I regularly hang out with my friends, who are also foreigners living in Taipei. Most often, it's after work for dinner or a Friday night out, like this time. Tonight, we went for dinner at a Thai restaurant. We love Thai food so much, and this particular restaurant is so authentic that eating inside makes you feel like you're not in Taiwan. (Taiwan is not Thailand, okay?)
We feel so comfortable dining here that we vent all our complaints about Taiwanese work culture, what it's like being a foreigner here, and how both the good and bad affect us.
Our complaints were so many that discussing them over dinner wasn't enough. So after dinner, we headed straight to the nearest bar.
To my surprise, the bar was selling Engkanto in different flavours. Engkanto is an IPA made in the Philippines, my country. I had recently seen this IPA gaining popularity in the Philippines through social media, so I was excited to try it. I chose the Mango Nation flavour, as the other two had a somewhat intimidating look that made me think they might be too strong.
We sat down and begun to resume our discussion about life here in Taiwan as a foreigner.
So, here you are. Too foreign for here. Too foreign for home. Never enough for both.
Living in a country as a foreigner for so long has changed my perspective on life in many ways. I've developed a sense of belonging here, yet at the same time, I don't fully belong. I don't belong mainly because I don't speak the language. It's even strange to think about how I'm managing to survive here without being fluent. Well, I really enjoy being an NPC here. Just moving around without talking to people, I dont mind them, they dont mind me.
On the other hand, I feel a sense of belonging because I enjoy the same things that the locals do. Very convenient transportation system, health insurance, beautiful and safe places, and many more good things that I cant just enjoy in my home country.
Going back to my country after years of being away, whether for a vacation with my family or just personal travel, feels strange now. It’s odd that I can fully understand the people there, yet I feel different. My views on life have changed, my perspectives on how things should be are different, and the way I speak makes me seem like a new person to them.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I didn't intentionally change myself to become someone different or to identify as different from what they used to know.
Similarly, the feeling of belonging is there, but not entirely at the same time.
In spite of that, we all agree that living in another country as a foreigner is a great experience. Imagine having friends from many different countries—when you travel to their countries, you can visit them and have a free food and place to stay.
Anyway, let me give my verdict on Engkanto before I post this.
First, "Engkanto" refers to a mythical monster in human form, commonly used to scare people in rural areas in the Philippines or to describe someone who is very unattractive. As for the IPA, I think it has a strong taste with a subtle fermented mango aftertaste, without losing the IPA flavour. The initial kick is strong, and after a few shots, it may make you feel sleepy, which could be good for a restful sleep. I'm giving it 8/10—losing 2 points because it is expensive.
It's really annoying how many people get that wrong
Hahaha! I know right?