(Red Hook, 2013)

(Ground Zero, 2013)

I used to serve in Taiwanese Marine Corps. Except for the typical stories that you would remember in military such as swimming with sub-machine guns, sleeping in the jungle, working like slaves and being brutally treated, one thing I clearly recall are the American advisors.

Due to the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Taiwan, every once in a while, there were some American advisors who came to pay a ‘visit.’

Unlike European colonizers, the Americans always tried to be your ‘buddies.’ They had lunch in the canteen with other low rank soldiers. They patted on your shoulders like you were the best mate. If they were happy, they would give you some chocolate bars and chewing gums in the pocket.

If you ask them about the casualty in the war on Iraq, they always told you ‘oh, that’s the job of the people with suits, we, the persons of uniforms, only care about carrying out the missions.’

In fact, they always skipped the part of real combats and particularly emphasised on the supply system: ‘When we send a cheese burger from the US, it’ll still be hot upon arriving Baghdad!’

I always wondered have they ever send some shishi kebabs on their way back to the US?

Would they still be hot upon arriving Washington?