Hello fellow Forumosans! I just got back from a 30-day trip to Taiwan and loved every minute of it.
However, I found a few quirky things about some of the Taiwanese. My children have been going to Taiwan every year over the summer. All three of them are regularly approached, especially when there are many people around, and they are touched. Patted on the head, brushed on the cheek, rubbed on the back, etc. In general, this happens to the youngest, a 3 year-old. However, even the seven year old still gets harassed. I know that the touching is non-sexual and done in a benevolent manner. However, this kind of thing almost never happens to us in the United States.
In my short stay, I witnessed this happen at least five times. Our family including in-laws will create a virtual human shield when there are large crowds around. I’ve jokingly said we should make the kids wear t-shirts that say, “please do not touch”. “Qing, bu kui muo”. I’d prefer the children to understand that unwanted touching is not normal. Also, the fewer unwashed things touching them, the better.
Has anybody else had similar experiences? I know my kids are cute, but you don’t need to touch them for good luck!
My children are grasping the fundamentals of ornery Taz type hissing & spitting, and much flailing of the limbs. They are reverting to their innate anti-twit self defence mechanisms.
If that fails to halt the nefarious advances of the touchy-feelies, then some glaring comments about hand hygiene, along with helpful directions to the nearest hand-washing facility, usually turns them away.
Not very sociable, but highly effective. :fatchance:
My dad used to live in Brunei, and me my brother and sister (roughly in the 3 to 10 age range) used to get ‘patted’ all the time. Same in Malaysia. It’s not just TW.
Living in China with a blonde two year old back in 1992 it was a constant issue. One day father and son went to the Hangzhou zoo, what a mistake! Another memorable event was waiting for his mum in a department store in Shaoxing. I kept wheeling him in his pram but with a steady sense of unease about the hordes piling up behind. Like a weird movie I coud sense them, but when I turned around they acted interested in the crap for sale. Eventually I wheeled him out the front, pushed the pram six feet from me and lit a fag. A horde of at least 30 descended on my poor boy.
Growing up in Malaysia in the sixties, I also have first hand experience of this phenomenon. Amazing how indifferent you become to all that attention.
We, my daughter and I, like it when people pat her head or hold her.
It seems that many of Taiwanese really like small kids and show honest affection to them.
Last week, When I took my daughter for swimming, my Taiwanese friend was worried as she saw strangers come up and touch my daughter.
I guess not all Taiwanese are comfortable with that.
Some how, I am not comfortable if it happens in my own hometown(Tokyo), but here in Taiwan, it is totally OK. I don’t know why… :s
My 10 and 7 year olds hate the touching. They now say “NT$100 to take my photo”, I think they hate the photos more than the touching or long conversations on trains and buses.
I have no kids, but I get that shit all the freaking time. Not kidding. I get touched about every day. Maybe people think I am just a really old kid?
And much like you say you get dirty looks and tongue clicking to “bu yao mo hao bu hao.” I get people acting like I am a total ass for asking them not to touch me. I had one chick yelling for the whole ride from ZhongXiaoFuXing to LiuZhangLi about what a horrible rude person I was to ask her not to touch my face. grrrrrrrrrr
I could deal with the touching if it was just a pat on the back on head but I hate people touching my childrens hands. When they’re young their hands are constantly in their mouths and the last thing I want is two sick children.
My kids have both grown now and just scream NO while swatting away hands:) Nobaody can say anything to me about that!
