grrr..Asian women don't have HIPS!

My apartment was set up Monday morning and the typhoon stopped so I have been enjoying the city this week. How I have passed my time: Hiking on Monkey Mountain. A monkey jumped on me, hugged my waist and ripped my coffee out of my hands. I was surprisingly very calm and didn't get burned.

Shopping at the night markets. All the clothes in the night market are super cheap and made of synthetic material. They dry very quickly. However it seems it will be absolutely impossible for me to buy pants here. Asian women don't have hips or round bottoms. Tried the department stores also. Bought a scooter. Grey '97 Kymco 125CC. Meeting locals for dinner through Couchsurfing. They have been taking me to awesome restaurants around the city.

Taking the scooter on exploratory adventures. Rode through the mountains, visited the British Consulate for pretty views of the city, stopped by Pier 2, the city's modern art space and enjoyed some interesting exhibits.

Chinese is like TaiChi

This week has been quite eventful. The country has been experiencing a typhoon, which means that I have been going on errands to decorate my apartment/grocery shop in the pouring rain. You think that would make people more conservative drivers but... NOPE!! I am so excited about my new scooter that I want to take it everywhere I go. My baby doll, Sasha Fierce, has over 95,000 miles on her but she has good acceleration. I am becoming accustomed to the rain so much so that I have started feeling like my poncho is my second skin.

I also started taking Mandarin lessons this week. I signed up for 10 hours of private lessons over 5 days. I am experiencing greater comfort with the tones but some sounds are still very difficult to pronounce. I have had some wonderful teachers who have been explaining the symbolism behind some of the characters. very intersting and informative! My teacher today told me that speaking Mandarin is like TaiChi- there is an energy between the tones that gives the sounds/rhythms balance.

Got my Taiwanese Resident card today so I am now an official Taiwanese resident. Otherwise, I have been feeling supremely welcomed by two lovely teachers here, named Ali and Heather, who have gone out of their way to see how I am adjusting and to invite me to hang outs/meals/parties... Heading to the local fish market tonight with Ali to get some dinner and drink with the locals. Clck on the link below to see some photos I have taken while in Taiwan. Not a huge photographer this trip. Sorry. Maybe it is because I live here.

kaohsiung

Most Productive Day Ever!!!!

At 9:30 this morning, I moved into my new apartment. Unpacked in an hour then met a new friend Ali for brunch. Hopped on the back of her scooter and she took me to the city's second hand market. Then She helped me rent a scooter, buy a cell phone and a full face helmet(I don't mess around with safety!).

I feel like a real person now. So happy to be out of that hotel in the boondocks!

Meeting another coworker for hot pot in 10 minutes. Tomorrow will make a trip to Costco for food, bedding and other stuff for my apt.

Miss everyone back home!!

Check out my new apartment!!!

Rent in Taiwan is so cheap. My apartment building has a 24 hour security guard, an outdoor pool and an indoor gym. After my housing stipend, this 2 bedroom only costs me around 230 dollars!!! Woot Woot!

My New Apartment

Jetlag, I am trying to kick your butt!!

Despite waking up at 1AM yesterday, I decided i would not let jetlag get the best of me. I took a bus to downtown Kaohsiung at 8AM to begin sightseeing my new city. First stop: Visited the Sky tower, Kaohsiung's tallest building and rode the world's 13th fastest elevator to the 74th floor for a nice viewpoint of the city.

Then, a 3.5 mile walk around the city in humid 98 degree weather, along the Love River, various shopping districts and caught an afternoon showing of The Dark Knight Rises to beat the early afternoon heat.

Lastly, dinner and drinks with one of my new coworkers and her boyfriend. I was exhausted by the time I got home and got my first good night's sleep since I have been here!!!! Another coworker called me at my hotel this afternoon to invite me to dinner. Going to "the best dumpling place in the city!!

Hello Kaohsiung!!

Arrived to Kaohsiung at 1AM this morning. It was very dark out and my colleague pretty much just drove me straight to the hotel, which is in the I-SHOU complex. My school is in the complex, along with a university, hospital, library and an athletic center. Just outside the complex is a huge amusement park and a mall. My colleague is picking me up at the hotel in 6 hours to give me a basic tour of the complex and the city itself. Then, the afternoon off to explore myself. I can't believe this day has finally arrived. It is exciting, overwhelming, sad and hectic.

Moving to Taiwan!!!

So, I guess I couldn't stay put for long. A year and a half after 10 months of travel through Asia, I am heading back. To a new country. Not to travel, but to live and teach. To deeply learn about a new culture and its people. To learn about myself. To leave everything familiar to me and just explore and grow. To go alone. 2 years!