Forumosa Recognizes blog.IslaFormosa.com

I just got an email today that really made my day. After all the effort, Forumosa has recognized my website. I'd just like to thank my followers wherever you may be. Drop me a line if you like what you read!

http://www.forumosa.org/favorites/ (I'm 3rd from the top)

I know I've been delinquent writing lately but I'll be back very soon when I feel the urge.

In the meantime, enjoy my archives of close to 400 entries. Use the SEARCH FUNCTION to find what you'd like or check out my LABELS.

Be sure to also check out Forumosa.com's innumerable posts about just about everything Taiwan.

How many Taiwanese does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Here's the story behind the punchline.

I bumped into a female Taiwanese colleague in the elevator at work the other day. It seemed early and she looked like she was leaving so I asked her where she was going. She said home.

"Oh, to do what?," I asked.

"To change a lightbulb," she said.

"Why not later after work?," I decided to ask.

"Because a plumber is coming over to change it for me," she said matter-of-factly.

"Ok, can't you change the bulb yourself? I mean it's easy," I questioned.

"(Oh you silly foreigner) I'm a Taiwanese girl," she replied.

Yes, you certainly are, I thought.

Turns out that she didn't know anything about switching off breakers or electricity I guess and was willing to pay to have someone do a simple thing like this. This can happen in Taiwan where the girls often really play the part.

So to repeat from the beginning:
How many Taiwanese does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Evidently, in a Taiwanese girl's case, it might mean at least two...

NIN makes a date with Taipei

NIN is coming to Taipei.
This will be a big concert for alternate music lovers out there.

Date: August 12, 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 20:00 (18:00 Admission)
Venue: South 101 (Nankang)
Fare Zoning: A / B / C (all standing)

On-line ticket sales start April 13
Contact's ticket sales http://www.ticket.com.tw/dm.asp?P1=0000009580

PRICING:
Before April 30 special: A zone 2600 / B zone 1800 / C zone 1200
Before May 30 special: A zone 2700 / B zone 1900 / C zone 1300
Regular A zone︰ 3000 / B zone 2200 / C zone 1600

See you there!

Don't call me Laowai, bitch!

Are you a little tired at being called Laowai? Don't like to be lumped in that category? It seems to be a tad too negative for my liking. Kind of like lumping foreigners in a 'can't be like us Chinese category'.

But what else can we be called? WaiGuoRen (foreign person) is ok although still implies outsider (not like us). YangGuiZi (foreign ghost or devil) is a bit much.

[More about those terms here]

Or should we really be thinking about what to call ourselves? I think it's about time we had an endonym to call ourselves, the foreigners living in Taiwan. Enough of these antiquated and loaded names (exonyms) that locals have for us. Anyone have any ideas?

Foreign friend? Foreign guest? Foreign slave? Something else?

Alternatively we could just start calling each other LaoWai and make the word our own much like some Taiwanese have twisted the term TaiKe.

When I see you on the street and you hear me say, "What's up LaoWai?" you could reply "Laowai, long time no see". It might worth the trouble to say how locals react.

On a final note, a friend of mine once drunkenly blurted out, "Caucasian is just Asian with a 'Cauc' ". He was a 'Cauc' alright for saying that. But at least he took a shot at claiming a stake to the name.

Take your best shot whether it be serious or idiotic. What name should we, the foreigners of Taiwan, lay claim to?

Oasis: China's Loss is Taiwan's Gain

Oasis will be in Taipei for a show on April 3.  Saw this show when I was back home.  Oasis as always were in good form although the brother's still not on speaking terms (no stage interaction between them).  Also be forwarned that they are playing a lot of new songs from their mediocre new album.  A few classics though.  Should still be fun.

tickets

There's an interesting story about why they are coming to Taiwan and why all of a sudden.  It seems that they were rejected by China because they had participated in pro-Tibetan acitivities in the past.  Not surprising.  Well, Taiwan makes up the slack in their tour.  Don't think we're getting special treatment.  We're just the second choice for lack of a better place to go.

read more:

Taipei Times

IHT

PS. From that ticket site it looks like there is another big concert coming August 13.  3 big bands:

18:00 All-American Rejects
19:00 Hoobastank
20:00 Linkin Park

Google Street View Confirmed for Taipei

A while back I wrote about seeing a van with cameras on the top. I thought it was Google's.

http://blog.islaformosa.com/2008/10/google-street-view-coming-to-taipei.html

Turns out I was wrong BUT Google Street View is coming to Taipei anyhow!

This car was spotted roaming the streets and there's a video to go with it to boot.  

I can't wait for Street View to come here.  Taipei, as anyone knows who's been lost here, really needs it.

Wiki says "As of March 2009 the Google Street View camera car was seen roaming the streets of Taipei, Taiwan." wiki

Ice Saw

This guy just got a block of ice delivered to his market stall.  He plans to cut it with the saw.

From Blogger

Cat Hammock

These two cats were just loving this cat hammock, jostling for the better sleeping position.

From Blogger

Another Doggie Poop Sign

Taiwanese love those cartoon version doggie poops.  Obsessed with them, in fact.

From Blogger

Taiwan Has Never Been the Same Since...

Taiwan has come a long way since I first arrived in 1997:

From Blogger

From Blogger

Osama makes a Taipei appearance

From Blogger

Along with his buddies Mao and Che...

From Blogger

From Blogger

CNY 2009

Have trouble talking with that mask on? Want a mask that doesn't cover your mouth? This may be for you!


Selling firecrackers and fireworks in front of the park sign prohibiting fireworks in the park.

Random Around Town Cell Shots

From Blogger

The Goddess of Democracy guards Taipei 101.

From Blogger

Metropolitan Life sells using Peanuts characters.

From Blogger

Cadina potato chips uses movie characters to advertise. I detect a lawsuit coming...

From Blogger

Sportsac creates people entirely made of balloons.

From Blogger

Google advertises "What can you use Google to do?" Get a tip!

From Blogger

A bus has an ad for MOD (Media on Demand) on the side featuring Californication starring David Duchovny. Funny thing is, as far as I know, that series doesn't air in Taiwan! Great show though!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

No really!  In Taiwan.  I kid you not. And the smell is amazing.

From Blogger

In Taiwan they use tar pellets and mix them with the chestnuts and then roast them in a wok. The tar pellets insure that the heat gets all around the nuts and not just from the heat under the wok.  I wonder if they know the Christmas song describing this age old treat...

From Blogger

I remember traveling with my wife in south France and eating these. They were a fraction of the price of the ones in Taiwan. In fact, they were lying all over the place in France for anyone to pick and bring home...

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Thanks for reading and being a part of my blog!