You are looking at a picture of my greatest companion...my backpack. It has been with me for almost 20 years, but it's been these past 8 in Taiwan where he has really shone. Whenever I leave the house, it comes with me.
This is mainly because in Taiwan it can rain at any moment, so I always have my umbrella in there. Also because it can get pretty humid, i have a small cloth that i can wipe my brow with if needed, or a bottle of water with me.
Of course it's mostly used to carry my materials and documents, but over the past year it's always had one of my chinese textbooks in it. I'm always ready to break out my book if i have a few minutes and do some studying. Truth be told it's also quite attractive to the ladies....more than a few have come up to me to say how much they admire how hard working I am.
But there is one thing it has done for me for which i'm eternally grateful...it saved my life. Many years ago when I was on my motorcycle, a crazy driver made a right turn from the left lane and clipped the front of my bike. This sent my flying over the handlebars and skidding along the pavement. Thanks to my intensive ninja training time slowed down and I was able to turn myself so mostly my backpack touched the pavement and that skid across the ground, instead of my skin. I had some skin missing from and elbow, a knee, and my side, but my backpack took most of the punishment. Thanks to it, we were both able to go to work the next day.
I guess it's no joke when Jansport says that their bags have a lifetime guarantee. Yes i've had to replace it's zippers a few times, and there is a big dark stain where a banana exploded in it back in high school. But even after a motorcycle accident it's still going strong as it enters into it's third decade.
And for better or worse it has become a part of my identity. Often when i'm out people will come up and tap me on the shoulder because they saw the backpack and knew it was me. Foreigners stick out, but a foreigner with a big green backpack, I think i'm the only one.
