i knew bob beet, or “old” chung li bob for the better part of 15 years. he was working in the SFU pub when my group started hanging out/studying in there (shortened the commute when studying was over). i didn’t really ever get to know him well, but he was always a class act towards the customers, and never one to shy away from a darts match, especially in the days of the old dungeon. i believe that he had already come to taiwan by the time i pulled taps there , as i don’t remember working any shifts with him.
not long after graduation, i was working on call for the LDB and looking for something to do. i wasn’t satisfied stepping immediately into a 9-5 with suit and tie, which many other business grads were looking for. i had had a number of friends from HK and taiwan through senior high and university, and had even come to taiwan for a week once before with one of them. i was playing keg league softball with a bunch of bob’s friends, and one of them mentioned that he was in taiwan teaching ESL. he also said that they were looking for teachers, as bob had asked him if he was interested. he wasn’t, but i was.
i emailed bob a number of times, and he explained everything clearly, from what went on in a classroom to what life was like over here. no forumosa/taiwanho back then. within three months, i was on an airplane.
though we weren’t close, and the school did have a dorm, bob had told me to come and stay with him. he was something of a private guy, not overly so, but just a guy who liked things his way. he also had a girlfriend, so this was somewhat inconvenient for them, though he didn’t make a big deal about it. the first night in taiwan, i was jet-lagged and turned around. i’d been traveling before, so it was more about being in a place where i severly lacked communication skills more than anything else, i guess. bob was home when i got dropped off there, and he took me out to show me around a little, so that i’d have some idea of how to get around the next day. we saw the local university, and had a few bevvies at a local pub, where i met a few guys who spoke pretty good english. one of them is still a good friend to this day, and all of them have been extrememly helpful throughout my years here. the thing i remember most about that night was that a number of people saw us walking around and yelled out, “hey bob!”. he was something of a local VIP in his neighborhood, just from being a good guy and a good teacher.
anyways, bob helped me to get set up in terms of living, and he did the same in terms of teaching. he offered a bunch of material, and talked with me about how one could teach “outside” to make some $$$. he wisely told me to get my bearings on foot before trying on a set of wheels. he offered his computer to help keep in contact (internet cafes were `$150 per hour back then for dial-up), and moved his house around so that i had a tv to watch. he wasn’t always up for partying, as he had a full schedule, and he was a few years older than the 25 year-old who had moved in. we still shared a few pops from time to time, and he always made time when i had a question about teaching etc.
after three months, i found another place to live, which was more convenient in terms of my schedule. i do remember dropping by a number of times to chat, and always being welcome. i moved around quite a bit back then, and once moved a short distance away from his place. as i didn’t have a TV, he invited me over for every F1 race (inluding those at 3 AM). i wasn’t nearly as passionate as he was (he did, after all, manage to buy an F1 steering wheel/foot pedal computer attachment in taiwan, which NOBODY else could get).
anyways, the years went by. didn’t see too much of bob - like i said, he wasn’t a partier, and he liked his life/schedule. he came out for footy once in a while, and to the pub for one or two maybe once every two months. he’d sometimes walk to a bar closer to his house and have a few after a long day of teaching, and walk home afterwards. though he had been quite the guy back home, he was a careful guy here, especially after he had had one accident 9 years ago which cost him a couple of teeth. never too much, and usually close to home.
this past weekend, it appears that a similar story played out. there was a bowling tournament in chungli, and a few pops afterwards. from all accounts, bob nursed at best three beers over a couple of hours. around 3:30, he decided to go home, though a friend who was to crash at his place stayed and later took a cab.
bob didn’t make it home.
from the evidence provided, it appears that he somehow hit a vehicle parked on the side of the road unloading stuff. picture evidence from the police at this point seems to confirm that story, although some aren’t buying it. i’d like to see the video camera tapes from that intersection, as there are certainly cameras there. but that won’t bring bob back. nothing will. he’s gone, and taiwan is a worse place for it.
if you are interested in reading about yesterday at the morgue, murphy has written a good account here (not for the particularly squeamish): onionsack.org/forum/index.ph … 54#msg9154
i want to stress that bob was a careful, smart guy; someone who always looked out for himself and others. unfortunately, this happened to a guy like him, rather than to someone who goes out and gets blasted every night and screams around the city with no helmet on (read: deserves it more). some people who know/knew me may wonder about why i’m here saying the previous - well, i’ve changed my behavior in the last few years, especially with marriage and boy as part of my life now. please take care of yourselves, and look out for each other. this means taking a cab even if you’re “fine”.
bob, you were a classy guy, and a great teacher to 12 years of students in taiwan, who will ALL miss you and your classes. as will those of us who were priviledged enough to know/meet you. RIP, brother.
