Ex-pats in Taipei

April 15th, 2013

Kiev, Ukraine

Song of the Day: The Presence of the Lord is Here by Byron Cage

Mood: Excited

Ex-pats in Taipei

While I was in Taipei, I met many Americans enrolled in language classes at Taida, the top university in Taiwan. They want to develop their Chinese skills for a variety of personal and professional reasons. I noticed two general types of people within this group: the Rockets and the Sparklers. The Rockets want their learning to take them to places of wealth, prestige, and power, while the Sparklers are content to shine, or simply chill, in Taiwan.

It's fun to be at Taida (technically National Taiwan University) because I
know one of the valedictorians from the '70s/'80s (logo from wiki)

Rockets

The Rockets have a developed sense of where they want their career to go. While in Taiwan, they are starting new organizations, making connections, and generally striving to get the most out of their experience. They see their time in Taiwan as limited unless one of their ideas hits it big.

The Indefinite Immigrant just launched his company, English Arcade.
He hopes to provide an affordable way for Taiwanese citizens to
receive quality English tutoring.

Sparklers

The Sparklers have less clarity and vision. Typically, they have graduated from U.S. colleges, but after a couple of unpaid internships, or an unsuccessful stint on Broadway, they are looking for a reset button. They spend more time enjoying the present and may not have ambition for their careers. Although it is seldom the goal, many Sparklers stay in Taiwan for decades by teaching just enough English classes to live. They spend the rest of their time relaxing, partying, and getting high.

Sparklers stay in Taiwan because it is easy to live. Everything is relatively cheap. For a white American guy, it is often easy to find a girlfriend due to cultural associations of skin color and citizenship with wealth and power. In addition, it can be less cutthroat and competitive here. A playwright who might struggle to shine in New York City could be a valued member of the theater community here. Many white people are chosen to appear on game shows simply because they are white and can speak Chinese. Taiwan makes foreigners feel awesome.

I've had at least three friends appear on Taiwanese/Chinese TV
game shows including Chinese Idol (source: ICNTV.net)

Real-life examples

While I was trying to sleep one night, a group of Sparklers came into my friend's apartment without realizing I was in the next room.

One guy was so excited because he had just applied to the "perfect" graduate school in Taipei. When asked what he liked about the program, he admitted that he didn't know much except that the first year was free for foreigners. He found the program online and didn't even know if the degree would help him get a job. Ostensibly, he could share with his parents and friends in the U.S. that he was getting a master's degree, but in reality he saw it as a way to live comfortably in Taiwan for another couple years.

Another guy worked at a comedy club and needed to make a budget. A second guy offered to help and they negotiated the price of one joint of marijuana per hour. After reflecting on it, they realized that the helper might get too high to be productive so they changed the deal to one joint per two hours.

Representative picture found on myspace

I spent more time hanging out with both groups and I noticed that Rockets liked to talk about what they were creating while Sparklers complained about their situations. Rockets framed their experiences in the context of a broader life story while Sparklers talked about how to pass the time.

My experiences reaffirmed that I am drawn to people who want to change the world instead of just live in it. Their energy is exciting and their visions are inspiring. However, I find people most attractive when they use their privilege and education in the service of others. They can be ambitious like rockets or content like sparklers. Their example challenges me and makes me a better steward of my blessings.