The World from a Taiwanese Perspective - 台灣人看世界
My friend Emily recently sent me this “map of the world from a Taiwanese perspective”, and I found it very amusing, perhaps a lot more than I should have. But hey, if you can’t laugh at yourself who can you laugh at? I decided to translate it into English, with some explanations below. Obviously I don’t necessarily agree with the assessments of the original graphic creator, but it’s still funny in an ignorant way. | 怡蒨最近傳給了我一張”台灣的世界地圖”實在是太有趣了. 也許我不應該笑的那麼開心. 但如果你沒辦法笑自己的話那能笑誰呢? 我決定把它翻譯成英文分享給朋友看, 然後再加一些說明和助解. 當然啦, 我也不一定同意裡面所寫的, 但就一種無知的起點來說還是滿好玩的. |
Click image for larger size.點圖會更清楚.
You can find the original author's post here:
可以在這邊找到原本作者的網站:
http://blog.pixnet.net/allen880808/post/17544042
Let’s start from the top left, shall we? Hogwarts – England. This one’s fairly straightforward, and if you’ve never heard of Hogwarts… where have you been the past decade? Very Cold – Norway/Sweden. I’d say most Taiwanese have this stereotypical image of Northern Europe being a place with complete social services and a clean environment etc, but that’s because they know how to share. A world of afternoon tea and no work – Europe. Of course this couldn’t be farther from the truth, they just know how to enjoy life a bit more than workaholic Taiwanese do. VITAS is Badass – Russia. I had actually never heard of Vitas before, but according to Emily apparently he’s this awesome Russian music star or something like that. Home of Persian Cats – Russia. At least, I assume it refers to Russia. Probably has something to do with the nightlife, so I’m not sure. That said, there is this stereotypical of Russian girls all being tall blondes with ridiculously good figures. Lots of Trees – Siberia. Straightforward. Ours – Mongolia. I think this is making fun of the fact that Taiwan’s constitution still refers to Mongolia and Tibet being part of “our” territory. Of course we’d like to revise the constitution so it’s not so ridiculous, but that’s changing the status quo so China will kill us if we do. As far as most Taiwanese go, they can have the land, just stop pointing those damn missiles at us. Home of Defective products and fraud groups – China. Of course, things have changed much in the last 10 years, but I know that when I was a kid I wouldn’t buy Chinese products because they were crap. In fact, this one time I was playing with one of those toy-grabbing claw machines and I got this toy truck. The wheels broke off almost instantly and my friend muttered, “Made in China”. Then we turned it over and… yeah, it said “Made in China”. Dang. And obviously, many gullible Taiwanese have lost fortunes to fraud groups. Maybe they think we’re stupid rich people. Fire Archers – Turkey/Babylonia/Somewhere around there. Interestingly, many kids have a somewhat decent grasp of world geography thanks to Age of Empires which was fairly popular in Taiwan back when I was a kid. Probably a useful unit in the game. War – Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan In the eyes of most Taiwanese, the Iraqis are really getting screwed over. “It’s not like we want war, we don’t even have WMDs. Like it’s our fault we live on a lot of oil.” Desert – I’ve had kids ask me whether or not people there bath with sand. Oh, ignorance is bliss. Tunak Tunak – India. I literally laughed out loud when I first saw this in the Chinese version written as, “嘟嘟魯督大大大”. Basically there’s this really famous Indian pop band or something and this one song has 4 guys dancing and the chorus sounds like that. And basically that’s what Taiwanese people think of India. A lot of similar countries – In all likelihood, Thailand and Myanmar and Vietnam… this is probably making fun of the fact that a lot of people can’t tell Asians apart. Mom said I’ll be sent here if I don’t finish my dinner – Africa. I’d say most Taiwanese don’t know jack squat about Africa, except that you don’t get enough to eat there and thus it’s commonly used by parents to intimidate children into doing what they say. They say they created the world – KOREA NUMBER ONE. I’d say Taiwanese aren’t exactly big fans of Korean nationalism. I mean seriously, sometimes it really does go a bit too far, especially in relation to other Asian countries. I have friends who dislike Korea basically because of things that happened in the World Cup. Porn everywhere – Japan. From empirical evidence, I’d say that most of my Taiwanese friends much prefer Japanese porn over American porn. I think it’s because the actors and actresses are Asian. But dang, Japan does produce a ridiculous amount of porn, and it’s pretty disturbing sometimes how misogynist it can get. Mixed-Race kids made here – Hawaii. Taiwanese people generally think mixed-race kids are aesthetically pleasing. I think it’s Hawaii because a lot of Japanese migrated there, and… well, you know. “Be fruitful and multiply.” Many Maids named Maria – Philippines. Most commonly maids hired in affluent Taiwanese households come from the Philippines, because their own government royally screwed them over. I’m wondering if one day that happens to Taiwan what the stereotypical name would be. Run by Natives – Australia. Though white people basically have been running the place ever since they got there, the truth is like in America there were already people there. Of course, they got disenfranchised fairly quickly. Run by Sheep – New Zealand. When I was a kid in Taiwan I recall almost every single milk commercial was filmed in New Zealand, and the best ice cream was made there too. Of course, LOTR will live with us forever. Heaven – Alaska. To be honest I have no idea why the graphic creator said Alaska was heaven. It’s probably for the wildlife. Brokeback Mountain – Canada. Since Ang Lee is a Taiwanese director, naturally many Taiwanese watched Brokeback Mountain. Though the film was set in Wyoming, it was mostly filmed in Canada. I have this feeling that Taiwanese have been helping the Canadien tourist economy for some time now. Students who can’t afford to study abroad in the USA – Canada. This really is a sad truth that affects me personally. Almost all of my friends from high school that decided to study abroad went to Canada instead of the United States, leaving me somewhat lonely. This wasn’t necessarily because of money problems, but also because the US is paranoid about immigration and Visa restrictions. That and the cost-of-living really is lower in Canada. Illegal Immigrants – California. Ouch. I guess Taiwanese there have really bought the line that the US government sells about all Hispanic people being “illegals”. Evil Empire – America. Most Taiwanese friends I talk to are a bit skeptical about “spreading Democracy in the Middle East” especially when they think it’s all about oil and war profiteering. And since war profiteering is about as evil as you can get… I mean seriously, look at Halliburton’s earnings. It’s just ridiculous. Chien Ming Wang – Basically there’s this Taiwanese dude who’s playing baseball with the Yankees, and since he’s Taiwanese and we don’t get these sorts of guys often he’s a national hero and every single game that he plays gets a lot of press coverage here. Hoarded Oil – Again, reasons why Taiwanese feel that America sucks. Why go to the Middle East and kill people for oil when you’ve got some yourself? Of course, you don’t want to use up your own because whoever’s got oil left over when we reach peak oil in 50 years will rule the world. Therefore, we must use up the oil that other countries have. Seriously, that’s just evil too. Crime – Again, since America is Taiwan’s most powerful and influential ally, we get a lot of crap from America published in our newspapers. This includes bogus stuff about migrant workers and crime. Taiwan’s Diplomatic Allies – Haha. Again, I laughed out loud at this. If you look at a world map with Taiwan’s allies colored in, you’ll see that they really are all clustered in that area. Football – South American countries are badass at Football. Enough said. Don’t cry for me – I think the only reason why Taiwanese people even know of Argentina is because of that song. MIGHTY TAIWAN! – Holy crap that’s a large Taiwan. That’s like 300 times out of scale. | 從左上角開始吧? 霍格華茲 – 英國. 這滿好懂得, 只要有看過哈利波特的都知道. 然而如果你沒有聽過哈利波特的話… 最近十年來你是住哪裡啊? 很冷 – 挪威/瑞典. 總覺得台灣人刻版印象的北歐就是個有完善的社會服務機構和乾淨的環境. 會這樣子是為什麼呢? 也許只是他們懂得怎麼公平的分享資源. 整天喝下午茶不用上班的世界 – 歐洲. 當然這根本離現實非常遙遠, 歐洲人只不過是比較懂得享受人生, 不像工作狂台灣人一樣. VITAS很威 – 俄國. 其實我個人以前根本沒有聽過VITAS是誰, 但怡蒨告訴我說他好像是在台灣很紅的俄國歌星還是什麼的. 波斯貓生產地 – 俄國. 至少我猜他應該是指俄國啦. 總覺得這好像跟夜生活有些關係所以抱歉我不是非常得清楚. 不過呢, 我知道的是在台灣好像對俄國女孩子有種科板印象就是每個都長得很高, 每個都留長長的金頭髮, 而且每個人身材都超棒的. 最好是啦. 很多樹 – 西伯利亞. 不用解釋了吧. 我們的 – 蒙古. 我總覺得這好像事有點在嘲笑說台灣的憲法到現在都還在說蒙古和西藏都是我們的領域. 當然啦, 能夠修憲把這種好笑的東西改掉是最好的, 但如果這樣做的話中國會不爽然後就會殺了我們. 當然啦, 中國說什麼就算什麼, 因為他們偉大. 就大部分台灣人而言的話, 總覺得好像那種地就給大陸算啦, 不過你好歹也把那些該死的飛彈撤掉吧. 黑心商品和詐騙集團出口國 – 大陸. 當然啦, 這十年來中國是真的進步了很多, 不過我還記得小時候我都不想買中國的東西因為絕大多數都是爛貨. 記得以前有一次我在玩夾娃娃機的時候夾到了一個玩具車子. 一拿起來輪子就掉下來了, A仔就說, “Made in China.” 沒錯, 當時好像是用英文說的. 至於是誰說的其實也有可能不是他啦, 不過算了. 總之我們就翻過來看… 還真的給他寫”Made in China”呢. 太屌了. 而當然, 被中國的詐騙集團騙的台灣人應該也很多. 也許是覺得我們是笨笨的有錢人吧? 火槍兵 – 我想作者一定是個世紀帝國迷. 我發覺很多孩子的世界地裡還有一點常識的原因是因為小時候玩過這種遊戲. 個人是沒有玩過啦, 不過相信火槍兵一定是個很好用的兵種, 才有辦法造成人對那個區域就只有這種印象. 戰爭 – 伊拉克/伊朗/阿富汗. 在很多台灣人眼中伊拉克人真的是超衰的. “戰爭又不是我們要的, 我們老早以前就說過我們沒有核彈, 你就是要硬衝進來就對了嘛. 我們這裡地底下有很多石油是我們的錯啊?” 沙漠 – 我還有孩子們問過我說住那邊的人是怎麼洗澡的, 難道是用沙子吧? 哎, 無知就是幸福. 嘟嘟魯督大大大 – 印度. 看到這個我還真的給他笑出來, 尤其是看到他用中文寫中這樣子. 簡單說有個很有名的印度音樂團, 然後其中有一首歌就有四個傢伙在那邊跳舞, 然後副歌就聽起來像那樣. (其實那四個人怎麼看都是同一個人合成的. 那個舞超屌的說) 然而這就是台灣人怎麼看待印度. 一些差不多的國家 – 我想應該是在講泰國啊, 緬甸啊, 越南那些吧… 大概是在諷刺白人完全沒有辦法分辨出亞洲人是從哪邊來的, 每個都是日本人或中國人. 媽媽說飯沒出完會被送到這裡 – 非洲. 我猜大部分的台灣人根本就對非洲一竅不通, 只知道在那邊種是吃不飽. 所以呢, 家長要逼小孩子做事情的時候都有個方便的地方來拿來威脅小孩子. 真好騙. 稱號發明了全世界 – 大韓帝國第一! 我發覺了台灣人對韓國國家主義似乎有反感. 說實在的, 我總覺得他們的政府有點作過頭了, 尤其是在跟其他亞洲國家互動的時候. 我有些朋友單單也只是因為世界杯所發生的事情而對韓國感到不爽說. 足球耶. 到處都是A片 – 日本. 我研究了一下發現我台灣朋友的A片好像大部分都不是美國來的而是日本. 好像是因為都是亞洲人所以覺得看起來比較習慣吧. 不過也不是我在說, 日本的色情業真的不是蓋的, 而且老實說有時候做出來的東西時在是友點恐怖, 總覺得對女性來說是很糟糕的狀況. 量產混血兒 – 夏威夷. 好像很多台灣人絕的混血兒長得很正. 其實我也這樣子覺得啦. 為什麼是夏威夷呢? 總覺得是因為有很多日本人以前移民到那邊去然後… 啊, 反正大家都知道吧. 上帝不是跟我們說要”繁榮”嗎? 有很多叫瑪莉亞的傭人 – 菲立殯. 有錢的台灣人家裡面請的傭人大多數都是從菲立彬來的說, 因為他們的政府把國家整個搞砸了. 我以前還想過如果哪天台灣也變成那樣子的話, 刻版印樣的名字會是什麼. 王大中? 丁小二? 小明? 被土著統治 – 澳洲. 其實我一開始看覺得這個標題很奇怪, 因為澳洲是白人一進去之後就當頭的一個地方啊. 跟美國還有點像呢, 那邊的原住民都被整得很慘. 被洋統治 – 紐西蘭. 我說這也太誇張了吧? 雖然小時候在台灣好像每一個牛奶廣告的牛啊洋啊都在紐西蘭, 最好吃的冰淇淋也是用那邊的牛奶做出來的… 不對, 這就不應該是洋的國家而應該是由牛統治的國家才對吧? 當然啦, 魔戒也是大家想起紐西蘭的原因之一. 天堂 – 阿拉斯加. 老實說我也不知道為什麼坐者覺得阿拉斯家是天堂. 也許是因為他很喜歡自然生態吧? 我覺得總有一天美國還是會去那邊挖石油的說… 斷背山 – 加拿大. 因為李安是台灣人, 自然而然的很多台灣人也看過斷背山. 總有種王建銘的那種感覺, 只要是台灣人就屌. 雖然原本故事劇情的設想是在美國, 不過拍片的地點卻是在加拿大. 所以啦, 加拿大的觀光課應該有不少是台灣來的吧? 嗯, 幫忙經濟起飛是好事情吧? 沒錢去美國的留學生只好到這裡 – 加拿大. 其實就某方面來說真的有這種感覺, 我也有親身體會過. 全人出國留學的同學們極大多樹都是跑去加拿大而不是去美國, 害我有時候覺得爛孤單一把的說. 這也不一定完全是因為金錢上的問題 – 美國對簽證和移民這種東西的規定是非常嚴格的, 很麻煩. 另外就是加拿大的物價真的是比較便宜沒錯啦. 聽說作者好像是在加拿大讀書呢. 好像有點諷刺 -_-; 偷渡客 – 加州. 哎呀, 真痛. 台灣人似乎相信美國政府說的那到 – 就是所有墨西哥人都是非法移民那一回事啦. 不是我在說, 台灣人也室有種族歧視的, 而且搞不好比美國人還要嚴重許多. 至少我個人是這樣想啦. 邪惡帝國 – 美國. 哈哈, 我自己也住在美國所以覺得這個特別貼切. 我在台灣的朋友對美國的外交似乎有強烈的反感, 尤其是看到石油公司在大賺. 為了金錢利益而引起戰爭真的是惡罪中的大罪. 一看錢尼副總統的石油公司每年的利潤就知道啦, 實在是太誇張了. 有王建民 – 相信有住過台灣的沒有沒聽過王建民這個名字的. 簡單說他在洋基隊說打球, 然而因為他是台灣人所以好像很屌, 每次他要出賽的時候新聞都會整個報導得很詳細, 實在是有些太誇張了說. 算了, 台灣之光加油啊! 這裡暗扛石油 – 好像又一次的提到了為什麼台灣人覺得美國是一個邪惡帝國. 自己有時尤幹嘛跑去中東造亂害死了那麼多人呢? 當然啦, 自己的石油先不用因為到時候過了50年世界上時又用光之後自己就超屌的了. 所以呢, 要用就把別人的石油用光才對. 實在是太邪惡了. 罪犯 – 畢竟美國是台灣最重要的”朋友”, 所以我們這邊也常報導那邊送過來的垃圾新聞啦. 這也包括關於來自墨西哥的移民的事情. 台灣的邦交國 – 哈哈, 這個看了我也真的笑出來了. 你拿出一個世界地圖看, 然後把台灣的邦交國的地點圈起來… 好像真的都是中美的一些小小國家. 我想畢竟中國比我們有錢, 總不可能收買一輩子所以就算了吧, 給他們吧? 足球 – 南美的國家出來的隊伍都很恐怖. 有點樣美國的NBA的感覺 – 逃出貧窮的出路. Don’t Cry for me – 我總覺得要不是因為有那首歌, 很多台灣人根本就不會知道阿根廷是什麼東西. 強大的台灣! – 哇靠, 這個台灣畫的也真大. 好像有真實大小的三百倍以上吧? |
Again to be clear, I don’t necessarily agree with any of the assessments, and this is probably as politically incorrect as you’ll ever see me. | 在次強調我本人不一定同意以上給各種國家的標題,基本上平時你是不會看到我在耍無知啦, 這種東西別想太多. |
This is pretty damn funny....thanks for translating it.
ReplyDeleteSo funny one can cry over it.
ReplyDeleteMighty Taiwan... is it gonna be Mighty Taiwan SAR? Mighty Taiwan Province of PRC? Forget ROC. We all know it's a fake state for voting purposes.
It's just all very sad and pathetic.
Of course, the whole thing is tongue-in-cheek. I'd say especially if you're Taiwanese the huge Taiwan on the map is particularly ironic and funny in a morbid sense.
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Winston Wu. I'm probably the most unusual Taiwanese person, at least some think so. I am a Taiwanese American with a European/Latin soul and mentality. Anyhow, here is an essay I wrote about how insular and narrow minded the Taiwanese/Chinese mind is: http://www.happierabroad.com/Asian_Mentality.htm
To learn about my site and mission to help the millions of lonely dateless sexless men in America, see my site at http://www.happierabroad.com
Thanks,
Winston
My incompatibilities with Taiwanese/Chinese people: Why I'm different from my own kind
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Winston Wu. I am a very unique blend in that I am a Taiwanese American with a European/Latin mentality and soul. However, those who stereotype automatically assume that as a Taiwanese American, I will have Taiwanese traits. So to them and others who are interested, I present this summary of key differences between my traits and those of typical Taiwanese and Chinese people.
Although Taiwanese/Chinese people are usually very kind, possess a rigid sense of morality and conscience, and have rock solid family values, I have many incompatibilities with them in the areas of mind, soul, values, beliefs and lifestyle. Here are some of the key ones.
1. Taiwanese/Chinese people are natural followers and conformists in both mind and lifestyle. They see obeying society and authority as the only possible path in life without alternatives. Thus, they are only comfortable by "following the pack". Rather than thinking for themselves or thinking outside the box, they think as they are "supposed" to think. They do not "dare to be different".
Therefore, if you are too different from them, they don't know what to do with you and often just ignore you. You see, Taiwanese/Chinese people lack any interest in trying to comprehend those who are different from them. Probably, this is because they are not curious intellectuals, but are workaholics and followers driven by duty who live to conform. Thus, they do not relish being unique or different, nor are they interested in understanding those who are.
On the other hand, as a freethinker and freespirit, I like to think for myself, even if it goes against conventional lines. And I relish being unique and different. I am not afraid to go against the majority or crowd if I feel I am right. To me, truth and free expression are the most important ideals, not conformity. Rather than being limited to a one-dimensional practical mindset, I have a multi-faceted perspective that incorporates both practicality and imagination/creativity. Being naturally inquisitive, I seek to understand different people and what they are about. And as a writer, I am constantly thinking, musing and asking questions.
2. Taiwanese/Chinese are workaholics with few other interests in life. Almost every Taiwanese person has a strong desire to be a workaholic. In fact, this desire is so deeply ingrained into the Taiwanese culture and soul that if you don't have it, they think there is something wrong with you or that you are some kind of freak.
Like the American/Anglo-Saxons mindset, they "live to work" and usually work 6 or 7 days a week, having few or no other interests. Even when they are rich enough to retire and not work anymore, many of them still want to continue working because they get bored to death and feel empty if they don't. They wouldn't know what else to do, sadly. Like corporate America, they have an Anglo-Protestant work ethic and value in which a person has no worth without a job or career. They enjoy working hard just for the sake of working hard, which is a grand virtue to them. You can see this not only in their workaholic lifestyle, but also in the fact that they are not able to converse on a variety of subjects, or engage in deep conversations. Instead, their conversation is usually limited to topics about surface-level necessities and practicalities.
As for me, I have more of a European or Latin mentality and soul toward life. For instance, I do not measure my life in terms of career progress, but by the variety of rich experiences I've had. I am an eclectic and Renaissance type of man who lives for intellectual and artistic pursuits. And I am deeply philosophical, inquisitive, and existentialist in nature. Also, I am wild, passionate and romantic, yet cultured, artistic and intellectual at the same time (a rare combination of traits for a Taiwanese or American, but not for a European or Latin). Thus, I am more like an Italian, Frenchman or Spaniard than a Taiwanese or American.
So, to the typical Taiwanese person who gives me a puzzled look when they find out that I don't have a desire to be a workaholic, I say this, "Sorry buddy, I respect you and all, but we are different creatures driven by different things."
3. Taiwanese/Chinese people, like most Americans, tend not to talk to strangers unless it's business related or on an "as needed" basis. They only meet new people through mutual friends and socialize only within their own clique. This is especially the case with young women. As a result, the average Taiwanese/Chinese person's dating choices and social circle is severely limited to the few in their clique, closed off from the rest of the world's population. Outside one's clique, other people are like an "off limits zone" to them, similar to how it is in the US. In my book, that sucks (but fortunately it doesn't have to be that way, and in most countries of the world, it's not). And as in American social culture, there exists an "ice barrier" between strangers, but without the paranoia that pervades the typical modern American populace.
Well I don't like countries like that. I like meeting quality people and beautiful women. So I am happier in countries where general people are open and sociable (not just kids and old people like in Taiwan), where it is normal to talk to people in public settings and where they are comfortable doing so. I don't like being restricted to cliques or requiring introductions, which severely hamper the opportunities and are low probabilities. Countries that limit socialization to within cliques are a "catch 22" - you have to have a lot of friends to meet a lot of people, but you can't get a lot of friends unless you meet them through a lot of friends first. Hence a "closed loop".
Thus, only those that get in early have opportunities to meet others or get acquainted with nice available women. Or those that have the "right" connections, which only a few will have of course. But even if you do have good connections, the number of people you can meet will still be miniscule compared to those you can meet in countries with open free-flowing inclusive social cultures.
4. Taiwanese/Chinese people and society tend to be extremely "square", prudish, inhibited, conservative, tight, strict, proper, serious, submissive, and hung up about sex. Thus, they would be suitable candidates for conversion to Protestant Christian religious sects, which idealize and emphasize such traits.
As a result, they tend not to be very fun to hang around, as they never really "let loose", but are constantly obsessed with work and duty 24/7. After all, people who are too "square" are not much fun.
They are so ashamed and embarassed by sex that they suppress any notion of it publicly. Even compared to the solemn serious Japanese, they are more hung up about sex in comparison, as they don't even have a porn industry, whereas Japan has a huge porn industry. In fact, even Taiwanese actors in movies and TV shows are not wild or uninhibited in them, but are serious and solemn!
Also, Taiwanese parents tend to be control freaks and worry-worts who try to create co-dependency in their children.
As a freespirit/freethinker, I feel suffocated by all this. I love action, adventure, fantasy, imagination, fun, desires, sex and fast women, none of which are encouraged in a pragmatic Taiwanese society nor flows naturally in it. Instead, everything feels repressed and subdued. In Taiwan, I get the impression that one is supposed to be humble, non-expressive, weak and submissive, doing only one's duty as a workaholic and conformist. (Well sorry bud, that's just not me.) Therefore, being a freethinker, intellectual, melodramatic, wild or passionate, feels out of sync and out of tune with the Taiwanese environment.
It's no wonder then, that on internet forums for those seeking sex, such the one on WorldSexGuide.com, many have said that Taiwan is not the place for whoremongers or those looking to get laid or seeking wild action. They say the sex scene there is virtually dead.
In my experience, Taiwanese women who are wild, uninhibited, fast and horny are like UFO's and Bigfoot. Sure, I HEAR stories ABOUT them, but I never SEE or EXPERIENCE them! And everyone who claims to know some that I've asked to show them to me has FAILED to do so or come up with some excuse. Whatever. Thus, I conclude that if they exist they must be extremely rare, and certainly not easily available to the average guy. In contrast though, in the neighboring Asian countries of Philippines or Thailand, I can easily find and experience wild uninhibited women ANY time I want, every day and every minute if I wanted to. No problem at all in babe paradise. And I can easily demonstrate this to others who don't believe it, without any excuses.
In short, I would have to say that like America, Taiwan has a bland culture that is good for making money and being a workaholic, but not for living life to the fullest, having different experiences, enjoying one's existence or having fun.
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading. I believe and hope that this presentation sufficiently explains to those who expect me to have Taiwanese traits, why they are mistaken. As explained above, these incompatibilities and key differences between me and my fellow Taiwanese people make me feel like an alien among them, of a different species. They don't understand me and I don't understand them. The only kindred spirit I feel with them is in language and race, for there exists a comfort zone and level of trust between Taiwanese people that non-Taiwanese cannot feel, which is hard to put in words. But in terms of my mind and soul, no way. We couldn't be more different.
Now, it is true that most Taiwanese people do seem to share the traits described above, at least in my experience and that of those who I've talked to. But I guess every general pattern and rule has exceptions, so I happen to be one in this case.
So to the typical Taiwanese person who approaches me assuming me to be like them, I say this:
"Buddy, I respect you and all, but we are just different creatures driven by different things. Now, if you wish to try to understand me, I will help you to do so. But odds are, you won't be interested or you will feign interest out of politeness only. If that's the case, then so be it. To each his own.
Winston
http://www.happierabroad.com
Wow, that was quite a comprehensive and lengthy comment. Maybe I can understand a bit of where you're coming from, but I have to disagree with this self-centered individualistic "free-thinker" mentality. To be sure, I think it is a negative thing to be a blind sheep not knowing why you live day to day, but I don't necessarily feel that the ideal alternative has to be your desired "fun" lifestyle - one with easy women that are uninhibited and stuff like that.
ReplyDeletemade in taiwan crap is just as bad don't think you're any better than china, westerners place you all in the same boat
ReplyDeleteAnon, maybe thirty years ago, but Taiwan's pretty well known for it's semiconductor business and its bikes (Giant and Specialized). Those aren't crap.
ReplyDeleteChina isn't known yet for its tech development. Taiwan is, as are many other Asian countries.
Actually there is a book written by one of Chiang Kai-Sheks sons. It's entitled similar to "the international significance of taiwan". It's a very interesting read and it shows quite some strange self perception. Basically the author suggests that all the worlds problems (even hunger in africa) are solved by taiwan conquering china.
ReplyDeleteI liked all the comments here, taiwanese culture is quite different to european as far as I can tell (me european, visited taiwan couple of times, total to ~3months. ).
I love this post.ㅋ
ReplyDeleteThank you for recognizing that we created the whole world.
- from a Korean man in Seoul.
hahaha this is so funny lmao
ReplyDeletei am Taiwanese too~XDDDD~
can i tack it and put it on my blog?
thxxx~^^
o btw~my name is emily too XP
Go ahead Emily - sorry for taking so long to respond, I'm still sort of new to the blogger comment system. Hopefully you didn't wait all this long to tack it onto your blog~
ReplyDelete