Health & Safety

Health

Whenever you go to any foreign country, you are exposed to germs against which your body has not yet built up a resistance. You may, therefore, be more susceptible to illness than local people are.  This is as true for Americans going abroad as it is for those coming to the United States.

The most common areas for health problems are digestive and upper respiratory systems.  Respiratory problems are common among foreigners in Taiwan for several reasons; please take note of this if you have allergies or asthma and bring your medication if necessary:

• Coal is commonly burned for heat and cooking, resulting in large amounts of soot in the air.
• Air pollution remains a problem in Kaohsiung (and other large cities on Taiwan). You can monitor the air quality in Taiwan, and in Kaohsiung, or any other city, here. It is wise to check the air pollution level regularly, especially if you have respiratory problems.

It is also important to keep these things in mind:

• Bring enough medicines for your entire stay, as they may be difficult to acquire, and customs may prohibit shipping of medicines.  Any medication that requires refrigeration should be brought to the attention of Middlebury prior to departure as special arrangements may be necessary.
• You should not plan on drinking water directly from the tap.  Tap water should be boiled before it is consumed.  Never assume that all ice comes from boiled water.
• When eating on the street or in restaurants, pay special attention to cleanliness of eating utensils and food.  Some people opt to bring their own personal chopsticks or a cloth to wipe down the utensils.
• We suggest that you wear rubber slippers or sandals for bathing so as to prevent athlete’s foot.
• Most of Taiwan is also considered a Japanese encephalitis endemic region, so you should try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.  You can also opt to get a vaccine for this, but you should consult your physician about this.
• Please do not swim in lakes or streams unless you have been given specific permission by Middlebury in Taiwan staff.
• If you go hiking, take precautions to avoid becoming a host for a tick.  Some of those little critters can come along with very nasty diseases, just like in the US.
• The School in Greater China staff reserves the right to send any participant home who, in the judgment of the staff, is not mentally or physically fit to continue in the program. Students who must leave Taiwan early for documented health reasons may be eligible for a partial tuition refund. Please refer to the information in the Schools Abroad General Handbook on tuition refund insurance and health insurance for further details.
• Accommodations can often be made for students with allergies. Please notify program staff of any allergies before committing to a program so that a discussion can begin regarding necessary accommodations.

Safety

As a foreign student, you should take the same precautions you would in any large city, anywhere in the world.  During orientation, we will address the issue of security in greater depth.  For more information about general conditions in Taiwan, you can also see the State Department information page.

Phone

For safety reasons, you are expected to have a local number and keep your phone charged at all times.  The cost of this has been accounted for in your estimated personal expenses.