Horse Sky Forest: September 2009

I was originally planning on making an actual written post on the 28th to make the title a much better pun, but today will have to do.

Today I picked up my Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), which I suppose now makes me an official resident of Taipei. Which I suppose also makes it an apt time to make a proper post. I like it here. As you've probably already seen, the island is a beautiful place that I've had a few opportunities to explore. I'm hoping I can make those kinds of excursions every weekend, or at least close to it. Yet being in a sub-tropical paradise has its drawbacks, earthquakes, typhoons, and from my experience an almost constant temperature of 90 degrees (that's night and day, nighttime usually gets down to a chilly 86). Luckily I've yet to experience the first two of the list.

I don't have much to report. I'm in my third week of classes, and its somewhat of a struggle. It seems to be just outside of my skill level both in terms of material and my classmates, but I suppose that's the best environment for learning a language. It forces you to adapt. Classes more or less keep my day fairly rigidly defined. Class in the morning, eat lunch, teach English to my Korean classmate (and on Wednesdays my landlady), go to the library, do the internet thing, study, dinner, study, come home, work out at the riverside park, review and/or relax, sleep and repeat. At least that's the goal, things have kept coming up that changes things around, but that's the ideal. Churn through Chinese during the week, explore the mountains on the weekend. Sounds pretty good to me. On a similar note, Jared and I are planning on getting slightly higher end (as in not second-hand, Giant co. road bikes) bikes and using them to bike to these mountains or wherever really. I'm toying with the idea of biking around the island? At least to another city or something. Another potential adventure I'm looking forward to.

Taiwan isn't China, in many senses of the phrase but I'll keep it apolitical for now. The people here are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Case and point, my first day here I was struggling to my hostel in the confusing back alleys that make up much of Taipei's areas off the main roads. A man walked by noticing that I was clearly lost (and very sweaty). Watching him, I saw him double back from where he was going, ask me where I was headed, and proceeded to walk me far several minutes out of his way to the hostel. That's just one example of many. Another great thing about Taiwan (or at least Taipei) is the high amount of Western toilets and toilet paper. Perhaps trivial sounding, or even an unsavory topic but it matters. In Beijing you generally had to bring your own toilet paper with you if you were out and about or traveling. While Jared as talked to me about the beneficial virtues of squat toilets (helps you get it all out; don't have to touch anything), I still vastly prefer Western toilets. Taiwan has a large Buddhist population and so has decent amount of restaurants that cater specifically to vegetarians. No, not all Buddhists are vegetarian but there are a decent amount who don't eat meat for religious reasons. Enough so that I regularly eat at the vegetarian restaurant in one of the cafeterias on campus for NT$50 (~US$1.50) a plate. As for an potential vegan friends who may want to visit someday, I did find a vegan restaurant off my campus. The food is decent, but I recommend going vegetarian for the trip.

As far as the food goes, it's been pretty good. Some places really don't know how to make vegetarian food, it being some of the blandest food I've ever tasted. While others have made fantastic dishes and flavors. The food scene here is pretty cool, and most of the best food is found in night markets. To give you an idea, basically take every little niche clothing shop, restuarant, and street vendor you can think of, add 7-11 and stuff them into a bunch of small streets. Then add people. Lots of people, usually young and trendy (at least at the nearest one to me). And you've about got it. One thing I never liked in America but love here: mangos. Specifically mango smoothies, and I found the best one yet at the Shi-da night market. So good. Sub-tropical to tropical island = lots of tasty fruit and smoothie potential.

Since it's a little late, and this post seems to be primarily about my normal day I'll take you, briefly, through what I did today.

Woke up --> Class --> Lunch w/ Jared & Korean classmate -> Teach English to Korean classmate, have interesting conversation about Korean war, martial law period in both Taiwan & Korea, Korean movies, Lost & Heroes -> Pick up ARC card -> show Jared where HSBC bank branch is -> Mango smoothie from Shi-da night market -> nap -> dinner -> homework

So concludes my first real written post since being here. In honor of my attempt to connect it to 28 Days Later, the only label for this post will be "zombies"