5 Things I Learnt From Taiwanese Dramas!!
Don’t say one can never learn anything from watching dramas on television.
If it’s Taiwanese drama you’re talking about, then I must say that the endless episodes and never-ending drama series do offer a rare “lesson” once awhile.
And I counted 5 of such lessons! Am I lucky eh!?
Laugh out loud, my dear TaipeiDreams fans!
P.S. Mind you, I am not an avid fan of television-watching, much less of watching Taiwanese televised dramas. Still, may I present you the lessons..
1. Taiwan rain is very special
It’s true, really.
Just pay special attention when you see the drama characters-in-the-rain scene. Often, it is a scene where the characters exchanged moments of sadness.
Look beyond the frowning and fuming. Check out the characters faces: See any raindrop anywhere? Observe their hair. Not a hint of wetness, is there?
Try spotting any moisture on their clothes.. No chance you can find a wet spot in their pristine clothes. Or maybe their weather-wear has advanced technology in keeping moisture out?
Taiwan rain or their rainwear – both are truly very very special!
2. The most popular item in a Taiwan restaurant menu
No no, the most popular item most often ordered in a restaurant is NOT any Taiwan food – if Taiwanese televised drama will show you!
The best (or most hilarious!) scene I’ve seen so far: An actor sat in a classy Western-style restaurant and was given the menu. He opened it, closed it in a second and turned to the waiter.
“Give me a hot coffee!”
I don’t know about you. But I have never ever settle into a restaurant and (no, no need open then close the menu) before placing an order of “coffee”! In Taiwan, or elsewhere.
Maybe “coffee” is a special item by itself in the menu of restaurants in Taiwan, after all! But is there not a whole selection of coffee to order from, such as American coffee, capuccino, blue mountain, in-house coffee – than just “hot coffee”?
3. How best to react when faced with SHTF* reality
* SHTF: Sh-t hits the fan. A situation when what’s bad becomes terribly worst. SHTF is one of the key ingredients in melodramatic Taiwanese dramas..
Amazingly, the televised tales do teach us ways to handle those SHTF times! And it is demonstrated in the dramatic scenes, one episode to another – series after series.
So how do Taiwanese drama characters face the incredibly contorted realities their scripts throw at them?
D-e-n-y.
Always indulge in denial. Whether the protagonist express denial vocally or in thought form. He or she will always just deny the reality of what happened. Just say the perpetrator can’t be that evil. Just say the situation is not as bad as it already is!
Just say.. Just deny. Don’t miss it: There’s always a scene of blatant denial, and denying – in nearly every episode!
It’s almost like the drama director’s telling them: Hey, it’s not time yet for you to discover the facts (or truth)! Or move the plot ahead!
Deny deny – and the viewers will be dragged along haha! Cunning storytellers!
4. How NOT to react when faced with SHTF reality
* SHTF: Don’t know what’s SHTF? See lesson above.
Hey, this one is actually a positive lesson! Believe me: From the Taiwanese dramas, I learnt what NOT to do when faced and dealing with life’s exasperation.
I will NEVER, ever
Ask and whine: “Why? Why?”
Ask and whine: “Why me?”
Ask and whine: “Why is mine such a hard life? What have I done to deserve this?”
Ask and whine: “Why is that person (the perpetrator) so evil?”
Ask and whine: “Why have I been so (fill in the blank, something like “cursed”, “unlucky”, “weak”) to have given birth to (or spoilt, or befriended) that person (the baddie in the drama)!?”
5. The ultimate solution to all problems!
No no, not endless verbal exchanges. Guns? It does work in Taiwanese drama but no, that’s not it!
Aha, then it must be crying, tears and more tears? Well, you’re getting there..
The solution to all unresolvable problems as Taiwanese drama taught us: Kneel down.
Anywhere is fine. From hospital bedside, to somewhere outdoor – and raining heavily! Just kneel.
And oh, before one kneel – one bow first. *
* Don’t forget the bowing, that’s what my wife just reminded me.
Okay I confess: While I pen this funny post, she was following the Taiwanese drama on TV. Thanks dear!
Thanks to you too!
Thanks, my dear fan in sharing our passion in Taiwan travel escape!
I appreciate you signing up for TaipeiDreams updates via email.
Appreciate enough I want to dedicate this special gift post to you.This is a special funny post I penned and meant for you subscribers only. Just sharing out loud some funny thoughts I had, from watching Taiwanese dramas on TV.
Original. Funny. Inspiring – again. 🙂
Dave 🙂
