Taiwan Journal 01

So, here I am in Taiwan. I do not have a permanent address or a working cell phone, but I am here. I have signed my contract and received my assignment, working out of the head office in downtown Taipei. Hoorah.

(Canada, then Alaska)

It took about twenty-three hours for me to travel from JFK to Taipei. There were two stop-overs, a short one in Detroit and a slightly longer one in Osaka. The plane was old and uncomfortable, with only a single projector screen on the long trip from Detroit to Japan. The “highlight” of the films presented was the Wakowski Brother’s Technicolor disaster Speed Racer. However, anticipating the possibility of a nice view for the flight, I had made sure to secure a window seat on the right side of the plane, facing away from the sun for most of the flight. For this foresight I was rewarded with beautiful views of Canadian, Alaskan, and Siberian mountain ranges, which I dutifully gawked at for a healthy portion of the flight.

(Siberia)

I arrived at my temporary apartment in Taipei around 12:30am. I currently need four keys to open the many doors between the street and my room, though when I first arrived I needed five. The alley my building is on is not particularly well lit, and the locks are stubborn. After putting my things down in my room I decided to take a walk to look for a snack. Upon returning I was unable to figure out how to open the first lock (you have to turn it, pull out, then push in). I assumed that I had the wrong door, or worse even the wrong street. So I spent a half an hour trying belatedly to find the right one, worrying that my first night in Taipei would be on the street.

(Sky over Japan)

I eventually found my way in to discover one of my housemates returning from a bar. He asked me if I wanted to go with him to the 7eleven around the corner. I agreed and closed the door to my room, only to realize that the door had locked and I had left my keys on my bed. My new housemate was completely sloshed and as such the advice he gave was less than useful. After a couple aborted attempts to use a credit card to open the door, I made an executive decision that however much it would cost to repair the door was worth less than reaching my bed after my long flight. So with one swift kick I gained entrance. The bolt from the handle hit the wall opposite the door and I promptly collapsed asleep.

(View From Apartment Balcony)

Taipei seems like a pretty cool city so far.  It is like a cross between the city in Blade Runner and an old sauna. Many of the buildings look like duct tape was a vital building material. Much of the architecture was built in the 50’s and 60’s. The Kuomintang had to build quickly during that period to accommodate a million refugees from China. However, they were convinced that they would quickly reconquer the mainland, so the buildings did not have to be built to last. The past fifty years have not been kind to them.

Mopeds absolutely own the city, due to the fact that many of the side streets are too narrow for cars and sidewalks are considered more of a luxury than a necessity. The most surprising thing I have noticed is the prevalence of “western” food. Sandwiches and hot dogs seem almost as common as dumplings and noodles, even with street venders.

(View From my Room)

I am going to try to keep this blog well stocked with stories and photos from my time here, as well as the occasional political rant.