Since I’ve gotten out of quarantine, there’s been a few statements I hear over and over:

“I arrived in Taiwan back in May last year, and I never left…”

“(Famous Taiwanese person) is back in Taiwan, escaping from Hollywood/Silicon Valley”

“Everyone is back or has been back.”

“I can’t get a reservation. There are too many refugees back.”

“Are you a COVID refugee too?”

The New York Times has even been covering it:

• Taiwan, a Covid-19 outlier, is selling something scarce: life without fear of the virus.

• Covid? What Covid? Taiwan Thrives as a Bubble of Normality.

There has been so much opportunity, good vibes, and connections with new and old friends. Taiwan seems to be the place to be. I think the biggest difference that I notice here is that there’s just a lack of ambient anger that is prevalent everywhere in the US.

I just extended my stay in Taiwan for a few more months…