Photo: Trista di Genova By Marc Feltham / Wild East Comedy / Contributing writer It was 2001. I had reached the pits of despair and was seriously contemplating suicide. My previous life as a rock star was over, due to some ridiculously stupid life decisions and a penchant for chemical relief. I took a job…
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US man’s suicide in Taiwan court should prompt re-think of drug sentencing
Photo: Sky TV The Wild East / Editorial “I don’t want to live anymore,” Tyrel shouted, moments before he grabbed scissorblades from the magazine he’d smuggled into the courtroom and killed himself, jamming the blades into his neck. He didn’t make it to the hospital. Tyrel Martin Marhanka had just received a four-year prison sentence…
Read moreWhy I’m suing my Taiwanese landlady
The Wild East / Culture Shock Why am I suing my landlady? Out of principle, basically. She broke the law, and therefore needs to be taught a lesson so she doesn’t do it again. I reported my Taiwanese landlady, ‘Helen’ Lin, to the Tamsui police station a few months ago, on charges of ‘undue invasion…
Read moreBook-signing 6/29: ‘How to start a business in Taiwan’
Sunday, June 29 in Kaohsiung, author Elias Ek will be making a presentation and signing books. Wild East / Culture Shock Have you considered starting your own business but is not really sure what should be the first step? Not sure if Taiwan is an entrepreneur-friendly environment? Want to know the key points for a…
Read moreDihua street (迪化街) abuzz every Chinese New Year
Dihua St. is packed in the run-up to Chinese New Year, but its fascinating architecture and many great little shops are open year-round. Photo: http://journal.pristine.net Via pristine.net The name “Dihua” was given in 1947 by the Republic of China government, in reference to the city of Dihua (now called Ürümqi) in Xinjiang, and effectively joins…
Read moreI got in a fight at the flower market
Who woulda thunk… the fit would hit the shan at a flower market. WTF!???!! Photo: The Wild East By Joe Gui / Culture Shock, at The Wild East I got in a fight last weekend at the Jianguo Flower Market in Taipei; well, I guess it was more of a scuffle. It was about 6:30am…
Read moreCognitive dissonance and animal abuse: Get over it
You can help rescue and rehabilitate animals in your area. Here's the contact for getting involved in Taiwan: http://www.animalstaiwan.org By Hannah Hornsby / Special to The Wild East I care about animal rights. I have several furry rescued animal companions. I’m also vegan, so it’s pretty safe to say that I care about what happens…
Read more7-Elevens in America: How do they measure up with Taiwan’s?
Yours truly, reporting from the field, at a 7-Eleven in Tucson, Arizona. “So far in America, I’ve visited a 7-Eleven, a Circle K, and the AM-PM store. There is also a ‘QT’ store now, which is a novelty to this observer….” Trista di Genova, The Wild East / Comedy The 7-Eleven is a much revered…
Read moreHow to Move to Taiwan
Take the fast train out of wherever you are! Trista di Genova (and NTU students), The Wild East The following article is an expansion on class discussion with National Taiwan University students. The topic was “What to tell your ABC cousin about moving to Taiwan.” What to bring: Bring your own, preferably laptop computer because…
Read moreChina’s like Taiwan’s ‘asshole twin sister’
Take your Chinese medicine, or I hit you. Ron’s an acupuncturist practicing in the U.S. after having studied Chinese Medicine in Taiwan, then China. Follow Ron’s blog, “Adventures of 22nd Century Chinese-Like Boy” My friend Michael in Seattle, who is also an acupuncturist, wrote me an email recently. He noticed that my blog entries in…
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