecting with the expat community and Facebook groups

Quarantine in Taiwan: An Interview with Diana Lee Ep 89

Felicia Lin — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 14:44:31 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

In this episode of Talking Taiwan, we’ll be sharing two different perspectives on the Taiwan quarantine experience in this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. I spoke with Diana Lee, the co-founder and president of Asian in New York and one of the founders and organizers of Hello Taiwan. She recently traveled back to Taiwan with her two young children and was quarantined with them in Kaohsiung at her parents’ home. We’ll also hear from JD Chang who went back to Taiwan earlier this year. JD was a guest on Episode 80 of Talking Taiwan. He had a very different experience since he traveled and quarantined alone. He spoke with us about his quarantine experience back in May.

Special thanks to Jane Wang for providing the recording of JD.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Hello Taiwan and what it does
How Diana prepared for her trip back to Taiwan with 2 young kids (the travel and quarantine preparations)
Permits required for entry into Taiwan at the time
The Facebook group Diana consulted for advice on how to prepare for her trip back to Taiwan
The PPE Diana prepared for her and her kids to wear during their travel back to Taiwan
JD’s travel preparations and quarantine experience as a solo traveler
The different types of quarantine accommodations that people can opt for
The most important tip for anyone traveling back to Taiwan and undergoing quarantine, which Diana mentioned and that ended up delaying JD for an extra hour at the airport
The procedure upon arrival at the airport and before getting transported in a quarantine taxi or bus to your final destination
What happens once you’re in quarantine
How Diana kept her kids occupied during quarantine
How JD kept himself occupied during quarantine
The US $33,000 fine for breaking quarantine

An Interview with Author, Musician, and Journalist Joe Henley Ep 64

Felicia Lin — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:41:49 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

I conducted an interview with author, musician, and journalist Joe Henley, about his latest book, Bu San Bu Si, and his first book, Sons of the Republic. In writing Bu San Bu Si, Joe (who is Taipei-based) clearly drew upon his multi-disciplinary background.

The book after all is about a Taiwanese punk band and the struggles that the musicians face in reconciling their punk personas with Taiwan’s societal expectations. Joe, incidentally, has sung in punk rock and metal bands, and much of what he’s written in Bu San Bu Si was inspired by what he experienced in the Taipei punk and metal band scene.

We also talked about what motivates people with creative pursuits and how important money and fame might be in that pursuit. I asked him about his writing process and to offer advice to aspiring writers. Joe was unabashedly frank about what motivated him to write his first book, Sons of the Republic and talked about the subject of his next book.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

• Joe’s latest novel, Bu San Bu Si
• What the phrase “bu san bu si” means
• Joe’s writing process
• How Joe ended up in Taiwan
• How Saskatchewan (where Joe is from) compares to Taiwan
• How Joe adjusted from moving from Saskatoon to Taipei
• What motivated Joe to write his first novel, Sons of the Republic
• Joe’s career as a musician and freelance writer
• The topics of Joe’s future books
• Joe’s advice for aspiring authors
• Being a journalist vs. a novelist/author
• Joe’s two bands: Stench of Lust, and Revilement

Andrew Watson of the band Feiwu Talks about Hello Taiwan Ep 38

Felicia Lin — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:55:34 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

When I invited Andrew Watson onto Talking Taiwan to talk about the fourth annual Hello Taiwan Concert, I was pleasantly surprised by how our conversation touched on the 1990s music scene in Taiwan. Andrew was living in Taiwan at the time when he formed his band Feiwu (廢物樂隊), which will be performing at Hello Taiwan. Feiwu is the hard-rocking band who wrote and performed the classic “我愛台灣啤酒” (“I Love Taiwan Beer”) and other original songs at Spring Scream and various venues around the island from 1997 to 2001. The band is well known as one of the core bands that pioneered the Taiwan independent music scene of the ’90’s along with Mayday (五月天), Cthonic (閃靈), 1976, The Chairman (董事長), and Quarterback (四分衛).

This year, organizers of the Hello Taiwan Concert will be raising funds for Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines. Last year they raised $10,000 for the Breezy Point firemen who were themselves victims of Hurricane Sandy, when their houses were burned down in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Many of the Breezy Point firemen, were the first responders at the 9/11 terrorist attack.

The bands that will be performing at Hello Taiwan include: Feiwu (廢物樂隊), Bikini Carwash, Torpid May, and The Underground Channel.

There will be a special guest performance by Filipino American rapper, producer and performer, IZZY.

Hello Taiwan will be hosted by Ben Hedges. journalist, producer and TV host. He now hosts New Tang Dynasty Television’s show “Lao Wai Kan Zhongguo” 郝毅博是《老外看中國》的主持人.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this episode:

The bands that will be featured at the fourth annual Hello Taiwan Concert
Andrew’s band Feiwu (廢物樂隊) and Code of Resistance
What’s going to be happening at the Hello Taiwan Concert
How the Hello Taiwan Concert is a mix of a Taiwan-style night market with live music performances
What brought Andrew to Taiwan
Will Feiwu record a third album?
The 1990s music scene in Taiwan
How Andrew would compare the music scenes in Taipei and New York
Andrew’s Flushing restaurant recommendations
Filipino rapper Izzy will be among those performing at Hello Taiwan
How Ben Hedges the host of Lao Wai Kan Zhongguo (老外看中國) on New Tang Dynasty Television will be hosting Hello Taiwan

Taiwan Travel Archives | Talking Taiwan Podcast

Dr. Michi Fu Straddles Between Living in Taiwan and the U.S. Ep 118

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links and Terms:

Quarantine in Taiwan: An Interview with Diana Lee Ep 89

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

An Interview with Author, Musician, and Journalist Joe Henley Ep 64

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

Andrew Watson of the band Feiwu Talks about Hello Taiwan Ep 38

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this episode:

Related Links: