Life in a Bag... Again (on leaving Taiwan and heading for SE Asia)

   There is a first time for everything and this week was the first time I had to say good-bye to a foreign country that I learned to call home.  It has been exactly one year and four days since I first stepped foot in Taiwan and today I leave for a new adventure traveling around South East Asia.  This time I won't be going back to Taiwan after my travels, instead I plan to go home to California.  I am very excited about the next few months.  I will be starting out in Indonesia, then I'll fly to Phuket, Thailand and make my way through Thailand over to Cambodia, up to Laos, over to Vietnam and down Vietnam to finally fly home.  It's going to be crazy!  Needless to say, this week my emotions were not of excitement and anticipation, it was mostly a heavy heart and hesitation.  
   After living in Taiwan for a year, I finally feel like I have worked hard to make it feel like a home.  I have gotten used to not knowing how to read, not being able to understand and eavesdrop on neighboring conversations, being stared at when I open my mouth, communicating by gestures and broken words, zipping around my scooter ignoring all traffic laws, avoiding other vehicles ignoring all traffic laws, fireworks, humidity and the kindness of strangers.  There were some really low times, times that were so low all I wanted to do was jump on the next plan to America... anywhere in America.  But all of those low times have made the high times so very high.  Now... I really don't know why I'm leaving.  I have met the most amazingly beautiful people in the world.  I can tell you that my absolute favorite thing about Taiwan...  has to be the people.  Generous, content, big hearted people... in the most genuine way possible. 
    Of course there are a whole bunch of other things that I will dearly miss.  Being able to surf once or twice a day work from two hours to six hours (six hours being a very long day) and still make a good living.  Having real healthcare... healthcare that I was not afraid to use because it was there for me not for them.  Chasing and anticipating typhoon swell.  Feeling at all times, wonderfully safe (I am sitting right now at one of the subway stops with a huge surfboard bag a big backpack and Chris's backpack strewn around me, my laptop taking my full attention and not for one second do I think that I am in any sort of danger.)  Even though at times I got sick of the food, I know that I will really miss it.  Especially beef noodle soup.  7-11s. To sum up, I will miss this laid back easy lifestyle and I may come back one day.
   I have downsized what I've accumulated in one year and fit it into one bag again and will now embark on a new journey.  It's off to Bali tonight! I'll do my best on updates!