Recording summary · November 2019
[2019-11-17] some shocking news... [H5uvS5SRAOM]
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Overview
Daniel and a Taiwanese woman first connected as pen pals on japancupid.com in 2008 and exchanged handwritten letters before he visited her in Taiwan in 2016 following an unsuccessful trip to Japan.
During their first week together in Taiwan, Daniel asked the woman to be his girlfriend, but she declined; he attempted to fly home, retrieved his checked luggage to abort his departure, and returned to Taichung City to stay with her family for nearly four weeks.
During the extended stay, Daniel experienced frustration, depression, limited interaction, language barriers, family dynamics, and created YouTube videos, eventually returning to England while remaining infatuated with her after she and her brother dropped him off at the airport.
Daniel worked at a petrol station to save money to bring the woman to England to live with him and study English, but blocked her after considering the plan foolish.
A year later, Daniel unblocked her and learned she had relocated to England and married an English man, leading him to block her again.
Upon unblocking her again, Daniel discovered she had a baby with her husband, which left him shocked and emotionally wounded.
Themes
Early online correspondence and pen-pal relationship starting in 2008 on japancupid.com.
The initial week of Daniel's 2016 trip to Taiwan and the woman's rejection of his romantic proposal.
Canceling his flight and returning to Taichung City to live with the woman's family.
Difficulties during the four-week stay, including limited interaction, language barriers, family dynamics, and YouTube video creation.
Daniel's departure back to England and his continuing fixation despite leaving.
Daniel's attempts to invite the Taiwanese woman to England, his petrol station employment, and subsequently blocking her.
Daniel's meeting with a Japanese single mother on Japan Cupid.
Reconnecting with the Taiwanese woman, learning of her move to England and marriage, and Daniel's hurt feelings leading to a second block.
Learning about the woman's baby, questioning how she acquired an English visa, and Daniel's lingering emotional distress.
Developments
Daniel and the Taiwanese woman began exchanging messages on japancupid.com in 2008 and later sent handwritten letters.
In 2016, following a visit to Japan, Daniel flew to Taiwan to meet the woman in person.
Daniel asked the woman to be his girlfriend during their first week in Taiwan.
Airport staff retrieved Daniel's checked luggage from the aircraft, allowing him to exit the airport and return to Taichung City.
Daniel stayed in the woman's family's home for roughly four weeks before booking a return flight to England.
The woman and her brother dropped Daniel off at the airport and drove away after he exited the car.
Daniel worked at a nearby petrol station to save money for a plane ticket to bring the woman to England, but later blocked her.
A year later, Daniel unblocked the woman and discovered she had relocated to England and married an English man, leading him to block her again.
Upon unblocking her again a few months before speaking, Daniel learned she had a baby with her husband.
Uncertainties & gaps
Whether the woman's family was informed in advance of the reasons Daniel returned to stay at their home.
Whether Daniel's emotional feelings toward the woman constituted love.
How the woman acquired a visa to live in England so easily despite strict regulations.