Thoughts on Taiwan

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