you must talk to strangers
I've calmed from my crashout, as the youth say.
After seeing a roach, sleeping with the lights on to deter said roaches, and probably getting chewed up by bed bugs (I can't be bothered to leave, I'll steam my clothes later), I posted on reddit and threads about landing in the country. I did not want to feel alone with anxiety in a foreign country.
Off of reddit, I met a Canadian going to the same school. We met up, walked around the campus, and had lunch. It was my first proper meal in the country and it was so good. I thought I said I'll stop using reddit but I'm a big fat liar.
Two days later, a woman on threads offered to take me to brunch and a Jade market, where I spent $100USD on overpriced stones, then had dinner. She taught me how to ride the busses and Metro.
Then, this past Saturday night, while waiting to meet a date near Formosa Boulevard ("already?" - yes, i'll write about it later) an Indonesian woman struck up a conversation with me in Mandarin. I didn't understand half of what she said, but she offered to take me to the nearby night market. She was awesome; she worked alone in Taiwan since she was 19, and solo traveled much of the country.
Strangers turn into acquaintances, friends, and lovers. They can also just stay strangers, who knows. Talk to them. Can't complain about being alone if you sit and do nothing.
Be vigilant, but don't be afraid.