"Zen ma ban?" or "怎麼辦" is a pretty common expression used in Taiwan, literally translated as "how to do?" As far as I've been told, it is basically a semi-rhetorical way to say "Now what?" or (with a cocked head and eyebrows and shoulders raised) "Welp, what can we do?" It is sometimes, in a way, implying that there isn't actually anything that can be done.
Showing posts with label posts with questions in the title. Show all posts
Showing posts with label posts with questions in the title. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Celebs?
For the most part, I've gotten really used to daily life in Taiwan. The scooters, the sugary bread, the questionable street-side cuisine, the signs I can't read, the lot of it. For the past 14 or so months, I've come to terms with it and I'm hardly phased.
Some of the Taiwanese, however, can't meet me half way on that front.
Trips to the supermarket, certain restaurants, and just about everywhere in Taipei are hardly ever uneventful. I still get that paranoid feeling that everybody is staring at me because I'm a foreigner. By definition, though, it's not paranoia. I don't have a baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of others. They are actually staring at me.
Eyes of children are locked on target with mouths stuck open as I walk down the aisle at the store. They creep to safety behind a parent's leg without ever disengaging their curious stare.
On the subway, children peer through limbs down the car at the strange looking man with no hair and whose skin has a pinkish hue. I've seen a child whisper something to her mother while pointing at me, and her mother gently slapped her hand. I can't even imagine what she was saying.
Another encounter with children involves them being forced by their parents to come and say "hello" to the foreigner to practice their English. Then it's time to throw on a quick smile that I thought I had abandoned at 3:30 on Friday afternoon.
I get it. Kids worldwide are ignorantly shameless when it comes to pointing and staring. In all fairness, compared to a place like the U.S., it doesn't seem like Taiwanese kids get exposure to as diverse a population at such an early age. It's just that I kind of wish they would grow out of the fascination...
"Ah-scuse me. May I take picture wiss you?"
I'm walking through the subway station with Mike. Two high school aged looking Taiwanese girls come up to us with that question. We look at each other with identical puzzled expressions. We say "sure." The girls giggle, turn around and about eight other girls appear from the crowd and surround us. Once the camera appears, pinkies, ring fingers, and thumbs instinctively fold down due to years of conditioning. The giggling continues as they walk away, passing the camera around and inspecting the pictures, which I'm sure contain a Canadian and an American with "What the (expletive) is happening right now?" looks across their faces.
Without exaggerating, I'd estimate this happens on a monthly basis (twice in 10 minutes at a museum one time). It's always the same routine: send the cutest, most confident one of the group, and after compliance, swarm the foreigners with "peace sign" two fingers already glued to their faces in "cute" pose.
One of my favorite things to do is imagine if something like this happened back home. A group high schoolers (girls and boys alike) see an Asian person at the train station and run up to them to take their picture. Will somebody please try that and let me know how it goes?
(the lack of "peace signs" in this picture is almost creepy...)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
To flush, or not to flush?
***Disclaimer: If you are eating, I'd recommend checking back later. We're discussing bathroom etiquette today.
In many stalls in many bathrooms throughout Taiwan, there is a little trash can situated next to the toilet. It is apparently widely understood that, upon completing what we can refer to as "#2," the tissue should be placed in the trash can, and not flushed down the toilet.
(It's about to get graphic...)
This custom raises a lot of questions and crosses many, many moral boundaries. I understand the fear of clogging the pipes, but honestly, if what I just flushed can make it through the plumbing, then a little bit of wet paper should have no problem following it. I'm just sayin'.
And here's another thing: I don't want to smell, and I REALLY don't want to see the remnants of your business while I'm taking care of mine. It's a bit nauseating, to say the least. Along those same lines, Taiwan has some really interesting, greasy foods that sometimes don't agree with my stomach. Therefore, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you also don't want to have to look at my very own oil-spill clean up efforts. It's just gross, and we'll leave it at that.
If you are one of those 50 people (because let's be honest, at least 30 of those views are from me), please continue reading:
When researching for this post, I stumbled across this Reuters article. If you aren't interested in clicking it, look here:
It's called "Flush so we don't blush, Taiwan city says," with {commentary from me!}
(Reuters) - A city in south Taiwan began training potty users this week to flush toilet paper instead of throwing it in the trash, to reduce 340 tonnes of stinky waste generated daily, local media and officials said on Tuesday. {Potty training?? Is the bowl so small that they need to practice their aim?}
"An old habit is to throw toilet paper in the trash can beside the toilet, which causes a major stink that's bad for public sanitation," city Environmental Protection Bureau Director Chang Hwang-jen told Reuters.
"Japanese and Western visitors {That's me!!} who come to Taiwan find this Taiwan toilet habit to be quite poor," she added.
Taiwan's plumbing can now handle toilet paper without clogging the pipes, a break from the past, the city of Tainan told its 764,000 citizens at a news conference {was the conference called for this reason only? because that's awesome} on Monday.
Leaders in other Taiwan cities haven't gotten off the pot on the issue, Chang said. {haha, I get it!}
Toilet sitters in Taiwan and China customarily target {implying they don't always hit it?} trash bins instead of the porcelain because of pipe backup worries. Clogged pipes in Tainan are caused by the flushing of other objects, such as toothbrushes, Chang said.
Sticking non-recyclable toilet paper in the trash also costs the city T$4,600 ($151) per tonne, or T$600 million per year, to treat, local media said. {that's basically like wiping your ass with dolla bills.}
This article is almost 2 years old, and I can assure you that not everyone has converted. This is my effort to spread the word.
Well, Taiwan. The ball is in your court, and the paper is in your hand. Where do you want to put it?
(and stop flushing toothbrushes down the toilet...)
Extended reading: http://www.poopreport.com/Techniques/good_ass_bad_ass.html
Thursday, May 13, 2010
How's the weather?
The weather? In a word: wet.
In the month of May, the average precipitation for Taipei is 8.4 inches. That's over double what Port Jefferson gets (3.97 inches). Even PJ's rainiest month of the year is only 4.22 inches. For added comparison, the average rainfall for May in London is 1.86 inches, and in Seattle is 2.03 inches.
To be fair, it's not always May. With that being said, in a year, Taipei averages about 80 inches of rain to New York's 40. We're practically drowning over here!*
I read a poem to my class the other day about the 5 senses, which opened with the following lines:
Hear the winds blow,
See the blue skies.
After reading it first, I explain each line, then we get interactive with it.
Hear the winds blow, (have all of the kids blow and make wind noises.)
See the blue skies. (have all of the kids look outside at the ... uh oh.)
"Teacher John, the sky is white."
"Well, in some countries, they have blue skies."
If it's not raining in Taipei, it's probably cloudy. I used a phrase awhile back, "perma-fog," to describe how there's always a blanket of clouds hovering over northern Taiwan. The rain coupled with the almost rain can really create a dreary atmosphere sometimes. That's why whenever I see a ray of sunshine, I try to get outside as soon as possible.
In just over a week, I'm taking my 3 week vacation. I still have tentative plans to thoroughly explore the entire island of Taiwan. As I travel around, I'm also looking for a place to relocate to. I've heard that as soon as you leave Taipei County, the weather gets better the further south you. (Better weather = less extreme temperatures in the summer and winter, and a LOT less rain!)
So, world, how's the weather?
*some of the numbers I used were approximations from http://www.worldclimate.com and www.weather.com.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Is there a Dr. in the house?
It's been more than 8 months since I've had a Dr. Pepper, the delicious beverage which has been the single item that I miss the most from home.
Taiwan has a lot of great things, unique to the country, but also a lot of things that are imported or otherwise distributed globally. But even in Costco, the mecca for imported/western food, there isn't a Dr. Pepper to be found. Since I've been in Taiwan, I've searched and read comment threads on the internet regarding the subject. For too long I've been yearning for the 23 flavors of the drink I once dubbed as "the new water."
A few weeks ago, Forrest Gump was on TV, and after watching him drink 15 Dr. Peppers at the White House, I took my craving to my Facebook status ("Johnny Fleckenstein would do unspeakable things for a Dr. Pepper"). To my astonishment, I had two people reply that they actually had cans of DP in Taiwan. Not long after that, I heard that a teacher at my school returned from Guam with a few cans! With so much evidence of it actually being in the country, I had my heart set on the fact that I was finally going to get my hands on some!
I did some research and talked to a few people and found out where the end of the rainbow was: Jake's Country Kitchen in Tianmu, which is north of Taipei City, and a solid hour of travel time no matter what transportation you use. Of course, I just recently purchased a scooter so I decided to log a few more miles and make the trek.
On Thursday afternoon, I took to the streets of Taipei in the middle of rush hour, practically eating my way through the pollution. The entire way I had a nervous feeling, as if I was on my way to ask the hottest girl in school to prom. What do I say? Do I cut right to the chase? For the entire 1 hour and 10 minute trip, I replayed different scenarios in my head, sometimes drinking it very fast, sometimes taking small sips to savor it, and fantasizing about buying a case and stocking up.
When I finally arrived in Tianmu, I parked my scooter, took one last look in my small side-view mirrors and stepped into Jake's.
"Do you want eat here or take out?"
"Um... uh. Well... I heard you have Dr. Pepper."
"No Dr. Pepper."
"What? Why?"
"We sold out."
I still have a bruise on my chin from when my jaw hit the floor as I stared at the drink menu and saw where Dr. Pepper had been crossed out. Feelings of rejection, defeat, depression, and shock took over my body as I sat down. Not wanting to leave empty handed after such a long journey, I settled for a bacon cheeseburger and a lousy Coke.
When I left, I asked when they were going to get Dr. Pepper again.
"Never. No more."
Those words, spoken like daggers going into my soul, haunt my dreams every night. And so the quest continues...
Taiwan has a lot of great things, unique to the country, but also a lot of things that are imported or otherwise distributed globally. But even in Costco, the mecca for imported/western food, there isn't a Dr. Pepper to be found. Since I've been in Taiwan, I've searched and read comment threads on the internet regarding the subject. For too long I've been yearning for the 23 flavors of the drink I once dubbed as "the new water."
A few weeks ago, Forrest Gump was on TV, and after watching him drink 15 Dr. Peppers at the White House, I took my craving to my Facebook status ("Johnny Fleckenstein would do unspeakable things for a Dr. Pepper"). To my astonishment, I had two people reply that they actually had cans of DP in Taiwan. Not long after that, I heard that a teacher at my school returned from Guam with a few cans! With so much evidence of it actually being in the country, I had my heart set on the fact that I was finally going to get my hands on some!
I did some research and talked to a few people and found out where the end of the rainbow was: Jake's Country Kitchen in Tianmu, which is north of Taipei City, and a solid hour of travel time no matter what transportation you use. Of course, I just recently purchased a scooter so I decided to log a few more miles and make the trek.
On Thursday afternoon, I took to the streets of Taipei in the middle of rush hour, practically eating my way through the pollution. The entire way I had a nervous feeling, as if I was on my way to ask the hottest girl in school to prom. What do I say? Do I cut right to the chase? For the entire 1 hour and 10 minute trip, I replayed different scenarios in my head, sometimes drinking it very fast, sometimes taking small sips to savor it, and fantasizing about buying a case and stocking up.
When I finally arrived in Tianmu, I parked my scooter, took one last look in my small side-view mirrors and stepped into Jake's.
"Do you want eat here or take out?"
"Um... uh. Well... I heard you have Dr. Pepper."
"No Dr. Pepper."
"What? Why?"
"We sold out."
I still have a bruise on my chin from when my jaw hit the floor as I stared at the drink menu and saw where Dr. Pepper had been crossed out. Feelings of rejection, defeat, depression, and shock took over my body as I sat down. Not wanting to leave empty handed after such a long journey, I settled for a bacon cheeseburger and a lousy Coke.
When I left, I asked when they were going to get Dr. Pepper again.
"Never. No more."
Those words, spoken like daggers going into my soul, haunt my dreams every night. And so the quest continues...
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Where's the cream filling?
Sorry to spoil it, but this post is not about those funny Hostess commercials.
This past weekend, my school had it's annual staff dinner. Much like the lavish hospitality that we experienced in Hualien, we were offered an all-you-can-eat buffet of the finest dishes at the sparkling Splendor Restaurant in Taipei.
A few glasses of wine later, I found myself staring at $500 and a bowl of soup. Sitting proudly in the soup, nestled snug in the noodles, was a single chicken testicle. For those that have never seen one, let alone eaten one, it's actually quite impressive. Taking into consideration size relative to proportion, that cock had plenty of doodle-doo.
To make a long story short, I've never been one to let down a crowd of spectators, or to turn down doing something for money, so I spooned the nut from its burrow in the noodles and braced myself. I had to devise a quick strategy; it was definitely too big to safely swallow whole. I didn't want to end up in the hospital for choking on... well, never mind. Of course the last thing I wanted to do was bite it, but I made up my mind that one swift bite through the center would be the most efficient way to get it down.
Trying my best to think happy thoughts, I slid it into my mouth and followed the plan. Only, I didn't know exactly what to expect. My teeth severed the testicle in half, allowing for its grainy, mushy insides to fill my mouth. While the taste really wasn't so bad, the texture did nothing to stop me from gagging slightly before it disappeared in a quick gulp.
More wine and all-you-can-eat Haagen Dazs was enough to remove the oily aftertaste from my mouth, but nothing will ever change the fact that I ate a testicle.
This past weekend, my school had it's annual staff dinner. Much like the lavish hospitality that we experienced in Hualien, we were offered an all-you-can-eat buffet of the finest dishes at the sparkling Splendor Restaurant in Taipei.
A few glasses of wine later, I found myself staring at $500 and a bowl of soup. Sitting proudly in the soup, nestled snug in the noodles, was a single chicken testicle. For those that have never seen one, let alone eaten one, it's actually quite impressive. Taking into consideration size relative to proportion, that cock had plenty of doodle-doo.
To make a long story short, I've never been one to let down a crowd of spectators, or to turn down doing something for money, so I spooned the nut from its burrow in the noodles and braced myself. I had to devise a quick strategy; it was definitely too big to safely swallow whole. I didn't want to end up in the hospital for choking on... well, never mind. Of course the last thing I wanted to do was bite it, but I made up my mind that one swift bite through the center would be the most efficient way to get it down.
Trying my best to think happy thoughts, I slid it into my mouth and followed the plan. Only, I didn't know exactly what to expect. My teeth severed the testicle in half, allowing for its grainy, mushy insides to fill my mouth. While the taste really wasn't so bad, the texture did nothing to stop me from gagging slightly before it disappeared in a quick gulp.
More wine and all-you-can-eat Haagen Dazs was enough to remove the oily aftertaste from my mouth, but nothing will ever change the fact that I ate a testicle.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Who's next?
I'd like to extend a warm Asian welcome to Adam and Steve, who have just recently touched down in Korea.
That's two more New Paltz alums to travel west to get to the East to spread the gift of language, which begs the question, "Who's next?" Kinney? D-Lo?
For fresh opinions within new borders, head over to Adam's blog and Steve's blog for updates on their adventures.
For future reference, you can get there under my Quick-links on the right side of my page.
Welcome to Asia, boys! Good luck!
That's two more New Paltz alums to travel west to get to the East to spread the gift of language, which begs the question, "Who's next?" Kinney? D-Lo?
For fresh opinions within new borders, head over to Adam's blog and Steve's blog for updates on their adventures.
For future reference, you can get there under my Quick-links on the right side of my page.
Welcome to Asia, boys! Good luck!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
What's the soup du jour?
"It's the 'Soup of the Day'"
"Mmmmm. That sounds good. I'll have that."
As some of you may remember, awhile back I had a post displaying some of the unique names I've encountered here in Taiwan. Fortunately, the fun didn't stop there. Here are a few more:
Soup and Haha from the ticket counter at the movies. Perhaps they are acquaintances of Destroy and Icey from the previous names posting.
Smark is a new student of mine. Why not just drop the "s"? How does someone even come up with a name like that?
Smark's classmates also have some interesting, yet surprisingly more acceptable because they're Asian-sounding, names: Yuki, Momoko, Lulu, and Waylen.
Meanwhile, I've become "Jong" to many (mostly older people) who can't seem to get their tongue off their bottom teeth and behind their upper teeth to get that crisp "n" sound. And my class calls me "Teacher...Superman, Spiderman, Optimus Prime, Michael Jackson, Handsome Man, Roller Coaster, Send E-mails, Eyes, Hair, Koo-Koo Head, Crazy, (insert first word that pops into a child's mind)."
Oh well, it's like I always used to say... you can call me anything you want, just don't call me "Late For Dinner." Har har har...
"Mmmmm. That sounds good. I'll have that."
* * *
As some of you may remember, awhile back I had a post displaying some of the unique names I've encountered here in Taiwan. Fortunately, the fun didn't stop there. Here are a few more:
Soup and Haha from the ticket counter at the movies. Perhaps they are acquaintances of Destroy and Icey from the previous names posting.
Smark is a new student of mine. Why not just drop the "s"? How does someone even come up with a name like that?
Smark's classmates also have some interesting, yet surprisingly more acceptable because they're Asian-sounding, names: Yuki, Momoko, Lulu, and Waylen.
Meanwhile, I've become "Jong" to many (mostly older people) who can't seem to get their tongue off their bottom teeth and behind their upper teeth to get that crisp "n" sound. And my class calls me "Teacher...Superman, Spiderman, Optimus Prime, Michael Jackson, Handsome Man, Roller Coaster, Send E-mails, Eyes, Hair, Koo-Koo Head, Crazy, (insert first word that pops into a child's mind)."
Oh well, it's like I always used to say... you can call me anything you want, just don't call me "Late For Dinner." Har har har...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Where did August go?
Better yet- where did the past 6 months go?
August is waning and my 6-month milestone is approaching. While it is technically a few weeks away, time continues to be an interesting phenomena in Taiwan. Weeks pass with barely the blink of an eye.
All apologies for being basically MIA during this whole month. For me, and maybe others, this site has become a sort of pulse, just something I need to check every now and then to make sure I'm alive. Writing here keeps me grounded and somewhat connected to the world of my past. Unfortunately, I haven't been putting in the computer time to hatch a solid post.
August, in a nutshell, has been a month of re-adjusting. Our school began a new semester this month, making my class officially a "big" class (they will graduate from our kindergarten next year). With that, I also have a new classroom, a new co-teacher, 3 new students, and 1 student who came back after a month of vacation. The Squirrel class, which once boasted a 15:3 boys to girls ratio, is now 16:5 (larger class + more boys= chaos).
On the domestic front, Mike and I are holding down the fort by ourselves. A Michigan native was supposed to be joining us in late July, but he bailed last minute. Yesterday, we were supposed to get a new South African roommate, but he missed his flight and is apparently going to show up tomorrow. Mike, who has had 4 roommates in his short tenure here, is not holding his breath.
Next week, I am picking up a brand new class of students who don't speak a word of English, so you can expect some adventures and mishaps in the coming weeks. As for now, I leave you with this quote from Leo Tolstoy, which is referenced in the book "Into the Wild":
"I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life."
(feast your eyes on these new pictures)
August is waning and my 6-month milestone is approaching. While it is technically a few weeks away, time continues to be an interesting phenomena in Taiwan. Weeks pass with barely the blink of an eye.
All apologies for being basically MIA during this whole month. For me, and maybe others, this site has become a sort of pulse, just something I need to check every now and then to make sure I'm alive. Writing here keeps me grounded and somewhat connected to the world of my past. Unfortunately, I haven't been putting in the computer time to hatch a solid post.
August, in a nutshell, has been a month of re-adjusting. Our school began a new semester this month, making my class officially a "big" class (they will graduate from our kindergarten next year). With that, I also have a new classroom, a new co-teacher, 3 new students, and 1 student who came back after a month of vacation. The Squirrel class, which once boasted a 15:3 boys to girls ratio, is now 16:5 (larger class + more boys= chaos).
On the domestic front, Mike and I are holding down the fort by ourselves. A Michigan native was supposed to be joining us in late July, but he bailed last minute. Yesterday, we were supposed to get a new South African roommate, but he missed his flight and is apparently going to show up tomorrow. Mike, who has had 4 roommates in his short tenure here, is not holding his breath.
Next week, I am picking up a brand new class of students who don't speak a word of English, so you can expect some adventures and mishaps in the coming weeks. As for now, I leave you with this quote from Leo Tolstoy, which is referenced in the book "Into the Wild":
"I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life."
(feast your eyes on these new pictures)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Do you miss me?
I had a chat with one of my co-workers the other day about what in fact is so appealing about living in Taiwan. He is one of the many people I know who planned to stay for a year and now has been here for about 5 years. I think he really hit the nail on the head with how he worded the situation.
He basically said that because we don't really live here, or speak the language for that matter, we aren't really involved in Taiwanese politics, drama, and other domestic issues that would normally strike our nerves back at home. On the other hand, we aren't at home to have to deal with those certain issues mentioned above. We are more or less isolated in our own worlds. It's a liberating feeling being a foreigner who is far away from home and politely ignorant to the immediate surroundings. It really gives you time to focus on yourself and your own life.
Speaking of reasons why I love Taiwan, apparently it's pretty cool if you have zits and are balding. Allow me to explain...
A few weeks ago I was chatting with my boss' husband and another of my superiors, both of whom are Taiwanese. I had just recently shaved my head and was telling them how I didn't really like my new hair cut because of how obvious it makes the fact that I am bald(ing).
"Not to worry," they assured me. "In Taiwanese culture, balding is a sign that you will be very successful. If you lose your hair it means you think a lot." (This is right on par with Billy Joel's thoughts on balding: "It's not about less hair, it's about more head.") Then, of course, they referred to the very man I was speaking with, who owns the school. He is, of course, very successful. However, his 40-year-old hairline has only receded approximately the diameter of 2 strands of hair. If that's all the hair-loss it takes to be successful, then at age 22 I should be ready to open a Swiss bank account in no time.
Also recently, I was talking with my co-teacher when she stopped mid-sentence and stared at my nose.
"Do you have a zit?" I hadn't seen a mirror in about 10 hours and she had a pretty good view of my face, so I presumed I did.
"Uh... I guess so," I answered sheepishly. In general, back at home, I think people politely pretend not to notice blemishes on their friends' faces.
"In Taiwanese culture that means that somebody misses you."
Well, I've had very clear skin since I've been in Taiwan, so that belief is either a really clever way to avoid embarrassment throughout middle school, or nobody really misses me (especially since that "zit" didn't even turn out to be one). You tell me...
.
He basically said that because we don't really live here, or speak the language for that matter, we aren't really involved in Taiwanese politics, drama, and other domestic issues that would normally strike our nerves back at home. On the other hand, we aren't at home to have to deal with those certain issues mentioned above. We are more or less isolated in our own worlds. It's a liberating feeling being a foreigner who is far away from home and politely ignorant to the immediate surroundings. It really gives you time to focus on yourself and your own life.
Speaking of reasons why I love Taiwan, apparently it's pretty cool if you have zits and are balding. Allow me to explain...
A few weeks ago I was chatting with my boss' husband and another of my superiors, both of whom are Taiwanese. I had just recently shaved my head and was telling them how I didn't really like my new hair cut because of how obvious it makes the fact that I am bald(ing).
"Not to worry," they assured me. "In Taiwanese culture, balding is a sign that you will be very successful. If you lose your hair it means you think a lot." (This is right on par with Billy Joel's thoughts on balding: "It's not about less hair, it's about more head.") Then, of course, they referred to the very man I was speaking with, who owns the school. He is, of course, very successful. However, his 40-year-old hairline has only receded approximately the diameter of 2 strands of hair. If that's all the hair-loss it takes to be successful, then at age 22 I should be ready to open a Swiss bank account in no time.
Also recently, I was talking with my co-teacher when she stopped mid-sentence and stared at my nose.
"Do you have a zit?" I hadn't seen a mirror in about 10 hours and she had a pretty good view of my face, so I presumed I did.
"Uh... I guess so," I answered sheepishly. In general, back at home, I think people politely pretend not to notice blemishes on their friends' faces.
"In Taiwanese culture that means that somebody misses you."
Well, I've had very clear skin since I've been in Taiwan, so that belief is either a really clever way to avoid embarrassment throughout middle school, or nobody really misses me (especially since that "zit" didn't even turn out to be one). You tell me...
.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
What's in a name?
"Names are a great mystery. I've never known whether the name is molded by the child or the child changed to fit the name. But you can be sure of this -- whenever a human has a nickname it is a proof that the name given him was wrong."
~John Steinbeck
Here is a list of great names I heard on Saturday:
Destroy and Icey: 2 dudes that work at the movie theater where I saw the new Terminator movie.
Liz: the guy that sold Mike a new pair of flip-flops. His name is very fitting.
Cola: an attractive girl that works at a jewelry counter in Ximending. C-O-L-A, Cola.
Skeet: a random guy we met at a grocery store that speaks great English. Wondering if he's aware of his name's implications.
Not Band: a rock and roll cover band consisting of a bunch of 17-year-olds that we met on the train.
Here we are rocking out with Not Band on the train:
Speaking of names, how about these names for students: Legal, Genius, Zero, Lion, Eagle, Apple, Christ... (it's a goal of mine to be asked to help assign English names to our new classes).
Finally, taking the award for awkward naming, here is a picture of me and Mike shopping for new hoods:
~John Steinbeck
Destroy and Icey: 2 dudes that work at the movie theater where I saw the new Terminator movie.
Liz: the guy that sold Mike a new pair of flip-flops. His name is very fitting.
Cola: an attractive girl that works at a jewelry counter in Ximending. C-O-L-A, Cola.
Skeet: a random guy we met at a grocery store that speaks great English. Wondering if he's aware of his name's implications.
Not Band: a rock and roll cover band consisting of a bunch of 17-year-olds that we met on the train.
Here we are rocking out with Not Band on the train:
Speaking of names, how about these names for students: Legal, Genius, Zero, Lion, Eagle, Apple, Christ... (it's a goal of mine to be asked to help assign English names to our new classes).
Finally, taking the award for awkward naming, here is a picture of me and Mike shopping for new hoods:
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Homesick?
I don't think so. No offense, home.
"Aren't you craving a Jack Daniel's Burger from T.G.I. Fridays?" you might ask. "Think about that all-beef patty glazed with Jack Daniel’s traditional glaze and stacked with two strips of crispy bacon and smoky Provolone cheese on a toasted bun. (Served with a side of Jack Daniel's traditional glaze)."
"Good point, I think I'll head to Ximen this weekend."
Obviously major restaurants franchise globally, so it's not really news that I can grab a burger whenever I feel like it. It is pretty safe to say that I'm not really feeling homesick, though, and especially not from a lack of Western-style food. Since I've been here I've had burgers, fries, pizza, pasta, you name it. While it's not especially hard to come by, its more likely that I'll be eating Clean, Japanese, Thai, Taiwanese, Chinese, or even an occasional Kiwi Burger.
My tenure in Taiwan is approaching the 3 month landmark, which I'm told is a relatively trying time period in terms of culture shock and homesickness. Apparently the first 3 months is a "honeymoon" period where everything seems amazing and novel. Spot on so far. If I am to comply with predictions, I should be coming up on the period where my immune system weakens and I become vulnerable to homesickness.
While I can't see myself being homesick anytime soon, the Taiwan novelty has become slightly diminished (as noted by my lack of interesting things to say in posts). On the other hand, I am always very busy with school, so my time to go exploring and find new things is a little bit less than when I was unemployed.
Homesick? The verdict is "no." If I do start to feel the symptoms I will be sure to post them, but in the meantime, check out what I ate for dinner last night:
I think I've come a long way since gagging on chicken feet.
Other updates from this hemisphere: I finally got my ARC (Alien Resident Certificate), making me a legal alien in Taiwan. Take me to your leader... Typhoon season is coming and I'm trying to figure out a way to carry an umbrella and not feel like a fruitcake... I'm still taking W.O.D. suggestions. For the complete list, click here... I've also introduced "Phrase of the Day" for commonly used phrases and idioms. For the complete list, click here... After my 4-day weekend, my school threw a 6-day week counter punch (with a 1-day weekend to cap it off)... I may or may not have shaved my head.
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"Aren't you craving a Jack Daniel's Burger from T.G.I. Fridays?" you might ask. "Think about that all-beef patty glazed with Jack Daniel’s traditional glaze and stacked with two strips of crispy bacon and smoky Provolone cheese on a toasted bun. (Served with a side of Jack Daniel's traditional glaze)."
"Good point, I think I'll head to Ximen this weekend."
Obviously major restaurants franchise globally, so it's not really news that I can grab a burger whenever I feel like it. It is pretty safe to say that I'm not really feeling homesick, though, and especially not from a lack of Western-style food. Since I've been here I've had burgers, fries, pizza, pasta, you name it. While it's not especially hard to come by, its more likely that I'll be eating Clean, Japanese, Thai, Taiwanese, Chinese, or even an occasional Kiwi Burger.
My tenure in Taiwan is approaching the 3 month landmark, which I'm told is a relatively trying time period in terms of culture shock and homesickness. Apparently the first 3 months is a "honeymoon" period where everything seems amazing and novel. Spot on so far. If I am to comply with predictions, I should be coming up on the period where my immune system weakens and I become vulnerable to homesickness.
While I can't see myself being homesick anytime soon, the Taiwan novelty has become slightly diminished (as noted by my lack of interesting things to say in posts). On the other hand, I am always very busy with school, so my time to go exploring and find new things is a little bit less than when I was unemployed.
Homesick? The verdict is "no." If I do start to feel the symptoms I will be sure to post them, but in the meantime, check out what I ate for dinner last night:
I think I've come a long way since gagging on chicken feet.
Other updates from this hemisphere: I finally got my ARC (Alien Resident Certificate), making me a legal alien in Taiwan. Take me to your leader... Typhoon season is coming and I'm trying to figure out a way to carry an umbrella and not feel like a fruitcake... I'm still taking W.O.D. suggestions. For the complete list, click here... I've also introduced "Phrase of the Day" for commonly used phrases and idioms. For the complete list, click here... After my 4-day weekend, my school threw a 6-day week counter punch (with a 1-day weekend to cap it off)... I may or may not have shaved my head.
.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Is this the year?
For some, the hockey season may be over. For others, their most important game is still waiting for them.
For the less informed reader: I am a big ice hockey fan. To the point where I was getting up at 7:30 in the morning here to sometimes only watch scores refresh every 30 seconds. It's a far cry from the atmosphere at a real game, but it's about all I can do in a country where it's hard to grow ice.
Last weekend however, Mike and I caught wind of an actual ice hockey game taking place in Taipei City. At the grand Taipei Arena, which is only a few blocks from the hotel I lived in for the first month, there were two match-ups set for that night to decide the two teams that were going to the CIHL finals. Not only could I go to watch hockey (for free!), but playoff hockey! For those of you waiting for me to get homesick, this news set that date back a little bit.
I had absolute minimal expectations for this game. I half pictured me and Mike to be the only ones there. Inside Taipei Arena, we walked around and passed a Starbucks where a man was talking to a small group of other guys, saying things like, "I don't want this to be the last game we play this season. I like playing you guys." This team was clearly on the brink of elimination, and we could smell the desperation. It had a hint cinnamon spice mocha.
We took our seats in a slowly filling arena. There were already more people than I expected. Watching the teams warm-up, we decided we needed a team to root for and we landed on the Raptors, whose jerseys were cooler than their opponents, the Lions.
The puck dropped and they were on their way. The game was filled with breakaways and amazing saves, power plays, and they even threw t-shirts into the stands. Our Raptors cruised to a 4-2 victory and a chance for the championship. One of the highlights? Bob.
Bob, of the Hsinchu Raptors, had a fan club. When we arrived at the game, we saw a bunch of fans shuffling in with signs reading "Bob is #1!" and things of that sort. Most of the people were young Taiwanese children, who we assumed were Bob's students. All game long they were giving Bob love. After the game, a victorius Bob stepped off the ice and was mobbed by his adoring fans/students. It was cute as hell, and became a goal of mine for my tenure in Taiwan. Let's go Bob!
Tonight the Raptors are playing the Wolves in the game 3 rubber-match of the finals for all the marbles. I think I'm going to the game to support my boys tonight. Go Raptors!
(more pics from the game(s) soon on my Picasa page)
**Update** The Hsinchu Raptors are the 2008-2009 CIHL Champions after taking it to the Taipei Wolves, beating them by a score of 7-4
.
For the less informed reader: I am a big ice hockey fan. To the point where I was getting up at 7:30 in the morning here to sometimes only watch scores refresh every 30 seconds. It's a far cry from the atmosphere at a real game, but it's about all I can do in a country where it's hard to grow ice.
Last weekend however, Mike and I caught wind of an actual ice hockey game taking place in Taipei City. At the grand Taipei Arena, which is only a few blocks from the hotel I lived in for the first month, there were two match-ups set for that night to decide the two teams that were going to the CIHL finals. Not only could I go to watch hockey (for free!), but playoff hockey! For those of you waiting for me to get homesick, this news set that date back a little bit.
I had absolute minimal expectations for this game. I half pictured me and Mike to be the only ones there. Inside Taipei Arena, we walked around and passed a Starbucks where a man was talking to a small group of other guys, saying things like, "I don't want this to be the last game we play this season. I like playing you guys." This team was clearly on the brink of elimination, and we could smell the desperation. It had a hint cinnamon spice mocha.
We took our seats in a slowly filling arena. There were already more people than I expected. Watching the teams warm-up, we decided we needed a team to root for and we landed on the Raptors, whose jerseys were cooler than their opponents, the Lions.
The puck dropped and they were on their way. The game was filled with breakaways and amazing saves, power plays, and they even threw t-shirts into the stands. Our Raptors cruised to a 4-2 victory and a chance for the championship. One of the highlights? Bob.
Bob, of the Hsinchu Raptors, had a fan club. When we arrived at the game, we saw a bunch of fans shuffling in with signs reading "Bob is #1!" and things of that sort. Most of the people were young Taiwanese children, who we assumed were Bob's students. All game long they were giving Bob love. After the game, a victorius Bob stepped off the ice and was mobbed by his adoring fans/students. It was cute as hell, and became a goal of mine for my tenure in Taiwan. Let's go Bob!
Tonight the Raptors are playing the Wolves in the game 3 rubber-match of the finals for all the marbles. I think I'm going to the game to support my boys tonight. Go Raptors!
(more pics from the game(s) soon on my Picasa page)
**Update** The Hsinchu Raptors are the 2008-2009 CIHL Champions after taking it to the Taipei Wolves, beating them by a score of 7-4
.
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