Hi,

I just saw that you will be moving to Kaohsiung where I live. I've lived in Kaohsiung for the past 17 yrs. Feel free to email me at crutch2247@yahoo.com with any questions you have and I will try to help you.

There is a big expat community here but they are not really organized.

In southern Taiwan you'd better know some Taiwanese but Mandarin is widely spoken.

I think where you live depends on where you work. I live in Lin Ya District and like this area. My language school is close to the Cultural Center and only about 15 min. from downtown Kaohsiung.

There are two international school here. Morrison Academy is located in Kaohsiung county but will not accept new students for the fall semester I've heard. The other school is the Kaohsiung American School located in Tsoying (the northern part of Kaohsiung). Their website is www.kas.kh.edu.tw so you can get information about that school. Be warned that international schools no matter what country are expensive. There are plenty of local kindergartens which you can send your children to depending upon where you live.

Most people live in apartments and you can find both furnished and unfurnished. It all depends upon how much you are willing to pay. There are real estate brokers who will help you to find apartments to live in. Here are two persons to contact about renting an apt. but I do not know how reliable they are. They advertised in a local expat magazine called SOUTH a magazine for southern Taiwan.

1. http://007house.getmatch

2. tacula@seed.net.tw

A lot of people here own cars and motorcycles or scooters. Obviously if you have small children a car is better. You will need to get a local driver's license. There are public buses and taxis which are also available.

There are lots of parks, places to visit such as Kenting Park which is about 2 hrs. south of Kaohsiung at the southern tip of the island.
The Cultural Center has a lot of activities for families. Most of the department stores have amusement rides for children. There is a water park called Blue Lagoon located in Kaohsiung.

Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. If you send me an email to my Yahoo address I will try to help you more.
Terry Crutchfield

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Hi, This is Crystal, considering and hesitating moving to Kao Hsiung in August. thanks for your helpful info. We have a 8 year old son. for our case, education / international schools are more important to our family. Also we will properly have to live in Kao Hsiung County, close to the newly-developing E-Da World because of my husband's work. my son know little Chinese. it seems like the nearest school is marrison acdemy. have you heard about it and how is it? looking forwards to hear fr you. my email address is johnandcrystal2003@yahoo.com. many thanks.

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Hi, found your note after 5 years you wrote it. Guess you kids are my son s age now, 2nd grader. did you really moved to kaohsiung? how did you find out about it? we may move there after summer,still wondering. do you mind give me some advice? many thanks! my email is : johnandcrystal2003@yahoo.com

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I urge you to go to http://nces.ed.gov/ and within the site, look at
http://nces.ed.gov/search/?output=xml_no_dtd&site=nces&client=nces&q=timss+report
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009012
or do a search for TIMSS in the site’s search tool and have a look at the detail of the report. Open the report, look at page 2 to see a description of objective and results of the report, which is produced by the US Department of Education.

The site is the Home of National Center for Educaton Statistics, a US Federal Entity that collects and analyzes data related to world market education. It is no secret that US education is dismal … with world rank typically measured from position twelve to the high twenties in various areas of measurement of scholastic achievement.

Typically, international schools do not even measure up to the dismal level of US education.

The subject is one fraught with anecdote and myth and often, placement of social goals over education needs and opportunity. Simply stated, foreign parents in Asia often wish to place their children in schools that cater to Caucasian students.

I’m a white guy, in Asia and I’ve heard many many parent’s justifications for placement of children in international private school … and I’ve heard all the sales pitches from the schools themselves. “We teach more than book learning!!! We teach creativity!!! … and on and on and on, whatever the international private school salesman thinks will ring the parent’s bell and induce them to write those ca US30,000 annual checks.

A look at the TIMSS data will show you that Taiwan students produce in the first three places of worldmarket rank. You have a unique opportunity to get your child an education far, far, far ahead of “international” private schools and far, far ahead of public schools in many other worldmarkets.

By the way, I note you’re on Singapore. If you follow the trail of information you will see It can be argued that Nanyang Primary is the best primary school on the earth.

Best …

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I'm also relocating to kaohsiung in Aug 2012.. I reckon you've earned 7yrs of Kaohsiung experience now.

I'm also from Singapore, and perhaps having the same concerns as you had. Moving from a English-speaking environment to a totally Chinese-speaking one, wont be easy for me. Not to mention, I dont drive hence transportation pose another concern.

As I'm gonna be a home-maker in kaohsiung, I'd like to know more friends there. Hopefully a strong social support~ :D Keep in contact via my email~!!

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