I know I've not been around on my blog in... forever, mostly due to two things: a) the weather in Taiwan getting cold and dank because it's winter, and b) my mood taking a nosedive due to said cold and dankness. Also, I've been drowning in children more than fun experiences, so I haven't had much to discuss at length since getting my camera.
That is all going to (hopefully) change in the next few days. Because, as previously stated, I'm going to Paris for Christmas. Tomorrow.
Christmas shopping has been finished, so now all that's left is making sure I have all my proper documents and can fit everything I'll need for five days into a backpack that might be smaller than my college school bag. (I'm not taking a suitcase.) Also I have to hope that China is the same as the US and doesn't count a purse as a carry-on, because for the amount of odd crap I'll be fitting into it, it may as well be one.
My packing strategy as follows: organized chaos.
One of the nice things about this trip is that it's allowed me to give myself permission to actually buy things. Like a coat, and two new shirts, and some really cute earrings. I am addicted to a particular earrings stall at the nightmarket by Taipower station and if I go back one more time (which I may) I'm pretty sure the girl there is going to start recognizing me. I can't help it if she's selling stuff I love.
I've been afraid to buy things up until now because many stores don't have a place to try things on, and I'm continuously worried that I'll pick something that doesn't fit or fits badly or looks awful on me. You can't really take things back to the stores where you bought them because you're dealing in cash 99% of the time, so there's no receipt, and a lot of items can be found at another fifty stores and stalls. What's nice, though, is that I am literally getting better at evaluating merchandise and buying good items through practice. In Taiwan, people who linger in a store or at a stall more than five seconds are considered fair game for sales tactics, so you have to see what's there and make up your mind about it quick. You have to listen to yourself and figure out if you're looking at something that "speaks to you" or is just interesting. Shopping around here, I'm learning how to listen to myself and it's really cool. :)
I also finally got my hair cut, and finally found a stylist who not only speaks English but is the kind of person I trust doing my hair. She (her name is Diane) was recommended by a friend, and although she lives by Fuxing station (which is about an hour's worth of travel from my place in Xinzhuang) it was totally worth getting up at 8am this Wednesday morning to go see her. Diane has one room in her house that is the salon, and because it's in her home it has a very cozy and intimate feel. She has two dogs and two cats, all four of whom were wandering around, and one of the cats politely demanded I pet her. I had previously sent Diane pictures of my hair at the time and what style I wanted, and she basically gave me exactly what I've always wanted. I am so excited to be going to Paris with this haircut, and I will be going back to Diane for every haircut I get between now and my last day in Taiwan.
In the mean time, I need to finish making sure I have all the odd ends I'll need on my trip, like money to change and a print-out of my plane ticket receipt and my passport.
Also, I'm going to go to the gym for a last-day-before-vacation workout, and to weigh my backpack on one of the gym scales to see if it is under 5kg. (I doubt it will be but I'm hoping.)
Off I go!
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