Taiwan Travelogue — CHAPTER I

1. 1. Upon arriving in Taichū (Taichung), the narrator was overwhelmed by the vibrant, unfamiliar sights and sounds of the local market, comparing it to a grand magic troupe procession.
2. 2. The narrator's resolution to visit Taiwan intensified after glimpsing it from a ship to Okinawa, with a lecture tour ultimately funding her trip.
3. 3. The narrator, desiring authentic local experiences, found her assigned guide Mishima consistently arranging Mainlander-style meals and avoiding local cuisine.
4. 4. A significant language barrier was evident when the narrator struggled to communicate with a fruit vendor, requiring intervention from a local woman.
5. 5. Madame Takada, the narrator’s primary host, recognized her guest's frustration with Mishima and arranged for a more culturally sensitive interpreter.
6. 6. The new interpreter, Ō Chizuru, turned out to be the same local woman who had previously helped the narrator with the fruit vendor.