I Took A Bullet For The Team!

Let's see, it has been a few days since I put up a post.


We are now in Bangkok, Thailand. It is Saturday morning, the 12th of December. We flew in yesterday from Taipei after five adventurous days in Taiwan. You cannot believe how Rayleen and I have run from one gathering to another, had to catch a train or a plane at some early hour, stood on security checkpoint lines, immigration and passport checkpoint lines, or been "entertained" by someone all day or late into the evening. Let's not forget the tours our hosts have been so gracious to give us. And in most cases, we have received gifts from practically everyone we have met. We have a significant amount of Taiwanese tea (excellent taste). I've even got a little stash of 60-year old tea (I might let you try it - it's like aged scotch - so smooth).


Let me say here that none of what I say on these blog pages in anyway should be interpreted as me complaining. The parents of our students and alumni are all wonderful people, well meaning, and wonderful hosts. They will do anything, and I mean anything to make us comfortable. It is almost like we are gods. If you look at anything on a tour that is for sale, they will buy it for you. They all love what we are doing for their sons and daughters at Brewster. All my comments are to commentate on what I am personally experiencing. I'm actually laughing at myself and how provincial I am in so many ways. The big American who has not been out of the United States (not counting Canada and Mexico) for nearly 40-years. This trip has been a real eye opener for me.



Where was I? Oh, yes, I have ate every kind of food you can imagine. And that's not counting all the stuff that they call food that I just cannot see any benefit to eating. For one thing, I wouldn't be able to get it down my throat. Look, in Asia, if it lives in the water, swims, crawls, or floats, they will eat it. I've been a real trooper and taken a bullet (more than one) for the team. I've worked every hard at being a good guest. Last night it was caviar. Now I know this is a very expensive delicacy, but eating little orange fish eggs is not my idea of an appetizer. Let's not forget the foie gras (goose liver) I ate yesterday for lunch. Try that for laughs. I've eaten a fair amount of uncooked fish now that it is no longer a big deal. When I get back, I'm going to suggest my office team all order out for Susi.


The buffet breakfast has caught on worldwide. Each entree is identified with a sign, e.g, "pork sausage." The only problem is that no matter what the sign says it doesn't look like any pork sausage I've ever seen. There are many examples of this. So my advice is not to get too excited by what you read on a card or menu. Nine out of ten, it will not taste like what you thought it would. Look I understand, the pallets of Asians are different than ours. They eat their food with the same level of enthusiasm just like we do. I watch them. Their eyes focus and their mouths water as the next order of some unidentifyable food comes out just as if it was the Olive Garden. I respect this. I just can't share their level of anticipation.

Enough about food. But the reality of it is that no matter where you are in the world food is the focal point of life. It just comes in so many forms, colors, shapes, tastes, and smells. Oh, those food smells. I've never smelled so many smells I've never smelled before.

You know what's funny. I've not seen that many westerners in my travels in these countries. You would think that when you make eye contact with one there would be some sign of recognition since we are really in the minority - something like a nod or smile - I'm not asking for anything like conversation or a hug. Nothing. It's like not cool to acknowledge that we see each other. It's like, what's the big deal - I'm cool.

By the way, the photo nearby is of me with Kenneth Liao, David Liao's dad, and Ming Lou Tsai, Gary Tsai's dad, outside Mr. Liao's restuarant.


Speaking of trains and planes, Rayleen, our consultant and by now friend, Annie Wang, and I, took the Bullet train down to Kaohsiung City the hometown of one of our recent grads, Dexter Lin and two of our present students Po-Wei and Anthony Lin. Not bad hurtling down the countryside in a fast moving train. Until this trip, I had never heard of Kaohsiung. It is the second largest city in Taiwan with some 2.3 million people. It has a significant harbor and is right on the southwest corner of the country. Almost as far south as Taipei is north. Due to the graciousness of our host, Hsiu-Lin Cho, "Shelly," mother of Anthony and Po-Wei Lin, we got a tour of the I-Shou International School (K thru 12). That's us at I-Shou School in the first photograph up top with Hsiu-Lin and some of the administrators of the school. I-Shou is part of a planned community. Not any planned community. This one includes a university, a five-star hotel, a huge shopping mall, restaurants, recreation section, apartments, and condominiums. Folks, they are not fooling around down there in Kaohsiung. This complex is one very ambitious project that you just don't see being built in the US any more. Our Kaohsiung visit included a tour of the old British Embassy, abandoned by the British upon the arrival of the Japanese prior to WWI, a ferry trip across the harbor, and the sight of a beautiful sunset. The evening ended with a tour of the Love River where the boats have colorful lights on them as does many of the shoreline sights. But, let's not forget dinner just before the boat ride hosted by the Lin boys dad, Wen-Shih Lin at the Palace Club in the Splendor Hotel. More shark fin soup, boiled chicken, and other Chinese courses that I was not able to appreciate the way my hosts did.


The next morning, we flew back to Taipei on the Bullet train where we rushed over to have lunch with the Liaos, Tsais, Annie Wang, Rayleen, and myself. Kenneth Laio had insisted that we not leave Taipei without allowing him to buy lunch at his Sunlit Teppanyaki Restaurant. Another great meal and another great time with some special people. It was here that the foie gras showed up.


After lunch, the Tsais insisted they give us a tour. They also wanted to help me shop for a suitcase. With everything we have received, my present complement of baggage was not going to get me home let alone to Bangkok. I got one of those large, you must check-in, suitcases that rolls along on four-wheels. I spotted them in the airport on our way here and thought that was a cool way to go. So what do the Tsais do? They buy me the suitcase. Not only that, I've probably mentioned I've caught a cold on the trip. In doing so, I've kind of lost my voice. Knowing this, or hearing it, Ming Lu Tsai and his wife, Li-Chu Li, now both known as Romeo and Juliet, insist on taking me to their doctor, who also is their son, Gary's, godfather. Dr. Pan has a medical degree from Yale. Off we go to Dr. Pan's office. Rayleen Davis, Annie Wang, and Romeo and Juliet are all in the examining room with me. It turned out just fine. Nobody got embarrassed and it was confirmed that I had nothing more than a common cold. TG.


Dinner followed, hosted by Shelly Lee, Austim's mom, at a very nice Italian restaurant. It was lots of fun and a nice last meal in Taipei before leaving the next morning. We had an alum join us - Winnie Lin '05. She did her undergrad at Indiana University and is now a research assistant in the International Business Division of SinoPac Securities.


The next morning it was off to Bangkok. I'll fill you in later, but right now, Rayleen and I are off to a beach and then a winery. Pattaya is our next stop. That's Mr. Survit Hassavayukul (Wund and Garn's dad) with Rayleen and me after a lovely French dinner.