Living a long time in Taiwan – the con column

1. Sound trucks. Jack hammers. Matsu processions. At 7:00 a.m.
2. Return home at age 65 to find Social Security bankrupt. WTF?!
3. The wife you inevitably find here likes to watch Korean soap operas.
4. “Canadian invasion” forces you to learn their geography and “culture.”
5. Could live long enough to see Ma Ying-jeou president of Taiwan.
6. Lots of stinky Tofu.
7. Watching your friends join you in a slow descent into insanity.
8. Losing at poker week after week – why can’t Bread ever fold in Cross?
9. Heineken overdose forces you to import microbrew beer yourself.
10. You might buy a car – along with the ensuing parking nightmare.

Bonus: Enjoy the look of shock and surprise when people find out you’ve been here since they were in Junior High!

Double Bonus: End up learning new romanization systems every couple of years.