New Life in Taiwan and Some Thoughts

It's amazing how long it's been since I've written anything down here~ it's been a busy yet fulfilling 2 months since my return 'bout 2 months ago...

whether or not this is a twist of fate or irony, the truth is that I am actually enjoying my stay here in Taiwan so far~ school has started for 3 weeks now~ I've met a lot of really nice people~ maybe cuz my department is relatively small, it feels like a family -- the kind of feeling and atmosphere I haven't felt since Korean class~ nearly everyone talks to one another, go out for lunch, hang out, chit chat away during breaks etc, a really nice feeling I really didn't have much experience back at UBC~ maybe it's cuz I am a patron student that everyone seems to be nice and friendly to me and everything~ however, this is not saying that I don't like the "cool" atmosphere now~

everything seems to be going on track right now~ I am comfortably settled in a new home by downtown; have familiarized myself with the campus; picked up studying Korean again and best of all, I was just informed by the department office today that I'll be filling out an assistant post! the part time'll pay me 8,000 NT a month, a figure more than enough to cover my personal expenses with 3,000 NT for the bank if I don't squander away, which there might be some tendency, as there are so many things I want to buy with my first paycheck: mp3 player, laptop, digi cam, IPOD etc etc~ other than the things I mentioned that are going on, I am planning on losing some weight by going on a veggie dominant diet once I start living alone this weekend~ 66-67kg seems to be ideal weight for me I think~ also, I started recording my life back in Canada down~ hopefully it'll be ready for the press at this time next year~

all in all, life seems to be good right now~ however, an intangible divide or feeling of not belonging still hinder me from time to time right now~ although I seem to be in a better situation than foreign students who may be easily identified by their not being able to speak Mandarin or physical appearance, I seem to be still treated as a "foreigner" not within the real "in-group"~ I speak, read, write and understand the language (even Taiwanese); I was born in the very city of Taichung 23 years ago; I look purely local with my ways and clothing, yet a gap still exist between me and the others~ I try not make myself seem to be on top of others with my English capability, yet English would be mentioned from time to time, as our class readings are in English and without notice, I would stand out among the crowd~ aside from English, others seem to treat me as having no knowledge of Taichung at all eg where I am, where the good dining places are etc etc~ although it's true that I know little about Taichung, I am still in touch with the places that are still around since I first emigrated~ thus, although everyone's nice and all and no deliberate discrimination or hostility has happened to me right now, I still feel out of place from time to time, as I clearly see the differences between me and the others: desposition and behaviour wise~ there are many things I can't confer to others, as it would be difficult for them to comprehend what I am truly saying without their having experience living outside Taiwan~ therefore, although the environment and quality of life has changed for me, I might still be trapped inside the same crevice of cultural divide or contradiction that has lingered in my consciousness ever since I started taking notice of this issue after high school~

perhaps I may never climb out of the gap I have fallen into but I am clearly blessed to be in such a position as to have the capability of truly viewing people, things and events objectively from an inter-cultural perspective~ however fortunate or unfortunate I am to possess such perception, it'll probably be a lasting part of me that'll carry me through life~ if viewed pessimistically, such is the tragedy of people in such a middle position, which a few people I know are in~ on the other hand, without any sarcasm or blaming implied, I should still thank the people who made such a perception/ability in me possible: my parents~ without them taking the first steps onto an unknown journey 15 years ago, I would not have the bodily experiences of living in a foreign country under a different lifestyle and enjoy the English advantage over my peers right now~ on the other hand, whether they notice it or not, in opinion, my parents seem to have been changed by their foreign experience as well~ they would compare this and that between Taiwan and Canada and sometimes even consider some things in Canada as better than Taiwan~ therefore, I doubt they would not miss Canada in a few years time...

anyways, I am glad to be back in Taiwan~ a fresh start for me with frest challenges ahead~ the plan is destination Korea in 3 years time~ when it's time, I expect a new anticipation for challenges ahead would once again well up in me and reminescence/happy memories of the past would once again be recalled~ Until then.=D