A Few Last Words on Taiwan
Sometimes, goodbye can be sudden and unexpected, emerging out of relatively stability, mixed in with new-found happiness. With age comes longing for a certain sense of sameness, surrounded by familiar faces, familiar surroundings, and a belief that one has, at least superficially, started to belong and blossom in one particular locale. But the threat of unchanging constancy may eat away at ambitions, gloss over discontent, and level out inadequacy. The author is not okay with that. And hence, his Taiwan trip is suddenly coming to an end, and six days, a new life will start in Malaysia, returning to Rocket Internet after a half-year hiatus.
Frankly, the next move is not going to be as exciting as when the author first set foot upon Malaysia some two years after graduating from LSE. Much has to do with pages after pages of observations on Malaysia that this blog has already rather comprehensively touched upon, but much more has to do with Taiwan as a locale that is full of issues in terms of personal growth but perhaps most suitable as a place to live, to interact with locales, and to settle down. As such, it is appropriate that this last post from Taiwan gives a quick summary of what one might learn and missed from living on the island for a not-so-short half-year period.
First matter of discussion is tolerance. Let's be honest, a Chinese-American (or "Chinese-" of any sort) is an outsider in Taiwan. Many American-born Chinese (ABCs) and tourists from China show up with a condescending attitude, leveraging their immense cash flows and self-perceived prestige in obvious attempts to put the Taiwanese "in their place." Some of the wealthier Taiwanese have joined forces with the guys; if those seemingly endless nights of conspicuous consumption in places of entertainment have anything to show for, its contempt for their fellow countrymen who has yet to really "make it."
Thankfully, those who are victims of such forms of subliminal discrimination have remained largely stoic. In fact, they have not only ignored the pushy feelings of lowered self-esteem and instead opened up to these arrogant bastards with reserved but still genuine sense of curiosity. They were, against all odds, willing to learn, and the self-confident foreigners were embraced for who they are despite serious character flaws. Yes, the Taiwanese knew of their financial problems, certain bleakness of their future, but that did not lead to rage or disillusionment. They instead decided to love the "others" in a truly heart-melting way.
Yet, the flip side of the same coin is just as powerful and perhaps gathering more strength by the day. It is the second point of discussion: rage. The young in Taiwan is not happy with the reality on the ground, this is a fact that cannot escape the eyes of any casual observer. In the months past, Taipei's streets have seen immense anger against politicians who are perceived to be taking the country's economic future to a pure form of unilateral dependence. The young wants their voices heard. If the old-guard politicians fail to react appropriately, it is only a matter of time before this peaceful society is no longer, well, so peaceful.
But at the end, both sides of the coin illustrate one thing, and that is how gritty and "real" this society is, despite all the politeness and attention to manners that mark its surface. The island is inhabited by a practical people who is not afraid of facing up some tough and depressing realities. They understand that the prospect of war is never far away despite all the talks of warming ties with China. They understand that the economy is not faring so well in a geographic region so full of bullish prospects for dominating global economics of the future. And they know that their identity is marginalized, both at home and abroad.
This "real-ness" with respect to the harsh truths is at the end, what makes this society so beautiful. It fears not those obvious attacks on its sense of pride, instead choosing to walk on ahead with its collective head held up high. People say what they want and what they choose, openly expressing their love and hatred for intended targets with little reservation. Perhaps being an embattled minority whose concerns are little attended to by the international community has driven the people toward a matter-of-fact strings of actions that prominently announce its continued and independent sense of existence and survival.
It is the author's hope that Taiwan continue to remain true to herself, and continue to belief and act to her own best interests, despite internal and external pressures opposing such actions. Being passionate but simultaneously being open-minded will be very helpful in this regard. The author's departure does not necessarily mean the end of social observations with regards to Taiwan. This is a place with strong emotional attachment, worth repeated visitations. The acquaintances and friends made here are bound to last longer than end of physical interactions.
Frankly, the next move is not going to be as exciting as when the author first set foot upon Malaysia some two years after graduating from LSE. Much has to do with pages after pages of observations on Malaysia that this blog has already rather comprehensively touched upon, but much more has to do with Taiwan as a locale that is full of issues in terms of personal growth but perhaps most suitable as a place to live, to interact with locales, and to settle down. As such, it is appropriate that this last post from Taiwan gives a quick summary of what one might learn and missed from living on the island for a not-so-short half-year period.
First matter of discussion is tolerance. Let's be honest, a Chinese-American (or "Chinese-" of any sort) is an outsider in Taiwan. Many American-born Chinese (ABCs) and tourists from China show up with a condescending attitude, leveraging their immense cash flows and self-perceived prestige in obvious attempts to put the Taiwanese "in their place." Some of the wealthier Taiwanese have joined forces with the guys; if those seemingly endless nights of conspicuous consumption in places of entertainment have anything to show for, its contempt for their fellow countrymen who has yet to really "make it."
Thankfully, those who are victims of such forms of subliminal discrimination have remained largely stoic. In fact, they have not only ignored the pushy feelings of lowered self-esteem and instead opened up to these arrogant bastards with reserved but still genuine sense of curiosity. They were, against all odds, willing to learn, and the self-confident foreigners were embraced for who they are despite serious character flaws. Yes, the Taiwanese knew of their financial problems, certain bleakness of their future, but that did not lead to rage or disillusionment. They instead decided to love the "others" in a truly heart-melting way.
Yet, the flip side of the same coin is just as powerful and perhaps gathering more strength by the day. It is the second point of discussion: rage. The young in Taiwan is not happy with the reality on the ground, this is a fact that cannot escape the eyes of any casual observer. In the months past, Taipei's streets have seen immense anger against politicians who are perceived to be taking the country's economic future to a pure form of unilateral dependence. The young wants their voices heard. If the old-guard politicians fail to react appropriately, it is only a matter of time before this peaceful society is no longer, well, so peaceful.
But at the end, both sides of the coin illustrate one thing, and that is how gritty and "real" this society is, despite all the politeness and attention to manners that mark its surface. The island is inhabited by a practical people who is not afraid of facing up some tough and depressing realities. They understand that the prospect of war is never far away despite all the talks of warming ties with China. They understand that the economy is not faring so well in a geographic region so full of bullish prospects for dominating global economics of the future. And they know that their identity is marginalized, both at home and abroad.
This "real-ness" with respect to the harsh truths is at the end, what makes this society so beautiful. It fears not those obvious attacks on its sense of pride, instead choosing to walk on ahead with its collective head held up high. People say what they want and what they choose, openly expressing their love and hatred for intended targets with little reservation. Perhaps being an embattled minority whose concerns are little attended to by the international community has driven the people toward a matter-of-fact strings of actions that prominently announce its continued and independent sense of existence and survival.
It is the author's hope that Taiwan continue to remain true to herself, and continue to belief and act to her own best interests, despite internal and external pressures opposing such actions. Being passionate but simultaneously being open-minded will be very helpful in this regard. The author's departure does not necessarily mean the end of social observations with regards to Taiwan. This is a place with strong emotional attachment, worth repeated visitations. The acquaintances and friends made here are bound to last longer than end of physical interactions.
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