For The Sake of Black Coffee

Well, it's me again, and don't kill me for not updating all of my recent happenings.  Despite how much fun it was, orientation was exhausting and I can't help but get pumped up for a boring weekend of nothing.  I haven't had one of those in quite a long time.  Anyways, I don't know how chronological this will be since I hate chronological-styled blogs.  Make a time map if you need to.  Essentially, I went to the National Palace Museum, the huge bookstore with almost nothing but books on every level, Taipei 101, and a little night market on Wednesday.  Yesterday, I practically trekked across Taipei and did nothing but eat along the way.  Today was a little calmer, and I just wandered through Taipei on my own after lunch with a friend in Ximending.

I also figured you'd like to know how my upcoming plans are looking here in Taipei.  I start class this coming Monday.  Apparently I tested into the second highest level of Chinese, which once again is only grâce à Middlebury.  We'll see what happens in respect to that.  I think my 口语 still has a ways to go, but my reading comprehension and character recognition is rather good since I'm a very visual person.  Hopefully, my roommates will come soon so I can get the immersion factor, and I'm looking into involving myself in various activities to help me meet other Taiwanese people.  I hope to go volunteer with a pet humanitarian service on Sundays since not only will I be able to practice Chinese, but also avoid animal withdrawal syndrome.  (In other words, I love animals and need their companionship to feel complete.  Blame it on my farming relatives' roots.)  Since I'm interested in learning 台语, I will also get my own private tutor for it, and I can begin working on my research since the program director lent me books on Taiwanese and Mandarin.  Apparently, she thinks I'm very academic, but I feel rather the opposite.  Maybe since Grinnell is so academic, I give off the academic vibe.  However, my study habits are honestly a little disgusting and maybe somewhat disturbing.  I don't recommend for people to watch me study.  I'm also hoping to tutor some impoverished children in English Monday nights and go to the high school once a week or so to tutor English for a small sum.  Hopefully, I'll also get a few private English students to tutor so that I can network some more through them, or at least help pay for my new lifestyle since I've been rather depleted of cash without having a summer job and all the visa expenses.  In addition, I want to practice calligraphy since I think Chinese characters are so fascinating and so beautiful.  I also might sit in on some French classes to keep up with my French.  I might as well add that I'm just going to save the world.  (That was a joke.)  It looks like I'll be really busy, but we'll see how some of these things pan out.  I'm just really interested in getting to know the Taiwanese and making connections with the people here.  I want to make the most of my exchange.

I'm still not sure what to make of being a foreigner here in Taiwan.  Most people instantly assume I'm incapable of anything but English.  For example, once when I was out on a morning jog, these men greeted me in English and I responded, "我听不懂英文." I pretty much embarrassed them, but the stereotype that every Western looking person must speak English bothers me.  Stereotypes bother me in general.  Sometimes, I'm totally ignored because of the way I look.  For example, when a person passes out advertisements, they skip me.  However, there are other times where I attract a lot of attention.  A lot of people express the sentiment that I'm really cute, which makes me uncomfortable since I'm not used to people complimenting my appearance.  However, I just figure these are things that I'll get used to, and the best way to conquer their stereotypes is to prove that I am able to communicate with them in their language.  It makes me wonder, though, just how crappy some of the Westerners who come here for whatever purpose must present themselves to the Taiwanese.  (And no, please don't take this as some sign of distress.  I'm really very happy here.  I'm just expressing a sentiment I've gotten from being here.)

Let's see...   One of my most wonderful epiphanies was how to use my universal charger.  I know that sounds strange, but I have been with limited cell phone use because I couldn't figure out how to work it, and the box didn't include instructions on how to use.  Well, that's where the Internet comes in handy, and let me tell you, my charger is sweet!  No joke.  When it's charging, it looks like a Christmas decoration, changing from blue to green to red to yellow.  However, I wouldn't say it was very idiot-friendly unfortunately.  Hopefully no one here is trying to reach me at the moment.  Anyways, I know feel really pathetic for going on about that, but you must understand how frustrating it is to have a cell phone on low battery for several days, and be without any sense of time since I rely on it as a watch.  I know I could get a watch, but I have my reasons for stubbornly refusing.  I'll remain stubbornly opposed to buying one for the time being thank you very much.

One thing I have found difficult is getting my hands on a non-creamed, non-sweetened cup of coffee.  So, when I was in Taipei 101, I got super excited to find a place other than Starbucks--er, I don't particularly like Starbucks honestly speaking--that served it.  (And I know there are other coffee places too, but I'm not about to spend a fortune on my bad habit.)  I'm such an addict.  Tsk. Tsk. However, it's been hard to go from my usual at least three cups a day to almost zero since I don't overly like sugared coffee.  I suppose it could be worse.  However, I've gotten very into a lot of the tea drinks around here.  Bubble tea and milk tea are actually pretty good.  

I'm also glad that I can now choose to go to the vegetarian restaurants now because I feel more comfortable eating their dishes than any other restaurants' since in my mind it's not 100% guaranteed to be 素的.  Actually, my vegetarianism has helped me bond with one of the coordinators of CIEE.  She's going to help me get apply to volunteer with the pets and audit a French class.  I can't believe how excited I am for school.  I love studying in a sick way despite the amount of time it takes away from other things like exploring Taipei or other particular habits we won't discuss--though some of you know what I'm talking about.  That's when I have to tell myself there's always the weekend.

Besides, after yesterday, I feel like I've seen so much Taipei.  I wandered from the Mayor's office to Danshui on a scavenger hunt.  Along the way we had to eat various dishes.  I ate so much desert yesterday it's not even funny.  Plus, I wasn't hungry, so I didn't have much of an appetite for anything.  By the time we'd gotten to Danshui, which is a beautiful touristy night market, the idea of eating wasn't anywhere near appetizing.  However, everything was delicious.  Plus, I ate frog eggs!  No, just kidding.  However, there's this drink you can buy with bubble tea-like balls inside it.  It's pretty good.

Anyways, I miss you, and to answer some of your comments, I still haven't had a chance to figure who I've told and who I haven't.  I tagged many of you on Facebook.  I sent some emails.  Sorry to those who might have overlooked it, or I might have accidently overlooked.  I know way too many people to keep track of everything.  Shella, I did take a trip down that way, but there's nothing to report.  I bought Supao for the first time at the 7-11 there.  It reminds me of uncarbonated Sprite.  Though when you were signed in under your friend's name, I thought you were someone else.

Well, I'm off for the time being.