Taipei Mall
I really like the people here in Taipei. It is very crowded but not so crowded that it is overbearing. It is a hustle and bustle of a modern city, a very modern city, but because they are so orderly there are very few problems. It is a very safe town.
One of the things that I have found so interesting is how they follow the rules with little concern for anything. Sometimes it actually feels a little too robotic. For example there are lines on the platforms in the MRT, the Taipei Subway; to mark where you should line up to let people out and to orderly let you in. This is totally different than anything that I have experienced in other countries including ours.
At the same time there are things that are not followed to closely, like traffic rules. Motorcycles can drive everywhere including the sidewalks. Cars kind of follow the lanes but really they just honk a lot and drive where they feel like it.
Students are expected to do very well in class and follow the rules. The teachers have the authority in the classroom and the school. It is a nice change from the USA. Of course the kids are kids and they like to try to get away with anything and everything. The parents are parents, they always support their kids, but when it comes down to it, your word is the word and they respect that.
Maybe because of the rules and the orderly conduct, maybe it is just cultural, but the people seem to sometimes be on auto pilot. There is very little emotion; there is very little personal conduct on the streets, but at the same time if you ask them for something they are very happy to give it to you. As a matter of fact you usually get more than what you asked for. Quite frequently we get a lot more than we asked for in restaurants. Free desert is a common extra.
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