my little vacation back to taiwan was absolutely excellent...great being back with sunny and seeing a few other friends too, the food, city, sights, and so on. for the most part it felt like i'd been gone a few weeks to a few months...not two years. the trip there and back was fine, everything i brought home made it in one piece, the weather was beautiful...and i was able to do, eat, and see most everything i wanted to do.

the old neighborhood was the same for the most part but with a few major changes...it was weird walking around again and shopping at sheng li's for everyone's little requested items. had to have bubble tea...the caramelized strawberries...bargaining for the best deal on eyewear...

i wasn't overwhelmed or weirded out by being a minority again...or being illiterate. the only thing that got to me and we're only talking for minutes...was the boxed in feeling of being in the city. i had forgotten how closed in everything is and how narrow the streets are....but i got used to it again very quickly. i miss my morning don bing with cheesa made by big doo doo...and the occasional hot milk tea.

i have figured out that i wouldn't move back to taiwan to live permanently. i had been thinking about moving back for a while, but being back there again made me realize that living in taiwan isn't for me. i definitely plan on visiting again, but living there...is now off my little list for possible moves. hopefully, the next trip will be as good as this one.