Things I've learned in Taiwan...

This, my friends, will be an ongoing, free form post. Traveling to Asia for the first time definitely comes with some major culture shock. Not the least of which includes the squat toilets. Why didn't anyone warn me of these? Some of this list will be strictly silly observations, and some will actually be helpful tips. Anyway here is the list as it stands now, and I will be updating it weekly as I continue to make cultural faux pas.

1. You see a Western toilet, use it no matter what. There’s no telling when you’ll see another one.
2. If said toilet has toilet paper, steal that shit.
3. Karaoke is awesome, but KTV is better. Especially when it is on a tour bus with six of the most ridiculously awesome people.
4. Hair is okay everywhere except a swimming pool, must wear a swim cap.
5. PhD candidate = Intern.
6. The 7 Eleven has everything and I mean everything, and they are on every corner.
7. Speaking Chinese is the equivalent of riding a bike, balancing a book on your head, and reciting a poem. Yes, it’s that hard.
8. Always, always bargain.
9. Don’t give a Taiwanese person 6 tequila shots. Ever. For that matter that's just good form for everyone.
10. When they say National Park, they mean theme park.
11. Mangoes are the best fruit ever. Period.
12. Never stick your chopsticks down into a bowl of noodles, always lay them across the top of your bowl. Sticking them down in the bowl looks like incense and is disrespectful to their religion.