A few weeks ago, the Forumosan known as Volviic was tidying up in his house in Tainan and he came across a box which, on closer examination, turned out to be mine. I guess I left it there before moving up to Taipei in 1999, perhaps even before then.
Volviic passed the box onto me yesterday, and going through its contents this morning has brought back many memories of the 1990s. There are photos (taken on film and developed the old-fashioned way) of Volviic, myself and an American who’s long departed for mainland China touring Penghu. The youthful, innocent faces. The impressive amount of hair on our heads!
Then there’s the typewritten manuscript of the very first article I wrote for China Post, an account of a hike that appeared in 1996. Plus photocopies made in a library when researching another article. Imagine that. I used to do my research in libraries, and not on the web.
There’s also a certificate from the bushiban where I worked 1991—97, granting me the title “Outstanding Teacher.” Christmas cards from students. Half a dozen cheap printed-in-Taiwan English-language paperbacks (Joyce, Poe, Hess etc). A Vietnam guidebook written by a couple of Aussies who I’m met while they were researching it.
Oh, and one long-dead earwig.