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Al DuClur's avatar

I lived in Taipei for years and there are things I still miss from it. My experience living in Taipei was almost a 180 degree contrast from living in Mexico (where I lived just before Taiwan) but also differed, mainly in good ways, from San Francisco.

Mexico is a low trust society (America is becoming one). Taiwan is very high trust. Mexico isn't all that safe but much safer than living in the US around blacks. Taiwan is very safe day or night. So was mainland China except for the insane driving. Thailand was also pretty safe, much safer than US around blacks or Mexico.

One of the enduring memories I have a Taiwan is walking down streets and seeing computers and tablets left on tables while the owner went inside.

There was also a high degree of personal responsibility and propriety that was absent in Mexico and is disappearing in much of the US.

One of the most remarkable displays of personal responsibility and civic pride was how great they were at giving directions. When I first moved there I had Taiwanese walk 20 minutes out of their way to make sure I got to where I was headed. It wasn't just because I was old and white. I spoke with young Asian travelers from places like Singapore and when I asked them what they thought of Taiwan, the first thing they would tell me was, "wow, these people are really good at directions!"

I wish the Taiwanese well. Half of the Taiwanese quit communicating with me after I left Taiwan when I cautioned them about their excitement over the death jab. The rest quit contacting me when I told them that Ukraine wasn't winning and to be careful that they don't become the new site of a proxy war for the US. They were very excited that Ukraine was defeating Russia and felt that it showed they might be able to defeat China.

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peggy bean's avatar

Thanks, Linh. Always enjoyable!

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