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Adjusting to a new city can be tough. Aside from a constant state of sweat, Taipei is very easy. The people are friendly, the food is tasty, and the public transportation rivals any major city I've known.

During the day the city bussles with corporate types. Despite hosting a greater population density than New York, Tapei residents will surprise you with their friendliness. The Taiwanese openness to Westerners was explained to me with ancient Chinese lore. A sheltered frog lived in a shallow well. He was naive because he never left his well to see the outside world. Evidently, so as not to be small-minded frogs, the Taiwanese are genuinely interested in the newcomers to their little island.

At night the city comes to life. Locals come out of the A.C.ed indoors to eat and shop at the myriad night markets. Neon lights pulse overhead while fried food sizzles on crowded streets. Exotic smells of funky new foods fill the air and our nostrils. Favorite foods include: fried stinky tofu, glazed quail eggs, and pork dumplings.

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is Tapei's metro system. For a fraction of NYC's subway ticket cost, the MRT connects its denizens to most parts of greater Taipei. Its so efficient and so clean. Clean enough to eat off the floor, except that food and beverage are prohibited on the train. I really do not miss the hassle of a car. Good-bye auto insurance, parking tickets, and breakdowns. Hello convenience.

Negative experiences: My camera is lost.

Vocabulary Word: Cesuo prounouned (Sahs wah) means toilett. Surprise onset of stomach illness created an opportunity to learn how to ask for cesuo.

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