Culture Shock! Taiwan: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Chris Bates (Author), Ling-Li Bates (Author) "WHEN CHRIS FIRST ARRIVED IN TAIWAN in July 1976 for a year of university, it was a very different place from what it is today..." (more)
Key Phrases: ren ching wei, hung bau, wai sheng ren, United States, Hong Kong, Chiang Kai Shek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With over three million copies in print, CultureShock! is a bestselling series of culture and etiquette guides covering countless destinations around the world. For anyone at risk of culture shock, whether a tourist or a long-term resident, CultureShock! provides a sympathetic and fun-filled crash course on the do's and don'ts in foreign cultures. Fully updated and sporting a fresh new look, the revised editions of these books enlighten and inform through such topics as language, food and entertaining, social customs, festivals, relationships, and business tips. CultureShock! books are packed with useful details on transportation, taxes, finances, accommodation, health, food and drink, clothes, shopping, festivals, and much, much more.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558689400
• ISBN-13: 978-1558689404
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #936,992 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good narrative, not always on the mark, April 15, 2002

By	Norm Zurawski (Millington, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Culture Shock!: Taiwan (Paperback)

...

In referencing some of the facts, the descriptions proffered seem to be fairly on the mark, but not always. While it is nice to read a book written with conviction, as this book is, you always have to be careful as to what is true and what is a stretch. Also, as a side note for the authors, it would be nice to not have to hear over and over about the husband's martial arts penchant.

I think the authors portray the average Taiwanese person as a bit more anti-Westerner, rude, harsh, and unforgiving than they really are. My experience with many Taiwanese is that they are more than happy to talk to you (if they spesk English) as long as you are willing to smile and open up. This is not a population of money-first, anti-white people. Sometimes I think the text intones this sentiment.

Thus the notion that the average foreigner will not be liked is not true, at least in my opinion. It has been my experience that in Taipei, where you will likely spend some (if not all) of your time, you will not be ogled and thought of as a freak, as plenty of non-Taiwanese exists there. In more rural settings, this may certainly be the case, as it was for me. (As a side note, if you are black you likely WILL be ogled no matter where you go.)

I think the issues discussed with saving face would make the visiting business person very careful in not [messing] up, as it were. While there is the notion of face, certainly, it is not the be all and end all of the Taiwanese lifestyle. If one were to proceed with such caution, the timidness of the traveller would certainly be poicked up and would cause judgement to be made for the worse.

Those are some problems I have with the book. All in all, there's not a ton of material written about Taiwan, so stacked up against its competition it fares rather well. As an absolute comparison, it could be more inclusive.

I did like the book. It does touch on a lot of issues that would be helpful for someone visiting the country. As a learning tool about Taiwan, this is just as good a start as any short of marrying a Taiwanese man or woman and spending time there. Many issues are briefly covered, but not too briefly to get any substance out of them.

All in all, I recommend it.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Taipei different than presented, May 8, 2004

By	"soomski" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Culture Shock! Taiwan: A Guide to Customs & Etiquette (Paperback)

I read this book before setting off for four months in Taipei. This book led me to believe that finding Western items would be much harder than it is. (For example, I have had no trouble finding towels which it said weren't to be found). Also, there's a Costco, Fnac, and several warehouse style shops just outside of the city where you can find just about anything you need. And the streets are littered with Western-style food chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, KFC, a few Chili's, Pizza Huts and TGIFriday's). One thing the book didn't mention is that there is a convenience store on every corner practically, but there are stores called "Wellcome" that have lots more stuff for a half or a third of the price--well worth finding the one near you soon!

Having said that, the cultural explanations have been useful. I could explain to my roommates what the red splotches on the ground were and some of the history of Taiwan.

The Taiwanese people have all been exceptionally friendly and warm. Not at all as standoff-ish as the book led me to believe. Also, I am a fairly tall woman and I haven't been given any stares (except from two very small girls when I stood up). All in all, Taipei is a fantastic city, much more Western than the book presents. The cultural explanations have been helpful, but don't expect as much "hardship" as the book implies.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Insight Guide for Taiwan, July 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Culture Shock!: Taiwan (Paperback)

I am living in Taiwan and bought the book to better understand the people here. I really enjoyed Culture Shock Taiwan. It's informative, balanced and funny, and is much better than the Insight guide, which although interesting and beautifully illustrated, but it reads like a travel brochure and takes too reverential a tone with everything connected to Chinese culture.