thinking of coming to Taiwan with hubby and 1 year old?

[divea]

Sandman,

You have quite a looker there. Congrats. A lot of tissues will appear if your boy ever has the sniffles and also be prepared to take home a lot of loot.....chocolates, fruit, all those little things like cell phone thingies, toys, etc. that people will dish out, if your baby so much as smiles and waves at them. Of course, you will find it annoying at times but the thing is that people just want to show their affection! And we have been in this neighbourhood for 2 years and we have gotten everything from a bag of Mcdonald's toys (grrrrr) to cheese cakes and a box of peaches.

[sandman]

Only a Doraemon toy that screams when you pull a string, so far. But the ankle-biter seems to like it.

[divea]

They love those mementos. My daughter once got a carrefour catalogue from an old lady. I couldn't pry it from her for a week!

[yaoshema]

Crapped on the gaotie and ladies clamored to change the nappy?! whoa!
I reckon you should go for it, come to Taiwan, it sounds like together you'll figure everything out just fine...

[tinster]

I seriously doubt your kid will be unhappy in taiwan, as long as you guys take good care of him, he will be fine! I assume you are doing that already, so I'm sure you wouldn't stop doing that when you come to Taiwan

Another poster gave good advise about saving money: cheap apartment, don't go out too much, buy the cheaper food (don't hit Jason's too often ) etc etc
Just make sure to get a good salary!
I think it's durable for you to be the only one working, just also remember that if your husband wants to study, it has to be home-study unless you want to pay for child-care as well, which can be pricy!

Husband studying while taking care of your kid? Good luck! I know first hand how time just fly when you run around a toddler to be all day long.

[Byshguy]

Two close friends of mine came to Taiwan one year ago, in the exact same situation. After two months, the wife demanded the husband get a job. The biggest problem they faced, was their son's language and social development. While the parents have a good network of friends, their kid has nothing. Consequently, they feel he is lagging behind other kids his age in those areas. The only other thing is the money. If you don't speak any Chinese, then Taipei is far and away the most foreign friendly, although there other 'enclaves', if you will, in Hsinchu and Kaoshiung (Gaoxiong)...maybe elsewhere. My two friends both work, and they barely make ends meet, although they do DO a lot of things.

So, anyway, they suggest that you

1. Absolutely, 100%, don't even think about waiting; find a social group, probably a church but others do exist, where your son can interact with other English speaking kids his own age.
2. Make sure your husband actually studies. An actual program would be best. Taiwan is a great place to learn Chinese, but not if your watching a baby the entire time. Then it becomes practically impossible.