A busy summer schedule seems to be at its end, and I’m finally sitting down to write about it. Especially long overdue are my thoughts about our trip to Taiwan. Receiving my green card this year means that I finally feel secure enough about my immigration status to venture a trip outside the country after seven years. After living in this bubble we call SoCal for so long, a trip like this was quite eye-opening.

Seven years might not be long enough to see any major changes in suburban America, but for Taiwan it might as well be decades. What really struck me was how modern Taiwan has become. Living in Southern California gave me a somewhat false sense that the United States is far more developed than “those Asian countries.” Yes, the US is a major economic power, has a high standard of living, and is very technologically advanced. After all, it is a developed country. But Taiwan and other Asian countries are not far behind at all. Some already count places like Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong as developed (and of course there is Japan, which has been considered “developed” for a long time). In fact, I might argue that in some respects, Taiwan has it better, especially when it comes to food. Here are some examples:

Transportation. Major additions are the new high-speed rail that cuts travel time by more than half and freeways that are clean, smooth, and easy to drive — two things that Southern California needs more of.

Shopping. My mom told me that shopping was easier and better in Taiwan. I didn’t believe her until now. Costco, Ikea, Starbucks and Blockbuster? Yes, Taiwan has them, and then some — European wholesalers like Carrefour and Geant have also descended on Taiwan, not to mention local wholesale vendors who stock American goods alongside Asian treats and knick-knacks not available in North America. High-end department stores seem to be everywhere, as well as Japanese equivalents of the local 99 cent store (but much better!).

Food. Eating is a big part of Chinese/Taiwanese culture, and it shows. You can find a restaurant for almost anything you want — steak, buffet, Western, vegetarian, whatever. The food is cheap, and because of the competition, overall quality and level of service is better than ever. Restaurant owners sweat the details, from the food to the decor and presentation. I’d say on average, my dining experiences here surpass those in the US. The following pictures include those from an all-vegetarian buffet (second picture).

Service. We all know that Chinese restaurants have really bad service. At least that’s true in California. Not so in this new economy in Taiwan. Perhaps it’s the influence from incoming Japanese businesses, or maybe it’s the competition, but service is part of the business. Cashiers are required to greet each customer with a bow, and waiters are also very polite. What’s more, tipping is not required or expected. But seriously, the Chinese restaurant industry here in California is at least 10 years behind. And in terms of value and quality, American restaurants just don’t seem to compare, either.

Crime. This isn’t to say that Taiwan is necessarily a safe country — it has its own set of social problems. But the types of violent crime that grips many US inner cities aren’t out of control in Taiwan, at least not yet. I feel much safer walking the streets in Taipei than I do Los Angeles. And I don’t think it’s because I blend in. I don’t. Locals instantly have me pegged as an “American”.

Did I mention that Taiwan is one of the few countries that have banned plastic shopping bags?

Of course, it’s not all nice and pretty in Taiwan. Old Taiwan is still trying to catch up with the new. On the high-speed rail, I noticed many have yet to learn to let passengers get off first before getting on. And although the freeways are easy to drive, the city roads are ever more treacherous because of the motorcycles that swarm the streets. Traffic laws are more suggestions than rules.

Perhaps what was most frustrating for me was the state of journalism in Taiwan. If the local TV and cable news here in the US is bad, then what passes as news on Taiwan TV is downright atrocious. Shock and gossip takes priority over educational values. Reporters don’t bother telling a story; they seem more like sportscasters making up commentary as they go along. If it weren’t for other news sources, the Taiwanese public might not know what is happening outside the island.

Taiwan has changed so much that there is an entirely new section of my hometown that I have never seen before. Even much of the old parts of the city have changed too. After a relatively short seven years, the Taiwan I once knew is fading away. I even hear there will be major changes at my elementary/middle/high school. And so, for memories’ sake, I had to take some pictures:

A Chinese saying goes something like this: “Traveling a thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand volumes.” I agree.

More pictures from the trip can be found here

So it’s been over a month since my last post. Life has been busy with setting the new apartment, cousin’s wedding, parents visiting, and now we’re heading off to Taiwan for 2.5 weeks. It’s been over 7 years since my last visit, so I’m sure a lot has changed. Hopefully I’ll be able to update from over there. In the meantime, some stuff seen on the web recently:

• The Interpreter: An ex-missionary/Christian discovers an Amazonian tribe whose language does not have words for abstract term. Fascinating read, both about language and missionary work.

• Flat Earth Society: I wonder if this was started as a prank. Either way, seems like there are people who believe in this. It’s interesting to see some of the parallels between how we view Flat-Earthers and how atheists view Christians.

• The iPhone is here: But I didn’t get one. In wait-and-see mode.

• Life at Google: Interesting perspective on working there.

• Diabolo videos: Best video tutorial I’ve seen. This one’s pretty good too.

• Video Tutorial: How to give a man-hug: Funny.

• Albatross18: Elliot told me about this. Basically, anime characters playing online golf. Awakens my inner FOB.

The other night I dreamed that it was the end of the semester, and I found out that I missed an important exam that took place weeks ago. As a result, I would not be able to complete my degree. This was another variation of the same recurring dream where I realize that I’ve missed an exam, a paper, or simply forgotten that I’m signed up for the class. And usually the realization comes way too late in the semester, and as the sense of dread washes over me, I wake up.

The other night was no different. I woke up, and tried to remember if there was anything I’ve missed. As usual, there was nothing. I reminded myself that I’ve already graduated college, as the dream is usually about failing a college course — usually some econ class. Weird, considering I’ve only taken Macroeconomics for one semester and did quite well.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who has these kinds of dreams. Both Dan and Chanlee have similar kinds of dreams, too. It’s interesting how these dreams involve failures, actual or fictional, from the past. I know little about dream interpretation, so I’d rather not play pop psychologist.

If you have recurring dreams (similar to mine or not), please, do share.