Obvious Diversion

I have a personal affection for Taipei as anyone who knows me or has seen the photo galleries on this site knows. As a result, I don’t point out this strangeness I tripped over as any sort of ridicule but as a curiosity.

The Department of Information of the Taipei City Government has opened up a website called English Corner that exists to help the citizens of Taipei learn english. That goal seems healthy, but here’s a sample of the english from their site.

Thank goodness you speak English. You put on the radio headset and say in a clear voice, “Help, help, the pilot is dead. I’m in a small plane flying over the mountains.” English can help you out on the ground or in the air.

Think that’s a little bizarre? Check this one out.

It’s natural to put something in your mouth when it is unfamiliar. Babies and dogs do it all the time. You see a big paper thing with lots of pictures and words…your eyes may tell you it’s a newspaper, but you can’t be sure.

…and it gets stranger still…

When I moved to Taipei, in 1999, I put things in my mouth here, too. People say that licking things helps you understand a new city, and it’s true. I learned a lot about my new home by licking things, and I’d like to share my experiences with you now.

I can’t even figure out what they’re talking about here but I’ve got some ideas that I think I should just keep to myself. Head over to the Taipei English Corner site to fall further down the rabbit hole.