Tips, impression of sympathy overflowing ?

" ...young lady's car stuck on the drive way --> we help her out, push the car onto the road --> she made it for starting the car --> but, she tipped us with dollar bill --> Then I said~ COME ON ! and leave with awful look on face..."

Hard to explain the feeling at that moment, recall it just now it maybe a bit of shy, anger, cultural shock and felt humiliated, frustrated. Anyway, I could never forget about the scenario from that day, around campus during my graduate study back in '96 or seven.

I wonder if most western people enjoy tipping the others for thanking over everything, in stead of first showing people their respect with humble eyes as a return. I truly believe the latter valued much higher, and in a noble way of course. However, some might still got their impression or education from seniors the naughty fact that money does talk well sometimes.


In my case, I took it more like a humiliation, because helping people is quite a honorable event in my life. I would never, ever show my gratefulness with money as a first thought. Especially, between two cultures distinctly different from inner thru outer.

Showing thank is not an easy thing once you figure out you cannot simply pay anything with dollars. However, it's not that tough yet once you find a way to show people your appreciation upon being helped. Well, there're bunch of different ways, good ways, in fact.

Good luck, amigo.

Weird smile out there

Most people here don't feel the same way as you do? I agree. In Taiwan, perhaps it's part of the culture here, people got to live with others' respect-free look shooting from every corner. That also explains why ones show their interrogatory look during your walk on street, usually with both eyes staring at you, but doing nothing meanwhile.

Someone curious might show weird smile around, but sometimes with angery eyes also possible. However, it's no harm mostly. Most of the reasons are, people are shy to speak up and nervous to greet you. That's all, that's us.

Take it easy.

Wana dig some more out of other Int'l folks' brains about Chinese world?

Try this: http://www.sinosplice.com/life/










or this for folks from JP: http://hotaru.jugem.cc/

Trustworthy mouth along the street

In Taiwan, if you don't have any friends yet, you might try the following tips to find some trustworthy help on street fast and easy.

1. owner of the well-organized store
2. ladies or men in neat business suits
3. cops or traffic police
4. parents with kids or seniors
5. school teacher if you can tell
6. other int'l folks in sight

to be continued......

Courtesy of guest

I've been not only once witnessing foreign people driving in a very impolite way in our cities, some even with special license plates. I wonder how they learned that kind of driving style from, maybe from taxi driver I guess.

Or, it makes them act wild just because local people simply looks careless about traffic at all... Seriously, I bet you guys not really knowing that most people live in here always treat int'l fly-ins more like their families. Good int'l folks return that with mutual respect, but how about bad ones? Yes, those drive like local taxi drivers, who should be shamed about their ignoring the courtesy a guest should reply to locals.

Well, my point is, guest should always behave as a guest.


ps. Some folks may say, why should I if locals don't really do so? I'll say, leave us the problem if you can't deal with it, don't be the problem. Thanks.

First we trust, then we share.

Reason for building this site is because I've been helped by int'l friends from time to time. Especially, when studied abroad back in '96, I really appreciate all those warm attention and friendly personality enriches my life.

Once they jump-started me in here, the good will keeps booming strong. That's why.