Content Application Document Checklist

Home , Changhua County, Yuanlin

CONTENT APPLICATION DOCUMENT CHECKLIST ...... - 1 - PREPARATIONS BEFORE COMING TO TAIWAN CHECKLIST ...... - 1 - ARRIVING IN TAIWAN!...... - 2 - ARRIVING AT MDU!...... - 2 - MDU STUDENT CARD...... - 3 - MDU LOCATION...... - 4 - MDU CAMPUS...... - 4 - STUDENT HOUSING ...... - 5 - ALIEN RESIDENT CERTIFICATE (ARC)...... - 6 - VISA EXTENSION...... - 7 - HOW TO APPLY FOR YOUR ALIEN RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE ...... - 8 - MOBILE PHONE SERVICES ...... - 10 - OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT IN TAIWAN...... - 10 - TAIWAN’S CURRENCY...... - 10 - NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE (NHI) ...... - 11 - HEALTH CARE ...... - 11 - SCHOLARSHIPS...... - 12 - MINGDAO C.W. WANG MEMORIAL LIBRARY ...... - 13 - MANDARIN TRAINING CENTER (MTC) ...... - 14 - ON-CAMPUS DINING...... - 15 - ON-CAMPUS CONVENIENCE...... - 15 - CENTER FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION...... - 16 - STUDENT CLUBS ...... - 16 - TRANSPORTATION...... - 17 - FOOD AND LIFE...... - 18 - TOURISM IN TAIWAN...... - 21 - THE CLIMATE OF TAIWAN...... - 24 - TAIWANESE CULTURE...... - 24 - IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS: ...... - 27 -

◎ Application Document Checklist:

□ Valid Passport (You also need to have a student visa.) □ Individual Health Insurance Certificate (including emergency medical insurance with repatriation expenses) □ MingDao University admission letter □ Proof of financial support or scholarship documentation □ Passport photo (for files or documents used in Taiwan)

◎ Preparations Before Coming to Taiwan Checklist:

□ Prepare some New Taiwan dollars (NT$). At the Taoyuan International Airport immigration lobby, there are branches of the Bank of Taiwan and Mega International Commercial Bank, both of which provide foreign currency exchange services. For more details, please refer to http://www.taoyuan-airport.com/chinese/store3_2/1103 ) □ Pack electrical plug adapters. (Taiwan’s sockets: 2-hole socket, or 2-hole socket plus a circular ground prong) □ Copy important documents that you need while in Taiwan. All documents must be certified by the relevant authorities in their respective countries. □ Inform the Office of International Affairs of the time and place that you will arrive in Taiwan, and we can arrange an airport shuttle service.

◎ Arriving in Taiwan! To welcome everyone to Taiwan, and to ensure that everyone can arrive at their accommodations safely, we offer an airport shuttle service. Please inform the Office of International Affairs the week before your arrival in Taiwan. We will send a representative to pick you up at the airport.. If you cannot find our representative in the airport lobby, please go to the airport desk (located in the Arrivals Hall) and have them page the MDU representative.

◎ Arriving at MDU! To help everyone adapt to life in Central Taiwan, we have arranged for our students to assist you in getting to know the campus well, purchasing your daily necessities, and dealing with any problems at school and in your daily life.

◎ MDU Student Card The Student ID card is issued free of charge, to prove that you are an MDU student. When you arrive at school, you can apply at the Office of International Affairs. When you want to borrow books or any media materials from the school library, you must use the student ID card. Moreover, the card also provides you with a lot of convenience and benefits. For instance, you can use it to prove your identity. When you want to go shopping, eat out, get a haircut, or go to the movies, , you will be able to enjoy discount prices, as long as you have your student ID card. If the card is lost or damaged, you can re-apply at the Office of Academic Affairs (there is a handling fee of NT$300.) While the student card application is being processed, you can use the receipt as proof of registration to enjoy all the benefits listed above.

◎ MDU Location

◎ MDU Campus

4 ◎ Student Housing z Zhiqiang Hall TEL: 886-4-887-6660 Address: 369 Wenhua Rd.,Pitou, Changhua County 52345, Taiwan (R.O.C) Zhiqiang Hall is the student dormitory located on MDU campus. There are refrigerators, televisions, water dispensers, vending machines, and coin-operated laundry facilities. The Learning Center is on the first floor. There are many extra-curricular activities held in the dorm. There is a reading room for special activities or social gatherings. On the ground floor of the dorm, there is a supermarket (selling daily necessities, providing copying services, stocking textbooks, selling snacks). For meals, there is the delicious Food Street in the basement, where there are many kinds of dishes to choose from. z Mingcheng Hall TEL: 886-4-889-9641 Address: 225-11, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Xizhou Township, Changhua County 524, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Mingcheng dormitory is located around 5 minutes away from MDU campus by car. There is a free shuttle bus from MDU to Mingcheng Hall. This dorm is near the bus stops for Youren, Yuanlin, and Ritong, among other local towns. It is convenient to go to any place. And there are delicious food stalls along the street, as well as bookstores, copy shops, convenience stores, clinics, a supermarket (many kinds of snacks in there!), a post office, a library, the bureau of public health, and the main office of Chunghwa Telecom. There are many places for leisure activities near Xizhong Senior High School, Huabo Park, and Senlin Park. There is a small-town charm, and the local residents are quite friendly.

◎ Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)

Foreigners who enter the country with a resident or student visa should apply for an Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) within 15 days of arrival. Therefore, students who plan to study for more than 1 semester will need to apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) at the Changhua County Service Center of the National Immigration Agency (18, Heping St., Yuanlin Township, Changhua County 510, Taiwan).

Be sure to have the following documents with you: z A completed application from: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/public/Data/09216474271.pdf z 1 color photo (passport photo specs) z Original and photocopied passport z Registered student identification card and certificate of enrollment and its photocopy z Fees: One year term: NTD$1,000. Two year term: NTD$2,000. Three year term: NTD$3,000. In case the ARC is lost or damaged and needs to be replaced, a replacement fee of NTD$500 must be paid. For more information, visit: http://iff.immigration.gov.tw/mp.asp

◎ Visa Extension Exchange students who will attend classes for a single semester will need to extend their visas at the Changhua County Service Center of the National Immigration Agency. Each extension must not exceed the originally permitted time on the visa. The cumulative length of stay must not exceed 6 months (180 days). Those who expect the cumulative length of stay to exceed 180 days in case of force majeure or other major event should apply for an extension in advance. Be sure to have the following documents with you: z An application form: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/public/Data/09216474271.pdf z Original and photocopied passport z Original student identity card or statement of attendance z For more information ,visit: http://iff.immigration.gov.tw/mp.asp

◎ How to Apply for Your Alien Residency Certificate (ARC)

For a damaged ARC, which must be returned, or a lost card, for which a deposition must be signed, or a request for a change of information, the cost to re-apply is NT$500. You should get your new card within 15 business days.

z Required documents for the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC): 1. An application form with one photo. (Note: the size of the photo should be the same size as the local people’s ID) 2. Your passport, ARC (original), and one copy of your ARC. 3. The following related documentation and copies: (1) a degree, a receipt of paid tuition, or a student ID. (2) the Mandarin Training Center’s certificate of enrollment or record of your attendance. 4. Fee (1) For a year: NT$1,000 (2) For two years: NT$2,000 (3) For three years: NT$3,000 (4) For Overseas Chinese students: NT$500 (5) Defacement (attached damaged old card), loss or re-apply for changes to the information: NT$500.

z What You Need to Apply for Your Re-Entry Permit 1. An application form 2. Your passport and ARC (Note: Your ARC will be returned to you after examination.) 3. Related documents: (1) For alien workers: Certificate of Employment (2) For Overseas Chinese students: A letter of consent ※During the semester: A letter of consent from the Overseas Students Affairs Division of the Office of Student Affairs OR an application form with a school stamp as consent. ※During summer and winter vacations: A letter of consent from the Foreign Student Counseling Office of the Office of Student Affairs OR an application form with a school stamp as consent. ※Overseas Chinese students will be issued multiple-entry permits with their ARC’s.

◎ Mobile Phone Services The most convenient method of communication for international students in Taiwan is to use prepaid mobile phone cards. You just need your passport and a photocopy of your ARC to apply to the local operator for the prepaid phone number, and pre-pay about NT$300. Prepaid cards can be refilled at any major convenience store. If you want to call home, you can use a coin-operated telephone. Coin-operated phones are usually found at convenience stores. To call international telephone numbers, you must enter “009” first. Then enter the international calling code, and the local number. However, if you don’t like to use public pay phones, you can choose to use internet telephony, like Skype.

◎ Opening a Bank Account in Taiwan It is best to exchange some cash before arriving in Taiwan (NT$=NTD=NT). Most businesses in Taiwan accept international credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Euro card, Diners club, American Express), but there are many reasons to open a bank account in Taiwan. Opening an account in Taiwan is very easy; you just need to bring proof of school enrollment (like a student card), passport, and ARC, and then you can apply. And students who open accounts don’t need to pay any fees. After opening an account, you will get an ATM card, so you can withdraw money from Taiwanese ATM’s at any time. If you withdraw money from your bank's ATM, you do not pay any fee. You can also use your ATM card to transfer money and shop online.

◎ Taiwan’s Currency Taiwan's monetary unit is the New Taiwan Dollars (NT). Banknotes are denominated in NT$100, NT$500, and NT$1000 bills, while coins are in NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, and NT$50 denominations.

◎ National Health Insurance (NHI) National Health Insurance (NHI) is provided to foreign students or workers who plan to stay in Taiwan for more than four months. Full-time students who have resided in Taiwan for four months must join the NHI program, at a cost of about NT$900 per month. NHI includes a variety of medical care and treatments; you can go to clinics and hospitals or get dental care in Taiwan. It will also cover some of the cost of specialized treatments that are not fully covered. Please refer to: http://www.nhi.gov.tw/english/ You can apply for National Health Insurance at the office of Overseas Students Affairs Division when your stay in Taiwan nears four months.

◎ Health Care When illness strikes, life becomes very hard. In Taiwan, there are some cold medications and painkillers that do not need prescriptions. However, if you become ill, you can go to the Health Center at the Xingjian Activities Center for medical attention and advice. If you become seriously ill, you can ask at the office of Overseas Students Affairs Division for assistance. To see a doctor, please remember to bring your insurance card; patients who have NHI just need to pay the NT$150 outpatient user fee. If you have international insurance, you should also bring your documentation. Zhuo Hospital is the closest major health center to MDU, about five minutes by car. In the town of Beidou (about 10 minutes by car from campus), there are also many clinics specializing in fields like dermatology, obstetrics, and gynecology. When you are in any emergency, and need any help, you can always tell the Overseas Students Affairs Division, or call Campus Security at 886-93-400-0110. If you have a medical emergency, you can dial “119”. If you have a traffic accident, please immediately notify the police by dialing “110”.

◎ Scholarships Studying in Taiwan is a wonderful experience for international students, and MDU keeps students informed about scholarship opportunities. You have to pay tuition fees and register for your program of study. Then, you can apply for a scholarship. Note that your ARC must specify that you are "studying at MDU". If not, you have to apply to change the reason of your residence in order to be qualified for a scholarship. In addition, there are a number of academic scholarships available and opportunities for part-time work exchanges. For more information, visit: http://tafs.mofa.gov.tw/Default.aspx?loc=en

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◎ MINGDAO C.W. WANG MEMORIAL LIBRARY Hours of Operation: Every Monday to Friday from 8:00~22:00 Every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00~17:00 The Library is closed on national holidays, and open on a special schedule during the winter & summer breaks.

The Circulation & Information Desk and the Reading Areas are located on the first and second floors (1F and 2F). On 1F, there is the new books exhibition area, where new Chinese and foreign books are exhibited at regular intervals. At the Circulation Desk, you can inquire about new books, and arrange to borrow books from other universities. There are also Chinese reading rooms on 1F: the Wenjingge Room is where the Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature (Si Ku Quan Shu) collection is kept, and the Huanyuxuan Room is where teaching resources and textbooks in various languages are housed. There is a reading area on B1. There are large tables for quiet group study, and stacks of Western languages books, periodicals, magazines, and multimedia. There is also a service desk where you can ask about using library facilities.

◎ Mandarin Training Center (MTC)

The Mandarin Training Center offers Mandarin programs with a focused yet diverse curriculum; the programs contain both language and culture components. Based on a placement exam, each language course has a 20-student maximum. Many culture courses are presented by faculty from the Department of Chinese Literature. Courses include calligraphy, carving, and the tea ceremony. The Department of Hospitality Management holds seminars in Chinese cooking, while the Department of Fashion Imaging presents courses in fabric weaving. These are all supplemented by special on-campus events, like Chinese painting and calligraphy exhibitions, and poetry readings, allowing international

students to be able to experience Chinese culture on a regular basis. z MTC Program Schedule and Fees: Weekly Application Course Dates Tuition Hours Deadline Spring Term 3/1~5/31 12 NT$25,800 2/1 Fall Term 9/1~11/30 12 NT$25,800 8/1 Winter Term 12/1~2/28 12 NT$25,800 11/1 Summer Class 7/5～8/28 8 NT$17,200 6/1 z If you want to know more, please refer to: http://www.mdu.edu.tw/mtc/ or call 886-4-887-6660 ext.7410 or 7411.

◎ On-campus Dining

Don't worry about finding a good place to eat! There are many meal options at the student restaurant on the first floor of Zhiqiang Hall and on Zhiqiang’s food street (B1). There are many kinds of vegetable, meat, and fish dishes available. There are also places to go for international cuisine, like sushi, spaghetti, and pancakes. Meals are eat-in or take-out. The price is between NT$60 and 100. Besides Zhiqiang Hall, there is a restaurant called “The 2 Fresh House”. It offers great food at reasonable prices. They specialize in Chinese-style meals. The meals range in price from NT$66 to 110. There is a restaurant on the first floor of Hanmei Building called Xiaodifang (“The Little Place”), offering items like bread, light meals, and hot and cold drinks.

◎ On-campus Convenience

There is a Hi-Life convenience store on campus. Hi-Life offers hot and cold drinks, cookies, cakes, ice cream, and sandwiches. In addition, FUKULAKU CAFÉ is on the first floor of the Xingjian Activities Center. It’s a deli-style restaurant offering freshly ground coffee, desserts, cakes, sandwiches, fresh juices, and fresh fruit. There are healthy, organic meals to choose from.

◎ Center for Physical Education There are many chances for students to participate in various kinds of physical activities at MDU, for example: basketball, yoga, volleyball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, and many kinds of sports. Participation is free for these activities. In addition, there are membership-based gymnasium and swimming pool facilities. The sport grounds are in the Xingjian Activities Center. If you want to know more, please refer to: http://www.mdu.edu.tw/~at/

◎ Student Clubs You can consider joining the International Student Social Club. This club is organized by international students, with activities including visiting tourist attractions around Taiwan, touring Taiwanese festivals, volunteering, and other recreational activities. You can get connected and stay connected with students from all over the world.

In addition, you can choose clubs with a special focus , for example: Focus Club Name Chess Club Siqi Calligraphy Club Academic Skills Yixuancaotang Traditional Cooking Club Chinese Herbal Club Taiwan Aboriginal Xianqing Chinese Music Club Club Arts/Recreation Yuanwuchao Aboriginal

Dance Club Physical Martial arts club Training

◎ Transportation

From MDU to central Beidou or Yuanlin, you can catch the bus at the main gate. You can buy tickets directly from the bus driver, and the cost is between NT$22 and 57. There are many different bus companies to choose from, for example: Unification, Guoguang, or Taichung Bus. You can take these lines directly to Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other places. You can also choose to take the train or high speed rail. If you choose to take Taiwan Railway or Taiwan High Speed Rail, you can use the ticket machine to buy the tickets; you also can go directly to the ticket counter for ticket assistance. If you want to know more details, you can query the Taiwan Railway Administration Schedule: http://www.railway.gov.tw/en/ or Taiwan High Speed Rail Schedule: http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/ You also can query the information for transportation on the MDU General Affairs website: http://www.mdu.edu.tw/~oga/html/bus.html

◎Food and life z Beidou shopping area

z Xizhou shopping area & Mingcheng hall

z Pitou shopping area

◎ Tourism in Taiwan

z Let’s Go to Lukang! Lukang was once one of Taiwan's three major ports. In the beginning, it was the landing port for Chinese immigrants to Taiwan. It was also a trading port for shipping between Fujian Province and Taiwan. Lukang is still prosperous as a tourist spot. You can learn about Lugang’s history and thriving culture, and also about the Fujian people who immigrated to Taiwan so many years ago. Even during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan (1895-1945), Lukang still preserved many ancient buildings. If you want to go to Lukang, you can go to the bus stop near the train station and take the train to the last stop, near the Tianhou Temple.

z Let’s Go to Wanggong! Wanggong is a very unique fishing village in western Taiwan. It has a rich natural and cultural landscape. Flora and fauna include mangroves, birds, intertidal fiddler crabs, mudskippers and other coastal scenery, while cultural attractions include the Wanggong fishing port, the lighthouse, Wang Hai Liu, rafts, and other artifacts of a splendid fishing village scene. There are asparagus fields, dairy farms, fish ponds, and other local industries. Wanggong oysters are a famous Taiwanese delicacy. Moreover, the nearby Township of Hon Po is a famous resort in Central Taiwan, with wetlands, waterfowl, and a proposed ecological park. The locals host the "Hon Po Bird Festival" for bird-watching enthusiasts.

z Let’s Go to Sun Moon Lake!

Sun Moon Lake is in Nantou County, Central Taiwan; it is Taiwan's largest freshwater lake. It is a beautiful mountain lake. In the middle of the lake is the small Lalu Island; the eastern part of the lake is round, like the sun, and the western part is crescent-shaped, so we called it "Sun Moon Lake." The lake is as clear as the crystal projecting out of the surrounding green hills.

z Let’s Go to Kenting!

Kenting is in Southern Taiwan. It is a very popular holiday destination. Families, students, and couples all travel there. There are beautiful beaches in Kenting, where you can enjoy sunbathing on the white sand, or enjoy the view of limestone reefs, tropical forests, and mountain scenery. There’s also a lot of delicious seafood. You can also walk to the national park and see the sights. There are plenty of water activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Hiking and biking trips through the forests and pastures are popular. For more details, please refer to the Kenting National Park website: http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/

z Let’s Go to Chiufen!

Chiufen is in Ruifang District, New Taipei City. In the past, all supplies had to come to this area by boat until the road was opened. At that time, this village had only nine families. The number of shipments was chiufen (nine units), hence the name. Chiufen is suurounded by vast sea and mountain barriers. In addition to the beautiful mountain and ocean scenery, each season has its own special kind of weather, and the day and night views have their own unique characteristics.

z Let’s Go to Taipei 101!

Taipei 101 is currently the world's fourth tallest building, located in Xinyi District in Taipei. The ninth through eighty-fourth floors are for offices, the 35th, 36th, 59th, and 60th floors are the "sky lobby". The lobby has convenience stores, a post office, administrative offices, and other facilities. On December 31st of each year, New Year's Eve, as the countdown greets January 1st, the whole building lights up from top to bottom, putting on a lightshow until the end of the countdown, when the building acts as a tower of fireworks, with spectacular scenes!

◎ The Climate of Taiwan Summer in Taiwan is from June to September, and the temperature is about 30℃~35℃. We recommend that you can wear cotton clothes and use plenty of sunscreen. Winter is from December to February, when the temperature is about 10℃~15℃. It feels very cold and humid, and it’s quite rainy. We recommend that you prepare warm clothing and rain gear. The weather during spring and autumn is variable. You might catch cold very easily. We recommend that you prepare your personal medicine and keep warm. For more details, please refer to the Central Weather Bureau website: http://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/

◎ Taiwanese Culture z Dining Culture In general, the position facing the door is where the owner sits. To the owner’s left and right sides are the first and second guests. The best policy for guests is to wait for the owner to assign the seats. Until the diners, especially the elders, you are not allowed to take your seat. When dining, you have to wait for the hosts and the elders to start to eat. Then you can start. Moreover, you should pick up your bowl to eat, instead of leaving it on the table, you are not allowed to hold the bowl by the bottom, because this is like begging. When you pick up food with chopsticks, be sure not to cross chopsticks with someone else. This is called a “chopstick fight”. If your chopsticks do cross, it is very impolite. If you are not finished your meal yet, and you want to take a rest, the chopsticks should be put down on your bowl flatly. It is definitely not allowed to plug your chopsticks into your rice bowl vertically. This looks like the incense used at a funeral, and it makes people feel uncomfortable.

z Gift Culture In Chinese culture, the concept of "good pairs" is commonly held. On happy occasions, the gift we send can be paired, but not single. Either way, the number “4” is a taboo, because the Mandarin word for "4" sounds like the word for "death"; it is very inauspicious. And, the color white in China often means sadness; black is equally unlucky, alluding to evils and disasters, sadness, and mourning. However, the color red is a symbol of happy, peaceful celebration, and is widely popular.

Here are some rules about gift culture:

1. Do not give CLOCKS: In Chinese, the word “clock” sounds like the word “final” (zhong). If you give clock as a present, that means you hope the recipient will die. 2. Do not give SHOES: In Chinese, the word “shoes” sounds like the word “evil” (xie). If you give shoes, it is tantamount to sending something evil. You will likely soon lose contact with each other or lose the friendship. 3. Do not give UMBRELLAS: In Chinese, the word “umbrella” sounds like the word “separate” (san). If you give an umbrella as a present, it means you will be separated in the future. 4. Do not give PEARS and PLUMS: In Chinese, the word used for “pear” and “plum” sound like word for “be parted” (li). Giving these two fruits as presents means that you will each have a separate danger in the future. 5. Do not give CANDLES: Candles are used for worshiping dead people; they should not be given as gifts.

z Festivals

Many Taiwanese people are descended from immigrants from Fujian; the lifestyle has been profoundly influenced by Han culture. The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival are Taiwan's three major festivals. In addition, when observing the Lantern Festival, the Ching Ming Festival, the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Star Festival and other traditional festivals, Taiwanese people also have some special rituals. There are still many tremendous and unique Taiwanese folk celebrations, such as welcoming Matsu, salt Firecrackers Donggang burning royal ship, the First City Qianggu, among others.

z Religious Culture

Although 10% of Taiwanese are Christian, Buddhism and Taoism are Taiwan's two major religions. The fusion of Buddhism, Taoism, and local beliefs and rites has a strong impact on social life; local festivals are also popular, for example: the Sansha Temple founder's birthday (March 23), Taiwan's Matsu birthday celebration (April 26), the first Sik Palace Emperor Shennong Birthday "triple rubber stamp (May 1), Zhuang Ye’s birthday (May 6), the Patriarch of fresh water Temple ceremonies (August 29), and the Donggang Tong Lung Ying Wang Gong Festival (July 15), to name a few.

◎ Important Telephone Numbers: z MingDao University: 886-4-8876660, ext 9 z International Student Affairs: 886-4-8876660, ext 2002 z Overseas Student Division: 886-4-8876660, ext 1271 or 1272 z Mandarin Training Center (MTC): 886-4-8876660, ext 7410 or 7411 z Zhiqiang Hall Service Desk: 886-4-8876660, ext 300 z Mingcheng Hall Service Desk: 886-4-8899641, ext 9 or 100 z Health Center: 886-4-8876660, ext 1225 z Campus Security Report Center (24 hours): 886-9-34-000-110