Do You Find Yourself Just Sitting in Taiwan?

[Tomas]

You seem really unhappy and angry in Taiwan. I think you should leave if you can. You don't like the place although perhaps you will come to change your mind if you stay for a while.

Minquan is a glorified high school. Of course you hate it and won't learn anything there.

Anyone who goes to Taoyuan to get out of Taipei and clear their head obviously doesn't know what to do in Taiwan.

I've been here 3 years and I totally feel this way. I'm also a very sociable person and love to go out, but these last 6 months I've been so out of it. I thought I was just depressed being here, so over CNY I went on this extravagant unplanned trip all over the place for 2 months. Came back here and it's back to being judgmental of everyone because everyone besides me sucks and just watching reruns of NCIS on Channel 74 because apparently that's the only show that's on. Ever.

I have unfulfilling days at a school where I feel retarded attending. I'm trying to make my business grow but there's nobody competent that can help me do the menial stuff and I'm being overloaded with work (which I guess is good). I didn't even finish my own company's website yet...hung up on graphics ATM. I stay up until 4AM like right now because I'm also working on my own secret massive project, but I have to do crap for clients too that doesn't require my brain power, just my time...the worst part is that I literally feel like I'm wasting time at school. But! I have to graduate because even though I want my own success, I still need a degree at least to SPONSOR MY OWN FRIGGIN VISA. I'm 23 and am a sophomore in Uni. My situation at MCU is pretty favorable right now (get $25k a month from the government and an American accredited program), but I literally feel like being there is killing me. We have a "multimedia" class where we make animations by drawing pics in MS Paint then putting them in a PPT. Last week we had to "embed a video in a web page", and we had 4 hours to do it, IN A GROUP. My group waited for me because they knew I could just do it quickly. I showed up an hour late, got my grade docked for the day because I missed an hour, and then I "embedded a video in a web page" in 10 seconds by copy pasting youtube embed code and changing the size. He wouldn't let me leave early because it's 丟臉 for the other students that I can do it so quickly. So, I had to sit there for another 3 hours and 50 minutes.

You go outside and try to drive home where you witness an accident where nobody is helping, then a 7-11 delivery truck passes you on the left so when he gets in front of you he can just pull over, 4 busses almost side-swipe you, and then you get to the restaurant to buy some dinner and you realize, "oh, it's just noodles with different sauce on it, my bad, with this exotic of a name that doesn't make any sense, I was under the impression that it would be something new to try", then it starts pouring on you the last 20 seconds before you get home.

I like to get out of Taipei once every 2-3 weeks just to clear my head. Yesterday morning, the weather was so nice I thought I would drive to Taimall, even though I hate that mall, but I couldn't think of any other reason to go to Taoyuan. After I bought a new shirt and some shoes (finally had my size), I go out to find...RAIN. I got stuck in Taoyuan for 5 hours before it stopped raining and I felt like I could drive home. Worst 5 hours ever. I sat in a wangka. There was no way I was going to leave my scoot scoot and bus it back...that would mean I would have to go back to Taoyuan to get my scooter. *insert puking smilie*

I need to sleep now, got statistics at 9AM! EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY TOOK 2 SEMESTERS OF STATISTICS AT Zheng-Da THEY WOULDN'T TAKE MY CREDITS. I'm pretty sure Zheng-Da's statistics class is better than yours, Mingchuan. Whatever, I'm using my same final project. Let's not forget PE at 1PM! And this Friday is a mandatory assembly thing where we have to listen to some girl give a presentation about her "international volunteer experience", whatever the fuck that means. Good job, you got to visit starving kids in Africa and share Jesus' love with them. Why didn't you just take the plane ticket money and donate it you self-righteous bitch? Don't go to the assembly, you get "2 conduct score demerits" (yes, we have a conduct grade) and have to do 8 hours of community service or something.

I need to sleep well and get ready for my awful tomorrow. When it will probably rain, again.

Feiren, I think Mike029 is a kid, around 20 years old. He's a bright young guy. He'll figure it out at some point.

[GuyInTaiwan]

I'm always wary when people talk about a place being a hidden gem or having an underground scene. If a place has its shit together, it should be fairly evident to anyone who spends even a small amount of time there. The rest is just a set of excuses. It's a way of being able to define coolness by defining the boundaries very vaguely, and then moving them when and if necessary.

[Abacus]

I think some people are mistaking boring with the natural process of aging.

[Icon]

I think some people are mistaking boring with the natural process of aging.

Bingo.

Seriously, in our Western countries, working age people come home from work, plop in front of the TV and that's an evening. Most of the time. Maybe, if they are creative, a class here and there, some handicraft, a couple of hobbies on weekends. Back in the ol' country, people head to the bar/disco on Friday night, beach on Saturdays, soccer game/church on Sundays. And that's it. Laundry, supermarket, paying the bills, those take precedent.

People our age -I've noticed we old 'mosa timers are about the same average- work and get tired. When we were students, boy, every day we had an excuse to do something silly. But then I was on a scholarship, didn't have much money but didn't have to worry where my next meal was gonna come. Everything was new, so anything was sufficient for an outing. Now I have to sweat it up for the salary. And I do not have the time/energy to do stuff anymore. My house is nice and cozy. I have AC in summer, heaters in winter. I love the peace of being at home, I have everything I need. And to be honest, every time someone says "let's go out", I think to myself "but I am confy where I am, why?" I am outside of the house all day, at work. I'd rather be at home with my pets than outside hanging out. You have to really convince me "look, there is a new hot springs in Yangming Shan, you'd like to come? hey, there is a new bakery in Hsinchu, has some awesome brownies" to go out. The novelty has worn off and I have to spare my time and energy.

Then you have the other extreme. I have an exfriend whose avoidance to stay at home put a strain on our friendship. I dreaded her calls because she could not just go out to see a movie or something. As a matter of fact, for her, it was a matter of not being at home. I had no desire to just wander the streets aimlessly. Even if I drew a plan, she'd torpedoed it but would not provide an alternative. It was annoying beyond words. I tried being a friend and talked to her and told her, if you are getting me out of the house, there must be an objective. See a museum, visit a specific place, take pictures. No, going to 85C is not an objective. After the third try, I gave up. No more answering calls. Drastic but effective. Now when she calls, she has a plan, we do something, and come home at a decent hour. I have children at home who need me, you know?

[tommy525]

Yes, I don't see the pleasure of hanging out in a bar anymore. AFter you have done enough of this and that, its not fun anymore period.

I much prefer to come home and hang out with my cat who waits for me on the porch and upon hearing my footsteps MEOWS loudly, runs to the door to greet me, i put on his harness and he runs down the stairs with me in tow for his walk.


And its great at home, i can drink my fav drinks and eat what I want. Awesome.

I will go out to show a visitor the sights, but me going alone? Its not that fun really. And this would be true of any city iv lived in for along time.

but all in all theres more to see and do in Taipei FOR ME, then in the bay area.

[headhonchoII]

Try working a busy job and having small children. Underground music, is that music played in tunnels .

I used to play team sports but like many people getting a bit older picked up an injury. I think there is a bit of a gap in the market for people who are 35+ and competitive team sport oriented myself.

The other problem is though that with children you tend to give your Saturday's and Sunday's to them so you just end up with little 'me' time or hangout time.

I think the climate and short daylight hours here are not great for getting out in the evenings though, that's a minus in my boom being from a country that has sunlight until 10pm in mid Summer.

[bob_honest]

Working late.
TV.
Sleeping.
Driving to work.

Just what I ever dreamed of.

Well, at least work is fun.

[Halo]

Conversation?
Well I am still kinda of new in TW, but I came from Europe and before that the USA. The one thing I find that makes Taiwan a bit less interesting (still oK) for me are the people and they are not bad people. This is a place that is ruled by work and school. People I knew in Europe did more on weekends and even found relaxing places to go at night. But more than anything else they had more interesting conversations with you. That for me makes life more intersting. A lot of the local people I've met in Taiwan don't talk much about a variety of topics even if they speak kickin' english. That makes a huge difference for me.

In the US I hung out with people that loved to attend cheaper sporting events, liked to go on long drives, found new local music haunts, hung out at outdoor concerts for hours and the girls didn't always hide under shade at the beach and wear heels for the wrong things. If people are forced to work a lot they are going to be worn out and not interested in much. I'm finding so far. The "tiredness" atmosphere seems to be influencing my a bit, just my observation.

[headhonchoII]

Halo, you've pretty much figured out Taiwan. While people are friendly ,apart from the increased cultural differences, many don't have much to say.

[tommy525]

believe it or not there are interesting people, maybe you dont know how to turn em on and they find you boring as well? Just maybe.

Or you don't have a common enough language to get into details?

true taiwanese dont go snowboarding or water skiing on a weekly basis or attend a lot of concerts but if your chinese was good enough many do have things to say bout whats happening in the world? Just a thought.