Thank you and the End of the World

The culture here still blows my mind sometimes. I mentioned before that it is culturally ok for people to take your laundry out when the washing machine stops so that they can wash their clothes. It would actually be rude of you to not leave your laundry basket there for them to take your clothes out for you if you’re not there in time to do it yourself. Last week when I had to do laundry, I had to take a girl’s laundry out since there were no other washing machines available. I waited a minute or so before starting to take the clothes out. In the middle of doing that, she came in and actually apologized to me while I was apologizing to her. It was crazy for me. This kind of behavior doesn’t stop there, whenever I get on the school buses, the bus drivers will always say thank you to each person as they are getting off the bus as if you did them a special favor or something by riding on the bus they drove. When I take my trash out whenever the garbage truck comes, the workers say thank you. I guess it kind of makes sense somewhat because you’re supporting their business but this kind of people treatment isn’t what I see and am used to in the US. It makes me wonder how the world would be different if we were more polite to one another and in tune to the different cultures around the world. 

A tornado hit a part of the city yesterday. From what I’ve been hearing, that never happens. The news had reported that a man prophesied that the end of the world was upon us and that 5/11/2011 was going to be the start of it all and that Taiwan was going to suffer a huge natural tragedy that would claim the lives of millions of people. 5/11/2011 came and went and nothing happened. The tornado that hit 5/12 was an odd occurrence but no lives were harmed. The prophesy did lead an older man who was suffering from depression to commit suicide by jumping off his balcony out of fear. It’s such a shame that anything like this should happen. 
My time here is coming to a close. Just a couple more weeks before the end of the semester and a few more weeks before I step onto American soil again. It’s a little unreal and my heart feels heavy just thinking about it. 


Location: Taipei, Taiwan

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One thought on “Thank you and the End of the World”

  1. CHRIS EARL GETTLE

    I felt my first earthquake in Taiwan, its kinda scary at first. I agree that people are very polite, especially when dealing with elders in the family. Sounds like you’ve been able to see so much of Taiwan.

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