Foreigners and the “civilizing” of Taiwan YOU’RE ON the street, minding your own business and a mother and her six-year-old daughter pass you, but not before the kid pokes out a finger and says, “Waiguoren! Waiguoren!” What is your reaction? Do you even care? Is the mother at fault for not educating her kid about [...]

As Aesop once wrote: “While I see many hoof marks going in, I see none coming out. It is easier to get into the enemy’s toils than out again.” SO IT’S all over, including the shouting. Bush supporters are cheering, “We told you so!” while the Kerry camp, including most of the expats posting on [...]

History & Culture > Falun Gong (parts 1-3) I ALWAYS had the impression that Falun Gong was slightly kooky Chinese aerobics with some nickel-a-pop Indian mysticism thrown in. There’s a big sign for them on the side of a building on a corner in Shihlin just before you go through the tunnel to Neihu. I [...]