On the way across the prairies in early October, I continued erasing my old identity. I went through my iPhone address book and deleted 95% of my contacts. I kept my family members, close friends (3) and random important contacts like my doctor and dentist.
My phone doesn’t ring unless you are in the address book. My phone rarely rings.
I set up a new email address. I didn’t delete the old one. I simply set up mail forwarding. I changed my Line account (Taiwan) and my Facebook account (not that I ever use it) to Bob. I deleted my old instagram and LinkedIn.
It was a long drive so I think I did a thorough job.
I stopped watching Youtube videos by the Bulwark, Scott Galloway, Justin Wolfers, Prof G, Pod Save America (except South Park episodes), Guard the Leaf, The Hub Canada and everything else in those political, economic, anti-Trump, pro-Canada talking heads kind of entertainment YouTube channels.
And then I came to Taiwan.
When I got to Taiwan, I put in the local SIM card and disabled the Canadian eSIM. I don’t know my local phone number. No one does. My phone never rings.
I stopped reading a novel a week. I stopped drinking wine. I stopped cooking. I stopped wearing pants - I’m good in shorts until it gets below 15C.
I don’t have Netflix or any subscriptions for movies, so I don’t watch movies. I subscribe to Spotify and The New York Times, though I don’t read anything related to American politics, mass shootings, healthcare, crypto, Trump, Trump’s idiot administration. I only read about Canada, China, Taiwan and interesting stories that don’t touch on politics. I do the Wordle and Connections most days.
I’ve only been in Taiwan for 18 days and already I feel like I am living a completely different life. I’m not really wondering who I am now, I’m wondering who I was.
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