Deep Thoughts, By Tai Jefe

So I've been here for 10 days now and here are some initial and random thoughts about anything and everything I've experienced in Taiwan:

- The public transportation system is awesome. The MRT (their version of the El) is easy to use, fast, cheap, clean, and gets you most places in the city. Anywhere it doesn't go, a bus certainly goes. However, there seem to be hundreds of routes and its a bit more complicated to figure out. Soon enough I'll have that down too.

- Car and bus drivers seem to operate as expected. They stop on red, they yield to pedestrians, and they don't drive on the sidewalk. On the other hand, scooters do not follow any of the above mentioned rules and make up about 50% of the automobiles used. I've learned to look both ways multiple times when crossing a street.

- The food is solid. I haven't tried a whole lot though for a couple reasons: I've been very busy and many places only have menus in Mandarin so if there aren't any pictures I'm screwed. But so far, the fish, bakeries, and fruit jump out at me. The fish is fresh, the bakeries have delicious bread and pastries, and the fruit is amazing.

- 7-11 stores are everywhere! They have everything you'd expect in the states: drinks, snack food, essential bath needs, and even Slurpees (I have to try mango flavor). But 7-11 is so much more here. It has a lot of dinner food (some solid quick noodle meals I might add). Its where you buy a cell phone number and then buy additional minutes for it. And its even where you pay all your utility bills. Huh??? I can't wait to walk in to 7-11 and get a mango Slurpee and pay my water bill. Thank you, come again!

- They love fashion here. It seems like all they buy is clothes. I needed a towel and had to go to 5 department stores before I found one that sold anything other than clothes and shoes.

- The beer of choice here is Taiwan Beer. Seriously, that's what its called. It isn't bad. Similar in taste to other Asian beers I've had. And the can says "Gold Medal" so you know its good. I should note that its the only Taiwanese beer I've found so maybe that's why it won the gold.

- Besides other Asian beers (including Essential Beer, its Korean and I can't wait to try it), I've seen Heineken, Guiness, Stella, Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller High Life (champagne!), and Busch. The Busch four pack is the best. Not only does the can have the Busch logo once in English and once in Mandarin, but the plastic casing has a guy enjoying a Busch and hanging out with a couple of attractive ladies in bikinis. I don't recall ever having that much fun while drinking Busch back in college.

- Besides 7-11, the other easily found US establishments are McDonald's, Starbucks, and Subway. I've also seen KFC, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts, a three storied Long John Silver's, and Chili's. But the early winner of the Huh?? They Really Have That Here? Award is...Lush. That's right, the beauty/lotion/whatever store on Armitage near Bancroft's place and my old place. I've seen two locations! I didn't even realize they had multiple locations in Chicago. Maybe the lady readers (hello ladies!) are thinking "duh Jeff" but I didn't know.

- Speaking of the ladies, let's end with the Taiwanese chicas. They don't like to wear a lot of clothes and it upsets me. Why can't their shorts and skirts be of a more reasonable length? Oh well, I'll make due.