It would seem the cause of these emotion attacks are darn Taiwanese movies. First it was Jay Chow's Secret, now its Edward Yang's Yi Yi...oh well. Let us begin...
When i think of Taiwan, i don't think of it as a tourist place, or my relative's home. I still feel its like my home, or what i wish my home was. I don't think i have cultural pride, as i hate culture and everything it represents. But, we all live in a world full of culture, and you really can't escape it. But do not dwell on the world...it will only lead you to your doom.
Besides that fact, i've already mentioned the bookstores and how i like to go in and look at stuff, not only the books, but all the cool trinkets they have there. I remember a store called "Apple Tree," lots of goodies there. Too bad it disappeared a while ago. That is one things about Taiwan, stores are constantly changing. (lol the places you'll find me at are bookstores and pet stores).
The puppet shows are a staple: only shown in Taiwanese, i remember when i was little my cousins would narrate me everything that occurred in the show. Good times. Didn't realized how enjoying it is to watch puppets duke it out on TV, or how cultural it was to Taiwan.
Definitely talked about the bread, but i can go into more detail. My favorite since little has been 奶酥 bread. But i like them all. The softness of the bread, and the unhealthiness, makes it probably the best bread in the world. There is always one on every street corner, always there for people to come by and get some freshly made bread. Mmmmmm.
Taiwan is known for its fresh fish (duh its an island). My favorite fish to eat is white pomfret, or 白鯧魚. Not quite a fish you eat often in America...definitely wanted to cook this sometime, but it won't happen because fish stinks up the whole dormitory. But besides this fish to eat, which my grandma makes perfect, there are so many other fishes that you will never find in a Shnucks or a Price Chopper or a Pete's.
Hmmm they just turned 光華商場 into a 6-story building. Opened right after i left. Last time i went it was 6 shed houses...the time before it was an underground shopping complex. But ya, best place to buy all those video games, computer games, electronics, DVD's, manga, anything bootlegged etc. I usually go shopping there for the games, Softstar games are my favorite, especially the old ones like 天之痕 and 阿貓阿狗.
I guess something that's really famous in Taiwan, but i only recently went to, are the night markets and 西門町, crazy place with a lot of clothing store-booths, gonna call them that.
The food is amazing, the places are amazing, shopping is amazing, but of course what i love about Taiwan isn't whats there physically, right now, but the memories. Going to those places, with family and friends, is the point. Eating the fresh bread in the mornings at 7, enjoying the fish at dinner time. Watching my cousins play the Taiwanese video games or watching the puppet shows or Japanese cartoons (aka anime, but didn't know that term until high school), those are the good times. It is racing 4wd mini-cars from Tamiya in the parks, blowing toxic bubbles from outdoor stands, going to the Taiwanese Zoo, the Tai-zhong Science Center, going to the many gorgeous parks, these are what makes life life. But it is family that makes it all happen.
Another thing about Taiwan is the draft. After talking to someone a WashU and hearing him decide to return and fulfill the draft out of duty, it made me wonder. Though i am also in the draft, i am determined to avoid it at all costs. I don't know if i'm fit enough, nor will i be able to take the harassment, and the thought of being on Military Island scares me. It ain't like college, its boot camp for 4 months. But if i go...and survive it...when i come back i'll probably be very fit. That shouldn't be the reason i go, and i really don't feel a sense of duty, but it might be a good life experience, or i might be force to go back...reminds me of the stories of my dad at military island, and writing letters to his girlfriend every night *cough* not my mother *cough*. I thought that is very sweet and scores high on the boyfriend points...too bad technology ruins everything now. I'll see, as i've received the "romantic" genes from my dad, i'll come up with crazy, genuine ways to express my love.
I love bamboo beds. I hate flying cockroaches and getting run over by motorcycles. I love eating lots of different kinds of foods, i hate walking near sewers and crap. Sometimes i wish i knew Taiwanese, or Hokkien. Sometimes i wonder why my mom's side of the family didn't teach the kids the language...is it a movement in Taiwan to only learn mandarin in the schools? What about all the taxi cab drivers...who will they talk to then?
Edit (10/28/09): I will go back. I will ask the questions i've been wanting to ask. I will take pictures of every room, every space, and cherish them forever. I will ask my grandpa and grandma about the past, about my parents, about the life of living suppressed, living totally new life. I will cherish the memories.
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