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At the Chiang Kai-shek memorial, Taipei, Taiwan

Years and years ago (I won't say exactly how many) I attended the Overseas Compatriot Youth Formosa Study Tour. Those of you who know what it is know it by another name; those who don't can Google it.

During the week, we had classes and trips; on the weekends we were free to do a we pleased. One Saturday afternoon, some of us decided to go to the Chiang Kai-shek memorial for a free jazz concert.

Unfortunately, my friends left before I did to do some shopping; I told them I would meet them there. Uncertain how to take the buses, I took a cab, and arrived just as they were taking down the stage. My friends were nowhere to be found, and so I walked up the stairs of the National Theater to get a better view of the square. There, I met a Taiwanese girl who had also missed the concert; she had also lost her friends.

We started chatting about this and that. She was the first person I had randomly met in Taiwan, and it was one of the few opportunities I had had to practice my Chinese. The sun set as we talked and my curfew approached. She was familiar with my program and asked me what time I had to return to campus. She told me she would put me on the right bus and tell the driver where to let me off. At the appropriate time, she did and bade me farewell.

Since then I've done more traveling and have met a lot of random people in various countries. And though I can't pinpoint when exactly the travel bug bit me, I can't help but think that interaction on the steps of the theater first planted the seed. It was amazing to me then that I could be so far from home and yet find someone I could so easily talk to. I don't even know what we talked about, but I remember being amazed.

This photo was taken on my last trip to Taiwan, a few months ago. I had gone hoping to buy tickets for a performance by the Cloud Gate dance company, but they were sold out. In the end, my friend Ed had a friend with an extra ticket, and I spent my last evening on that visit inside the theater instead of just on the balcony.