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!
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