Do You Find Yourself Just Sitting in Taiwan?

[tango42]

After being in Taiwan around 6 years, I find myself just sitting at home with no desire to go out in Taipei.

I'm a social person who loves to meet people in any situation, stay awake as long as I can to go and go, and get the maximum out of every moment in life. I travel nearly monthly around the world and twist and pull and pinch every experience from every moment.

But after being in Taiwan a few years, I've began to feel comfortable staying home in Taipei, which is not me. I thought maybe it was just me, but find it's not just me, and that my friends who have global experiences, now just find they have no motivation after being in Taipei for awhile other than sitting at home and doing home things.

[GuyInTaiwan]

tango: I know the feeling. I don't think it's entirely specific to Taiwan, but I do think it is exaccerbated by it to a fair degree. Last year, my wife and I went to Tasmania for a few weeks, bracketed on either side by visiting in-laws in Melbourne and Sydney. On that Tasmania trip, I had none of the stupid bullshit that daily life often entails -- commuting, office politics/stupidity, small talk, etc. Man, my mind went into overdrive. When I was awake, it was like my senses were alive, and I also gobbled down books and had fascinating conversations. When I was asleep, I had the most fantastic dreams. The minutiae of daily life blunts all of that and can really sap one's will to live life.

Every time I go to the north now, I feel completely overwhelmed. The sensory overload is really intense for me, but not in a good way. The day is carved up into a million little pieces that each demand complete concentration, yet they're not particularly meaningful or enriching in many cases. I have some respite from it down here, but there's still a lot of it. A lot of people seem to be quite into that way of life though, or maybe they just think they are, but don't know anything else. I actually find a similar thing with teaching. There's often a very shallow immediacy to a lot of what takes place in the classroom. As such, I often have to catch myself from just sitting and not really doing anything of merit. At the time, it seems like a satisfactory break, but it's not very satisfying in the long run.

[Mucha Man]

This somehow reminds me of the threads where the guy says he's been in taiwan for 10 yesrs and is noticing his hair is thinning. But back home in his 20s he always had a full head of hair.

[the bear]

This somehow reminds me of the threads where the guy says he's been in taiwan for 10 yesrs and is noticing his hair is thinning. But back home in his 20s he always had a full head of hair.

acid rain?

[Taffy]

This somehow reminds me of the threads where the guy says he's been in taiwan for 10 yesrs and is noticing his hair is thinning. But back home in his 20s he always had a full head of hair.

You too, eh? Must be something in the water.

[headhonchoII]

You need a wife like mine and then children to push you outside, nothing like kids for forcing you out of the house.

The weather in Taiwan is tough in the summer, Taipei is probably the worst because you had bad winters the last few years along with the customary stifling summers.

Be careful you don't turn into ' Fossil Man' though. That's a term I heard locally for men who give up doing stuff cos they are too tired and worn out and broke. I'm half the way there myself.

Taiwan is still better than lots of places in Asia though for things to do.

[Mucha Man]

This somehow reminds me of the threads where the guy says he's been in taiwan for 10 yesrs and is noticing his hair is thinning. But back home in his 20s he always had a full head of hair.

You too, eh? Must be something in the water.

Ahem. I was talking about a "friend." that said my mane has taken a turn for the better in the dry clime of northwest china.

[headhonchoII]

OP.
- Slippers
- Pipe
- Scotch on The rocks

Wait for death .

[Dangergyrl]

I try to take days off from time to time. Then I take a train to different cities in Taiwan. Not on weekends, when there are hordes of people out. I know everyone can't do this. Sometimes I can go to Taichung or Hsinchu, etc and find a quiet place (cafe, restaurant, maybe beach) that is not crowded at 2 or 3pm when everyone is at work or school. I go with 1 or 2 good friends or alone.
Then come back late at night. If I do this every other month they don't complain and it helps me really relax.

I do find I do the same things at home and don't go out like I did in San Francisco. Maybe its the crowds, starring or noise?
Also I don't visit friends after worknights like I did back in the USA. Maybe because my local friends are just too tired from work (live at home often as well) and my foreign friends that have been here for some time are not motivated to do much after work. I came back from Thailand not long ago asd had an experience like yours GuyInTaiwan.

sigh

[Northcoast Surfer]

I can relate, too. I'm pretty much a shut in here in Taiwan. I'm either in my house, on the farm, or at the beach. That's about it. I have no desire to go out or interract with any other people, drive in the pyschotic traffic, enjoy the smoke and grime from all the trucks, and of course the crowds of people who need to be touching elbows at all times!

However, when I'm back in America from July 1 ~ August 30 and during Chinese New Year, I'm hardly ever in the house except to sleep. I'm too busy wrenching on my automobiles, driving the twisties with my rag top down, doing home improvement projects (thanks Home Depot), surfing, paddle boarding, fishing, diving, hiking, camping, hunting, BBQing and going to Luaus. I have no desire to watch TV and I rarely look at Forumosa or use the Internet for anything other than email or perhaps shopping for another car to add to my collection.

The time wasted in Taiwan is simply the period I must wait until I can go back to the US and enjoy my life. Only 61 more days remaining until I depart for the good life!