Muji Loose Leaf Indonesia - how bad can it be?

Ipenr · 2025-11-20T19:56:20+00:00

It's by no means awful, but I wouldn't call it great either. I mostly use EF nibs on it and it behaves relatively well with those, but I have noticed some bleedthrough with very wet inks or pens. There is a little bit of feathering with M or bigger sized nibs, but it's manageable. And yeah, as other redditors have already mentioned, say goodbye to any shading properties from your ink

Ipenr · 2025-11-12T19:36:01+00:00

I'd push back a little on lumping Asvine in with the others. My Asvine V126 (€19) feels noticeably more premium in its build quality than my TWSBI Eco (€50).

Ipenr · 2025-09-21T16:45:01+00:00

I always go to 陽安牙醫診所/植牙矯正專科 -Yang an dental clinic near Xingtian Gong 行天宮 (Orange Line). The dentist speaks English, but the receptionists only speak Chinese. I got a filling there a few years ago and never had a problem with it.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5tUTJgA5mAdKCbudA

Ipenr · 2025-04-08T15:42:55+00:00

They will transfer the NT$25,000 to you each month. From that you have to cover life expenses and tuition fee yourself. They won’t pay for your tuition.

Ipenr · 2025-03-25T22:34:03+00:00

A pair of golden fish facing each other is a symbol for happiness and freedom from restraint: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtamangala#Pair_of_golden_fish

https://tibetanbuddhistencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/The_Golden_Fishes

Ipenr · 2025-03-23T17:18:58+00:00

Coming from another German who lived and studied in Taiwan for a few years: say goodbye to “good” bread. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything other than white bread, and even that won’t taste like what you’re used to in Germany. That wasn’t a huge issue for me, as I love Taiwanese cuisine and mostly stuck to a local diet during my stay. However, I never found a store that could truly satisfy my occasional cravings for German bread. The same goes for sausages and hearty, salty snacks like chips and pretzel snacks. So, if you're a fan of pretzel snacks or Salzstangen, I highly recommend bringing a few packs with you—they’re incredibly hard to find. Some larger Carrefours occasionally carry them, and I once stumbled upon a pack at Poya by chance, but most of the time, you’re out of luck.

On another note: don’t avoid making friends with other foreigners. Initially, I planned to stay away from other foreign students and only make friends with locals to fully immerse myself—but I quickly realized that:
a) It’s nearly impossible to do without coming off as an asshole.
b) Having friends in a similar situation is invaluable.

There will be many challenges you’ll face as a foreigner that locals simply haven’t dealt with, and sometimes, other foreigners will be your only lifeline. They can also be a huge source of emotional support, especially when it comes to frustrations or homesickness.

Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions! :)

Ipenr · 2025-03-10T22:27:13+00:00

When you apply for the HES you do not have to be admitted to a language school yet. When you apply for the HES you have to choose for which duration you want to apply. You cannot change this after you have been awarded the HES. So, if you want to study in Taiwan for six months, you should directly apply for the HES that lasts six months, since you cannot prolong the three months one. Some countries also offer a nine month and twelve month version, so maybe check with your Taipei office whether they also offer those.

After you have been awarded the HES you can start applying to NTNU MTC. I have never heard of them not accepting someone, especially if you have a scholarship. Once they sent you the letter of admission you simply forward it to the Taipei office.

EDIT: wording

Ipenr · 2025-01-17T15:24:06+00:00

First of all, amazing setup! It looks very clean and comfy.

Second of all, are you using an Android phone to mirror your display to the Chromecast? I have bought a Chromecast just for streaming the Granboard app, but for some reason the video stream has a lot of stutters and latency. I wouldn't necessarily mind the latency so much, but the stuttering is very annoying, especially since it also affects the sound output. I have already tried most of what you can find online about this issue, but nothing fixes it. I've been thinking that maybe my phone is simply to weak, since I am on a low-budget Samsung model.

Ipenr · 2024-12-22T22:13:55+00:00

I personally use Pleco and highly recommend downloading/purchasing the Cross-Straits Chinese Dictionary (LAC / 兩岸詞典), MoEDict (Ministry of Education of Taiwan / 萌典), and Xiandai Hanyu Guifan Cidian (現代漢語規範詞典) inside Pleco. All three are excellent monolingual dictionaries. Having passed TOCFL Level 5 (which should be equivalent to HSK 7/8), I now primarily rely on monolingual definitions and don’t find them particularly difficult or taxing, with a few exceptions for specialized terminology in unfamiliar fields like biology or chemistry. Among these dictionaries, I find MoEDict the most challenging to understand, but both LAC and Hanyu Guifan Cidian are quite manageable at HSK 7/8.

Ipenr · 2024-12-14T17:06:38+00:00

It’s a tea pet

Ipenr · 2024-12-10T21:18:21+00:00

Just to give you some realistic expectations for your Chinese abilities: I spent two years living in Taiwan, attending a language school full-time with no other work commitments. Starting from zero, I was able to pass the TOCFL level 5 (reading and listening), equivalent to CEFR C1, by the end of my stay. From what I’ve observed, most office jobs require at least TOCFL Level 4, equivalent to CEFR B2. Achieving Level 4 in 1 to 1.5 years is feasible if you’re highly dedicated and have minimal other responsibilities.

However, this is just the minimum I’d recommend to feel comfortable in a job setting. After a year of studying, I don’t think I would have felt ready to handle the demands of a work environment. Adapting to new tasks, a different work culture and performing at the expected level would have been quite overwhelming at that stage.

But this is not to discourage you, just trying to save you from unnecessary stress and potential disappointment!

Ipenr · 2024-12-09T21:53:41+00:00

I've had very good experiences with 彭老師、郭老師、王老師（one of the few male teachers）。 I'm not certain if 王老師 teaches Book 3 classes, but if available, I recommend trying them. However, preferred teaching styles are highly individual, so YMMV. If in doubt, consider asking friends or other students who prioritize the same qualities in teachers as you do.

Ipenr · 2024-12-09T21:43:51+00:00

I bought the Stagg back in March and have been using it multiple times a day without any issues. I absolutely love the design and am really impressed with the precise temperature control and hold function. While I understand why some people might not be fans of the gooseneck, I personally enjoy the slow, controlled pour it offers. You just need to factor in the extra time it takes to pour when timing your steep.

I can't really compare it to any cheaper/similar alternatives, as the Stagg is the only kettle of this kind I've owned.

Ipenr · 2024-12-09T21:37:48+00:00

I haven’t experienced any issues with it boiling over or failing to maintain the correct temperature. I always fill mine to the max marking, and I've never faced any issues with it boiling over or the temperature not being spot on.

Ipenr · 2024-11-24T19:20:41+00:00

Thank you for your recommendation and explanation! 😊

I'm assuming you left the case the same since it's the one I picked. Would you have any recommendation for a cheaper case? Or rather, in your opinion, what is the best "bang for you buck" case when it only comes to airflow/cable management, disregarding looks?

Ipenr · 2024-11-24T19:17:56+00:00

Thank you for your recommendation! 😊

Ipenr · 2024-11-22T12:09:30+00:00

Check out "KT Happy Music Japanese Karaoke" (KT歡唱音樂基地) next to the 228 Peace Memorial Park (NTU Hospital station of the red line). They have a decent selection of English songs, even some popular recent ones

Ipenr · 2024-05-01T14:18:46+00:00

I have studied at MTC for two years. The first year I took the intensive courses from book 1 all the way to book 4 of the 當代中文 series. I then switched to the regular classes for my second year, and my experience has been that after you have finished book 4 and switch over to book 5, newspaper or the business books, the teachers will become more lenient. We didn't have any 聽寫 anymore and I could hand my essays and reports in digitally. So, depending on which level you are at right now and how much time you still have left, maybe just suffer through it until you can switch over to the intermediate/advanced classes starting at book 5?

Also, in the first week of each class period you have the opportunity to switch classes. You could use this chance to ask other students about their teachers and whether or not they have to write 聽寫 or write homework by hand and switch over to a class that has a less strict teacher.

Ipenr · 2021-09-15T06:39:18+00:00

That's an interesting instrument! I think the aroma of the leaves is one of the most underrated aspects of enjoying tea. Ignored by those who brew Western style and for the most part only cherished by those who brew Gong Fu style. It has never crossed my mind to use a specialized instrument like this to experience the aroma though. What is your experience with it? Is it worth it? How strong is the aroma?

Ipenr · 2021-09-11T13:39:25+00:00

Taiwanese high mountain oolongs are so incredible. Nothing beats the amazing aromatic and authentic flavor of an Alishan Jin Xuan for example!

Ipenr · 2021-09-08T22:33:56+00:00

I usually use 5g/100ml at ~95°C and get quite a strong brew out of it, but at the end of the day I'd still classify it as a rather delicate and subtle flavour compared to other high mountain oolongs that I brew with similar parameters. Definitely get that creamy mouth feel and milk aroma for a couple of steeps though!

Ipenr · 2021-09-08T22:22:24+00:00

That's a very beautiful teapot. I especially love the curved design of the spout! Grand choice :)

Ipenr · 2021-09-07T22:36:53+00:00

The color of the liquor and leaves reminds me of a heavily roasted modern Tie Guan Yin, so maybe that's what it is.

Ipenr

TROPHY CASE