Current music: Turn Out the Light by The Music
Thailand. Thailand was extraordinary. I will admit that I was a little worried that I had built it up too much in my head for a very long time, but it was an unreal experience, and I am so happy that I got the chance to go.
I left immediately following my Christmas show, which my kids performed wonderfully. They looked adorable and remembered all of their lines. The big boss from Taipei came down to watch the show, and she told Peet and I that it was very well done. The whole English play was also very well done, although I'm pretty sure that it is impossible to put on a bad play with adorable Asian children in costumes.
After some celebratory drinks with my coworkers, I met Jane and Maureen at the bus station to take the four hour bus to Taipei. We got to the Taipei airport way too early, and ended up sleeping for several hours before checking in and going through security.
Current music: Our Bipolar Friends by Johnny and the Foreigners
We then hopped on a Thai Airlines flight to Bangkok, which took about 3 1/2 hours. We then waited for a few hours until our next flight to Phuket island. We stayed there for the first night in Thailand.
A few random facts about Thailand:
Their currency is called the baht, which is comparable to Taiwanese NT, yet we still lost a bit of money doing currency exchange.
You have to barter for everything. Taxis, taxi boats, anything material you want to purchase. I actually like bartering, it's like a battle of wills.
Thai people are the happiest people in the world, it's very inspiring to see their attitudes toward life in general.
Many of their taxis are called tuk-tuks, which are essentially open-air wagons attached to motorcycles.
A good percentage of the tourists that I saw were Swedish.
They drive on the wrong side of the road there, like England.
The food is amazing. I got more pad thais than I can remember, but we all shared our meals, and got the best curries, spring rolls, chicken satays and rice and vegetables everywhere.
Once on Phuket, we took a taxi across the island to Patong beach, which is a very touristy area, but it was still a lot of fun. It took about 45 minutes to get there from the airport. We stayed in a very friendly hostel, which was up a very vertical hill. Not fun after a party night. We went to get dinner pretty much immediately. I was told before going that I would probably be drinking Chang beer more than anything else, which was totally true. Thai beer is surprisingly good. I got my first of many pad thais in Thailand. We then went out to explore a bit of Patong, which is a very interesting place. One thing that stands out in Thailand is how aggressive people are to get foreigners to come into their shops. They never physically touch you, but they yell at you until you are either out of earshot or you go look at something.
Current music: Happens To Us All Otherwise by The Bound Stems
After shopping for a few hours, we decided to look around for a place to drink. Patong has a lot of random bar huts that are all set up in a row right by the market shops. We picked one that had the cheapest drinks, and all of the bartenders passed the time by playing brainteaser games like Connect 4. We ended up playing a massive and intense game of Jenga, that was much more complicated than regular Jenga. Later that night, we went out to party with some people we met at the hostel. All in all, it was a very good first night.
The next morning, we got up early to board the ferry that woulod take us to Phi Phi island. The ferry took about an hour or so. Phi Phi is one of the more touristy areas in Thailand, but the beach we were staying on, called Long beach, was relatively quiet. The town was chock full of tourists from all over the place. The hostel that we stayed at was unfortunately located at the top of the scariest staircase imaginable, with 88 stone and wooden stairs that were slanted and usually covered in sand. Climbing up those stairs the first time was not something I ever want to repeat. We stayed in a wooden bungalow, that was always filled with sand. It wasn't the best accomodation, but suited us just fine for the amount of time that we were there.
And so ends part 1 of Jess's Thailand saga. Tune in next time, whenever I have time to write again. I'll put up pics too, once I have the means to do it.
Preview: the story of going to Leonardo DiCaprio's beach, getting really super tan, and playing witrh monkeys.
Thing I miss of the day: Laura Szymczuk. Gonna be a world traveler like me very soon.
Peace out.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars, I could really use a wish right now..
Current music: The Spirit of Jazz by The Gaslight Anthem
So, I just returned home from my first Chinese lesson. This one was focused on pinyin, which essentially means Mandarin sounds. Mandarin doesn't have an alphabet, so I just have to learn to pronounce the different noises correctly, and that's step one. My tutor Kevin is a great guy, and I found that he lives literally right in the building next to me. I also found out that one of the birthday parties I went to when I first got here was his. This city is really unbelievably small for such a populated place. He tells me that I have very good pronunciation, but I don't know if he's just saying that because I'm paying him.
All of the people in my building know who I am, it's a little freaky. It's not a small building either. They also know which apartment is mine, and press the button for me when I get in the elevator. Ben told me when I first got here that being a foreigner in Tainan is like being kind of famous for looking different. He's not wrong.
Current music: Mondo Bongo by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
My Thailand trip is officially booked. I have been bouncing around for the past few days being super excited about it and telling everyone that listens to me. I made the mistake of going into my vacation in great detail to Vera, one of my Chinese teachers. Until I asked her what she was doing for the break, and it turns out that the Chinese teachers don't get a break at all, they have to work the whole time. They only get Chinese New Year off in February. After feeling like a jerk for several minutes, I then planned to get her something really awesome before I leave. Because I would not have survived my children without her. And no one deserves a break more than her.
One of Jane's good friends from Ottawa moved here a few weeks ago. Her name is Maureen and she's a very nice, yet extremely quiet girl. Which is weird, as both Jane and I are loud and obnoxious people. She has been adjusting extremely well to things here, probably because she already had an apartment set up, with Internet and furniture and a means of transportation. Lucky bitch. Jane and Maureen and I are bound for Thailand in one week from today. Jane gets two weeks for vacation and Maureen doesn't have a job yet. I only get one week, so they get to spend an extra week there. I am insanely jealous. We are flying to Phuket, with a layover in Bangkok. We then are bound for Kho Phi Phi island, followed by Kho Lanta. Then I have to go home. But at least I get to spend Christmas on a Thai beach. I am so excited that I can't even handle it.
Current music: Coyote Song by Bright Eyes
It's been a little over three months since I got here. I am still loving it immensely, although since I have a routine now, things seem less strange. I accept strange as a way of life. I went to the BBQ place again last night with my group of people again and once again Hopey and I stayed drinking until it closed. I love that place so much. Amazing food and cheap beer. Can't go wrong. Jane and Maureen and Sonja and Randy and I are going to the movies tonight. They have assigned seats at movie theatres here, like a concert. It's weird.
My kids have been into full dress rehearsals in the past week. My big kids are dressed as mice and elves and my babies are dressed as Christmas presents. I got their parents to make the presents out of cardboard boxes. A good chunk of the parents didn't really get the concept of the boxes being presents and made them into cars and shit. I don't really care, they look fantastic, and they have gotten awesome at singing Jingle Bells, although I now never want to hear that song again. The play is going to be awesome, even though I hate the story. I plan on taking full creative control of the graduation show. It shall be epic and win Pulitzers and shit. I have discovered if you put tiny Asian children on stage in costumes, it will always be amazing. Content is secondary. The show is on Friday. Peet is having an anxiety attack, and I am surprisingly calm. I'm going to bring him some herbal tea or whiskey or something for the night of. Otherwise I fear total meltdown.
Current music: Alcoholiday by Teenage Fanclub
In exactly one week from now, all of my stupid stress inducers will have ended. I look so forward to that day. This vacation could not have come at a better time. And since it's really cheap to fly around Asia, I think I will have to make this a regular thing. Every work vacation will mean a new country. I have a flight to Hong Kong in February for Chinese New Year, which was my original visa run that I don't have to take anymore. But I will, because it's Hong Kong.
Thing I miss of the week: Snow. Yeah, I said it. I don't miss cold, but I do miss snow. Most people here have never seen snow. Which is weird to think about.
I am now off to get gas. Everything in Taiwan is open until 10pm, it's really convenient. I'll try to post again before the end of the week, but no promises.
Cheers!
So, I just returned home from my first Chinese lesson. This one was focused on pinyin, which essentially means Mandarin sounds. Mandarin doesn't have an alphabet, so I just have to learn to pronounce the different noises correctly, and that's step one. My tutor Kevin is a great guy, and I found that he lives literally right in the building next to me. I also found out that one of the birthday parties I went to when I first got here was his. This city is really unbelievably small for such a populated place. He tells me that I have very good pronunciation, but I don't know if he's just saying that because I'm paying him.
All of the people in my building know who I am, it's a little freaky. It's not a small building either. They also know which apartment is mine, and press the button for me when I get in the elevator. Ben told me when I first got here that being a foreigner in Tainan is like being kind of famous for looking different. He's not wrong.
Current music: Mondo Bongo by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
My Thailand trip is officially booked. I have been bouncing around for the past few days being super excited about it and telling everyone that listens to me. I made the mistake of going into my vacation in great detail to Vera, one of my Chinese teachers. Until I asked her what she was doing for the break, and it turns out that the Chinese teachers don't get a break at all, they have to work the whole time. They only get Chinese New Year off in February. After feeling like a jerk for several minutes, I then planned to get her something really awesome before I leave. Because I would not have survived my children without her. And no one deserves a break more than her.
One of Jane's good friends from Ottawa moved here a few weeks ago. Her name is Maureen and she's a very nice, yet extremely quiet girl. Which is weird, as both Jane and I are loud and obnoxious people. She has been adjusting extremely well to things here, probably because she already had an apartment set up, with Internet and furniture and a means of transportation. Lucky bitch. Jane and Maureen and I are bound for Thailand in one week from today. Jane gets two weeks for vacation and Maureen doesn't have a job yet. I only get one week, so they get to spend an extra week there. I am insanely jealous. We are flying to Phuket, with a layover in Bangkok. We then are bound for Kho Phi Phi island, followed by Kho Lanta. Then I have to go home. But at least I get to spend Christmas on a Thai beach. I am so excited that I can't even handle it.
Current music: Coyote Song by Bright Eyes
It's been a little over three months since I got here. I am still loving it immensely, although since I have a routine now, things seem less strange. I accept strange as a way of life. I went to the BBQ place again last night with my group of people again and once again Hopey and I stayed drinking until it closed. I love that place so much. Amazing food and cheap beer. Can't go wrong. Jane and Maureen and Sonja and Randy and I are going to the movies tonight. They have assigned seats at movie theatres here, like a concert. It's weird.
My kids have been into full dress rehearsals in the past week. My big kids are dressed as mice and elves and my babies are dressed as Christmas presents. I got their parents to make the presents out of cardboard boxes. A good chunk of the parents didn't really get the concept of the boxes being presents and made them into cars and shit. I don't really care, they look fantastic, and they have gotten awesome at singing Jingle Bells, although I now never want to hear that song again. The play is going to be awesome, even though I hate the story. I plan on taking full creative control of the graduation show. It shall be epic and win Pulitzers and shit. I have discovered if you put tiny Asian children on stage in costumes, it will always be amazing. Content is secondary. The show is on Friday. Peet is having an anxiety attack, and I am surprisingly calm. I'm going to bring him some herbal tea or whiskey or something for the night of. Otherwise I fear total meltdown.
Current music: Alcoholiday by Teenage Fanclub
In exactly one week from now, all of my stupid stress inducers will have ended. I look so forward to that day. This vacation could not have come at a better time. And since it's really cheap to fly around Asia, I think I will have to make this a regular thing. Every work vacation will mean a new country. I have a flight to Hong Kong in February for Chinese New Year, which was my original visa run that I don't have to take anymore. But I will, because it's Hong Kong.
Thing I miss of the week: Snow. Yeah, I said it. I don't miss cold, but I do miss snow. Most people here have never seen snow. Which is weird to think about.
I am now off to get gas. Everything in Taiwan is open until 10pm, it's really convenient. I'll try to post again before the end of the week, but no promises.
Cheers!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
I don't think I'd be satisfied, if all I said was goodbye...
Current music: Back Down South by Kings of Leon
So...I have totally neglected this blog again. I could say that I've been very busy, which is true, and I could also say that my Internet connection is terrible, which is also true, but the real reason for my suckitude is that I completely forgot that this blog exists. Shame, shame, shame.
So, in order to remedy this the best I can, I shall go over the big-ish news that has gone on.
Development the first: I have a scooter now. And I am actually comfortable on it. Well, as comfortable as you can be driving here I suppose. The best way that I can describe the traffic here is to equate it to skiing. If you use your mirrors, check your blindspots or turn your head, chances are you will run into something. But it's better now that I am used to it.
My scooter is a tank. It's big and black and looks like it's been through several wars. I convinced myself that scooters are like boats in that it's bad luck to have one without a name. Mine is named Old Reliable, O.R. for short. Also, to reference the operating room that I will certainly end up in one day from driving here. It's a lovely machine, and I don't want to drive any other scooter, as I have bad scooter karma with any one that's not my own.
Current music: Everything Girl by Mustard Plug
Development the second: I am planning on going to Thailand for Christmas. I'm super excited about it as Thailand has been my dream for awhile. Probably second only to Egypt. Details to follow when I get plans a-rolling.
Development the third: My Christmas show has been in full rehearsal for the past month. I am so fucking sick of it I want to give myself an amateur lobotomy, but apparently it's not good enough yet to appease the mobs of parents. My five year olds are champions. They have thus far memorized 6 scenes of dialogue, three songs and two dances. And they have one more dance to go. I am so damn proud of them, and don't really care that much about the quality of the Christmas show, but unfortunately I don't run the school. So I pretty much have to be the cliched psychotic drama teacher. On five year olds.
Development the fourth: I hired a private Chinese tutor. I was supposed to start this week, but I lost my voice several days ago, and learning a tonal language would be kind of pointless. So I start next Friday.
Current music: Aspidistra by Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
That's really everything that's semi-important that has been going on. So here are several non-important things that I feel like sharing.
I bought Mahjongg tiles yesterday. I am totally turning into a 104 year old Chinese man.
My kids had their midterm tests on Thursday. Most of them passed, and I was happy.
One of my friends showed me a giant food warehouse where you can buy lots of imported things. I was also happy.
It costs me about $6 Canadian dollars every week and a half or so to gas up my scooter. Be jealous.
I have been obsessed with the crossword puzzles in the Taipei Times, even though it's an American crossword. My kids find them fascinating.
I went to the beach today. It was perfect beach weather. Hot, but not too hot.
I found the Subway in Tainan. My long quest is finally over.
I was introduced to this wonderful British sitcom called The Mighty Boosh. It's really fucked up and I never have any idea about what's going on, but it's wonderful.
It seems that all of my friends in Tainan had birthdays this week. I spent way more money on shots for people than anyone ever should.
One of our new pastimes at the pub is to get really wasted and play Balderdash. More fun than it sounds.
Thing I miss of the week: Hockey mania. Even though it's often embarrassing to be a Leafs girl.
Night night... I'll try really hard not to be a deadbeat again. For real this time.
So...I have totally neglected this blog again. I could say that I've been very busy, which is true, and I could also say that my Internet connection is terrible, which is also true, but the real reason for my suckitude is that I completely forgot that this blog exists. Shame, shame, shame.
So, in order to remedy this the best I can, I shall go over the big-ish news that has gone on.
Development the first: I have a scooter now. And I am actually comfortable on it. Well, as comfortable as you can be driving here I suppose. The best way that I can describe the traffic here is to equate it to skiing. If you use your mirrors, check your blindspots or turn your head, chances are you will run into something. But it's better now that I am used to it.
My scooter is a tank. It's big and black and looks like it's been through several wars. I convinced myself that scooters are like boats in that it's bad luck to have one without a name. Mine is named Old Reliable, O.R. for short. Also, to reference the operating room that I will certainly end up in one day from driving here. It's a lovely machine, and I don't want to drive any other scooter, as I have bad scooter karma with any one that's not my own.
Current music: Everything Girl by Mustard Plug
Development the second: I am planning on going to Thailand for Christmas. I'm super excited about it as Thailand has been my dream for awhile. Probably second only to Egypt. Details to follow when I get plans a-rolling.
Development the third: My Christmas show has been in full rehearsal for the past month. I am so fucking sick of it I want to give myself an amateur lobotomy, but apparently it's not good enough yet to appease the mobs of parents. My five year olds are champions. They have thus far memorized 6 scenes of dialogue, three songs and two dances. And they have one more dance to go. I am so damn proud of them, and don't really care that much about the quality of the Christmas show, but unfortunately I don't run the school. So I pretty much have to be the cliched psychotic drama teacher. On five year olds.
Development the fourth: I hired a private Chinese tutor. I was supposed to start this week, but I lost my voice several days ago, and learning a tonal language would be kind of pointless. So I start next Friday.
Current music: Aspidistra by Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
That's really everything that's semi-important that has been going on. So here are several non-important things that I feel like sharing.
I bought Mahjongg tiles yesterday. I am totally turning into a 104 year old Chinese man.
My kids had their midterm tests on Thursday. Most of them passed, and I was happy.
One of my friends showed me a giant food warehouse where you can buy lots of imported things. I was also happy.
It costs me about $6 Canadian dollars every week and a half or so to gas up my scooter. Be jealous.
I have been obsessed with the crossword puzzles in the Taipei Times, even though it's an American crossword. My kids find them fascinating.
I went to the beach today. It was perfect beach weather. Hot, but not too hot.
I found the Subway in Tainan. My long quest is finally over.
I was introduced to this wonderful British sitcom called The Mighty Boosh. It's really fucked up and I never have any idea about what's going on, but it's wonderful.
It seems that all of my friends in Tainan had birthdays this week. I spent way more money on shots for people than anyone ever should.
One of our new pastimes at the pub is to get really wasted and play Balderdash. More fun than it sounds.
Thing I miss of the week: Hockey mania. Even though it's often embarrassing to be a Leafs girl.
Night night... I'll try really hard not to be a deadbeat again. For real this time.
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