Love Boat 2008/2008 Overseas Chinese Youth Language Training and Study Tour to ROC

[driver]

I thought this would be a good time to open this thread since applications are suppose to be available starting in December.

[supergliu]

do you know where i can find the official website/application?

[kimpossible]

Chicago Taiwan Embassy link (http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/CHI/fp.asp?xItem=12978&ctNode=2540&mp=27) office info

wiki entry link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Boat_(study_tour))

ocac (http://www.ocac.gov.tw)

downloadable camp schedules in English and Chinese (http://www.ocac.gov.tw/public/public.asp?selno=936) need to scroll down. for 2007. applications may still be usable.

"Loveboat" Overseas Chinese Youth Taiwan Study Tour (http://groups.myspace.com/loveboat) MySpace page link

Facebook Taiwan (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2223664719) haven't checked link. need account to access. not gonna register to check it.

TECO office locations (http://www.houstoncul.org/eng008.htm) this may or may not be useful. try to verify.

[driver]

According to the San Francisco office of the OCAC, applications fo summer 2008 will not be accepted until subsequent to January 1st, 2008. I am trying to get the URL for downloading the application; and/or find out when the office will have the hard copy available.

[Justin1130]

im going
but
SOMEBODY UPDATE ME ON THE INFO BABY.
i want to go~~~~~
taiwan
wo lai leh.

[thaite]

damn, too old.

[bernice]

does anyone know where I can get more info for the Love Boat 2008??

[driver]

Here's what I found out from the San Francisco (Sunnyvale) Taiwan Culture Center: there are two programs. The first is a one month camp that they also referred to as the Love Boat, which tours around Taiwan for four weeks (more tailored to teens). Then there's the six week language study program that has it's final week touring around Taiwan. The former program application is not available until the beginning of the new year (2008). The latter program's appplication is downloadable at their website (ocac.gov.tw); but you'll have to poke around to find it, since the splash page is all in Chinese (click on the smiling sun icon to get to the applicable page; click on the third link to access the download page). Hope this information is helpful.

[kchen]

The first is a one month camp that they also referred to as the Love Boat, which tours around Taiwan for four weeks (more tailored to teens).
I was a participant in this camp this past summer. Most of the kids in the camp are college students. Just to let you know - this camp is more about touring, so there's barely any studying about the language and culture like the other program. A number of people in my camp were upset over this, so be sure to pick what suits best for you.

[Justin1130]

hmmm
i think love boat will be better
on a CRUISE right?
the other one u just stay in taiwan
but then again
that one u can just go clubbing all night........
WHICH ONE TO PICK
AHHHH

[kimpossible]

Made some changes. Let me know if I should add or change anything. Links aren't quite polished up.

Anyhow, combined title to formal and informal. Added links to OCAC and downloadables there. Note it's 2007. Got a link up to embassy, wiki entry and MySpace group.

[amaryllis]

I phoned the OCAC office to get information about the language study program (the non-loveboat one). They couldn't really answer my questions about how much it costs. Anyone been on it before? I know approximately how much loveboat costs, so if this one is much more I might want to apply for loveboat instead.

[anny]

Are there a lot of high schoolers that do apply?

[aliuzer]

Hi, i'm looking into participating in love boat 2008, is there a set schedule yet for the 2008 program. And i heard there is a Hong Kong extension after the program too. What is that?

[linsook]

i'm new to all of this, no clue where to look for information in english as i can't read chinese. what is the age limit of this thing?

[bluemonq]

i'm new to all of this, no clue where to look for information in english as i can't read chinese. what is the age limit of this thing?
Try reading this thread again, starting from the first post. You might just find something useful :rolleyes:

[aliuzer]

So is this program even going on anymore? My moms telling me it got canceled because she doesn't want me to go. Any information on applications or schedule would be much appreciated.

[supergliu]

Yeah, has anyone found the applications online yet?

[driver]

We stopped by the San Francisco Taiwan Cultural offices (in Sunnyvale) last Thursday to check on the status of the "love boat" (tour only - no classes) application. They said it's still not out yet, but they expect it to be posted later in January. As soon as we see it, we'll post a link for it here. So, there was no indication from them that the tour program has been cancelled; although we heard the current government is not so hot on the program as was the prior government was (as a means to get overseas Chinese to help promote the government's viability and legitimacy).

To respond to an earlier note, this tour is not a cruise on a "boat," the name is a nickname for the tour (given by prior participants since some have attended to hook up with someone, just like in the old TV series the love boat-there's no boat, you tour around the island on a bus).

[waterloovic]

Hello,

I'm not connected to the organization in anyway and since I've already gone, I'm not keeping track of the organization process in anyway, so I don't have answers to applying for this year. But here is some information:

- 1st, whatever your hesitancy or concerns, you will almost certainly WANT to go
- If you're looking to party, you will certainly get your fill here.
- You will be riding around on a bus and living at a campus, but it's all air conditioned. You'll get over the fact that it's a bus, and that schedules start early in the morning and that offically they frown upon staying up late, going out, dating, etc.
- You WILL meet people of the opposite sex that are fun and attractive
- You will most likely meet people from your area that you will stay in contact with after the trip
- There are some Chinese classes and craft classes for just over a week. The vast majority of people say they enjoyed them after the fact. However, it is not hardcore Mandarin learning, and in terms of actual class "learning" it is minimal to low
- You want to go to the main loveboat camps 1, 2 or 3. Don't get convinced of any other trip when you visit the oversea's office; it's not about the itinerary, it's about the people in the camps
- Most of the participants will be between 16 to 21 (70%), the rest about 22 to 24 (25%) and a very few will be 25 to 27. You can get in at 27, but you have to push the point. (In chinese the application reads "less than 27", but in English it is "up to 27"; based on past experience you CAN get in at 27. If you are older, (unless you completly can't stand younger people), after the first week or so you will integrate with the younger people and have fun.
- It doesn't matter if you go with other people from your area, it's fun either solo or with a group
- Plan to stay an extra week if at all possible, those with familiy will usually do so, and after the trip everyone else regrets not being able to stay longer (to spend time with your new friends that will likely be returning to a different geography)
- You can get by with minimal spending money ($8 to $15 USD / day). However, there IS plenty of opportunity to spend money going out ($35 to $85 USD / evening) to eat, drink and party.
- Watch the airfares, prices are not always best super early, best to book a few months ahead. Look for a direct flight wherever possible, no need to arrive too early. It'd be better to stay a week after the camp then a week before (you won't know anyone yet).

[kchen]

A few clarifications...

For Camp 3, it's more of a tour, travelling through Taiwan, north to south, on a bus. You'd imagine that dozens of people stuck together for hours on the bus would mean sharing the same air, which is true on days that required extensive travelling. As a result, a number of people got sick, so be sure to bring medication because you might end up needing it. I ended up taking a couple of days off from the camp and staying with my parents because my fever was at 104 and wouldn't go down.

I learned that my friends in camps 1 and 2 did learn some language and culture stuff, and if they did any touring, it was during the last week or two. They mainly stayed in Taipei, so they got to party a lot more there.

Food. After a few days, you WILL get sick of the same type of food they keep ordering. I know that camp 3 was able to let the counselors know what they liked/hated. Most of my friends and I just skipped out and ate somewhere else nearby cause the food would most likely be better than camp food.

Language. Don't know how to speak Chinese? Don't worry. My bus had the most people who didn't know a word. We even had fifth-gens who had parents that went to Loveboat back in the 60s/70s. They do teach a little, but not much. If you're expecting some learning, you're probably looking for camps 1 or 2.

Partying. We sure had a hard time getting out during the first few days because they stationed counselors around the hotel to prevent us from escaping and whatnot. Pretty amusing until we came to a compromise cause they feared for our safety since they were responsible for us. I'm sure the first and second camps didn't have any difficulties cause they were living in Taipei for most of the time. But if you're interested in partying, you will definitely find people who share the same interests as you do.

Humidity. Yes, it is hot. Almost all places have AC - I believe we only had to deal with one place which DIDN'T from 8 AM to 5 PM (the hottest hours of the day), so you shouldn't have to worry about Taiwan being too hot cause the AC will make everything much cooler.

Hookups. You might find someone, but hookups are hookups, so they won't last long, and none at my camp did. You will more likely find lasting friendships. I still keep in touch with my Loveboat friends today.

Age range. I heard that a lot of high school graduates are in camps 1 and 2, but that's based on looking at Facebook groups and seeing a lot of "HS," "SS," and "CI" students. There were a number of campers that just graduated from high school, and even more from college, so a lot of my friends were older than me.

After the camp, many campers will choose to stay a week or two afterwards and party together in Taipei. In my camp, a few flew over to HK and partied there.

There will be free time for you to go shopping. Some days have nothing planned - make use of them because there aren't many. I usually went to the night markets and bargained, or went to go meet celebrities and get a CD autographed, or shopped for clothes at modest prices. It might be better to hang out with someone who can speak Chinese if you don't speak well (especially when bargaining) because sellers can tell if you're foreign or not and they up the price a lot more. You might end up taking the taxi, as I did a lot. Get the person who speaks the best to sit in shotgun.

I spent about $260 USD total for the entire trip, but I only partied a couple of times, so if you're looking to do some extensive partying, you'll have to bring much more.

[driver]

Due to my limited postings on this site, I'm wasn't able to post the following good news this thread has been waiting for:

The 2008 Love Boat (Acrobat) applications are finally posted:
First camp: Ages 16-18
Second camp: Ages 19-27
Third camp: Ages 16-27
Go to: ocac.gov.tw/public/public.asp?selno=936 (http://www.ocac.gov.tw/public/public.asp?selno=936)

[aliuzer]

Could u post the dates too? unfortunately the text on the page is all giberish to me

[driver]

The First & the Second Camps: July 1st to July 30th, 2008
The Third Camp: July 7th to August 5th, 2008.

[kimpossible]

For the sake of getting this all in one post


Apps and program info for 2008 are now available. (http://www.ocac.gov.tw/public/public.asp?selno=936)

Here's a breakdown of the links to the PDF files on that page. Stick to the ones at the top for 2008. For some reason they still have PDFs for 2007 at the bottom.

1st is program info in Chinese. (I assume, looks about the same to me)

2nd is progam info in English, which I have copied and pasted below.

3rd is the application.

4th is a Health Certificate.

2008 Expatriate Youth Summer Formosa Study Tour To Taiwan

1. SPONSOR
Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC)

2. TOUR ORGANIZERS
Experienced tour organizers will be strictly selected from the participating bidders
according to the government procurement law to undertake the tour activities.

3. APPLICATION LOCATIONS
Please submit the application packet to Taiwan’s Representative Offices or Culture
Centers in the US or Canada. For detailed information, please contact the above offices
or visit the web site of OCAC.

4. APPLICATION DURATION
January 15th to February 29th, 2008.

5. SUBMISSION OPTIONS
A. Personally or by mail

B. There will be three camps. The applicant should choose one to participate according
to his or her age and date preference. After the registration is complete, the applicant
cannot change his or her camp option.

6. APPLICATION QUALIFICATIONS
A. The applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 27. Detailed age requirements for
each camp are as follows:
The First Camp: Ages 16-18
The Second Camp: Ages 19-27
The Third Camp: Ages 16-27

B. The applicant must have been residing in a country other than Taiwan and have not
previously participated in the Study Tour before. The applicant should be in both
physically and mentally healthy condition.

C. A family could have only one person to participate in this Study Tour ( twins are
excluded).

7. PROCEDURES OF APPLICATION

A. The following documents should be submitted in person or by mail:
(1) Application form (see the attachment)
(2) Health certificate (see the attachment)
(3) A copy of health insurance card
(4) A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or passport
(5) Three passport size photos (2” x 2”) taken with 6 months

B. The documents mentioned above should be submitted or mailed to the application
locations by February 29th, 2008.

8. CAMP DURATION
The First & the Second Camps: July 1st to July 30th, 2008
The Third Camp: July 7th to August 5th, 2008.

9. ACTIVITIES
The activities include Chinese language study, lectures of various subjects, tours, arts
and crafts lessons, historic sites visits, and youth liaison events, etc.

10. TUITION & FEES
A. During the period of Study Tour, the accommodations, meals, activities and group
transportation around Taiwan will be paid by the Tour Sponsor, Overseas Compatriot
Affairs Commission (NT＄15,700).

B. The following should be paid by the participant：
(1) The round-trip airfares from residence to Taiwan.
(2) Registration fee NT$20,000 paid to the tour organizer upon check-in.
(3) Personal medical expenses.
(4) The expenses of accommodations and ground transportation if the applicant
arrives earlier or leaves later than the camp schedule.

C. Any participant who wishes to discontinue the study tour must submit a notification
signed by either the participant’s parents, guardians, or relatives, and the registration
fees will not be refunded.

11. VISA
The Study Tour will last for thirty days. The participant should contact Taiwan’s
Representative or Consular offices in the US or Canada beforehand to apply for a proper
visa. Visa Exempt Entry and Landing Visa are NOT appropriate for the camp participants.
The Tour Sponsor (OCAC) and organizers are not responsible for any inconvenience
which may cause if the participant’s visa is overdue.

"Loveboat" Overseas Chinese Youth Taiwan Study Tour (http://groups.myspace.com/loveboat) MySpace page link

Facebook Taiwan (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2223664719)

TECO office locations (http://www.houstoncul.org/eng008.htm)

[anny]

I got my 2x2 pics and doctors sig yesterday! Just need to get my visa now.

I hear that despite the volume of people that are accepted its hard to get in because its like worldwide...my friend at the embassy said they only allow 10 people from the DC area... yikes


anywho. there's the facebook group as well, just search Loveboat 2008

So I would get my stuff fast guys!

Camp 1 hopeful.

[jadepeony]

my daughter had a friend who attended last year but she was underage. does anybody know how strongly they enforce their own regulations? i was thinking of registering my daughter this year but all the 'aunties' say she's too young and i should wait until she's actually 16. i want her to go for language studies, although i've heard that you won't get much of it. it's apparently more of a cultural experience.

[anny]

i have a friend who is interested in going who's underage, she's got connections in taiwan and the embassy. I don't think her mother wants her to go though. I think a vast majority of the people that do go are just graduating high school so there would be an age gap...

There are other programs that OCAC sponsors that are more language focused and are geared toward a younger crowd. I believe 14-18 years old. My other friends did it, it was mainly taking language classes, then the occasional field trip. Loveboat is the opposite, its mostly fun, then the occasional class.

[waterloovic]

How old is she? If she's just slightly underage at 15, it shouldn't be a problem, I think someone (I can't remember exactly) or even a few were 15, but maybe it was 16. But you can probably judge also by her interactions with those older then her. She'd likely feel more awkward and have a diminished experience if she doesn't get along with some of the older participants. If she is much younger, she should probably wait.

You are right, it is more of a cultural experience then a learning one.

[jadepeony]

thanks waterloovic, my daughter is 14 and her friend was 14 when she went last year. i'm just slightly uncomfortable with the idea now that i've looked into the different forums with older kids talking about partying and hook ups. it seems more like kids going out of control while in another country. her friend only mentioned that she went with the ocac program and it was like going to camp with strict rules of going to bed early and waking up early. i guess this must be the difference between the three camps! i've printed out all the forms and will directly go ask the people handling this.

[amaryllis]

There are other programs that OCAC sponsors that are more language focused and are geared toward a younger crowd. I believe 14-18 years old. My other friends did it, it was mainly taking language classes, then the occasional field trip. Loveboat is the opposite, its mostly fun, then the occasional class.

is this one the language study program? what did your friends think of it? i'm interested in learning... my mandarin/cantonese/any dialect of chinese skills are nonexistant.

[jadepeony]

i called the ocac yesterday and got the information i wanted. the language program is what i'm interested in for my daughter which is absolutely different from the love boat. i dont' think most people would be interested in the language program unless they're absolutely dedicated to their education. it's basically a boarding school focusing on all aspects of language arts and culture in taiwan. an example of the planned schedule for the language program with the exception of saturday being a half day.
monday - saturday
7:30AM breakfast
8:00AM-12:00PM class time
12:00-2:00PM lunch&break (no recesses)
2:00-5:00PM class time
5:00-9:00PM dinner & self-study time
lights out at 10PM
students aren't allowed to leave school grounds unless supervised by a 20+ adult that has been given written permission by legal guardian or parent.

is this one the language study program? what did your friends think of it? i'm interested in learning... my mandarin/cantonese/any dialect of chinese skills are nonexistant.

do you have any understanding of the language? i don't know how one can survive in a foreign boarding school if they don't know the basics.

[waterloovic]

That certainly sounds like the right program for what you are looking for.

The schedule is a little intense though. I can't imagine if someone made me do that as an adult:

7:30 go to work
12-2 eat
2-5 go to work
5-6 go home and eat
6-9 get back to work
10 go to bed

Actually...that is what my life is like now...looking at the schedule. Except, I can't go home until 8.

Back to the point though, what a rough way to spend summer. Sure you get some language skills (maybe), but lose 4 months of your youth forever.

[jadepeony]

it's either 4 or 6 weeks per term. i can't imagine any of the students staying for more than one term cause they'll be missing school back home. a once in a lifetime experience you can say.

[looo]

helllo guys,

hope u guys are handing in apps for loveboat 2008!!
so excited for the trip and hope i get into camp 2 XD

[jemminnifener]

Please submit the application packet to Taiwan’s Representative Offices or Culture Centers in the US or Canada.

Does anyone know where/what these are? I can't read the OCAC website. I found Taipei Economic and Cultural Office online but wasn't sure if that was the right one. I called them but they seemed confused. Can someone please tell me where I send the application to?

[kimpossible]

For the sake of getting this all in one post


Apps and program info for 2008 are now available. (http://www.ocac.gov.tw/public/public.asp?selno=936)

Here's a breakdown of the links to the PDF files on that page. Stick to the ones at the top for 2008. For some reason they still have PDFs for 2007 at the bottom.

1st is program info in Chinese. (I assume, looks about the same to me)

2nd is progam info in English, which I have copied and pasted below.

3rd is the application.

4th is a Health Certificate.

2008 Expatriate Youth Summer Formosa Study Tour To Taiwan

1. SPONSOR
Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC)

2. TOUR ORGANIZERS
Experienced tour organizers will be strictly selected from the participating bidders
according to the government procurement law to undertake the tour activities.

3. APPLICATION LOCATIONS
Please submit the application packet to Taiwan’s Representative Offices or Culture
Centers in the US or Canada. For detailed information, please contact the above offices
or visit the web site of OCAC.

4. APPLICATION DURATION
January 15th to February 29th, 2008.

5. SUBMISSION OPTIONS
A. Personally or by mail

B. There will be three camps. The applicant should choose one to participate according
to his or her age and date preference. After the registration is complete, the applicant
cannot change his or her camp option.

6. APPLICATION QUALIFICATIONS
A. The applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 27. Detailed age requirements for
each camp are as follows:
The First Camp: Ages 16-18
The Second Camp: Ages 19-27
The Third Camp: Ages 16-27

B. The applicant must have been residing in a country other than Taiwan and have not
previously participated in the Study Tour before. The applicant should be in both
physically and mentally healthy condition.

C. A family could have only one person to participate in this Study Tour ( twins are
excluded).

7. PROCEDURES OF APPLICATION

A. The following documents should be submitted in person or by mail:
(1) Application form (see the attachment)
(2) Health certificate (see the attachment)
(3) A copy of health insurance card
(4) A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or passport
(5) Three passport size photos (2” x 2”) taken with 6 months

B. The documents mentioned above should be submitted or mailed to the application
locations by February 29th, 2008.

8. CAMP DURATION
The First & the Second Camps: July 1st to July 30th, 2008
The Third Camp: July 7th to August 5th, 2008.

9. ACTIVITIES
The activities include Chinese language study, lectures of various subjects, tours, arts
and crafts lessons, historic sites visits, and youth liaison events, etc.

10. TUITION & FEES
A. During the period of Study Tour, the accommodations, meals, activities and group
transportation around Taiwan will be paid by the Tour Sponsor, Overseas Compatriot
Affairs Commission (NT＄15,700).

B. The following should be paid by the participant：
(1) The round-trip airfares from residence to Taiwan.
(2) Registration fee NT$20,000 paid to the tour organizer upon check-in.
(3) Personal medical expenses.
(4) The expenses of accommodations and ground transportation if the applicant
arrives earlier or leaves later than the camp schedule.

C. Any participant who wishes to discontinue the study tour must submit a notification
signed by either the participant’s parents, guardians, or relatives, and the registration
fees will not be refunded.

11. VISA
The Study Tour will last for thirty days. The participant should contact Taiwan’s
Representative or Consular offices in the US or Canada beforehand to apply for a proper
visa. Visa Exempt Entry and Landing Visa are NOT appropriate for the camp participants.
The Tour Sponsor (OCAC) and organizers are not responsible for any inconvenience
which may cause if the participant’s visa is overdue.



"Loveboat" Overseas Chinese Youth Taiwan Study Tour (http://groups.myspace.com/loveboat) MySpace page link

Facebook Taiwan (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2223664719)

TECO office locations (http://www.houstoncul.org/eng008.htm)

I believe you send it into a TECO office. Last link above.

[stryder1587]

so from what I've gathered, the difference between the camps, aside from age, is that camp 3 travels around more, while camps 1 and 2 stays mostly in taipei and gets 1 week of travelling. can anybody verify this. I'm 20, so I guess it's between camp 2 or 3, but I'm not sure which one to pick...I'm more into going for a vacation/cultural experience/having fun, but I wouldn't mind learning a little bit. Can anybody elaborate more on the differences between camp 2 and 3 please.

[chocomilk]

i clicked on the page, but i don't see where you go to find the link for the application. could someone explain it to me? sorry i'm slow..:[

[kimpossible]

Follow the link to the apps. Scroll down the page until you start seeing "Download File : PDF _______".

Apps and program info for 2008 are now available.

Here's a breakdown of the links to the PDF files on that page.

1st is program info in Chinese. (I assume, looks about the same to me)

2nd is progam info in English, which I have copied and pasted in the above post.

3rd is the application.

4th is a Health Certificate.

[umichmed]

I went on love boat last year (2007) in camp 2. We stayed in Taipei for the first 3 weeks, and then travelled around the island the remaining 10 days of the month. Camp 1 had a slightly different schedule where they travelled first around the island for 5 days then stayed in Taipei for a couple weeks then had a second trip around the island. Camp 2 and Camp 1 were together at the same location for about 2 weeks taking some language and cultural classes together. As for camp 3, we never really saw those dudes except one day at a huge cultural fair.

I definitely recommend going if you like to have fun. Just don't expect to learn much. If you want any more info, send me a private message.

[stryder1587]

I know you said you only saw the camp 3 crowd once, but did you meet any of them or talk to them about how their program was different? I just wanna know whether to apply to camp 2 or 3...

[umichmed]

Well someone above posted the descriptions of the three camps for this year. Seems different from last year where we had ages 16-27 in all three camps. This year they seem to have 16-18 in one camp and 19-27 in another camp. If you're in college, I'd recommend doing the older camp, which is camp 2. I bet they would go more places, and you'll probably get more out of it.

As for last year, I met a few people from camp 3 but they had just started their camp when we met them at this ocean college place outside of Taipei. I think they wanted either camp 1 or 2 because you'd be in Taipei more. Definitely more places to go in Taipei than in Taichung. I have relatives in both places and I'd have to say Taipei is a lot more fun and convenient to get around. There's a really good transit system so you can get anywhere in Taipei for like $1-2.

Hey guys,

If you're trying to apply to Love Boat, you'll have to go to the office closest to you. So, if you're from Cali, click on San Fran or LA offices. Try calling them to see what you need to send in. This stuff is probably due pretty soon, usually end of Feb/ beginning of March.

http://www.ocac.gov.tw/english/service/service_list.asp?no=685&SERAREA=2

[amaryllis]

I got this email today. I don't speak/read any form of chinese and do not have any friends who do so!! Babel fish was amusingly horrible, google translate was a bit better. Anyhow, anyone care to explain what the heck it means?

您好:

僑務委員會為鼓勵獲美國總統獎及英代爾獎得主之華裔青年來台參加「2008年海外華裔青年暑期福爾摩莎營」 ，特別補助全額註冊費及定額機票費用:



一、總統獎得主可獲補助註冊費(新台幣20,000元)及定額機票費用。

二、英代爾獎得主第1名至第10名補助註冊費(新台幣20,000元)及定額機票費用，第11名至第40名 則補助註冊費。

三、定額機票費用補助額度: 美西地區每人美金950元。



曾獲獎之報名學員請務須於3月5日前以電子郵件方式轉知本處。





祝

健康如意!

[umichmed]

Means you have to pay either $20000 Taiwan dollars or $950 US.

[kimpossible]

Can anyone elaborate a bit? I'm assuming this is the same registration fee mentioned in the instructions since the amount is the same. I just want to make sure that we're not shortcutting the easier to read money parts and only giving partial info.

[deez nuts]

They're offering the top 10 Presidential Award winners or Intel talent search winners 20,000 NT and $950 towards your plane ticket only if you're flying out of the west coast. If you placed 11-40, you'll just get your registration paid for by them.

Means you have to pay either $20000 Taiwan dollars or $950 US.

Yeah make the check out to deez nuts and send it to the Ministry of Deez Nut's Foreign Affairs. Lolz.

[kimpossible]

ahhhhhhhhh. "ing dai". well isn't that mighty generous of them.

[amaryllis]

I figured out that those are only american things... So there was no point in the VANCOUVER office sending out the email!

[deez nuts]

I figured out that those are only american things... So there was no point in the VANCOUVER office sending out the email!

Ni hao.

[jlew303]

Hi anybody else get their acceptance letters yet? cause I did! oh ya I got into camp 2:biggrin:

[In4ser]

That's cool, cause I got accepted a few days ago for the 2nd camp as well. So yeah I'm really excited re-visit Taiwan and reconnect with my roots, er...or have crazy drunken fun being away from parents. Though I guess its mostly the latter. =D

[jadepeony]

has anybody from vancouver received any information in regards to acceptance. i handed in my form mid-february and was told i would receive an email by mid-march. i haven't heard from them since i dropped off my application. i even called the office and they just said to wait cause they haven't received anything from taiwan. am i just being impatient or have i been forgotten?

[driver]

We went by San Francisco office, last Friday, and received our acceptance package for camp 3. Packages not mailed out yet, as they're waiting for a few more details, like term of stay and visa requirements, before mailing.

[stryder1587]

There shouldn't be any Visa requirements as I was told. They have you covered for the duration of the trip. It's only if you are arriving early or leaving late that you need to figure that out yourself.

So, what's everybody doing for the plane ticket? Which one is the best deal?

[xiexie]

wait, i thought no one needs a visa for taiwan unless you are staying more than 30 days? so if i only go to taiwan for the loveboat trip (a duration of 30 days), i shouldnt need a visa right?

[stryder1587]

wait, i thought no one needs a visa for taiwan unless you are staying more than 30 days? so if i only go to taiwan for the loveboat trip (a duration of 30 days), i shouldnt need a visa right?

thats what the lady at the cultural centre told me

[driver]

Whether a visa is required is based on when you arrive in Taiwan and when you leave; the tour managers are still trying to figure out a arrival window when they will have buses to shuttle you to Chien Tan and then if they an also arrange the shuttle to to airport on a planned departure date. Since everyone is responsible for their own airfare (unlike back in the 60's-80's when they arranged everything) it's possible that the participant may be in Taiwan longer than 30 days; thus, a visa may be needed.

[amaryllis]

has anybody from vancouver received any information in regards to acceptance. i handed in my form mid-february and was told i would receive an email by mid-march. i haven't heard from them since i dropped off my application. i even called the office and they just said to wait cause they haven't received anything from taiwan. am i just being impatient or have i been forgotten?

I mailed in my form late January, and I got an acceptance email on March 26th (had to go look that up). They havent sent out anything with regards to the schedule or even a list of who's going/waitlisted from this region (they have done that in the past).

Is there an actual date we need to inform them that we're going by? Or is that just the June 10 deadline for flight details?

[In4ser]

25

25
Er...mis-post please delete my last post

[jadepeony]

i finally got a hold of somebody at the embassy!! i'm furious to say the least. initially when i was doing my research about the program the guy in charge told me that i didn't have to worry about space, how they've never turned anybody away, LIAR!! i found out that i've been waitlisted!! if i had known i would have driven down in the snow to drop off the application opposed to waiting for a non-rainy/snowy day (next to impossible in vancouver in the winter). i thought i didn't have to rush after speaking to the guy, WRONG!! i may possibly have to wait till next year =(

[umichmed]

that is unfortunate :( but i would try to keep in touch with them to see if anyone drops off. good luck.

[driver]

i finally got a hold of somebody at the embassy!! i'm furious to say the least. initially when i was doing my research about the program the guy in charge told me that i didn't have to worry about space, how they've never turned anybody away, LIAR!! i found out that i've been waitlisted!! if i had known i would have driven down in the snow to drop off the application opposed to waiting for a non-rainy/snowy day (next to impossible in vancouver in the winter). i thought i didn't have to rush after speaking to the guy, WRONG!! i may possibly have to wait till next year =(

We can understand your frustration; we've kept these guys on a "short leash." We've dealt with them for years and know that you have to be persistent to make things happen. Don't give up; you must pester them if you really want to go this time. We know this first hand - that's why we started this thread. Good communications is not their forte.:eek:

[huangalex]

I hope it's not too late to sign up for this. I'm actually one of the forty mentioned.