![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Taiwan Diaries: Bureaucracy
Oct. 1st, 2022 12:47 pmOkay. Okay. When I decided to become a migrant, I made up my mind to actively try not to impose my America Vision on life in my new home. First of all, America is not some kind of utopia. Obviously. Many things that would inconvenience and infuriate a newcomer to the country are only fine for me because they are familiar. Like banks. I think it is silly that the lobbies don’t open until 9 or 10 AM. But now that I’ve dealt with Taiwanese banks, I do think American banks are better.
Banks here close at 3 PM! How does anyone with a job get things done? Because you have to set everything up in person! There are many services, like fund transfers, you can do online or at an ATM, but in order to get your online option set up, you have to make an appointment to go to the bank in person to activate the option! Of course the websites are not in English, which is fine. Sort of. I’ll explain. Google translate works pretty well, although in order to log in, you need to use an ID number, a username, a secret code, and another code, but your secret code is not your PIN. Google translate options don’t make this clear, and if you make a mistake logging in more than three times, your online account is disabled and you have to go back to the bank, in person, to set it up again.
Now. I get the rationale for this, from a security point of view. I’m on board in theory, but restricting working hours and access isn’t helpful! I’m not saying the bankers need to work all the time, but surely a few hours on Saturday or staying open until five or six would help? And if a business has a website, it should be available in more than one language. Officially. The US absolutely needs to get on board with this as well.
Given the stress of setting up an account, I don’t know why I expected the post office to go smoothly, but I did. I have a couple packages to mail to friends, as well as a letter. I decided to try on my own, instead of asking Jane, our school fixer, for help. I had my phone and Google translate, and thankfully, many people in Taiwan speak at least some English. I could do this!
I was wrong!
I figured I would have to fill out forms for the packages, but they wouldn’t even accept them. The kind worker didn’t know enough English to show me where to go and there was a line, so I just decided to scrap the attempt. I will ask Jane on Monday.
In the end, I am grateful that the troubles I’m facing haven’t been worse. Things are frustrating, for sure, and I do think some aspects of life here are needlessly frustrating, and not just for foreigners. Like seriously, closing a bank at 3 PM has to be annoying for everyone, right? But so far, I’m still able to have food and shelter and some fun. And Jane is truly a rockstar and I have tried to show my appreciation with special treats and presents. I would truly be lost without her.
Now if only it wouldn’t be so hot!
Which, yeah, that’s on me for moving here. But it had cooled down a bit, highs in the 80’s, but this past week has been back to summer highs. It’s currently 91/Real Feel 103. Thankfully it is windy here since we’re close to the ocean, and that helps enormously. I can walk more without feeling like I’m going to die. Still, I’m going to stick close to home and my AC this weekend. I’ve been told cooler fall temps will come. I just have to be patient.
The question is - will I ever find one place where I feel truly at home? Somewhere with nice weather AND the cultural/social options I crave? Who’s to say? But in spite of the great frustrations I have now, I remain grateful that I even have the opportunity to try new places while still allowing myself to vent my spleen a bit.
Banks here close at 3 PM! How does anyone with a job get things done? Because you have to set everything up in person! There are many services, like fund transfers, you can do online or at an ATM, but in order to get your online option set up, you have to make an appointment to go to the bank in person to activate the option! Of course the websites are not in English, which is fine. Sort of. I’ll explain. Google translate works pretty well, although in order to log in, you need to use an ID number, a username, a secret code, and another code, but your secret code is not your PIN. Google translate options don’t make this clear, and if you make a mistake logging in more than three times, your online account is disabled and you have to go back to the bank, in person, to set it up again.
Now. I get the rationale for this, from a security point of view. I’m on board in theory, but restricting working hours and access isn’t helpful! I’m not saying the bankers need to work all the time, but surely a few hours on Saturday or staying open until five or six would help? And if a business has a website, it should be available in more than one language. Officially. The US absolutely needs to get on board with this as well.
Given the stress of setting up an account, I don’t know why I expected the post office to go smoothly, but I did. I have a couple packages to mail to friends, as well as a letter. I decided to try on my own, instead of asking Jane, our school fixer, for help. I had my phone and Google translate, and thankfully, many people in Taiwan speak at least some English. I could do this!
I was wrong!
I figured I would have to fill out forms for the packages, but they wouldn’t even accept them. The kind worker didn’t know enough English to show me where to go and there was a line, so I just decided to scrap the attempt. I will ask Jane on Monday.
In the end, I am grateful that the troubles I’m facing haven’t been worse. Things are frustrating, for sure, and I do think some aspects of life here are needlessly frustrating, and not just for foreigners. Like seriously, closing a bank at 3 PM has to be annoying for everyone, right? But so far, I’m still able to have food and shelter and some fun. And Jane is truly a rockstar and I have tried to show my appreciation with special treats and presents. I would truly be lost without her.
Now if only it wouldn’t be so hot!
Which, yeah, that’s on me for moving here. But it had cooled down a bit, highs in the 80’s, but this past week has been back to summer highs. It’s currently 91/Real Feel 103. Thankfully it is windy here since we’re close to the ocean, and that helps enormously. I can walk more without feeling like I’m going to die. Still, I’m going to stick close to home and my AC this weekend. I’ve been told cooler fall temps will come. I just have to be patient.
The question is - will I ever find one place where I feel truly at home? Somewhere with nice weather AND the cultural/social options I crave? Who’s to say? But in spite of the great frustrations I have now, I remain grateful that I even have the opportunity to try new places while still allowing myself to vent my spleen a bit.
