Dear Taiwan Podcast

Exactly what the title says, deep thoughts on small ways Taiwan has changed in the past ten years, for the everyday lives of people who live here. Responses from Reddit too! I'm coming up on ten years living here, so the next few episodes will be musings and mulling all about a decade on this beautiful island. A sense of achievement, or midlife crisis? Let's see. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

A quick look at this weekend's holiday, the fun and showy Dragon Boat Festival! Delicious steamed zongzi to eat, boat races to cheer on, eggs to balance, and an ancient poet who committed suicide in a river. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

With Teacher Matt on the line again as our guest from Taichung, we chat about the current Covid-19 happenings in the country (couldn't help it) before diving in to long discussions about five more things we noticed about Taiwan when we first moved here. Pro-tip: only pour warm water on cockroaches and stray dogs, never cold. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com! News article referenced at the end of the episode: https://international.thenewslens.com/article/46154

Taiwan's most beautiful city and largest county! Journey up the East Coast, East Rift Valley, and north to Qingshui Cliffs. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

Taiwan's first and second cities! 天龍國和文化城! Teacher Joseph invites Teacher Matt back to the show, and they each present three reasons about why their adoptive home cities are so great. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

Bob and I had recorded one more segment for the previous episode "Things The U.S.A. Does Better Than Taiwan," all about his thoughts and first impressions on American houses. Also tacked on here are some extra clips from the original recording that got cut out. Send us an email at: deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

Provocative and gripe-y, and the second of a two-part series, this week Teacher Joseph is joined by his Taiwanese friend Bob (柏毅) to discuss a few things that the U.S.A does better than Taiwan. From small things like supermarkets to big topics like adolescence and housing, Bob and Joseph go in depth about their perspectives on both countries, and this time they actually agree on most things. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

This week we hear from Teacher Joseph's friend Hannah (also a teacher), who recently completed a bike trip circling the whole country. She has also completed a walking journey around the entire country in the past, too! We talk routes, training, sights, gear, weather, and how this crazy girl can't seem to just let a rest day be a rest day. This is part 2 of our conversation, from Taidong back up to Taoyuan. Enjoy! Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

This week we hear from Teacher Joseph's friend Hannah (also a teacher), who recently completed a bike trip circling the whole country. She has also completed a walking journey around the entire country in the past, too! We talk routes, training, sights, gear, weather, and how this crazy girl can't seem to just let a rest day be a rest day. The conversation got long, so this is Part 1, from Taoyuan to Kenting. Enjoy! Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

Pebble beaches and a slow pace of life, Taidong County on Taiwan's southeast coast is worlds different from the bustle of Taipei or Kaohsiung. Come hear everything this place has to offer, from Daren to Chengbin, Jiaming Lake to Orchid Island. Also, what's that fruit in the picture? If you know, or if you've tried it before, send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

Controversial and ramble-y, and the first in a two-part series, this week Teacher Joseph is joined by his Taiwanese friend Bob (柏毅) to discuss a few things that Taiwan does better than the U.S.A. From small things like convenience stores (kinda obligatory to mention that one!) to big issues like public safety and health, Bob and Joseph go in depth about their experiences in both countries, and don't always agree, either. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

A quick look at the Taiwanese winter solstice celebration or family reunions and, most prominently, tangyuan!!! Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com! Two shops mentioned in the episode: 御品元冰火湯圓 in Taipei City's Tonghua Linjiang Night Market, and 古早味新街龍湯圓 nearby Zhongli District's Renhai Temple in Taoyuan City.

With Teacher Matt from Taichung on the line as our guest again, we chat about five more things we noticed about Taiwan when we first moved here, from people to language to drinking culture, as we trip and fall walking down the sidewalk. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

Exploring around the southern port city of Kaohsiung and the rural county of Pingdong......getting really close to the ocean but also jumping back into the mountains. Some stories from history about Aboriginal tribes too. Highlights: Wutai, Meinong, Foguangshan, Kenting, Donggang and the best dumplings in all of Taiwan. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com!

While Taiwan is a great country to visit and offers a lot to do and see, it sometimes struggles to market itself to a Western audience, beyond computers and night markets. We discuss seven tourism promotion opportunities that Taiwan could cultivate at home to enhance its identity when advertising abroad. Send us an email at deartaiwanpodcast@gmail.com! Article referenced in the episode: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2021/09/06/2003763868

With Teacher Matt from Taichung on the line as our guest again, we chat about five more things we noticed about Taiwan when we first moved here. If only there were trash cans around for all that betel nut on the ground. Oh well, good thing we can buy a whole lunch with just one coin.

Matt rants about the Taichung MRT, dirty rivers, getting robbed, and a few other random things.

We're back!!! Tainan is the country's oldest city with a fascinating history, plethora of temples, unique food scene, coastal wetlands, and civic pride. Join us for our deep dive beyond the typical tourist path!

We take a quick look at Taiwan's National Day on October 10th, and talk about both its history and how it's not really a big deal to most people nowadays. Hence the quick look.

We take a deep dive into Chiayi City & County, and discuss everything this underrated area of the country has to offer: aboriginal villages, coastal fishing towns, tea plantations, high mountains, old growth forests, trains, history dating back to the 1600s, and two funny name stories.

With Teacher Matt from Taichung on the line as our guest, we reflect on five things you might notice when you get to Taiwan when you first move here.

In this overly personal episode, Teacher Joseph talks a lot about his past and how he ended up moving to Taiwan as an English teacher, and ended up staying. Pardon the long tangents. (sorry for the late upload)

This week on the Dear Taiwan Podcast we talk about the traditions surrounding Ghost Month and "Zhongyuan" Festival, from tables of offerings to wandering spirits set up in front of houses, to the temple parades of Keelung City.

We continue our map tour and discuss (rather excitedly) three central counties: Changhua, Yunlin, and Nantou. From coastal sprawl and historic towns to hillside farms and the highest road in East Asia, this part of the country has some impressive spots!

Continuing our map tour to discuss hilly Miaoli County and bustling Taichung City: urban clusters, charming coasts, Japanese influence, and high mountains.

On this episode, the first in a ten-part series, we take an in-depth map tour of Taiwan starting with Taoyuan and Hsinchu in the north of the country, learning about the many intricacies of these two places, from coast, cities, hills, to high mountains.

Introducing the Dear Taiwan Podcast!!! Teacher Joseph here, and I'm looking forward to talking about life, work, and travel across the beautiful country of Taiwan, from big discussions about geography to small observations about cultural norms, and everything in between.