ISLAND SOUL

Darren, a Taiwanese native, and Maria, a Polish native, navigate their daily routine while discussing the challenges they face as parents raising biracial children in Taiwan. Although Darren’s family is very close knit, he shares the same concerns with Kalf, a laid back divorced Scottish biker who has lived in Taiwan for over ten years, on raising children in Taiwan’s educational system. The conversation inevitably transitions to cram schools and the shifting reputations surrounding it. Alongside the two families, interviewees from various backgrounds shed light on the complexities that come with toxic cram school culture, including excessive student workloads and discriminatory hiring practices.