Had an interesting chat with a friend a few days ago, a long-termer who said something I couldn’t help agreeing with.
He described himself as being unwilling to try new things in Taiwan due to the huge number of disappointments experienced in the past. “The food’s good here, so I won’t try other restaurants. I take my vacations overseas,” that sort of thing.
He has a good life and is happy here, but, well, what can you say?
I was kind of that way in Taiwan. Things could be so frustrating that when I found a good thing (restaurant, pub, place to shop, hairdresser, etc.) after long periods of time trying to find that good thing, I stuck to it. I see it as a way of weeding out the annoyances as much as possible.
In my six years there, I only spent one holiday in Taiwan and regretted it bigtime. I was more stressed than before when the “holiday” was finished.
Taiwan is a highly stressful place to live. It’s not easy to see just how stressful it is until you leave. People often think they have the easy life there…but the day-to-day annoyances can take their toll. How many of you have neck aches, back aches and trouble sleeping??? It’s easy to get into a mindset where you just can’t be bothered trying new things anymore, because you know you will end up annoyed!
It depends with me. Sometimes I have to identify what the disappointment is and where it’s coming from. If it’s something that is related to the past then there’s no justification for me not to get out in Taiwan to try new things. It’s not like it’s going to change when I move. The disappointment is within me.
But if the disappointment is an experience related with Taiwan, then yea, I’m really adverse because my experience here has been that it can be $$$ costly to be disappointed.
I don’t like being disappointed, but I hope that I never let fear of disappointment stop me from trying new things or pursuing something that I really want. It’s a general attitude about life, I suppose. I tend to be pretty positive and hopeful about things, so I doubt I would ever become like you describe. But you also say your friend is happy, so as long as he’s content that’s what really matters, right?
It’s easy to make a living here, but the life really takes it’s toll. I think I would have the same problems in Vancouver, though, as well as having a hard time to make a living there. It’s me. I know it.
I’m a habitual person. I like to stick to the solutions that work. I go to such and such restaurant because I know the foods good. I watch re-runs because I know the program is good. I like old jazz and blues because I know the tunes, and it works. I read books by familiar authors because I like the style, and the last book was good.
I really need a haircut but the only hairdresser that worked for me doesn’t work there anymore and I’m too freaked to find another one.
I don’t really like taking holidays. I find the transit and arrangments stressful, and what the hell do you do when you get there? I need to find someone to go on holidays with, and she can make the decisions
Taiwan became a sort of a holiday for me once I got settled in. That lasted a long time. I didn’t need to go anywhere. Now I do. Hmm.
I’ve always got the desire to try new things in life, though. That desire ultimately pushed me out of Taiwan and back to school in another new country. Afterwards, it will be on to another new country in another weird place for another weird job.
Sticking with certain resturants, tv shows and hairdressers(especially good ones) isn’t being adverse to disappointment. IMO that’s just sticking with what is working well for you.
Not getting out to meet new people, doing new things in a place,etc.IMO is probably more disappointment-adverse…
The pleasure of doing something new nearly always outweighs the disappointment along the way. I have enough dvds and music to sit out 10 typhoons in a row. I’d rather go out and go exploring the mountains, the sea or some new eatery, or happy hour, concert, movie etc…
I am just wondering if most of you living in Taipei city, since I found that is one of the most stressful cities I have been.
I would say the non-stop hard-working culture does take toll on people’s mindset. And sometimes they can get so rude that prevent me from trying any new things.
Plus, though the outward of the city may be open, people still tend to keep and conservative mindset and judging other people in thier back!!! that is another annoyance I encountered while I am in Taipei.
However, now the life is great. quite peaceful place in Nantou I have found and ready to spend some of my time here seeing green trees and wonder parks.
Speaking of holidays, if you can try some remote places from time to time, you may enjoy it. that is my experience.
I’m averse to meeting tmwc because I know I’ll be disappointed that the silly prick STILL won’t drink a beer. And won’t have cut his hair yet, either. Or have built his damn rocket. Which he promised me a ride in.
Disappointments are inevitable when you try a number of new things, but then so are gains. I take disappointments in stride, but I relish the gains. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Don’t be so disappointed with someone else’s choices, man.[/quote]
You give me your signature line for advertisnig porpoises, and I’ll let you have a ride in the rocket when it’s finished.[/quote]
Send me the banner or whatever. Still, though, are you quite sure your product or service is sturdy enough to withstand the adverse effect of apparently being endorsed by me? Think carefully, now.
I must admit, porpoises are among my favourite small ceteceans.
It’s easy to get into a mindset where you just can’t be bothered trying new things anymore, because you know you will end up annoyed!
