Recording summary · November 2019
I have some shocking news
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Overview
A past crush connected online in 2008 recently had a baby, prompting a recollection of an online history, a 2016 trip to Taiwan, and subsequent events.
In 2008, Daniel connected on japancupid.com with a Taiwanese woman while seeking a Japanese girlfriend, leading to a pen-pal correspondence by written letters.
Following a stay in Japan in 2016, Daniel traveled to Taiwan, where Daniel confessed feelings and faced rejection during the initial week.
After a flight delay at the airport, Daniel reclaimed checked luggage upon receiving an invitation to stay longer and returned to Taichung City to stay at the woman's family house for nearly four weeks.
During the extended stay in Taiwan, Daniel experienced minimal romantic interaction, filmed YouTube videos, and faced communication barriers before flying back to England while remaining infatuated.
Back in England, Daniel worked at a petrol station to fund a flight for her to study and live together, but later blocked her, connected with a Japanese single mother, and subsequently discovered the woman had moved to England, married an English man, and had a child.
Themes
Definition and personal history of having three life crushes.
The 2008 connection on japancupid.com and subsequent pen-pal relationship.
Observations made while walking by a river.
The 2016 trip to Taiwan, romantic rejection, and extended stay with the family in Taichung City.
Departure for England and subsequent efforts to bring the woman over by working at a petrol station.
Cycles of blocking, unblocking, discovering the woman's marriage and baby in England, and dating a Japanese single mother.
Developments
Daniel and a Taiwanese woman connected on japancupid.com.
Daniel traveled to Taiwan for the first time after a stay in Japan.
Daniel asked the Taiwanese woman to be his girlfriend during their first week together.
Daniel checked luggage at the Taiwan airport, experienced a flight delay, and subsequently retrieved the luggage to leave the airport.
Daniel took a bus back to Taichung City and was driven to the family home by the woman's brother.
The woman and her brother dropped Daniel off at the airport by car, and Daniel flew back to England.
Daniel worked at a petrol station to save money to fly the woman to England.
Daniel blocked the woman and met a Japanese single mother on Japan Cupid.
Daniel unblocked the woman, learned she had married an English man in England, and blocked her again.
Daniel unblocked the woman again and discovered she had a baby.
Uncertainties & gaps
Whether the staircase along the river led to a bank, or whether the area is called a bank.
Whether the woman's family knew what was going on when Daniel unexpectedly returned from the airport to stay at their house.
Whether anyone remembers or used to watch Daniel's 40-minute nighttime walking videos filmed in Taiwan.
Whether Daniel's feelings for the woman constituted love or what love feels like.
How the woman was able to obtain a visa to live in England so easily.