The Loss of a Comrade.

It has been a busy past couple of days, and regrettably not the most enjoyable. Picture this: Here I am finishing with a wonderful dinner with students from a local university. We make our way on to a bus, which is part of the amazing public transit system here in Taiwan; the 236 bus to be exact. This particular bus’ route traveled from Taipei Zoo to town, and back. At 8:10pm I took my seat on the transit vehicle. After traveling a few stops, we get off the bus and boarded the metro, but something was different. I soon realize that I am no longer donning the backpack that I use to carry my camera and personal affects on the day to day travels.

After a quick recall, I realize that I had left my backpack, laden with valuables, on the bus I exited moments ago. I jump into action trying to retrieve my backpack. I have one of my chinese-speaking friends, who has a local phone, call the transit authority and the police within minutes of losing my backpack. Interestingly enough, I also found out from one of my new taiwanese friends that there is a police radio station, that we called, that you can call and they will broadcast your lost and found report to try and help retrieve your things. Sadly though, regardless of all of my efforts, my backpack has not been found, or returned. It has been a few days since filing the reports and nothing has been turned in. My camera was in the backpack and it’s disappearance has given me a fair amount of stress. More importantly, my passport was in my backpack. The loss of my passport does mean a few things, mainly though, that I can’t get out of the country at this point in time.

Immediately after realizing this, we call the American Institute in Taiwan. The AIT acts as quasi-embassy. Taiwan, not being recognized by the United States as an actual country, does not have an official diplomatic embassy; however, given the good diplomatic ties between the United States and Taiwan, the AIT is given full legal allowance to act as a de facto embassy until an full embassy is established.

On the cab ride over, I explain my perilous situation to the cab driver. The cab driver, who was both humble and knowledgeable, went out of his way to help me as much as possible by taking me to the different authorities I had called. While there we went in with me to check and see if they had my backpack. After all this, we get to our last stop and as I looked down to see how much the ride would cost, he turned off the meter. When we tried to give him the money he wouldn’t take it because he said that he was just helping us the way he knew how. We eventualIy had to force the money is his hand and tank him for all his help. I stroll into the American Citizen’s Service office knowing that the people of this country are gracious and willing to help me.

After talking to the wonderful foreign service representatives, I am told that I could easily be granted an emergency passport to get out of the country. We decided to wait to put in the paperwork for a new passport because waiting means that if my old passport shows up, I don’t have to pay for the new one!

Having to run all these errands gave me the opportunity to spend some time away from the group I am traveling with. The professor sponsoring our group, and his colleague, both who are amazingly and wonderful for helping me, and I went to a local chocolatier shop to wait until dinner. What a treat! I had spiced hot chocolate and the smooth taste chilled my nerves a little.

Let’s continue to hope and pray that I can get my backpack back. In the mean time I am trying to have a good time! I am excited to make the most of this trip. Thanks to all who are reading. I have attached a picture of my backpack, seen above. If you are reading this in Taiwan and you took it off the bus, please give it back to me.