Domino’s pizza

In Taiwan foreign brand-names are selling at a premium rate. A large pizza at Domino’s, for example, is 600 NT, that is $18.48 or 9.40 pounds. Compare this with the 50 NT I pay for a first-class lunch at NCTU. Yes, that’s right, one faked pizza is equivalent to 12 authentic Chinese meals!

Who buys pizzas here? Largely people who want to distinguish themselves from other locals and flaunt their foreign credentials — and who can afford to do so. You are what you eat — eat tacky American food, become a tacky American! A person who eats 600 NT foreign food is 12 times more foreign than a regular Chinese person. And 12 times tackier.

It makes you wonder what it’s like to be in charge of Domino’s Taiwanese franchise. Is this a rewarding thing to do with one’s life, to sell greasy pizza to status conscious locals? Shouldn’t the person in charge apologize and go home to the US of A?

But perhaps I am no better. They want me here because I bring that foreign je ne sais quoi to their university. What that is, however, no one really knows. Allegedly they like the educational brands I’ve been associated with. You are what you study — study rehashed foreign ideas taught by a rumpled foreigner and you’ll be “ready for the 21st century.”

Should I apologize and go home? Well, at least I’m not asking for much money. From February next year I’m here full-time and I’ll be a Domino’s pizza for the prize of a bowl of noodles.