上班族必備軟實力

**An American in Taiwan. Richard would love a quiet country morning.

Taipei is noisy and noisy is loud. From the time in the morning that the alarm clock wakes me up with a beep beep beeping, to the time I set it again at night, I am assailed by noises. From the crack of dawn to the screech of dusk, it makes people, including me, crazy. Concentration and tranquility go to pot.

I go to a restaurant and there are many people there. All the people are having fun and talking. The music is being played over the speakers and the people have to talk louder to be heard over the music and over the other people talking loudly over the music. Dishes clatter and silverware clinks against plates and bowls. Now it is hard to tell what anyone is saying, because the sounds are reflected off of bare walls and cement ceilings.

Accoustic tiles on the ceiling can cut down the noise.

People use firecrackers and blow trumpets to scare away demons. When it rains on corrugated eaves, the noise is tremendous. Honking cars and scooters, tires screeching, engines revving, and vehicles crashing into each other is an inescapable din that is virtually everywhere. Old people and inconsiderate businessmen yell into their cell phones on the subway. Trucks advertise from loudspeakers. The garbage song, babies crying, and dogs barking are all part of life in this big city.

Noise indicates the vitality of the city, what the Chinese call renao—hustling and bustling and whatnot. It’s like what my friend said to me the other day. “What?” he said.

Businesses should use acoustic tiles more often to soften the noise. Small hills around the city will reflect sound up into the air. The government does the best it can. Taipei city puts railings on overpasses and elevated train routes to keep that noise down.

I will look forward to our next quiet time together.