People in Taiwan are known for being very friendly to anyone they meet, and this is something that I have experienced time and time again since I arrived in Taiwan. It is no coincidence to discover that many people run restaurants and other businesses out of the first floor of their homes, almost as if they are welcoming you right in. It is even common for shopkeepers and restaurant owners to get to know the people that come into their businesses and for them to be very accommodating to everyone. Since many people in Guan Shan live in houses that have this feature, it is a very big part of their everyday environment. The whole town is very open and welcoming no matter where you go.
It is a unique feeling to be in a public space, like a restaurant or cafe, but actually be in someone's home. Since cafe owners have many regular customers and operate mostly small businesses with very few employees, they often close early in the evening and even on some random days when they might be busy doing something else. It is not unusual to go to our favorite restaurant in Guan Shan on any given day and find that they have closed for the day. This is something you probably wouldn't see in the United States!
