As you know by now, I am British. However, I have lived in Taiwan for more than 11 years, and I think that I am gradually becoming Taiwanese. Why do I say that? Well, firstly, I am starting to develop an interest in baseball and the NBA, secondly, I got really angry when the Taiwanese Tae-Kwon Do competitor was disqualified in the Asian Games the other week, thirdly, I really enjoy the taste (but not the smell) of stinky dofu, and fourthly, ..... I feel cold. The temperature has dropped to around 12 degrees celsius in the past few days, and I have felt really, really, teeth-chatteringly cold. In England, I would be walking around in a T-shirt and short pants at 12 degrees celsius, planning a trip to the beach, but here in Taiwan, I have been wearing layer after layer of clothing and still shivering like a Titanic survivor.
Which brings me to a question. If you were a penguin born and brought up in Antartica, I guess you would be used to the temperature and would feel OK at even sub-zero temperatures. But, if you were a penguin born in England, would you feel that a temperature of 0 degrees C was cold, or would your genetic programming tell you that 0 degrees C was roasting hot?
Or another question, why is it in Taiwan that people dress up in hats and coats and scarves and gloves when riding a scooter in the cold, but still wear sandals?
If you have the answer to either question, be sure to post a comment and let me know.
Pat.
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