A lesson on getting lost

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

My alarm went off, and as I opened my eyes I groaned. I didn't want to get up...at all.

I had to meet someone...someone I had already decided was strange. He had agreed to take an afternoon off from work to take me to Taiwan's version of the DMV to switch ownership of his car to me.

Yes...I bought a car in Taiwan.

Long story short, after an hour and a half in the "DMV", I paid him the equivalent of $1000 USD and he handed me the keys to my car. After congratulating me with a handshake, he was gone. I got in my new ride about to venture off onto the streets of Taiwan.

And then I realized I had NO IDEA where I was going or how to get home...

A moment of relief flushed through me when I remembered that I grabbed a map from the train station. I took it out, and...

Of course it was in Chinese.

For some reason I convinced myself I would be able to "figure it out", so I started the car. Off I went...

I must have had a momentary lapse of sanity, causing me to forget that 1) I don't speak Chinese, and 2) I don't know what cities lie North, South, East, or West from where I was. Not ideal...at all.

I ended up traveling from below Taipei all the way to Keelung. Again: not ideal.

What was I thinking?

By this point I had the car for about an hour, and I didn't even want it anymore.

I pulled into a gas station. I figured it couldn't be too hard to ask for gas. All I had to do was point to it and give the man money. He smiled. I asked him if he knew how to get to my destination: Danshui. He continued to smile gently at me...but I knew he couldn't understand me.

I whipped out the map in Chinese, and played charades to ask him where on the map we are. Luckily, he understood and pointed to a spot way North in Taiwan.

Ok...not too bad.

I gave a whirl at the Chinese pronunciation of Danshui, and although it was less than perfect, he figured out I was asking how to get there. He traced his finger along the map.

Got it!

So, I got back in the car again...still mad at my stupidity for thinking that driving in Taiwan would be like navigating my way to Boston from the Mass Turn Pike. FAIL.

Now it was pouring, and just as I was starting to see smoke coming out of my ears from anger at the situation and complete waste of my day off...something happened.

I drove around a turn and all of the sudden, I saw it: the powerfully churning, mysterious, never ending ocean outlined by magnificent cliffs.

I pulled over and took a moment to just soak it in (and take some much needed deep breaths!)




I realized that I had almost missed a magnificent view...unable to truly soak up it's beauty because I was too consumed by feeling annoyed about being lost.

But sometimes, getting lost is just part of the journey.


It may not have been ideal, but what a great story it makes, and what an accomplishment!! In hindsight, I replay the day back in my head, and I have to stop and give myself a big pat on the back. With no English map, no useful Chinese, no experience driving in Taiwan, no CLUE where I was or where I was going...I somehow made it to my destination.

So, to me the purchase of this car is the beginning of a new journey. One where I will challenge myself to become more independent and resourceful; one that will push me to step outside of my comfort zone and try to speak Chinese a little more than I have been; one that will surely help me get the most out of my time in Taiwan!!

Here is my new ride!!