TAIWAN UNIQUE
Well, here I am at just over the midpoint of my journey here in Taiwan (R.O.C.). I have seen and learned so much while here. As I’ve shared and others in their respective blogs, the Taiwanese people are warm, welcoming, extremely helpful, and lovers of their country. I have yet to meet a native who does not speak highly of their country…the beauty, the people, and especially, the food. I am constantly encouraged to “try this because it is a Taiwanese dish.” I’ve yet to have a meal which I didn’t enjoy thoroughly.
In this particular posting, I want to share some of the many unique observations I’ve encountered. There will be a mix of photographs but they are just that, a mixture with little or not relevance to what I am writing about but just enjoy the snapshots of my recent Winter Vacation spent with Gene visiting and our traveling from Alishan Mountain, one of the highest peaks on the Island to Kenting National Park at the southern tip of Taiwan..
Taiwan is a very musical country. It seems that everywhere music can be heard. My first encounter was upon arriving in Sansia on that Sunday in September, I saw a large yellow truck with curtained windows, playing music as it slowly progressed down the street. To my surprise, I was told that it was the trash truck which daily…seven days a week… travels its route playing music to alert the residence of its presence. Unique was that fact that first, it had curtains on the windows. Second, it was playing a melodic tune and finally, it picks up trash daily. To my knowledge, all of the elementary schools play music to signal the end and beginning of the next period. At Siang-He, soft music is played over the intercom system during lunch and believe it or not, the students are quietly enjoying their lunches. Another musical scenario I witnessed recently was a school van that played music to announce its arrival to pick-up or dispatch students. Being a lover of all types of music, I am really enjoying the sounds of Taiwan.
Unique is the custom of school children sharing birthday buckets of treats with all of their classmates and every teacher and helper in the school on their birthday. New parents give gifts to family and friends depending upon the sex of the newborn. This past October, one of our second grade teachers had a baby boy. Within a month, she visited school one afternoon with wonderful bakery gifts for the entire faculty. Her car was loaded with cartons of goodies. It was a wonderful surprise and thoughtful tradition.
Taiwan Unique is that when traveling on expressways, there will be tolls to pay and specific lanes to travel and should you get into a lane specified as PASS and not CASH and you’re wanting to pay cash, you will be pulled over and issued a ticket for being at the wrong toll gate. Traveling the streets by car, scooter or bike can be quite an experience. One could say that you take your life into your own hands, if you aren’t familiar with the unspoken ‘rules of the road.’ I’ve been told that in Taiwan, there is a ‘No Right Turn On Red’ rule; however, it’s like a fire drill…a free-for-all. Cars, scooters and bikes go when ready. Red means…’if I want to’ and yellow and green mean ‘if I want to,’ as well. I mean…crossing the street, as a pedestrian can be a harrowing experience. You’ve got to learn to look left, right, left, up, down, left, right, down and up…and then you still take a chance crossing the street even if the light is in your favor. Remember…’if I want to.’ Thank goodness that I live in a quiet part of Chiayi County but still, I am very careful when walking or riding my bike. So far so good!?! Oh, did I mention that the moving vehicle drivers WOULD brake for dogs but not people? Trust me, I’ve witnessed it.
Airports are interesting…you park wherever you want until you catch a glimpse of flashing red/blue lights and then watch out for the runners headed to move their cars. I had never seen such a comical mass movement. It was as though the quarterback had made an inaudible football call. Thank goodness no one was in the way of the exit doors. Earlier I told you about the musical trash truck. Well, using public transportation has been a pleasure. Clean restrooms, constant cleaning on the MRT, HSR, and RTS…. public trains and buses. On the HSR (High Speed Rail) I even experienced a dropped piece of paper on the floor of the restroom being suctioned into a hidden tube.WOW! !
Taiwan Unique is respect paid to both adults and children. I’ve witnessed discipline being administered and at the conclusion both teacher and student bow to each other. Discipline is rather military in style…much dialogue, standing at attention, absolutely no talking except when solicited by adult and complete respect that the punishment is just. Unique is the fact that a large red lighted cross denotes a Christian church or community. That is how I found The Grace Place Church, which I attend. Despite the fact that only 4-7% of the population is Christian, I have seen and visited three Catholic communities, one in Puzih City, Fencihu, and near the Budai community. Near Taichung,there is a major Christian hospital community.As for the recent Chinese New Year celebration, red envelopes are shared and given as gifts. The Taiwan Unique is that money is secreted in the red envelopes. Want to see a Taiwanese child smile…just mention ‘red envelopes.’ And watch their eyes light up.
As the sun sets over the beautiful island of Taiwan, Gene and I continue to keep you in our prayers and wish you a prosperous 2008 Chinese New Year!
