Aperture Adventure: Taiwan and Canada: 2008-05-18

Oh Taiwan. Depending on your mood during that second of the day this phrase can be said with a sigh or in rejoice. Perhaps it may be an expression of confusion or said as a reaction to a joke. Oh, Taiwan. The last time I said it was after I received the wrong meal in a restaurant. The time before I shouted it while swimming in the Pacific Ocean. The beach was gorgeous that day, filled with people happily positioned between the mountains and the sea.

There are many layers of Taiwan to look at, especially as an outsider looking in. I'm pretty sure the longer I stay the more confusing this place will become. I believe when you first travel to a place it is exciting. Everything is new, hooray! The longer you stay you realise how it is different from the culture you are used to. Once this happens you can decide if you really like it and how will you engage in it.. either way, you have to live within it.

Some lighter differences were pretty amusing when I first arrived. It took a few second glances to realise the police had their lights on 98% of the time. No siren, just bright blue and red lights swirling round and round. This, to me, seemed backwards. Why would you let people who are breaking the law know that you are coming! Ridiculous? Perhaps it's potentially valuable to know that law enforcement is on its way? After asking around I received a good answer, the cops have their lights on so that people who need help know where they are. Ah! Makes sense now.

One funny experience I had in a 7/11 was when the clerk tried to communicate something like what Apu says from The Simpsons, "Thank you come again." After he thanked me in Mandarin he yelled "Come back!" really loudly. I thought I was in shit for something. Startled I turned around to find him looking equally surprised. Awkward! I hope he keeps studying English.

7/11's are staple for life in urban Taiwan and essential for ex-pats. They sell anything and everything are are located everywhere. I have been to more 7/11's here than I would have ever dreamed of going to in Canada. Recently I went on a cross country road trip. We nicked named it the Sevy Tour as we stopped there several times a day for water, washrooms, snack, meals, toiletries, sunblock, medicine and beer. They make life easier. They have everything, are clean and there is almost always one within eyesight. For people that read Chinese they are even more helpful as you can buy concert tickets, pay bills, buy phone cards etc at a computer terminal located in most stores. I love 7/11's.

One of the other common stores here in Taiwan is called Surewells. They sell a variety of items and crank English tunes over the speakers. When I first came here a song with the chorus " me so horny" was blaring as Grandmothers casually shopped with the grandkids for fruit drinks, furniture and car supplies. A common musical phenomenon is Chinese re-recordings of popular English tunes. I have heard far too many remixes of Avril Lavigne songs, enough for a life time...