Episode 7: On Observations and Assumptions

We all make assumptions. We all observe and judge. Living in Taiwan, however, has put a new spin on all of this for me. While I lived in France, the majority of people did not assume I was American based on my accent. They usually guessed English. They knew I was foreign, but they couldn’t pinpoint my nationality. For the most part, I don’t think anyone assumed, I was foreign based on just seeing me on the bus. In the States, you wouldn’t dream of walking up to someone who looks different from you and saying “So where are you from?” Here in Taiwan, you look at me and know I'm foreign. Most Taiwanese also assume you speak English and that you are American. It's true for me, but it would be a bit frustrating being German or French.

Although I’m getting used to it, I get stared at a lot, especially in Xin Zhuang. There are posters of white people all over, the same movies play here that are out at home, but people seem a little surprised to have me around. There are a few others foreigners around, but I can count them on one hand. When I complain, a friend said to me, “Well you knew you were going to look different.” But I wasn’t counting on people staring into my eyes or pulling over on their scooters to stop and look at me, or pulling their cars over. That’s when it starts to get a bit ridiculous. People also frequently want to talk to me as I walk down the street, either in English, Chinese, or even Taiwanese. I was once walking with a Taiwanese friend when a group of males sitting and eating yelled out “Hello” “How are you!” I politely responded and she asked if I knew them. No, I didn’t know them, but I’m used to people yelling out to me know. I’ve caused almost two scooter accidents when people were staring at my paleness rather than the road.

In short, the foreigners stand out. People quickly remember me at various stores and shops because the tall white girl with curly hair is easy to remember. It is quite nice when all of the vendors remember what you like to eat, and you only have to learn to say it once. It's not nice however, when you want to change your normal order. Now lately what other teachers and I have noticed is that the neighborhood is sort of watching us. I was waiting for the bus, when a group of boys pointed and laughed, and then I hear them talking about the school where I work. Now there are four other cram schools between the bus stop and my school. How did they know where I worked? Another teacher was told by someone in the neighborhood that they were pleased she didn’t’ smoke like the last teacher. They remembered that the last teacher smoked? He was here a month! So coming in and out of the building, I sort of get the feeling that I’m being watched, which is okay until people start making assumptions about you.

The first day I met my landlady she asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?” I found this an odd first question. It’s one of the first questions I get asked. I was the first female foreign teacher at my school in about 1.5 years. Some kids didn’t think I was a new teacher, I was just another teacher’s girlfriend. (I still remember one girl saying, "But you?! You're girl teacher." Yes Candy, girls can be teachers too.) Now kids have pretty active imaginations, you even talk to someone, and they think you’re dating. One class thinks I even stole a boyfriend away from another teacher. Depending on whom you ask in Taiwan, I’m dating any one of three guys. I’ve been told my Taiwanese boyfriend is very handsome, I explained he was friend, they don’t seem to believe me. People in the building see me with one of my friends, many of whom happen to be male, and all of sudden I have three boyfriends. So I’ve just decided that Wei Bei Si gets around. Her imagined personal life is way more interesting than my actual personal life.




Wei Bei Si is my Chinese name, given to me for official documents. My last name Wei, pronounced “way,” was as close as they could get to Wilson. Bei si (bay si) is very close to Beth I think.

All the best,

Wei Bei Si