Stereos, TVs and VCRs must also be declared. Foreign currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure. The official language is Mandarin, which is also the national language, though other dialects, such as Taiwanese and Japanese, are spoken as well. English is understood at most places where tourists frequently visit. Taxi drivers do not speak English.
American physicians are available at missionary hospitals.
Tap water is potable, nevertheless, hotels and restaurants serve only cold, boiled or bottled water for drinks. In the north, the warm summer season lasts from May to October. January, February, and December are chilly, but never colder than 40 F. Southern Taiwan is warmer and less humid. Typhoons, although prevalent during July to September in the Pacific, usually miss Taiwan. It takes average 5-7 days for an airmail from the USA or Europe to reach Taiwan, and vice versa.