Christmas is as important to Americans as Lunar New Year is to Taiwanese people. Families gather to celebrate the occasion. Recently, the Taipei Service Center of the National Immigration Agency's Northern Region Affairs Brigade held a "New Immigrant Family Education and Legal Advocacy" course, inviting Yu Zhihao from the United States to share insights into Taiwan-US cultural differences and his experiences with Taiwan's rich multicultural environment.
Currently residing in Taiwan, Yu Zhihao noted that compared to the United States, Taiwan is filled with warmth and friendliness. People are particularly kind to foreigners and show great respect for different religions. He amusingly described how the tradition of competing to pay the bill in Taiwan has been nicknamed "Polite Fight" by foreign friends. He was also amazed by the number and services of convenience stores in Taiwan. Unlike those in the U.S., which mostly sell snacks, Taiwan's convenience stores offer an incredible range of products and services, making it feel like anything is possible. He humorously remarked that the staff are like superheroes!
Discussing language learning, Yu Zhihao admitted that Mandarin is incredibly challenging. Unlike English, which uses phonetic systems, Chinese characters evolved from pictographs, and mastering tones is particularly difficult. This is a common hurdle for foreigners learning the language. He recalled his early days in Taiwan when he couldn’t speak much. He would memorize the name of one dish and order the same thing repeatedly until he learned how to say more, pushing himself to improve.
Jimmy Yu, a new immigrant from the United States, shared a humorous story about the mix-up between the tones for "sleep" and "dumpling" in Mandarin. (Photo/Source: Immigration Agency Website)
Yu Zhihao emphasized that Taiwan is an excellent destination for travel and study. He encouraged new immigrants to maintain their curiosity about Taiwan's unique culture and continue learning Mandarin. Taiwan is a nation worth exploring. He hopes his experiences can inspire newcomers to adapt, integrate, and embark on their exciting journeys in this vibrant land.
