My 32nd day in Germany. Still I do not want to return to Taiwan. Many Taiwanese abroad miss food, snacks, and the night markets there. But night markets and street hawkers are the least I would like to think of. How can someone be content with such crowed, noisy and unsanitary places? Plus those street hawkers pay NO tax from their profits and block the narrow pedestrians as always. It is nice giving it a shot only once in a long while. I am still not willing to sacrifice the quality of life for such convenience. I would be happy to walk for 20~30 mins to do grocery shopping and stock my pantry before holidays because all shops are closing. Only when people are willing to give a little convenience away, can they enjoy the quality of life.
I even worry that I will have a hard time again to adjust my eating habits back to Taiwanese styles, just like I did after return from my French trip earlier this year. Everything I like is much cheaper here compared with the price in Taiwan, cherries, strawberries, not to mention a wide assortment of inexpensive diary products like yogurt (gosh, I could only remember the spelling in German!!), cheese, and many countless others (except eggs). Where can I find 200g Brie in Taiwan for only 40NTD? 250g jogurt for only 13NTD? And how about 1kg cherries at 80NTD? Even the price in France is cheaper than that in Taiwan! How come have I developed a western palate even though I am 100% raised in Taiwan? Perhaps it is still too early for me to miss the stinky tofu?
There are other reasons that drive me away, jobs, political issues, and others. In terms of job opportunities, I can already accept myself looking for a job in China now. What a dreadful development for Taiwan, when the opportunities of getting good jobs and job variety are shrinking?
But the reality is I have to go back anyway, at least in the near future. What should I do in exchange for a permanent stay? Do I just ask too much? The prospect looks so dim equally here or there. Life is tough and there is no heaven on earth, but I just want to stay where I feel more comfortable with.
I even worry that I will have a hard time again to adjust my eating habits back to Taiwanese styles, just like I did after return from my French trip earlier this year. Everything I like is much cheaper here compared with the price in Taiwan, cherries, strawberries, not to mention a wide assortment of inexpensive diary products like yogurt (gosh, I could only remember the spelling in German!!), cheese, and many countless others (except eggs). Where can I find 200g Brie in Taiwan for only 40NTD? 250g jogurt for only 13NTD? And how about 1kg cherries at 80NTD? Even the price in France is cheaper than that in Taiwan! How come have I developed a western palate even though I am 100% raised in Taiwan? Perhaps it is still too early for me to miss the stinky tofu?
There are other reasons that drive me away, jobs, political issues, and others. In terms of job opportunities, I can already accept myself looking for a job in China now. What a dreadful development for Taiwan, when the opportunities of getting good jobs and job variety are shrinking?
But the reality is I have to go back anyway, at least in the near future. What should I do in exchange for a permanent stay? Do I just ask too much? The prospect looks so dim equally here or there. Life is tough and there is no heaven on earth, but I just want to stay where I feel more comfortable with.
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