Taipei, TaiwanIdentity Loss

Travelers to Asia often overlook or purposefully bypass the continent’s lesser-known island country, Taiwan, in search of its more popular neighboring cities of Hong Kong and Tokyo. But having explored Northern Taiwan twice – predominantly the bustling metropolis that is Taipei – I am now more inclined to steer fellow wayfarers in that direction. In general, Taiwan has a lot to offer in terms of natural parks and hot springs, elegant temples, manmade sky-towers, antiquated shrines, and lavish shopping centers. And, the Taiwanese effectively mirror this dichotomous tone that envelops the country; locals are friendly yet reserved, traditionalist yet progressive, and multicultural yet distinctively Taiwanese. Plus, they are all-around fanatic about pan-Asian food, boba tea, karaoke, and communal activities. Seldom will one encounter a Taiwanese person dining or walking alone, and when visiting the country, this sort of collective ambiance becomes undeniably infectious.

I have a dear friend who resides in the country, and thus was provided with the hospitable, customary treatment that is bestowed upon foreigners: family-prepared dinners, group outings to the street markets, medicinal massages, and guided tours through the untouched countryside. I was instantly connected to the generosity, humbleness, and understated beauty that so encompassed a small, unassuming Asian island off the Southeast coast of China. Nonetheless, my initial rose-colored lenses towards Taiwan soon became translucent, as I was quickly brought back to the realities of travel: despite the irrefutable splendor of any city, there can also be malevolence. In Taipei, it is necessary that one doesn’t allow the beguiling environment to curtail necessary caution. I was reminded of this lesson the hard way…

After a tiresome day hiking through the remote, pristine jungles of Taipei’s desolate outskirts, I was ready for a relaxing evening. On the winding road back to the city, I requested that our carload make one more stop to capture photos off a stunning mountainside cliff. I opted to leave my purse in the car, as we were the only individuals in the vicinity…so it seemed. We returned to the car five minutes later and my friend said, “Hey, did we leave the windows rolled down?” Only as we got closer did we find the windows smashed-in and shards of glass strewn across the pavement. Panicked engulfed me, as I promptly recalled my unwise choice to leave my bag behind, which contained a great deal of money, several credit cards, an iPhone, and all identification documents. Luckily I still had my camera, but I was thereby rendered an unidentified alien in Taiwan – one of few countries without a United States embassy. Despite a diligent police search, there was no trace of the culprit(s)…or my identity. To make things worse, the consulate-equivalent for Americans was closed, as it was the weekend, and an impending typhoon was headed our way. I had no way out of the country. To calm my nerves while plans were underway to locate an emergency passport, the local officials graciously allowed me to use their phone and Internet to make alternative travel plans, and they provided me with tissues, endless hot tea, and Taiwanese sweet treats…all true to the endemic culture of Taiwan that I grew to love. Despite my unfortunate loss, the Taiwanese stopped at nothing to see me through it, as if I was one of them. I was truly blown away by such kindness… (If

you are an American citizen and ever in a bind while in Taiwan, seek out the American Institute in Taiwan.)