Thanks. Really. Thank you. Your posts bring back great memories, but even more they give impetus to complete a plan my daughter has proposed. We hope to visit Taiwan as a family. While living in Africa, and doing Land Cruiser dirt trips all over Kathy gave us a name that may be less well received in Asia. We were “The Gang of Four”. Nonetheless we have added 2 more and I sincerely hope we can see Taiwan through a slower pace, a more encompassing style than I did as a missionary there and later as a businessman. I have no illusions about losing- what was it- my fossilized incorrect language habits? Thanks again for your windows into a new version of Taiwan that seems to be more integrated, more self aware, and less frenetic about being the production point of the world. Am I getting the right impression?
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Eric. The Gang of Four! I love it. And I always love hearing about your adventures.
I thought about you today as Trish and I were driving up the very narrow Highway 197 toward Chishang. Reminded me of a particular trip up into the mountains you and I once made not far from here.
Taiwan does seem different than it did in 87-88. But I wonder how much of it is due to my more objective lens? Being mostly literate is really amazing…
Finally getting a first row seat to these remarkable adventures! It’s as complex and rewarding as the paella last night, but perhaps the bit that will linger with me most is witnessing your genuine curiosity and delight and connecting with the Taiwanese people. They’re as stunned by your facility with the language as I am. I don’t understand the content of your conversation, but the animation and laughter of these exchanges says that we’ll all be turning over these moments of connection for a long time to come.
This is fascinating. The fascinating vignettes you use for describing your experience underscore the rich (but somewhat troubling) history of occupation by other countries. You can see in the culture the influence of these occupations and how they shape the diversity of the country now, but it seems those occupations left some psychic scars on the country as well? Is the paella a result of Spanish or Portuguese influence, or something that the chef just brought with him?
Thanks for still reading all this drivel, Sid. Taiwan and China both retain persistent wounds from the Japanese occupations of both places. I haven’t seen this in human-human relations, but the historical scars are still very present. Even one of pieces I read in my studies at TLI discussed Taiwan’s disgust at Japanese leaders’ visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.
The paella was Nigel’s brilliance. The best rice in Taiwan is grown in Taitung County, and of course the seafood is plentiful here. The dish appeals to traveling westerners and Taiwan folks alike. However, he does have to explain often to Taiwan people that it’s supposed to have the crispy crust on the pan. They often think he burned it. :-)
Sid, I just kept wondering if colonization is ever a good thing for indigenous people. Is domination necessary to the survival of civilization? I thought about this all the time charged with the responsibility to teach Idaho history to my graders , which is largely the history of Indigenous people. What would have been the most collaborative path forward?
I completely agree. It seems like the historical pattern has always been one of manifest destiny drive by a sense of entitlement to natural resources regardless of where you find them or who already possesses them. And that sense of manifest destiny is directly proportional to the power differential of those who will take over those who ultimately will be taken from. No thought to collaboration or careful partnerships.
It’s a narrative that just keeps getting replayed. I was thinking on the top of a mountain overlooking to ocean and the East Rift Valley today—-butterflies a flutter everywhere, gentle breezes, and lush green scenery that dreams are made of—-would it be so bad if everyone just let people be? Celebrate how a diversity of people choose to live, and stop fighting over resources, nationalism, racism, etc and then everyone wins? Is there a necessary tension that maintains global systems? Or will a handful of people just always suck?
Thanks. Really. Thank you. Your posts bring back great memories, but even more they give impetus to complete a plan my daughter has proposed. We hope to visit Taiwan as a family. While living in Africa, and doing Land Cruiser dirt trips all over Kathy gave us a name that may be less well received in Asia. We were “The Gang of Four”. Nonetheless we have added 2 more and I sincerely hope we can see Taiwan through a slower pace, a more encompassing style than I did as a missionary there and later as a businessman. I have no illusions about losing- what was it- my fossilized incorrect language habits? Thanks again for your windows into a new version of Taiwan that seems to be more integrated, more self aware, and less frenetic about being the production point of the world. Am I getting the right impression?
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Eric. The Gang of Four! I love it. And I always love hearing about your adventures.
I thought about you today as Trish and I were driving up the very narrow Highway 197 toward Chishang. Reminded me of a particular trip up into the mountains you and I once made not far from here.
Taiwan does seem different than it did in 87-88. But I wonder how much of it is due to my more objective lens? Being mostly literate is really amazing…
Finally getting a first row seat to these remarkable adventures! It’s as complex and rewarding as the paella last night, but perhaps the bit that will linger with me most is witnessing your genuine curiosity and delight and connecting with the Taiwanese people. They’re as stunned by your facility with the language as I am. I don’t understand the content of your conversation, but the animation and laughter of these exchanges says that we’ll all be turning over these moments of connection for a long time to come.
Aww shucks, Trish! Having you here is a dream come true. I’m sorry it took so long. I can’t wait for your guest post this week!
This is fascinating. The fascinating vignettes you use for describing your experience underscore the rich (but somewhat troubling) history of occupation by other countries. You can see in the culture the influence of these occupations and how they shape the diversity of the country now, but it seems those occupations left some psychic scars on the country as well? Is the paella a result of Spanish or Portuguese influence, or something that the chef just brought with him?
Thanks for still reading all this drivel, Sid. Taiwan and China both retain persistent wounds from the Japanese occupations of both places. I haven’t seen this in human-human relations, but the historical scars are still very present. Even one of pieces I read in my studies at TLI discussed Taiwan’s disgust at Japanese leaders’ visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.
The paella was Nigel’s brilliance. The best rice in Taiwan is grown in Taitung County, and of course the seafood is plentiful here. The dish appeals to traveling westerners and Taiwan folks alike. However, he does have to explain often to Taiwan people that it’s supposed to have the crispy crust on the pan. They often think he burned it. :-)
Certainly not drivel! It’s been inspiring to witness your experiences there through these posts.
Amen!
Sid, I just kept wondering if colonization is ever a good thing for indigenous people. Is domination necessary to the survival of civilization? I thought about this all the time charged with the responsibility to teach Idaho history to my graders , which is largely the history of Indigenous people. What would have been the most collaborative path forward?
I completely agree. It seems like the historical pattern has always been one of manifest destiny drive by a sense of entitlement to natural resources regardless of where you find them or who already possesses them. And that sense of manifest destiny is directly proportional to the power differential of those who will take over those who ultimately will be taken from. No thought to collaboration or careful partnerships.
It’s a narrative that just keeps getting replayed. I was thinking on the top of a mountain overlooking to ocean and the East Rift Valley today—-butterflies a flutter everywhere, gentle breezes, and lush green scenery that dreams are made of—-would it be so bad if everyone just let people be? Celebrate how a diversity of people choose to live, and stop fighting over resources, nationalism, racism, etc and then everyone wins? Is there a necessary tension that maintains global systems? Or will a handful of people just always suck?
Because greed, right?
Great aspirational thoughts and ideas. Maybe our evolution will eventually allow us to get there?
I’d love to see it!