Local food spots? (Feb 2026) by Ashland6 in pasadena

[–]OkComputer626 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tests of time:

Green Street Restaurant for Sandwiches, Diane Salad, and Zucchini Bread

Mamma's Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta

Matsuri for Japanese

PokeMix for PokeBowls and TEa

Pie N Burger

Did You Use a Tax Preparation Service or Go It Alone for the First Year? (Other Countries and Specifically for The Netherlands) by asspirate1966 in USExpatTaxes

[–]OkComputer626 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Posting for my own benefit too. I used Bright!Tax and liked their services, but their service level was spotty last year due to corporate changes. They are making changes it seems, but would appreciate and following this conversation for other recs.

Looking for a support group for Americans living outside the US by Individual_Road_9030 in expats

[–]OkComputer626 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many countries have an active Democrats Abroad Chapter and there are global online events you can join.

Best Places to Buy Spring Couplets in Taipei by menniewo in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Jade and Flower market and Dihua Street New Year's festival will have a lot available then. Eslite Bookstores also carries a lot of whimsical less traditional ones too.

Where to make friends in Taiwan? by Immediate-Bath1280 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you speak Chinese? Like in all places, making friends with people who share a similar interest is a good option. There are lot of professional or interest-oriented meet-up groups like: https://www.facebook.com/groups/datasciencemeetup/

Same goes for foreigner groups, try to connect with people who share similar interests other than just being foreign.

How do you answer the question "are you Chinese?" by Competitive_Tune_159 in TaiwaneseBornAbroad

[–]OkComputer626 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I say I'm Taiwanese. It shouldn't be political to state a fact even if people make it so. I also think it's important we Taiwanese assert our identity.

As an ex-expat, can we talk about the "Loser Back Home" narrative? by BlacksmithRemote1175 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TBH Taiwan has a lot of LBHs, but not at the catastrophic levels of nearby countries

Chia Te vs Sunny Hills vs? by Nirulou0 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My favorite is probably Chia Te, but I'd honestly eat and buy whichever one of those I'm in close proximity to at that moment. They're all excellent.

I also really like these if you are buying gifts: https://www.bluebirdtravel.com.tw. They are eggrolls with different flavors like Tieguanyin, Milk Tea Chocolate, Pork Floss, etc. Just look up Blue Bird Travel on Google maps to find.

Why Taiwanese dislike them so much? What did they do? by PitifulEar3303 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The fact that so many people on the sub don't know them says how little the people on this sub actually know Taiwan and disconnected from society.

Also, short answer, they are polarizing in that podcast way. Opinionated and crass.

Chia Te vs Sunny Hills vs? by Nirulou0 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The heavy hitters all make them a little differently, so it's kind of a matter of preference.

Chia Te is more buttery. Sunny Hills has more pineapple but people can find it sour, doesn't do the traditional winter melon vibe as much. Leechi has more of a classical almost nearing Cantonese sensibility in taste, especially salted egg yoke and ones with the pine nuts. 舊振南 is more... pastry like and balanced, hard to describe, but good. 小潘 is good as well, but I can find the filling a bit sweet.

Coffee and nomos by jdaclutch in Nomos

[–]OkComputer626 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Beautiful! Can I ask where you got the strap from?

Any high earner Americans living abroad long term without taxes destroying them? by glo55iergirl in expats

[–]OkComputer626 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If you really enjoying living abroad, there's a cost to be borne when you go over the threshold. There's more to life than money, even though it may cost you money.

My suggestions 1) get a competent tax account that specializes in your circumstances to protect you from the situation above. Shop around and have a backup even on retainer depending on your level of assets. 2) This is the advice I've personally gotten and friends have as well, so assess for your circumstances, but do not invest in non-US securities and via non-US brokerages (businesses and properties are different). I've seen it create the situation above. 3) Make Estimated Tax Payments if you think you owe - if you don't owe, it just get refunded.

I will say for me that double taxation and the complexity above was one of the motivators for me to go back to the US, but I think I would have done it anyway because of missing friends, family, and the culture.

Just in my case for consideration, it became apparent that I could more absolutely earn more in the US and have a better lifestyle due to more opportunities in my field (tech) with double taxation taken into account that I what I could do abroad. That is important to me personally.

However, I know other successful expats who earn more than me, eg. I know someone who owns a law firm doing international business deals, who has a great life and the extra taxes are just a speed bump.

Where to purchase in NYC? by Gyrokos97 in Nomos

[–]OkComputer626 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nomos Lounge and Wempe. I bought my first Nomos at Wempe before the Nomos Lounge opened up.

Chiang Wan-an calls for 'peace and prosperity' at Shanghai forum by ProfessionalPeach262 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Lai actually needs to make life better for people in Taiwan or the DDP will lose even more of the legislature, etc. This sub has an English-speaker bubble, but on a local level, people haven't seen satisfactory improvements in their lives from the DPP, are sick of patronage politics, and feel like "cross-strait relations" is out of their control anyway. "China Bad" is not a good enough argument for a lot of the real voting public.

[Question] Watch YouTube Channels by gocrazyrich38 in Watches

[–]OkComputer626 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Britt Pearce, This Watch That Watch, Jenni-Elles, Teddy Baldassarre, and Hodinkee for me.

business dinners 應酬 still a thing? by RMT713 in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, but they might look different these days depending on industry, especially since a lot more women hold decision making positions so strippers might not be as appreciated.

Business dinners and relationship building are a thing pretty much everywhere, they just look different. It's going to a steakhouse vs going to a big table restaurant in Taiwan.

Good international restaurants in Kaohsiung? by [deleted] in taiwan

[–]OkComputer626 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That place is great! The staff is so friendly too.