Adolfo worries about the reputation of Latin Americans in Taiwan. Being both an MBA student and a Spanish teacher at a university in Taipei, he already feels some negative response from his Taiwanese colleagues and students.
"My students were angry over the news and began to think that all Latin Americans were like that," he said.
Some feel that the Palma incident, whatever the ultimate rights or wrongs, have put Latin Americans at an even greater disadvantage than before -- especially when it came to dancing with or dating local girls.
"Foreigners have it easy here [picking up girls]. But this has nothing to do with being Latin," said one man from Central American who wished to remain anonymous. We'll call him Mr L.
L was also angry about the Palma incident, saying the accusation from the Taiwanese girl and two legislators was wrong. "I also went out with her for a few weeks!" he said. "There are always those kinds of girls who like foreigners and like to have many boyfriends," he added.
"They are very easy. They come to you, saying `you are handsome,' and soon afterwards will give you their numbers," L said. "There was one time I was seeing five Taiwanese girls at one time." But L pointed out that this had no relationship to his culture. "They had no interest to know about my culture. It's not even about language or cultural exchange. For them, it's just about being different."
Adolfo may not agree with L's comments about Taiwanese girls, but is convinced that foreigners from English-speaking countries are more popular with Taiwanese. "There may be Latin fever in America, but not here. People still prefer blonde hair and blue eyes," he said.
In other words, for L and Adolfo, the STD incident is just a deformed reflection of those wild nights and passions between foreign men and local girls that take place every weekend at bars all around the city. It's just that this time, it was a Latin American who got involved.
"People really get the wrong idea about Latin culture," said Gabriela from Costa Rica. "There might be an impulsive quality. We are passionate about things and people. We touch and kiss each other a lot. We even say `I love you' very often," adding that this has nothing to do with being sexually promiscuous.
Basically, for Gabriela, it's a male thing rather than a Latin thing. "Some men from my culture, in fact, many foreign men in Taiwan, behave in a disgusting way. They have been irresponsible for too long. So this incident is also a good lesson for them," Gabriela said.
And the music plays on.
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