The Sound of Thunder

There’s a Ray Bradbury story called The Sound of Thunder about a group of travelers who go back in time to the land of the dinosaurs. The tour guide tells them not to dare step off of the observation platform. Well of course one of the guys does. Then when they get back everything is a little bit different and the people speak a slightly different language and the words look different. The guy who got off of the platform looks at the bottom of his shoe and notices that he stepped on a moth millions of years in the past. This caused the future to be on a slightly different track. His experience going from the past into a different future is kind of like the experience of moving from America to Taiwan.

Christmas Made me Homesick

Believe it or not Christmas is a huge and much loved holiday in Taipei which is currently in full swing. There are lights and decorations everywhere. It's still being celebrated right now as a companion to the Chinese New Year which is coming up around mid February. I went to eat at one restaurant that had a strange Christmas display. It was a purple manger with no baby inside surrounded by reindeer. A combination of the Christ birth story and Santa Claus.

In the courtyard in front of the enormous capital building of New Taipei I sat down to watch the show provided by a giant Christmas tree made of pure light. Holiday music poured out of a very nice sound system. Good bass tones. Good mids. Rich and crisp. Images of Christmas joy wound around the tree up to the top in time with the music. It paused on an image of Santa Claus giving the "rock and roll" hand sign. I started thinking about home. That's about when it happened. I suddenly craved a hamburger that tasted like a hamburger. I craved the salty, vaguely cardboard-like flavor of fast food French fries. I needed a coke. And it was all Santa's fault. Christmas made me homesick. McDonald's filled the void.

Best Mickey D's Meal Ever!

Haggling Prices in Taiwan

I can't decide if I have culture shock. Eddie was saying that with culture shock there's a gradient between people either falling in love with the place when they travel or totally hating it and wanting to leave. I definitely don't hate it. I'd say I'm way more on the loving it side. But I don't want to go too far down that path because it might blind my perspective.

Speaking of choices and perspective, I have a curious moral dilemma to propose. I had heard that people in Taiwan haggle prices. In fact I've heard that you're supposed to offer the shop owner half of what the price says and if they say no you just walk out. If they're willing to make a deal they'll stop you from walking out. I've never been much of a wheeler and dealer, but I thought I would give it a try.

So I wandered into a small shop that sold electronics and home supplies. I needed to buy a wall adapter to allow me to plug my three prong laptop charger into a two prong socket. The price said $35. I handed them a 1000 NT note hoping they would make change for me. They sort of looked at me funny and didn't take my money.

So I went home and sent a facebook message to Eddie asking what was going on. I wondered, was the price 35 units of coin money? Or was it something ridiculous like 35 dollars US in which case the 1000 NT note would have been just short of that.

Eddie said they should have just made change for me out of a 100 NT bill which is around 3.20 US. $35 NT was around 1.21 US.

Image of the front and back of a 100 NT Note

So I went back down there with an NT 100 note in my back pocket and 29 NT in change which was all the change I had. US value: exactly 1.00. I figured I would try haggling and show them the 29 NT first and just see if they would take it assuming I was a clueless american. We negotiated by writing amounts on paper. I showed her my largest coins which equaled 25 NT. She asked for 30. I showed her my last four pennies. She nodded her head and waived her hand to signify the deal had been made.

Considering that NT 35 was basically what you would pay at US prices (Price at Staples) I think she was probably overcharging and I got a decent deal by haggling. Eddie thought it was cool that I haggled, but suggested I might have taken advantage of her by implying that I was just a clueless American. He said he never haggled. He had tried, but nobody ever negotiated with him and he always paid full price.

Did I play the game well and get a deal? Was it okay for me to haggle with her? Or was I out of line trying to get the merchant to drop her price? I don't want to screw anybody over, but if you're supposed to wheel and deal then I definitely want to play that game.

Looking for feedback guys...

p.s. The shop owner actually called out to me as I left and asked me to come back. I had left my keys on the counter. Awful nice of her. I should probably keep better track of those.

SOME OBSERVATIONS:

So many weird smells. I feel like I'm living in a Chinese restaurant.

Making some food. I can't read anything on this box, but there's a picture of pork on the top. Luckily I think I have enough experience with Ramen noodles to make this edible. It came with a bag of peanuts. Nice touch.

Eating on the third floor terrace. I'm the only one staying at this hostel, so I'm basically paying 22 bucks per day for a three story house.

The garbage truck is picking up the trash. So weird. It plays a loud children's song over and over again like an ice cream truck.

American influence? There's a 7-11 on almost every street corner downtown.

At McDonald's they serve fried chicken.

And of course, there's a Starbucks in the train station.

The Journey of 7,809 Miles Begins with the First Step

6:36 a.m.
I think my plane to Detroit is arriving. It doesn't seem real yet. I wonder if it will ever seem real. An amazingly large amount of change in a short time. So far I've learned that when you fly it's not good to have a bunch of crap in your pockets at the baggage check. I forgot to put on deodorant this morning. I just learned that "help" and "shoulder" are the same word with different tones. Bang. Need to learn how to get to Ya Ya Hostel. Ya Ya tsai nar?

5:15 pm
Wondering what the fuck I was thinking. I'm about to land in a country on the other side of the world with no job, an inability to speak the native language, no friends, and very little money. I really need to get a nice looking résumé worked up. So far the plane ride has been sort of luxurious. They have it set up so you can watch free new release movies and listen to the latest musical releases. I listened to Eddie vedder's ukulele album from start to finish. It was awesome! Eddie Vedder - Ukulele Songs I'm watching the Bourne Legacy now. Occasionally I doze off. When I jolt awake I just think to myself, "I hope I was asleep for a while". It's almost worth a thousand bucks just to take the plane ride. In eight more hours we'll be in Tokyo. Holy shit.

1:13 a.m.... or is it 5:13 p.m.? What exactly is time anyway?
In Tokyo. So far no sign of Godzilla.

22:54 pm
I'm in Taipei on a bus heading to my hostel. I'm so fucking lost. Only white person on this bus. I certainly wouldn't call English usage rampant among the locals. I look strange compared to all the natives and we can't communicate very well. So it's not That different from back home...

I need to not be afraid to ask for help from the people I've met online. This is gonna take some work on my part. I used to have trouble finding my way around in America, so Taipei will be even more fun. Someone wrote down my address in Chinese to show to people if I got lost. Already misplaced the damn thing.
Oh yea and I'm sooooooo tired and late to check in. What if the hostel rented out my room?
So many scooters. Even the police drive scooters.Scooters. Swarms of scooters. It's like cricket season in San Marcos only with scooters.I want one really really bad.

2:49 a.m.
Met up with Eddie Kaye. He's awesome. Runs some English schools. We walked around, had some weird food and talked about Tai Chi and life in Taiwan. First friend!

5:30 a.m. 
Sleep. Real sleep. At long last, sleep.

http://smmercury.com/2012/12/20/qa-robbie-doyen-on-leaving-san-marcos-sans-robots-with-video/

Q&A: Robbie Doyen on leaving San Marcos, sans robots

December 20, 2012 | Filed underFeatured,San Marcos Tonight,Scene | Posted by Hap Mansfield

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Robbie Doyen in a familiar pose with guitar.

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by HAP MANSFIELD

The Tao Te Ching, that Chinese masterwork attributed to Lao Tse, says that we make a pot out of clay but it is the emptiness inside which is useful. Local musician Robbie Doyen knows a thing or two about the emptiness. Within a short period of time he lost almost everything. In the process he found himself.

Doyen has been a colorful part of the musical patchwork quilt of San Marcos for 18 years. He has hosted song swaps and acoustic evenings at local music venues and has delighted his fans with his band Robbie and the Robots. The band’s video for Doyen’s song “I’m The One” was directed by the critically acclaimed Randi Nguyen at Omega studio.

A life-long Texan and graduate of Texas State, Doyen is planning a radical change in his life, moving to Taiwan before the end of the year. We caught up with Doyen and asked him a few questions about his impending life, his martial arts training and his last gig at the Triple Crown on Dec. 21.

If you go … What: Robbie Doyen’s farewell performance When: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 Where: Triple Crown, 206 N. Edward Gary Cost: $5

San Marcos Mercury: Why are you leaving San Marcos?

Robbie Doyen: I suddenly found myself completely unattached. When the economy in Texas crunched, bars started canceling live music. I lost almost all of my regular gigs as a solo musician and a sound engineer which was my main source of income. Since then I’ve been scrambling to work minimum wage and odd jobs to make ends meet. Then Sarah and I split up after almost ten years together. Then my landlord sold my house and the new owner asked us to be out in a week. This all happened in rapid succession. It hurt to lose so much all at once. But the upside to losing everything at the same time was that I could choose almost any path I wanted for my future. So I’m going to Taiwan to teach English and study Taijiquan.

Mercury: I know you teach and train in the martial arts. Is that a reason you chose Taiwan?

Doyen: Yes. In fact I’d say that’s the main reason. Taiwan is like the Mecca for internal martial arts.

Tai chi is very misunderstood. Most people in America just do the slow forms for health benefits. That’s a big part of it, but Tai Chi is actually a martial art. There are two main schools of Chinese martial arts: internal and external. One of the biggest differences is that in the external martial arts which people are most familiar with like Karate, the student starts off learning how to use hard force and much later on in their training they learn to relax. In internal martial arts like Tai Chi you learn how to relax first and you actually use sinking and relaxing to make your body hard. Eventually there are faster forms and plenty of self defense applications. That part isn’t for everyone, but I love it all.

It’s extremely difficult to find people who teach Tai Chi as a martial art with proper internal principles. I was lucky enough to find a teacher like that in Sean Carney of Soft Answer Tai Chi in Buda Texas. Now that I plan to travel, the next obvious step for me is to go to Taiwan. During the Cultural Revolution many of the Martial Arts Masters of China fled to democratic Taiwan to avoid persecution. That’s how the originator of my style, Cheng Manching, wound up opening up the original school for his style in Taipei. He called it Shr Jung, which means “Right Timing” in Mandarin Chinese. That is where I plan to study.

Mercury: Is there, dare I say, some spiritual or “synchronous” reason for Taiwan?

Doyen: Well, now that you mention it, the ideas in Taoism have been the wind under my flight to Taiwan. Ninety five percent of the population of Taiwan is some combination of Taoist and/or Buddhist. I have been studying the Tao Te Ching and other Taoist texts quite a lot for the last few years. Taoism is so calming compared to most philosophies. It’s always very focused on what’s happening immediately, and it encourages you to go with the flow and let life guide you along your path. And when you meet resistance, just go around it. So often I feel like I’ve struggled against the world to try to achieve my goals. That hasn’t worked so well. So now I’m letting the world help me decide what to do.

Mercury: Explain that a little.

Doyen: I just recently became aware of how selfishly I’ve lived my life. I’ve been in denial of it. Selfishness is a filter, and I have always put that filter of “me” between myself and others. I’m trying to learn how to be more selfless—how to have a filter of “you”. It’s hard. But in Taiwan selflessness is built into the culture. I really think it will be a great place for me to learn to put others first and grow into a better man.

Mercury: What about music? Do you plan to keep on writing songs and playing in Taiwan?

Doyen: Of course. I’m bringing my guitar. Nobody will know me there, so I plan to just start playing at open mics and see what happens. One thing I think I will love about writing songs in Taiwan is being around people who don’t understand English. I’m an insecure perfectionist about my songwriting. I don’t like people to hear me singing a song before I feel ready to perform it. Usually I have to find someplace totally secluded to write. But if I’m not worried about people listening to what I’m saying and judging me, I’ll probably feel more free to create. Hope so anyway.

I also plan to take some SMTX 78666’s [ compilation CD of San Marcos musicians]with me. It’s a new market, and who knows, maybe they’ll fall in love with San Marcos music. It’s worth a try. And I also plan to try to use the miracle of modern electronic networking to make a new recording with my bandmates here in San Marcos while I’m in Taiwan. I have apps like Viber and iMessage that will allow me to talk and text internationally for free on my iPod Touch, and I can video message for free with Tango. Even though I’ll be in Taiwan I hope to still maintain an American presence with Robbie and the Robots and my wonderful bandmates James, CJ, Junior and Stan. It truly is becoming a small world.

Mercury: What is the music like in Taiwan?

Doyen: I hear that rockabilly bands are big there. I know that there were a few bands from Taiwan that played at SXSW last year. I also read that Dinosaur Jr. played there a couple of months ago. But really I have no idea what to expect from the music scene.

Mercury: Any plans to master the two string lute? Or have you done that already?

Doyen: I’ve been thinking about taking up some traditional Chinese folk instruments like the Guqin and the Pipa. The Guqin is a long seven stringed instrument that is played horizontally on one’s lap. It’s the instrument the old man plays during the imaginary fight between Donnie Yen and Jet Li in “Hero” before his strings break. The Pipa is kind of like a cross between a banjo and a guitar.

Mercury: What do you think you’ll miss most about Texas?

Doyen: You know, aside from my friends, and family and fellow musicians and martial artists, I think I’ll probably miss Mexican food more than anything.

Mercury: Where are your last few gigs?

Doyen: The gig I’d like to focus on is the last full band show I have scheduled in America. It’s at the Triple Crown (206 North Edward Gary St.) on December the 21st. The day the world is supposed to end. We’re headlining. First up is Sp_aces. Then Spilt Milk.

Mercury: Have you any final words or thoughts for Texas/San Marcos?

Doyen: Wo ai ni men. Tsai jian! That means, “I love you all. See you later!”

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Watch

Music video for Robbie and Robot’s “I’m the One (Extended Cut)”

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I'm Moving to Taiwan

Howdy gang. I know it’s been a while since I’ve written to you. I apologize. Life has been a mess. I’ve decided to move to Taiwan to learn Tai Chi and teach English.

First I’ll get down to business. My last Robbie and the Robots show scheduled in America is December 21^st at the Triple Crown. We’re headlining. For those of you who like to freak out, that’s supposed to be the day the world is fated to end according to the Mayan calendar. Spilt Milk and Sp_aces open the show. I’ve written some new songs and this is the best band I’ve ever had the privilege to play with. I know it’s close to Xmas, but if you can make it out I’d really love to see some friendly faces before I go to the other side of the world.

As a going away present I am giving away a demo recording of the song “Waltz in G Major” that James, CJ, Junior and I recorded last year at the Firestation studio in San Marcos. The final mix was done by Maria Boyrie. It is available to download for anyone who signs up for the Robbie and the Robots mailing list on Reverb Nation or anyone who is already on the mailing list. I know a lot of people have wanted a recording of this song for a while, so if you know of anyone who’s been wanting to own this song, please let them know to sign up with Robbie and the Robots on Reverbnation.www.reverbnation.com/robbieandtherobots

Now… why I’m leaving.

When the economy crunched in Texas I lost almost all of my regular music performance and sound engineering shifts when bars started cancelling live music. That’s how I was making my living, so suddenly I was scrambling every week and traveling a lot just to earn rent.

Then Sarah and I split up in July. Without getting into any of the he said/she said, I’ll just say life was too hard for too long and we finally became too broken to heal together. She’s one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, and the best friend I’ve ever had. I hope she has a great life.

In that same week our landlord sold our house. The new landlord asked us to move out in a week. So I had to move in with my brother’s family. My family has been amazing to me. Thank you all so much.

Then very recently I lost my grandfather. I had to drive to my brother’s new house in the middle of the night to tell my father that his dad had passed away. It was a surreal coming of age moment that I will never forget.

I also finally came to the realization that I have lived a very selfish life. I’ve been in denial of that. I want to learn to be more selfless. I want to learn how to put others first. I want to learn to be a better person.

Basically everything has changed for me in a very short period of time. Five years ago a wave of tragedy flooded my world. Then about five months ago the water finally receded far enough to reveal that my old life had washed away. So it’s time for a fresh start.

Pretty much all I’ve been able to hang onto in the last five months is my Martial Arts practice. I’m training about 1-6 hours per day now. I’d say Tai Chi Chuan saved me from losing my head in a bottle. I am so thankful for all of my Tai Chi instructors. Thank you George, Terri, Sean and Alex for introducing me to Tai Chi at Shaolin Do. Thank you Sean Carney at Soft Answer Tai Chi for becoming something like my version of Mister Miyagi. For the last two years he’s been my guide into the world of Tai Chi fanatics. He’s an amazing role model for patience, kindness and hard work. I’ve turned down jobs to stay in his class in Buda on Tuesdays. And the Cheng Manching style of Tai Chi I’m learning with him is my inspiration for going to Taiwan. I plan to train in Taipei at Shr Jung, the original school for Cheng Manching style Tai Chi Chuan. Thank you to Kade Green of North Austin Tai Chi for being so patient with me when I first came to his class after I moved in with my brother. For the first two months all I wanted to do was stand in the corner and meditate. He’s a wonderful teacher who practices Tai Chi all day, and he’s taught me a ton about the Tai Chi principles that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. And thank you to Francie Shimaya of AOMA for being a role model of serenity in the face of adversity. After four months of qigong and meditation in her Sunday class I finally stopped hearing screaming when she said, “Open your heart”. Thank you very much to Joye Petty, the owner of Lightning Tykes, for bringing me on to work for her even though she knew I was moving to Taiwan in January. She is a total martial arts and sci-fi enthusiast who has taught me gobs about discipline and working with children as well as some awesome life skills and nunchaku swings. And I’m super appreciative of Derrick, Walter, Guy, Mark and all of the other push hands players at Pease Park who have taught me so much every Sunday come rain or shine. I look forward to returning and showing everyone what I have learned in Taiwan.

I plan to keep a blog while I am in Taiwan. It is called Robbie Robot. You can view it here. http://robbiedoyen.blogspot.com/  I haven't posted on it since February 6th 2009. Be aware that the blog will be my relatively unfiltered thoughts. Not always for the meek or easily offended. Anyone interested can check out what I'm up to in the Taiwanese world of martial arts, tea, English teaching, and music.

Thankfully I’ve also been able to play a little bit of music, though I haven’t been able to put as much energy into it as I’ve always liked to. My band right now is my group of best friends. It’s probably been 15 years since I could say that. I will miss them very much. But thanks to the world of modern technology we are going to try to record an album together while I am in Taiwan. As you can imagine I have written a few songs lately.

So, please come out on the 21^st if you can. This going away party will be my last chance to see most of you for quite a while. I’m going to miss San Marcos and all of my friends and family very much. I’m not sure how long I will be gone or what the world will be like when I return. I’m sad for how much I have lost. But I’m excited to embark on this new beginning.

I love you all very much. I will truly miss everyone. Wo ai ni men. Tsai jian!

-rob

February 6th

Just found out that we are headling on Feb. 6th at the Triple Crown. I think this is gonna be a great show. Colin Gilmore opens. Then the Wailing Walls. Then Robbie and the Robots. I am stoked.