Taiwan is an island just my size, which is to say that it suits me in so many ways. Here are some reasons why:
- Taiwan's strained relations with China make my life beautiful: imports come from America and Japan—the stores are full of things I am familiar with.
- Japan ruled Taiwan and was kind of like their Victorian era; therefore, I am considered classy. I am American and speak English and am therefore "hip." I also sit next to the Japanese teacher in the office.
- There are no semis (relatives of the cicada)
- Taiwan reminds me of Japan in many ways but the people don't have so many fences up, are not nearly as materialistic or busy. (I can say these things without loving Japan any less. Love is a funny thing)
- Taiwan is a nation of bargain hunters—everyone's always asking everyone how much they paid for everything and anytime I'm told about something, the best recommendation is "it's cheap, it's cheap." I don't mind being asked how much I pay for everything from my flight to my computer case to my headphones. Retail is for suckers.
I arrived on Friday morning, Taiwan time, and I wasn't as much of a mess as I thought I'd be. My journey had 5 legs to it: Idaho Falls to SLC to LAX to Taipei to Kaohsiung and altogether it was about 30 hours long with the wait time in airports. I was almost giddy to stand in the lines at SLC and LAX and be surrounded by Asians. I sat by the nicest Vietnamese man across the Pacific and though we slept most of the time, it was a good flight. I woke up in time to fly over southern Japan and it's nice to know that that island is still there right where I left her. I'll have to make a trip over sometime.
I realize now that every time I've left the country it has been to go to an island—first England, then Japan and now Taiwan. Each time it has been a huge time of growth for me. We flew in over a deep blue, hazy ocean that was dotted with fishing boats.
Scott Huang came to pick me up and he's a sweet, smiley man, and my best friend so far. He has saved me on a number of occasions. He is very young for a bishop: late thirties/early forties. He had that way of looking delighted to see you, that only Asians have. I'd forgotten about the degree of genki-ness people can have, especially after LAX. (Genki is Japanese for being energetic, happy and generally full of beans(That's P. G. Wodehouse-ian for genki)).
What a first day I had! The streets are noisy and crowded, everyone rides a scooter and traffic is really petty gut wrenching but exhilarating. It was suffocatingly hot and humid, which again suits me and it is skin and hair heaven here. He drove to Taliao township which is the countryside, so I was told and the very last stop on the metro. In reality, it doesn't seem the least bit rural when compared with Idaho. My hair does what nature intended it to do: riotous curls! I was shown around the school and given rapid fire instructions and directions. The school is beautiful with enormous jungle trees which have purple orchids grafted into them, a couple of waterfalls and sweet people. I like everybody in the office already. Steve Yang, the head of international affairs, was baptized by a man from Rigby and learned to drive in a parking lot in Blackfoot. There were several office students working there who are fantastic. They were practicing their English by watching Chicken Run on someone's computer and saying the dialogue, with the emphasis and inflection along with the characters. I loved it when they did the Scottish Hen's voice. I think I've already given my heart to them.
Julie, the volleyball coach took me around. It was hot to be climbing up 7 floors and visiting several buildings but we managed it. She's easy-going and kind and answered my questions. There are several school dogs—that's right, dogs. They belong to employees of the school and are breedless and mostly good-tempered. They lay sprawled around in the heat, too tired to bark, and really filthy, but lovable, too. The office is crowded and there is little storage, There is a teetering pile of books on my desk and I'm overwhelmed, but I think I am happy that way. Julie also taught me to ride a scooter. I buzz around with my heart in my teeth: the streets are a total madhouse, which is terrifying, but a small part of me finds it kind of thrilling. I can, in fact I'm expected to do all kinds of rude things at unthinkable speeds that I always felt bad about doing on my bike in Tokyo.
I can't believe I forgot about the smell—that kind of hot-with-everything-peacefully-molding smell. Not bad, just foreign. It's very tropical and the sounds of birds are different except someone has a rooster and I am here to tell you that I get up earlier than he does. I'm in that golden place where jet lag is my friend: I wake up at 5 AM and feel tired at 9PM. I will write more about my students and teaching next time.
Oh, here are some of the downsides:
- In my first 10 minute walk, I saw no less than 2 large rats climbing around the drains. I'd never seen a rat in the wild before. Ick.
- All water must be filtered and then boiled or purchased.
- I miss my dear ones and will have some pretty lonely times. I will be better for it, but at times I worry that I will get so used to being alone that I'll never get out of it.
All is well.
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