Why Are Share Houses The Best Shelter Option When You Are Starting Life In Abroad?

In the present world, borders and boundaries have become fluid. These lines that mark and enclose an area to represent a city, country, or continent, and which primarily only exist on paper are in the present world not as rigid as they used to be earlier. Instead, in the present moment, these boundaries have become porous to allow people to move in and out of a country. This sits true for the borders and boundaries of almost all the countries or continents around the globe.

The Earth presently has become a global space, and all the cities and countries have become a part of its chain. Whether it is for studies or managing businesses, every year we witness people moving across borders. Because of this, it has become a natural occurrence to find citizens of different nationalities living together in a country they were not born or brought up.

But if you have ever traveled overseas, then you would know that living in a new country is not a very pleasant experience especially during the initial days. It is so because when you go to a new place you usually miss your old friends and family, and the previous surroundings terribly. Plus, when you move to a new country you feel like a stranger, and thus, it becomes difficult to blend in.

Mixing-in in a new country is not as easy as it may appear in the first place. We say so because when you go to a new place, you usually don’t know much about the culture or tradition of that place. And because of this, you always feel anxious and stressed in your new surroundings. You are always on your toes observing how other people are behaving so you would not mistakenly do that would hurt or disrespect the sentiments of the natives.

Thus, in such a time when you have freshly moved into a new country, it is considered a good idea to live in a share house. Doing so will help you in many ways. Wondering how that works? Well, in that case, read our next section to find out your answers.

How are share houses helpful in starting a fresh life in a new country?

A sharehouse is a big property that is offered on rent to tenants where many strangers share the same roof. In a share house, you can rent a single room for yourself or you can rent a room that houses 3 to 4 people in total depending upon your needs and requirements. This place is a top shelter choice for people, especially for those who have freshly shifted to a new country because-
It helps you in understanding alien customs.

As we have already established, when you move to a new country, chances are that you will be unfamiliar with its customs and traditions. This can make you anxious while adding to your stress levels. Also, there is this probability that if you did something wrong because of your unfamiliarity with the local customs that the natives find offending or insulting, then you might feel even more alienated and alone. Thus, for this reason, it is a safe choice to live in a share house at least for the initial days because there you are bound to come across many people who will be interested in international exchange.

When you will live with them, such people will help you in learning more about their local culture, while at the same time they will also try to understand your traditions. This healthy exchange will make your life significantly easier. So, if you want to know about the local customs and traditions of a place, its food, its manners, etc. in a friendly way without wasting much time, then share houses should be your top priority while seeking shelter.

It is a borderless accommodation

When you move to a new space how fluently you can speak their local language plays a very important role in deciding the ease with which you will blend in your new surroundings. So, for example, if you have moved to Taiwan for your further studies and you can fluently speak and write Chinese, then this will probably mean that you will find it easier to navigate Taiwan as compared to someone who doesn’t even understand Chinese. It is so because when you don’t understand the local language of a place, you find it hard to explain to people your queries or emotions.

Now, in such a scenario, it is wise to find a share house in your new country because in share houses you can probably find residents who are familiar with your language. In this way, your common language can help you in befriending people and it can also help you in learning the local language quite easily. We, BORDERLESS HOUSE, make language exchange easy for you by offering on our website the information about the nationality of its residents. You can even opt to talk to the residents of the share house while requesting a preview of the property.

It offers you easier access to common knowledge

When you shift to a new country, other than the customs, traditions, and language of that place there are many other things that you ought to learn about your new home town. These things include information on the common practices of the new place, knowledge about local shops and convenience stores in your locality, and awareness about the norms of living in that place such that your safety is not threatened.

Living in a share house can help you in gaining easy access to such information. It is so because when you are sharing a roof with other people you are bound to interact with them. In your conversations, you can come across the above-mentioned info without even requesting for the same. In opposed to this, if you opt to live alone in a new country, then acquiring such information may take some time.

Thus, these are some reasons because of which living in a share house should be your preferred choice. Living here can help you in settling-in easily.

 

 

 

 

 

來自社長的一封信:建立橋樑,而非隔閡

大家好,我是BORDERLESS HOUSE的社長Lee。

因為新冠肺炎疫情的發生,全世界的人們都受到了影響,至今仍看不到平息的跡象。而疫情的發生也導致許多產業受到衝擊,大家都在尋求解決問題的方法,希望能減緩衝擊的力道。

如同各位所知道的,BORDERLESS HOUSE是一個來自日本,擁有許多外國房客的事業。每年的四、五月正是我們的房客,展開新學期、新生活,最忙碌的時期,也是我們迎接最多新房客的時候。

但在疫情的影響下,我們有許多不得不取消入住,無法來到台灣的房客,又或是臨時需要回國的外國房客。

但是,我們沒有因此忘記我們的事業理念:「創造沒有歧視與偏見的世界」。針對此時世界上所發生的事情,我們希望透過撰寫這篇部落格,和大家分享我們此刻要做的,以及想要傳達的理念。

【疫情下產生的差異與分裂】

新冠肺炎常常被認定是「亞洲的問題」,導致在各國都出現了針對華人及亞裔住民嚴重的歧視,或是針對特定人權團體的騷擾及暴力行為,再次將對於亞洲人的歧視問題帶上檯面。

但這絕對不是只在國外才會發生的事情,同樣的,隨著疫情蔓延,即便在亞洲,也可能發生本地人用偏見的眼光看待外國人的情形。

我們為了抵禦病毒而設下了入境限制,這樣子的鎖國政策,使得人與人之間產生了一道「物理之牆」,而這種不安定且充滿壓力的狀態持續下去,將衍生成為「心中之牆」。面對未知敵人的不安,使得我們將這些仇恨及歧視,轉向特定的族群或是特定人種,而這樣的歧視和偏見,將讓我們彼此之間漸行漸遠,更加疏離。我擔心即便疫情結束,各國雖然解除了限制,但這樣對於外國人的歧視仍舊會持續的發生。

【建立橋樑,而非隔閡】

現在,該是我們團結起來的時候,建立橋樑,而非隔閡。

透過不同領域的結盟,交換彼此的知識與資源,世界可以一同面對這個共同的敵人。我們也竭盡所能地為我們的房客、合作夥伴及各位工作人員和他們的家人,提供最合適的配套措施。

因此,在這樣的情況下,我們也需要思考,BORDERLESS HOUSE可以做些什麼?我們該探討的是什麼?

我們深信我們的角色是創造連結,而不是分歧,因此我們將這個觀點濃縮為一句話──建立橋樑,而非隔閡。

因為新冠肺炎疫情的影響,BORDERLESS HOUSE的事業在各方面都受到了衝擊。不過,更讓我們擔心的是那些迫切地期待著,能與世界各地的人交流的房客們。

他們期待來到台灣,完成他們的夢想,卻不得不因為入境的限制而取消他們一生可能只有一次的工作、留學機會,或是已經抵達台灣的房客們,被迫回到故鄉,導致學習中斷,失去了和室友們一起創造美好回憶的機會。

BORDERLESS HOUSE致力於消除歧視、偏見與分歧,這是我們的品牌任務和目標。我們希望協助這些想要挑戰的年輕人,脫離他們的舒適圈,透過直接和外國室友相處、生活在多元文化的環境,從中得到學習、理解的機會,也幫助社會走往更正向的地方。

不過,把這些想法觀點說出來、寫下來固然很重要,但更加重要的是,我們該如何去執行它,於是我們將發起一個新的活動。

【BORDERLESS Mate 神秘線上筆友】

這次的「BORDERLESS Mate 神秘線上筆友」是一個很簡單的概念。

因為新冠肺炎疫情的影響,我們有許多房客都失去了認識新朋友、學習語言的機會,所以我們希望透過這次的活動,在照顧到大家的健康及安全下,盡可能提供給大家更多的交流機會。

而這個「BORDERLESS Mate 神秘線上筆友」將從台灣開始做起,連結起不同物件的房客,透過語言、興趣、喜好等,替大家做配對,並且以Email的方式,建立起線上的友誼。

透過這個計畫,我們希望大家即便在疫情的影響下,仍舊能持續的與外國朋友交流,不管是學習語言,文化分享,甚至是聊聊對於疫情的看法,給予彼此一些鼓勵,一起期待疫情過去的日子。

而這個計畫,之後也會逐步拓展到我們在日本、韓國的事業部,甚至是非房客的朋友們,讓我們的理想,可以為社會帶來更長遠、更正向的影響!敬請期待吧!

最新消息,歡迎追蹤我們的 FB粉絲專頁


新冠肺炎疫情,儼然是一場國際性的長期抗爭

站在政府與政治家的立場,為了保護人民,需要築起高牆來抵禦病毒的威脅,但我認為我們都應該在心中搭起一座橋梁,共同克服這些阻礙。

而BORDERLESS HOUSE則將成為搭建這些橋樑的工程師之一,即便我們並非完美,我們仍會以笑容迎接挑戰,為我們的努力而驕傲!

BORDERLESS HOUSE在日本的總部也曾遭遇過類似,非預期的重大災難,但我們仍舊堅持著,努力克服種種挑戰和難關。

有鑒於此次疫情的情況危急,我們必定會將每位房客的健康與安全視為第一順位,接下來我們還會在許多方面遭遇困難,但BORDERLESS HOUSE還是會努力面對各種挑戰,盡我們一切所能,期許著更美好的未來。

6 Things About Living in Taiwan!

Are you planning to move to Taiwan?

Or planning to start your Chinese class in Taiwan?

Before that, we have a few interesting things what to let you know before you come to Taiwan!

1.  Convenient store everywhere! (7-11, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK…)

(圖片來源:saveinmycity)

You’ll find out the convenient stores are one of the best things in Taiwan once you arrived!

Convenient stores in Taiwan are not just a store for junk food or beverage, you can basically do everything at there, ship packages, pay your bills, buy tickets (train, concert, exhibition…etc.), print documents, call taxi, ATM…and so much more!

And these 24H convenient stores are everywhere, seriously, EVERYWHERE! You can even find 2 or 3 convenient stores on one street! It’s your best neighbor ever!

 

2.  Musical garbage trucks.

Living in Taiwan, we got some tips here for you to deal the household garbage.

Most of families here don’t have trash bins next to their house. Instead, garbage trucks drives through streets at night with playing Beethoven’s Fur Elise loudly to alert people their arrival, and you need to carry your trash bags (If you living in Taipei, you need to use the city-approved trash bags), and throw them into the trucks by yourself.

And you will find out the time of garbage trucks coming, is also the time of social gathering, because people come out earlier and chat with neighbors while they waiting!

 

3.  Earthquakes and Typhoons.

Earthquakes and Typhoons are 2 things you will experience in Taiwan!

Taiwan located in a seismically active zone, the average number of perceivable earthquake is about 1,000 per year. (not to mention the un-perceivable earthquake is more than 18,500 per year.)

And if you visit Taiwan during July to September, you will probably hit the typhoon season, prepare some foods and save some clean water is what you need to do before it.

But don’t worry! You’ll also find out Taiwanese handle it very well, most of buildings in Taiwan are prepared for earthquakes and strong wind of typhoon!

 

4.  Bubble tea.

Taiwanese LOVES bubble tea! You can find bubble tea shops nearly EVERY corner of Taiwan’s streets, and it’s a part of Taiwanese culture now!

If you planning to visit Taiwan soon, put bubble tea on your “must-try” list!

 

5.  Friendly people!

Even not every Taiwanese can speak fluent English, but you’ll still find out how friendly are of Taiwanese!

Most of Taiwanese are defiantly welling to help if you need (sometimes you don’t even ask for help)! Finding a restaurant, point you a way to your hotel (or just take you to there with their scooter)!

And if you got chance to visit south of Taiwan, the people from south are even friendlier, most last generation can’t speak English, but they still give you smile, and try their best to help! You’ll definitely feel welcoming here!

 

6.  Kingdom of Scooters!

Do you know Taiwan has the highest scooter density in Asia? The population of Taiwan is 23 million, but the amount of scooter is over 14 million! Almost every family has at least one scooter!

Taiwan is a small island, and scooter can take you to almost everywhere in Taiwan, especially when you travel out of Taipei City (Taipei has every complete public transport system), you’ll find out how convenient it is! And if you planning to travel around Taiwan, scooter is a good idea!

But remember to prepare your driving license and international license before you rent a scooter in Taiwan!