Day 1: A Visit ‘Home’

For the first time in a little under five years, I have returned to the country in which I was born.

Yes, Taiwan still has its pollution...
Yes, Taiwan still has its pollution… Asia’s largest tech exporter.

And, in truth, it wasn’t as mind-blowing as I thought it would have been. Typically, coming here as a kid meant being hit by a wave of amazement and nostalgia. And yes, I’ve had a bit of nostalgia and my brain still remembers a bit here and there of my childhood summers, but I’ve been desensitized to the idea that in the 24-hour period, I was in both Los Angeles and Taipei.

Anyhow, I arrived early in the morning on Sunday, May 17th and from there went straight to see my grandparents in Shilin thanks to my aunt, uncle, and cousin. Taiwanese egg pancake and sweet soy milk was breakfast, and from there we spent about an hour Skyping my family in New Jersey which was great because I realized no one in Taipei had done so during the New Year as I had done so.

It's like "boba"/"bubble tea" without the boba/tapioca balls.
It’s like “boba”/”bubble tea” without the boba/tapioca balls.

After that, I went with my aunt/uncle/cousin to their apartment in Da’an and we decided to see Godzilla that afternoon. I went with three of my cousins to the Vie Show Cinemas in Xinyi right next to Taipei 101. The movie had quite more of a scare factor on me than the rest of the audience, I believe, because I had actually been to some of the locations where the film’s events occurred – particularly Honolulu International Airport, and honestly who knows what’s down there in the core of the Earth… Anyhow, a good thriller movie I think, for s***s and giggles and a few jump scares. Not for the faint of heart…

Taipei 101
After exiting the Metro Rapid Transit Taipei 101 station, you get to see this.

That night I got to see the rest of my cousins in Taipei, as the three families here and my grandparents went with me to the Royal Host in Tianmu.

Most of my relatives who live in Taiwan.
Most of my relatives who live in Taiwan.

And that sums up my first day.

I think, now at 20 years old, I was more observant of the differences in lifestyles and customs, compared to those of the United States. The vehicles here are typically small, or the European or Japanese versions of cars which are typically smaller than their American variants due to tighter roads. Kei cars are very popular as well due to their size, and a lot of cars have automatic folding side mirrors. But of course the most often seen method of transportation is likely a tie between the public buses that jolt like crazy or mopeds which crowd sidewalks and the fronts of intersections. Honestly I would never want to drive in a city like this.

It rains a lot here too, which means umbrella bags are courtesy at most venues and underground parking garages aren’t simply made of concrete but painted in a more water-resistant coating.

Traffic lights typically have countdowns, and are horizontal instead of vertical. The last two lights are green turn arrows.
Traffic lights typically have countdowns, and are horizontal instead of vertical. The last two lights are green turn arrows.

That’s all I really have to say for now. More posts to follow!

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