Day 7 - Road Trip
Today's posting will be a bit different. First a brief overview of the day, then observations. Short version: I took my first scooter ride, then we loaded up the van and drove to the ocean. Eating a picnic on the beach and playing in the water and the sand was very enjoyable.
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Then we drove back to town and while we waited for the key to get into the apartment, Adam and I went to 7-eleven and walked around the block. Supper consisted of Gwotea (fried dumplings filled with pork and cabbage). Jon, Allen, and I went to see Star Wars, but first I was told by a 50 year old woman that I look smart and have a big nose. Love that Chinese honesty.
Today's observations will be grouped into the following topics: Toilet (paper), Traffic, Tourists, and Technology.
One of the things we take for granted in America is our system of restrooms. We expect every store to have a free, clean, stocked public restroom. And if they don't, we will take our business elsewhere. Imagine my surprise when I was confronted with these toilet truths in Taiwan:
1. Carry your own toilet paper, because public restrooms don't always have it.
2. Toilet paper here looks like a cross between a napkin and a kleenex, and it doesn't come in rolls.
3. People pass out free toilet paper on the streets with advertising printed on the package. Something you won't throw away, I guess. In fact, one day we were walking around and a lady handed me two packs of toilet paper with a flyer.
.
I kept them to put in Amy's bicycle basket. When we got back to the apartment, I asked Jon what the advertisement was for and he determined it was for an adult video store (no pictures on the advertisement, just words). If the porn shop uses toilet paper to advertise, you know it must work. Chinese apparently miss the irony of associating your product with toilet paper.
4. Toilet paper is not to be flushed down the toilet. Instead, place it in the trash can. How often is the trash emptied? You don't want to know.
5. Toilets may or may not be clean. In fact, they may or may not have a seat. You may or may not even be able to heed nature's call because of the surroundings (Anna refused to use one that she went into). No wonder they aren't called restrooms.
My first scooter ride was interesting. You can watch it if you like right here. Mike Worstell said it made him carsick to watch. Listen carefully for the conversation between Jon and me while we ride. I've now taken a half-dozen taxi rides, three scooter rides, three van rides, and walked up and down the streets and alleys. I can boil the experiences down to these traffic truths in Taiwan.
1. The biggest vehicle has the right of way, no matter what the lines, lights, or traffic would appear to dictate.
2. Scooters will drive through every available seam or crevice between cars, between pedestrians, and even on the wrong side of the road.
3. Traffic lights are strong suggestions for pedestrians to follow, optional for vehicles to follow.
4. Everything is five minutes from everything else, "depending on traffic."
5. The timers on the green lights are very nice, telling you how long you have until the light changes color. Only one problem: The drivers can see the timers, and they don't always wait until it counts down to zero before they go.
6. If you're in a hurry, take a scooter. If you want to be comfortable, take a taxi. If you have plenty of time, walk. Either of the three options is just as likely to get you in an accident.
7. Police cars are nowhere to be seen in the city traffic. Perhaps this explains why people drive the way that they do. It also explains why people settle their accidents right there on the street without waiting for law enforcement to arrive. In two hours of driving on the freeway today, I saw three patrol cars. And by the way, they always have their flashing lights on, whether they are pulling someone over or not. We're not sure how they get your attention if they do pull you over.
8. You never know who or what you'll see on a scooter. This guy has a minivan load of stuff on the back.
Jon says he has driven his scooter with his electronic drums tied to the back of them. I can hardly carry our church's electronic drums without running into something.
I've seen a mother driving three children on a scooter. The kids rarely wear helmets. This girl looked to be about one year old.
If you're old enough to stand, you're old enough to ride a scooter.
The moral of the story: Our missionaries deserve hazard pay for all the travel they do around this city and I should never complain about traffic again.
We have felt very welcomed and safe during our time here. The people here seem to have special feelings about tourists. My interaction with strangers today made me painfully aware of the tourist truths in Taiwan.
1. It's nice to try and use a few words they know, but you will be made fun of. Returning from the beach, Alex and I saw five teenage boys and we said "knee-how" ("Hello") to them. They all pointed at us, laughed, and said it back to us in a sing song voice. Either they were mocking us or mentally impaired. Or perhaps they thought we were.
2. If you point a camera at someone here, they will strike a pose for you and put on a big smile. Their favorite pose seems to be the two fingered "V" ("peace")sign. As far as I can tell, it isn't condescending or profane. Apparently, they think Americans still use that gesture. They must have seen too many videos from the sixties.
3. Chinese people don't mind telling you what they think about you in very blunt terms, even though you are a tourist. Allen, Jon, and I were at a convenience store buying coffee for the movie (you bring your own snacks to the theater - great idea!). Anyway, she butted into Jon's conversation trying to correct his Chinese. In the midst of the conversation, she starts telling us what she thinks about us and our looks and how old we must be. I guess we are the guests and we should put up with this behavior. They must believe that since we are dependent on so many of their products and technology, we also need any advice they can give us about life, language, and whatever else they think of.
Well, I wrote more, but something happened and I lost it. So let me close with technology truths from Taiwan.
1. The chances of losing something you have typed are proportional to the amount of time spent typing since the last time you saved.
2. Technology is most cantankerous late at night and 10 minutes before quitting time.
3. When your life isn't dependent on it, the best way to respond to a technology failure is to go to bed.
Tomorrow: Day 8 - Change of Scenery
.Then we drove back to town and while we waited for the key to get into the apartment, Adam and I went to 7-eleven and walked around the block. Supper consisted of Gwotea (fried dumplings filled with pork and cabbage). Jon, Allen, and I went to see Star Wars, but first I was told by a 50 year old woman that I look smart and have a big nose. Love that Chinese honesty.
Today's observations will be grouped into the following topics: Toilet (paper), Traffic, Tourists, and Technology.
One of the things we take for granted in America is our system of restrooms. We expect every store to have a free, clean, stocked public restroom. And if they don't, we will take our business elsewhere. Imagine my surprise when I was confronted with these toilet truths in Taiwan:
1. Carry your own toilet paper, because public restrooms don't always have it.
2. Toilet paper here looks like a cross between a napkin and a kleenex, and it doesn't come in rolls.
3. People pass out free toilet paper on the streets with advertising printed on the package. Something you won't throw away, I guess. In fact, one day we were walking around and a lady handed me two packs of toilet paper with a flyer.
.I kept them to put in Amy's bicycle basket. When we got back to the apartment, I asked Jon what the advertisement was for and he determined it was for an adult video store (no pictures on the advertisement, just words). If the porn shop uses toilet paper to advertise, you know it must work. Chinese apparently miss the irony of associating your product with toilet paper.
4. Toilet paper is not to be flushed down the toilet. Instead, place it in the trash can. How often is the trash emptied? You don't want to know.
5. Toilets may or may not be clean. In fact, they may or may not have a seat. You may or may not even be able to heed nature's call because of the surroundings (Anna refused to use one that she went into). No wonder they aren't called restrooms.
My first scooter ride was interesting. You can watch it if you like right here. Mike Worstell said it made him carsick to watch. Listen carefully for the conversation between Jon and me while we ride. I've now taken a half-dozen taxi rides, three scooter rides, three van rides, and walked up and down the streets and alleys. I can boil the experiences down to these traffic truths in Taiwan.
1. The biggest vehicle has the right of way, no matter what the lines, lights, or traffic would appear to dictate.
2. Scooters will drive through every available seam or crevice between cars, between pedestrians, and even on the wrong side of the road.
3. Traffic lights are strong suggestions for pedestrians to follow, optional for vehicles to follow.
4. Everything is five minutes from everything else, "depending on traffic."
5. The timers on the green lights are very nice, telling you how long you have until the light changes color. Only one problem: The drivers can see the timers, and they don't always wait until it counts down to zero before they go.
6. If you're in a hurry, take a scooter. If you want to be comfortable, take a taxi. If you have plenty of time, walk. Either of the three options is just as likely to get you in an accident.
7. Police cars are nowhere to be seen in the city traffic. Perhaps this explains why people drive the way that they do. It also explains why people settle their accidents right there on the street without waiting for law enforcement to arrive. In two hours of driving on the freeway today, I saw three patrol cars. And by the way, they always have their flashing lights on, whether they are pulling someone over or not. We're not sure how they get your attention if they do pull you over.
8. You never know who or what you'll see on a scooter. This guy has a minivan load of stuff on the back.
Jon says he has driven his scooter with his electronic drums tied to the back of them. I can hardly carry our church's electronic drums without running into something.
I've seen a mother driving three children on a scooter. The kids rarely wear helmets. This girl looked to be about one year old.
If you're old enough to stand, you're old enough to ride a scooter.
The moral of the story: Our missionaries deserve hazard pay for all the travel they do around this city and I should never complain about traffic again.
We have felt very welcomed and safe during our time here. The people here seem to have special feelings about tourists. My interaction with strangers today made me painfully aware of the tourist truths in Taiwan.
1. It's nice to try and use a few words they know, but you will be made fun of. Returning from the beach, Alex and I saw five teenage boys and we said "knee-how" ("Hello") to them. They all pointed at us, laughed, and said it back to us in a sing song voice. Either they were mocking us or mentally impaired. Or perhaps they thought we were.
2. If you point a camera at someone here, they will strike a pose for you and put on a big smile. Their favorite pose seems to be the two fingered "V" ("peace")sign. As far as I can tell, it isn't condescending or profane. Apparently, they think Americans still use that gesture. They must have seen too many videos from the sixties.
3. Chinese people don't mind telling you what they think about you in very blunt terms, even though you are a tourist. Allen, Jon, and I were at a convenience store buying coffee for the movie (you bring your own snacks to the theater - great idea!). Anyway, she butted into Jon's conversation trying to correct his Chinese. In the midst of the conversation, she starts telling us what she thinks about us and our looks and how old we must be. I guess we are the guests and we should put up with this behavior. They must believe that since we are dependent on so many of their products and technology, we also need any advice they can give us about life, language, and whatever else they think of.
Well, I wrote more, but something happened and I lost it. So let me close with technology truths from Taiwan.
1. The chances of losing something you have typed are proportional to the amount of time spent typing since the last time you saved.
2. Technology is most cantankerous late at night and 10 minutes before quitting time.
3. When your life isn't dependent on it, the best way to respond to a technology failure is to go to bed.
Tomorrow: Day 8 - Change of Scenery
posted by Central Christian College of the Bible at
10:09 AM
