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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-09-27, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012. PAGE 19. Brussels native returns after teaching in Taiwan By Elizabeth Ross Over five-and-a-half years ago, former editor Bonnie Gropp from The Citizen interviewed me about travelling to Taiwan for one year. I left Jan. 16, 2007 and I never imagined to finally just be retuning now, May 26, after five years and four months living abroad. What began as a trek to a foreign place for one year to teach English had become my new home. It was not easy packing up and selling my two bedroom apartment of “stuff” collected over the years or saying goodbye to all of my students and friends. It was because my brother was getting married that I returned. It seemed to be a good time for me to come back and try to settle somewhere closer to family. My mother, stepfather and brother thought last year’s Christmas travel to Taiwan was a little bit far! Living in Taiwan had its differences and interesting experiences. The sights, sounds, tastes and smells were all so different. There was driving. It was a scooter and a motorcycle for me. I drove in typhoons and heavy rains. Igot stuck behind garbage trucks thattoured the streets daily playing loudmusic so everyone could run to throw out their garbage when they heard it. The tall cities with buildings soaring high into the cloudless sky, shaking with each earthquake. All of the traffic and people out during all times of the day. The millions of restaurants or food stands to choose from. The flashing neon lights as businesses and clubs ran all hours of the night. Early morning and late night firecrackers in the streets. Vehicles honking horns as a “here I am” warning on the streets. There were no children running free in the neighborhoods as they had after school classes, school bags full of homework to do every day and winter and summer break assignments. The food after all that time never really became good. It sure wasn’t like our western style of Chinese food. I could never accept eating rice for every meal either but I did eat a little more as each year passed. It was not easy to order in restaurants when few had English menus. I would point at pictures and hope for an edible meal. Every Taiwanese person would tell you to try their famous and favourite food, “stinky tofu” which was being sold on street corners and in night markets. It was something I couldn’t come within 100 feet of because the absurd smellof the fermented product was soterrible. Within my first year Costcoopened near my city and I can say, it saved me and became a popular hangout for all foreigners in our area. Taiwan is home to many food chains including McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Dominoes and a vast array of international cuisines and restaurants. There is a very large community of foreigners living in Taiwan so in the larger cities there is accessibility to certain foods and products but at a much higher price.In the local language I often heardwhat translates into “foreigner” aspeople stared and pointed at me. Although I felt like a foreigner and very different, some days it was easy to feel like a celebrity too! They would bring out cameras and some would hide to snap photos of me when they thought I wasn’t looking. I was given gifts or deals on things I would purchase. With time, my Chinese improved a little and I became more successful in talking to Continued from page 15 the sector. The federal government is focused on three program areas under Growing Forward. The first is a focus on innovation, including industry-led research and development as well as enabling stronger rates of commercializing and adopting new technology into the main stream. The second is a focus on competitiveness, including regulatory modernization, value chain round tables and reducing the technology gap. The final area is market development by breaking down trade barriers and improved standards in areas like food safety, bio-security and traceability. The shape of Growing Forward 2 is slowly emerging to the farming community. There have been some tough but necessary measures taken on the safety net side of the policy framework. At the same time, there is an increased focus on improving the entire sector in the long-run. The months ahead will focus on determining the best way to invest the Strategic Initiative funds for the Ontario Agriculture and Agri-food sector. Network ADVERTISE ACROSS ONTARIO OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY! For more information contact your local newspaper. 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Please send your resume to %51+055+*13,)31-)3% 3175 7  05/07*,"*)5+07*)73)5+*3,7&327 51075--&*,!7+3 5+*13,)31-)3% STEEL BUILDINGS F6''M (2()/FM ,M <'2S'2M ><(S'FM)3JM@=@@M?.?!M@@M ?.!M = *M %.@%!M @=M .*==!M ?=?M + .!M ?%*=M +.==!M 3:LM L:KM 0QRRM O:8R7KLK!M >OH:LLAM FDLLRM +,*==,*,?@@!M 000!EOH:LLAPDLLR!8Q! Months ahead will focus on investmentGraduation Brussels native Elizabeth Ross is seen here with the 2012 graduating Polar Bear senior kindergarten class in Taiwan, where she spent over five years. (Photo submitted) Continued on page 23