After 10 fascinating days in Taiwan, Alexa and I came away with a strong appreciation for the country’s friendly people, efficiency, and progressiveness. Here are some of our observations: 1) Disability rightsEvery subway car, waiting area, bathroom, and other public space has ample priority seating and mobility assistance. The urban landscape is designed to include people of all ages and abilities. There are some inventive approaches to finding roles for the physically disabled, such as blind massage spas in the underground malls between subway stations. 2) Courtesy and kindnessEverywhere we went, the Taiwanese people were eager to help us find our way. Cab drivers left their cars to direct us at train to bus transfer stations, servers patiently communicated through Google Translate, and strangers on the street would approach us to help if we appeared lost. Taiwan has a courteous culture. For example, people queue up neatly in lines while waiting for the subway, and stand patiently as the car doors open to let other passengers through, speeding up boarding for everyone. Litter is virtually non-existent. We once opened a bottle of water on a train, and a woman next to us warned us of a potential fine. There is a clear social contract to keep public spaces clean and usable for all. 3) Quick and delicious food cultureWhile Taipei does not lack high-end, chic restaurants, the city is dominated by casual joints where $5 USD easily feeds two. Servers buzz about the restaurant, sometimes eating from their own plates when they have a spare moment. We usually walked by the kitchen and ate in the back because food is sold for directly to patrons on the street for take-out. 4) Progressive valuesBased on information from our walking tour guides, diverse titles in bookstores, and visible protests, Taiwan has a strong right to freedom of speech. Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia for press freedom, and its score from press freedom monitor Freedom House is on par with the U.K., France, and the United States. The country’s sensitive political status makes for heated debates over the relationship with mainland China, and there is a clear push and pull among Taiwan’s citizens, who welcome open debate. Taiwan also has an efficient transportation system, universal healthcare, and family-oriented public spaces, making it an appealing place to live. There are breastfeeding and baby changing rooms in every subway station, high standards for hygiene and food safety, and beautifully preserved national parks. 5) Convenience is king7-Eleven, Family Mart, and other convenience stores are never separated by more than 2 blocks, and often less than that. Need to file your taxes, drop off dry cleaning, buy transportation tickets, use an ATM, or choose from a few hundred snacks and beverages? These conveniences are on your block in Taiwan, which has 5,000 7-Elevens as of July 2014.
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September 2018
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