On Being Stupid
The advantage of any European-looking foreigner in Taiwan has over me is they look foreign. I blend into the crowd and maybe my Mandarin is better. Therefore tricksters might not as easily pick me out. But sometimes it backfires. Take, for example, trying to buy some lychees. A very nondescript action, buying fruit. Yet I cannot explain to the man who'd rather be sitting in front of his fan on this scorching hot day at noon that I would like only some, not a bag that would feed three of me for three…