Monday, Aug. 02, 2004 - 10:48 p.m.

Gasp. Hold onto your seats, I am about to consciously tell you things I like about Taiwan.

(applause)

1. the fact that when I spill food on my shirt nobody seems to care. As a matter of fact, I seem to blend in more that way.

2. They serve real food in internet cafes, not just chips and soda.

3. The fresh fruit juice available all over the island (but I have to say that the BEST ones are down here in the south.)

4. Doctor visits costing 100 nt ($3 US), with medications either free or the price as the visit.

5. eating EVERYTHING with chopsticks. I giggle a great deal when I see my boss (a foreigner like me) eating sweet potato chips out of a bag with chopsticks. It makes sense really, helps your hands not get that greasy film.

6. Driving my scooter in southern Taiwan. Down here traffic rules are mere suggestions, lol, I am NOT kidding. Combine this with the fact that cops WILL NOT usually pull over foreigners, and its a bit too much freedom really. Esp since I am from California, over regulation in EVERY area is required.

7. Cost of living including ciggies (which I wont smoke right now due to eyes), eating out, gas for scooter, train rides, hostels, my apartment and so much more.

8. The ability to tune people out when I dont know what they are saying in Chinese. Back home if people were saying stupid shit to me in English I would either have to respond to be polite, or shoot back an evil comment if they were being rude.

9. Almost always getting a seat on the train just because I am a foreigner.

10. (probably the number 1 thing really, or is it the fruit juice?) my kids at school.

Dont worry, I am NOT starting to like it here. There are still WAY more negatives than this short list. But I realized during my walk tonight that I rarely write about the good stuff, not matter how few and far between I experience it!