But there is a HUGE issue. To make myself happy living in Taiwan I would need to create a Western lifestyle (easy and cheap to do) and live it. It feels hypocritical to live in such a different place and NOT live as the locals do. Almost as if you are saying "Your culture is shit."

As much as I dont like the lifestyle there, I feel uncomfortable being that overtly insulting to any culture. Its not their fault that I am stubbornly Western .

Still, the things I missed from the states, now DONT feel, look, or taste the same. I came back to live with memories! Even my friendships are awkward.

Sure, things may adjust back over time, but is that something I want?

Isnt the point of traveling (one of them, anyway) to expand your mind? Without even trying, while I was bitching endlessly about Taiwan to be honest, I somehow detached from some of my Americanness. Now not only do I NOT fit in (yet crave) in Europe or the US, I have Taiwan to add to the list.

There is a part of me all over the goddamn world, and a ton of little pieces of the world in me.

I had no idea how much Taiwan grew on me until now. I miss the loud internet cafes, my watermelon juice, making fun of Tinglish (Taiwanese English) signs and deer-caught-in-headlights-by-Asian-women-Western men. So many of the things I bitched about in Taiwan exist in SF. Like the staring, stupid people, and bad traffic.

HOLY SHIT!

Im eating this incredible curry noodle veggie thingy and I cant fully enjoy it cause all I can do is tear up when I put the chopsticks in my hand! OI!