Bizarro World
I haven't been to Taiwan during May since I was little and forgot how great the weather is this time of the year. Usually I come over here in July when it is humid and 100 degrees. Now instead of that, imagine the best possible day in Michigan. Sunny skies, low 70s, cool breeze. Alright, so the breeze is probably due to the typhoon to the south that is totally rocking the Phillipines right now, but the guilt is minimal.
Anyway, I'm having a great time. I'm mostly just visiting family, but have been taking part in some touristy stuff too like seeing the whiskey factory and taking surfing lessons. Also, all you can eat sushi/sashimi buffet? Nice. Other than that, I was pleasantly surprised to note that surgery has me well-prepared for jet lag. It's like it doesn't exist anymore. I just pretend like I'm on call.
What I wasn't prepared for, and indeed, what I am never really prepared for is the difference in how I am perceived here. Identity. When I come here many of the external factors that make up who I am back home simply don't exist. Here I'm a tall, athletic guy of average intelligence and non-descript race. It's like opposite day on crack. Not to oversimply, but essentially in America I am an Asian guy and here I'm just a guy. I noticed some girls looking at me at a shopping center after I got here and didn't realize until much later that they were checking me out.
I know, weird.
Anyway, I have intermittent access to the internet right now, so if I don't write again on this trip I'll let you all know the rest when I get back!
Anyway, I'm having a great time. I'm mostly just visiting family, but have been taking part in some touristy stuff too like seeing the whiskey factory and taking surfing lessons. Also, all you can eat sushi/sashimi buffet? Nice. Other than that, I was pleasantly surprised to note that surgery has me well-prepared for jet lag. It's like it doesn't exist anymore. I just pretend like I'm on call.
What I wasn't prepared for, and indeed, what I am never really prepared for is the difference in how I am perceived here. Identity. When I come here many of the external factors that make up who I am back home simply don't exist. Here I'm a tall, athletic guy of average intelligence and non-descript race. It's like opposite day on crack. Not to oversimply, but essentially in America I am an Asian guy and here I'm just a guy. I noticed some girls looking at me at a shopping center after I got here and didn't realize until much later that they were checking me out.
I know, weird.
Anyway, I have intermittent access to the internet right now, so if I don't write again on this trip I'll let you all know the rest when I get back!