I should start this series of posts by first mentioning that I’m not a hater. That said, no matter where you go, some things will piss you off, regardless of how open-minded, PC, assimilation-ready you are. Taiwan’s a great country, but it has its rough patches. Here’s one:
It was a rainy winter day in Taipei today. I wore my work shoes today. Unfortunately, the soles of my shoes aren’t exactly Gore-Tex super grip recycled F1 rubber or anything like that. I say unfortunately because whenever it rains here in Taipei (which is often), I slip on the marble-tiled sidewalks which seem to skirt every bank and post office in town. I’m pretty sure that most salarymen here experience the same, slippery imbalance every rainy day.
Luckily, the designers didn’t totally ignore this seemingly obvious flaw. Most of the marble-tiled footpaths have thin “friction strips,” as I like to call them. They aren’t the polished slip-traps of the marble tile, but are rough and cling to your shoe. They’re like buoys in a vast ocean that I tentatively jump to in order to keep from sliding around and bumping into people, or worse, making myself look foolish. If only there were more of these strips.
Update (2011/11/21):
Well, this post has attracted a lot of attention, not because of the post itself, but because of the brazen comments below. A Taiwanese reader (David) translated the post and comments on Mobile01.com for non-English-speaking Taiwanese to understand what foreigners might not like about Taiwan.
From David:
Hi there, your article “Things I Hate About Taiwan #1: Marble-tiled Sidewalks” has been linked, translated, posted and discussed at the website: mobile01.com; under the title “不喜歡台灣的理由”.
I am the author/translator of the said article. My whole purpose is to provide retrospect of the commentators and their opinions of Taiwan to the local Taiwanese, and specifically those that cannot read English.
As a result, the more inflammatory comments in general (translated to the best of my ability) has been discussed with some animosity but actually approved by a large portion of the people who replied, at mobile01.com.
I do not support either side or any specific opinion. If you wish to not have this topic discussed further, I can close the thread.
Let me know your thoughts.
David
I have not asked David to close the thread on Mobile01.com and have reopened comments on this post to see if anything constructive can come of this.
Just returned from a work junket in Japan and have observed some behavior on my part which exposes how culturally “flexible” I have become. Maybe “quick to assimilate” is a better way to describe it. I don’t necessarily think that’s a good thing. Perhaps there’s a point when one becomes so open-minded and flexible that one loses something of their own identity or personality.
I’ve become so used to capitulating to others that it’s like I don’t have any taste. When I say “taste”, I mean, my own likings, my favorites, my dislikes, etc. Instead, I just go along with what others like to do, or what they offer. I believe this is a habit that has developed during my time in Asia. My experience is that it helps to accept what others offer in order to warm a relationship up. Also, locals can offer a new experience and more insight into their culture. So what I like takes a backseat. The by-product of this continual acquiescence is a gradual, but noticeable fading of my own personality.
In the end, any healthy relationship must be based on a truth and honesty. Acquiescing to others, while helpful at the beginning of a relationship, may actually create distance later on between two parties.
Assimilating to a culture I guess is the next extension of acquiescence, though I guess it’s more subtle and much less conscious. In a way, after an extended period of time in a foreign culture, I believe assimilation is inevitable. To remain unchanged requires intense self-awareness and active resistance – an unnatural act which only makes one’s continuing presence in that culture less and less sustainable. Most people I’ve met in Korea and Taiwan have assimilated in certain ways and have resisted in others. They’ve found some sort of equilibrium between reaching out and guarding their identity. Others I’ve met (though few), actively defend against assimilation on all fronts and in turn make life miserable for themselves and others around them. Those are definitely not the travelling types.
I used to think that if one opened themselves up completely, then they could find their true “self.” But now, I’m not so sure. Maybe you just end up getting lost.
I found out today that good friend and talented artist, Hiroki, decided to make his own way into the next world two days ago. The news shook me up and left me dazed. I met him about a year ago, but we didn’t really get close until meeting again a few months ago. At that time, it seemed we were both depressed, he was on anti-depressants, but was trying to wean himself off of them. I think he was terrified of the future, we both were actually, and talked it over. We related through the depression and were beginning to support and encourage each other that way. A few weeks ago, it seemed that he lapsed back into severe depression. He mentioned one day that on the way over, while sitting on the subway, he began to cry out of despair, but then he came out of it.
Fear of the future … despair at the present … regrets for the past — they all make for a slippery slope when you’re trying to pull yourself out of the slick drop of depression.
He mentioned that hanging out with me was ruining his Chinese, but he did make some effort to teach me and correct me.
Anyway, here are a couple links to some of his amazing artwork, a lot of it done while he was low:
I was at a pub (The Brass Monkey, for those in the know) last night and stumbled upon two tall, beautiful women – one who looked full Chinese, the other who I couldn’t see because she had her back to me. Once I got to see her, I guessed that she was half (and she confirmed by using her hand as a knife and cutting down the center of her face) and proceeded to ask her some personal questions that only mixed people allow each other to ask after just meeting. Here’s her story:
She’s half-Austrian (mother), half-Taiwanese and grew up in Taiwan. When she was 12, she moved to Austria. She speaks German, English and Chinese, all fluently. She told me that whenever the family is in Taiwan, they speak German at home. When in Austria, Chinese. Her Taiwanese father put a lot of effort into keeping her aware of her background, so she told me that she feels more Taiwanese / Chinese. She also experiences the phenomenon that when she’s in Asia, people think she’s white, when she’s in Europe, they think she’s Asian (Japanese, apparently).
I used to think I was really “half” … by blood and by culture, but this girl takes the cake.
2. I grew up in Miami, Florida, then spent a few years in Melbourne, Australia before completing a year-long English-teaching stint in Incheon, South Korea.
3. I’m now in Taipei, Taiwan (and have been for over two years). I came here to learn Mandarin Chinese.
4. Years ago I had a page on Geocities about life and identity from an Asian-Caucasian’s point of view which got quite a few responses from couples, mothers, fathers, girlfriends, sons, etc. I’ve laid low for the past five years, but now I think it’s time (maybe moreso for myself than others) to continue.
So, for those who are interested, here are the feelings and identity-crises of a mixed Asian-Caucasian male laid out bare.