One Year in Taiwan, The Good, The Bad, & The Why (Part 1 of Part 3)
Welcome back to Taiwan. Ugly Green Military Bag- My friend Jon, gifted me a military-style backpacker bag from the 70's before I left Tempe, Arizona. I left Tempe, AZ, for a teaching job in Zhongli, Taiwan. The bags from flight #542 spun around the carousel in Taipei. I didn't have to talk to anybody. I wanted to hold onto that moment. I hoped my bag never came. Wait a second. That would have been dumb if I lived the rest of my life in the Taipei airport. Living in the Taipei airport still tempted me. The next 24 hours scared the shit out of me. A new life in Taiwan loomed. I knew two things about Taiwan. I knew my toys as a kid were made in Taiwan. I also knew about the Taipei 101. I only knew about the Taipei 101 from by building/mapping geek friend, Trevor. If somebody spoke, what could I say? Could I say I know you guys made some wicked toys in the 80's. Grab The Ugly Green Bag I strapped on my big boy shoes. Reality...