VN June 2023

Vetnews | Junie 2023 29 A voice recording in Mandarin and English on the subway trains also indicated that silence must be kept to avoid disturbing other passengers. Mobile phone use is absolutely excessive – I noted that a vast percentage of people constantly humped over, peering into screens. I noted that it was mostly used to play games. Walking in the prime shopping district in Taipei on Sunday afternoon, bustling with people, it was eerily void of human sounds – cars and traffic dominated noise, but no human voices. Food courts and restaurants did not have the joyful sounds of human interaction – families of four would sit together having a meal, but each on their mobile phones. It is evident in their marriage rate of approximately 5.36 per 1000 population, which shows a consistent decline over a long period of time. Their population has turned the corner and has been in decline since 2020. The Taiwanese culture is thousands of years old. Spending half a day with a tour guide at various memorial and religious sites indicated a society steeped in ancient tradition, beliefs and values – the complexity of which will take a lifetime to appreciate completely. It was my experience that the Taiwanese live towards a deep respect for society, for themselves and for their history – and that they carry it forward from generation to generation. Obeying laws comes naturally for the average Taiwanese – just observing a small group of people waiting to cross a small side street (single lane) at night – they will wait until the pedestrian light shines green before crossing. No car in sight, even on the main road. Probably frustrating for most South Africans, but it is indicative of a nation that will pay their taxes as and when due, will make sure their vehicles are roadworthy and will honour agreements and contracts. Regarding food, the author is not unaccustomed to foreign flavours and trying new things. However, finding something that suited my palate was exceedingly difficult. In short, when asked by my wife if I would like to have steak, leg of lamb, or a braai with lamb chops and boerewors upon my return, my answer was an unemphatic: “All of them”. Following a few years of Covid-19 lockdowns, it was evident that the highest possible value exists in human interactions. Relationships rekindled and started with our IVOC colleagues are invaluable – speaking to someone face-to-face over dinner makes the sharing and collecting professional content effortlessly. I am concerned that Taiwan was a peek into the future of human relationships. Guard against the alienation of friends, family and colleagues. Speak, interact, and embrace differences. “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” (John Donne, No man is an island, 1572 - 1631). v Caramelised duck tongue, at approximately R900/kg. Events / Gebeure Taipei at night Family transportation I was not surprise I was not surprised – I have heard that the Taiwanese population is not that tall. The picture below shows the author with a few people in an elevator (the author, in the red shirt, is not exceedingly tall by South African standards at 1.89m (6 foot 2).