Blog

To non-Asians, Tomb Sweeping Day in Taiwan may seem strange, but it is a highly important tradition in Chinese culture. Elders and ancestors are of […]

With the sudden passing of Diane Baker, we have lost a very good friend, colleague, and supporter of the arts in Taiwan. We invite you […]

When is the Chinese New Year? The Chinese New Year in Taiwan usually falls in February – this year it is February 12, and this […]

We are often asked for a list of charities in Taipei, where you can donate time, clothing, furniture, or skills, and there are many charities […]

It is with deep sadness that the Community Services Center shares that Diane Baker, a loyal friend and supporter of the Center and dedicated member […]

It is time to dig out your Christmas s holiday spirits and being in Taiwan offers many ways to do so. There are endless sparkling […]

Come and see the 5th annual Dragons’ Chamber, the pitch event for foreign entrepreneurs co-organized by Enspyre, on November 21, 2-5 PM. Mandatory registration: https://www.surveycake.com/s/ddvO2If […]

What is the Mid-Autumn Festival and what to do? Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as “Zhong Qiu Jie”, Lantern festival, or Moon Festival is the […]

Ghost month in Taiwan brings spirits alive Once again, the Ghost Month Festivals has officially begun in Taiwan(on August 19th) and there has been a […]

It’s that time of the year, when hungry ghosts once again make their appearance in Taiwan. Each year, they leave the land of the dead […]

30 January 2020 press release announced an increase in distribution of face masks. “CECC indicated that in order to reach a rational distribution of face […]

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, due to an ongoing outbreak of respiratory […]

The Community Services Center’s 2019 Corporate Community Service Award Recipient The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei By Sue Babcock Each year, the Community Services […]

Are Taiwan’s facial tattoos still taboo? By Sylvia Dean Under a clear mountain sky, an Atayal boy of twelve years prepares to transition into manhood […]

By Priya and Lajwanti Purswaney For Indians around the world, October heralds the start of the festival season. Hindus follow the lunar calendar, and although […]

This year’s Community Services Center Auction will feature four carpets of hand-knotted silk and lambswool blends from Royal Choice Ltd. Royal Choice has been in […]

This year, the Community Services Center is celebrating 33 years of serving and working closely with the international and local communities in Taipei and throughout […]

By Heather Hsiao and John Eastwood Taiwan has made a recent push to hire an increasing number of foreign professionals through several new talent drives, […]

By Dr. Leaf Taipei City is on the move to become one of Asia’s leading “green garden” cities, and during the last few years the […]

By Jim Klar No matter how actively you choose to assimilate, arriving in Taiwan is the start of a journey from cultural and physical chaos […]

How to prepare for a typhoon A typhoon, known as a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, is a storm of damaging proportions. Typhoons are most […]

By Tom Rook – Republished here with permission from the author. Find more of Tom Rook’s work at www.overthecity.asia. Yilan is an often overlooked part […]

By Kenneth Dickson Photos by Kenneth Dickson and Patrice Delmotte Our Island Exhibition, featured in the May 2019 issue of Centered on Taipei, was a […]

By Pai Su-Yu Photos courtesy Taiwan Adventure Outings (TAO) Not too long ago, Taiwan was overflowing with garbage and wallowing in mountains of dumpsite trash […]

By Elizabeth Lam  It had been raining for five days before the sun came out, on a Sunday. To shake off the blues, my mom […]

By Elliott Hodgkin In 2001, the Concord Foundation was founded in Miaoli County by local businessman Brandon Lin (林光清), 61. Inspired by his father’s unwavering […]

BY BUNNY PACHECO Love cats? Then Taiwan has the place for you, Houtong, better known as the “cat village.” You can jump on a local […]

BY SASHA HUANG & WENXIN KANG The lush greenery seems to spread for miles, yet the tall palm trees fail to provide shade from the […]

Through May 6, 2019, your donation to the Center will be matched by an anonymous Center supporter. This supporter has pledged up to $100,000 of […]

Join us on Thursday April 25 at an evening program featuring authors Joshua Samuel Brown and Stephanie Huffman, authors of the book Formosa Moon, a […]

Text by Kenneth Dickson, Images TEPC April 2019 brings the first ever Taiwan Exchange Photograph Club (TEPC) Photograph Competition. The theme of the competition is […]

Children’s Day 2019 Activities in Greater Taipei South Taipei Fun Carnival 2019 South Taipei Fun Carnival 2019 will begin with a two-month exhibition “Hello, Good […]

By Carrie Kellenberger International Women’s Day is quickly approaching, with several organizations in Taipei gearing up to host events to help women share their stories. […]

Authors: Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. Posted with permission from HelpGuide.org If you’ve experienced an extremely stressful or disturbing event that’s left […]

by JUDY TSUEI Recently, I received a LINE message from a client who said, “Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.” I had […]

Article by Helen Gamble, TES “The secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage.” (Thucydides) A man stands on the podium. […]

Thanks to our volunteer photographers Shyh-Shiun Jerry Wang and Beno Soares!

You never know when disaster will strike, here are some tips to be prepared for emergencies, including making a family disaster plan, preparing an emergency […]

For one week only, double your impact! The Community Services Center has a supporting donor willing to match any donation of $1000 or more given […]

Tastes of Taipei is an opportunity for our community to sample the wide range of delicious culinary options in Taipei while supporting The Center. Our partner […]

Halloween has become more and more popular in Taiwan and this year there are numerous activities for ghouls and guys of all ages. Saturday Oct […]

by Ivy Chen In Taiwan, as in many developed countries, an increasing focus on improving health and lifestyle has led to an increase in eco-friendly, […]

Auction item: Hualien Outdoor Adventure! On October 20th at our Annual Auction you have the chance to bid on the prize of a guided adventure […]

Featured Auction 2017 Item Auction item: Waypoint Fitness Training Package On October 20th at our Annual Auction you have the chance to bid on the […]

Auction item: Guest DJ on ICRT On October 20th at our Annual Auction you have the chance to bid on the prize of a Guest […]

Ease your transition to living in Taiwan with our Kick Start Your Stay in Taiwan workshop! Thursday, September 21st | 9:00am-12:30pm |  NT$800 Link to […]

Typhoon Tips: Preparing for Typhoon Season For a complete list of how to prepare please read Disaster Preparedness, which includes a checklist of steps to […]

Are you traveling this Summer? Make sure to bring your unused hotel shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. back to Taipei to donate to the Help the […]

Come join us for the Family Fiesta Fundraiser at Eddy’s Cantina #1 on Wednesday, April 26th. This is an all night happy hour starting at […]

Girl Scout Leader Needed for Taiwan A Letter from Lisa West, current Overseas Committee Chair for the US Girl Scouts Overseas:     It has been my […]

Spotlight on Upcoming Class: Getting the Most Out of Your Overseas Experience – A Workshop for Expatriate Spouses Thursdays March 16th and 23rd, 12noon to […]

Global Giving Funding Project The Community Services Center has been approved to be a part of Global Giving! Global Giving is a crowdfunding platform for charitable […]

On Friday, February 17th we are co-hosting an all night happy hour at Crafted Beer & Co in Maji Square: Crafted for a Cause. 10‰ […]

Events Around Town – February PURPLE BUTTERFLY VALLEY – TWO YEAR BUTTERFLY VIEWING EVENT If you haven’t made time to head over to Maolin to enjoy […]

What can I say to the masses about Thelonious Monkey?  What a crazy ass show at the Baked Potato, Lankershim.  Chris “Drummer of the Century” Wabich, […]

The Center will begin collecting a wishlist of items this December to help our friends at the Christian Salvation Services (CSS). The items that they need […]

We have teamed up with NakedFood to introduce the return of The Center’s Tastes of Taipei! The Center will be partnering with different restaurants in Taipei […]

SPOTLIGHT ON AUCTION ITEM: Mystery Picnic with Lunch from Willie’s Deli and Private Driver A driver with an Audi convertible will pick you up and […]

SPOTLIGHT ON SILENT AUCTION ITEMS: Painting Party for 6 Adults  (or young adults) and Taroko Gorge Watercolor Painting At The Center’s Auction this year we […]

This year’s Annual Auction Fundraiser promises to bring a dash of glitz and Renaissance mystery to downtown Taipei. In a tradition of costumed festivities featuring […]

Kick start your stay in Taiwan by attending The Center’s 1.5 day Newcomer Orientation on Thursday September 22nd and Friday September 23rd. Registration required, sign […]

SPOTLIGHT ON SILENT AUCTION ITEM: Happy Hour for 4 @ Eddy’s Cantina We all know Eddy’s as the best Mexican food in town but do you […]

The charm of oriental arts and culture in Taipei is visible in the one-of-a-kind decoration styles one encounters throughout the city. You can almost touch […]

Recently, shock waves spread across Taiwan as details emerged about the death of a young child riding her bicycle in the Taipei suburb of Neihu. […]

  Art, in essence, is a community endeavor. It provides a vital connection to others by reminding us of our shared humanity.  Through art we […]

  Ever wondered where Maokong (貓空), that ever-popular hillside area of tea gardens on the southern edge of Taipei where everyone goes to drink tea, […]

There’s no doubt about it, the March 12th Taipei Women in Conversation Conference set new standards for the future of women’s conferences in Taiwan. The […]

As the spring break and long weekend approaches many of us turn our thoughts to the possibility of short trips within Asia; a sneaky beach […]

  What is counseling? Counseling is both a process and a journey. It’s a working relationship between two (sometimes more) people who work to make […]

The Salvation Army is holding it’s first ever CEO Sleep-out fundraising event inviting leaders from the Taiwan business community to come out and support the Salvation Army […]

Do you enjoy being out in nature? Have birdsongs or the changing colors of fall ever brought a smile to your face? Do you sometimes […]

The writing of spring poems or couplets for Chinese New Year is an ancient custom. Traditional couplets are handwritten with a brush and ink and […]

Ray Heberer from TAS has organized a trip to Nepal during the CNY vacation to rebuild a 2-room primary school and break ground on a new high school. TAS […]

As a little girl, Taiwan was my happy place. I loved the scooter rides, the visits to feed the red, orange, and polka-dotted fish in […]

Dear Center Community the Taipei American School is extending a special invitation to members of the international community to join them in singing excerpts from […]

Elephant Mountain is the most famous of the Four Beast Mountains nearby Taipei. It is a popular hiking and photo spot for taking panorama shots […]

Richard Saunders is somewhat of a legend around Taiwan. He is known for his exceptional guide books, his photography and for leading exciting and interesting […]

TAIWAN IS A PARADISE for SEAFOOD LOVERS Text: Ivy Chen   The island of Taiwan is surrounded by the ocean, which is abundant in wild […]

Patrick Lee is a contemporary Taiwanese artist based in Taipei, Taiwan. His works are in multi-media on canvas or wood panels with mixes of applied […]

Culture Shock! Adjusting to Life in Taiwan By: Wendy Evens Greetings newcomers!   Welcome to Taipei!! We are glad you are here!!!   For some of you, […]

Adopt a Shelter Dog … and give a Deserving Animal a Chance   The pleasures of dog ownership are varied: some people love the affection, […]

Cover Image: Aftermath from Typhoon Soudelor, nearby the Taipei Japanese School, Taiwan This month’s cover selection was taken by Justine O’Neil shortly after Typhoon Soudelor […]

Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. The more significant […]

Taiwan Has Flower Power It is a little known fact to many foreigners that Taiwan has a flourishing flora-culture industry, due to its excellent topography […]

All parents look upon their infants and wonder what they will grow up to be and what they will do with their lives- it’s part […]

A Gray Street Corner Transformed To An Art Gallery On a nice morning, it’s always a pleasure to go for a walk in our neighborhood.  […]

Cool Meals for the Summer Heat by Emily Quah Throughout the different chapters of my life, I was fortunate enough to have lived in various […]

Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at times. Many people feel anxious, or nervous, when faced with a problem at work, before […]

Here is a continuation of the cover insert description for the Laomei Algal Reef. Laomei Algal Reef is one of the more popular scenic tourist […]

When I think of eastern Taiwan, I can envision turquoise blue water meeting pristine mountains. I can see in my mind’s eye winding mountain roads […]

Dihua Street is located in the Dadaocheng areas of the Datong District of Taipei. Given its close proximity to the river, it remains an important […]

  Centered on Taiwan (COT) continues to attract a wide  readership here on Taiwan and internationally. Our ‘dream team’ became curious about where COT traveled, […]

One City, Three Perspectives                                           […]

Cultural differences permeate our day-to-day interactions — and often we don’t even realize it. Say you are trying to get to know a new Taiwanese […]

Leland Lee was diagnosed with autism before he was two years old. Experts informed his family that Leland would never be able to function within […]

The Community Services Center is truly an oasis for many of us living overseas. Many of us forget it is there until we need something. Kind […]

Do you need a prescription for nature?  Doctors Orders: A Dose of Nature Many health care researchers and practitioners say that ecotherapy (also known as […]

Most people have heard the term “culture shock,” but what exactly does it mean? Many people cross cultures for work, education, or family reasons. When […]

The story behind the March 2015 COT cover It all began many months ago, when a group of local and expat women were at a function […]

Mindfulness has become a buzzword recently, with new books and articles such as “Mindfulness: The Key to Productivity?” appearing daily. But what is mindfulness, exactly? […]

The cover image of squid drying was taken by Nick Kembel, a frequent contributor to Centered on Taipei (COT) during a visit to his wife’s […]

Depression is sometimes called the “common cold” of psychological distress because of how common it is. For United States adults, for example, the probability of […]

Join us February 12th for our Celebrating Chinese New Year Special Topic Coffee Morning!  

Thank you for joining us last Thursday for our December Coffee Morning with Richard! We found some great spots to go and we’re patiently waiting […]

Take a peek inside to see our up coming classes!!                  

Our Tantalizing Thai Cooking Class with Saithip!                                     […]

It’s Not Just for First-Time Culture-Crossers A PERSONAL ANECDOTE When I arrived in Tokyo on the international product marketing team at Hitachi, I brought with […]

  Making friends with Taiwanese people is very different from making friends in the U.S. where I grew up… and I still remember the first […]

When most people hear that I’m a cross-cultural trainer, they appear slightly dumbfounded. Moving internationally seems as easy as suitcases and a flight these days, […]