around

Today was fantabulous. Two girlfriends and I had, about a month ago, attempted to go on a biking excursion. We'd had to cancel it because I'd been sick, and the weather went sour. We were determined to make up for it, and this Sunday we were finally able to do it! Sarah, Katie and I met up at Taipower Station, which is south of Taipei City and east of where I live in Xinjhaung. Because biking is so popular, there are bike rental shops with decent rates. We stopped at one and each rented a bike (the total for 3 hours was about $120 NT which is incredibly cheap) and then biked the short way to the main path that follows the big river that goes through Taipei. It wasn't the sunniest of days, but that was just as well; it was actually great weather for biking, not too warm but not at all cold. There were quite a few people outside. Some were fishing, some were playing with kids, some were walking dogs. We passed what looked like a music stage going up (or being taken d...

Many years ago, a Spanish-speaking female customer came into Bath and Body Works. When I greeted her, she looked nervous, and I realized that the Spanish I'd heard her speaking to her boyfriend outside was the only language she knew. So I tried to assist her using what Spanish I recalled, which went from a little to "Well, that was embarrassing" the second I started trying to use it. Nevertheless, she stayed, and ended up buying something. I've always felt embarrassed about how bad my Spanish was, until this evening, when a waitress at the restaurant I visited for dinner explained the menu to me in what English she knew. She was clearly embarrassed whenever she had to search for words, and seemed nervous speaking to a native English speaker. But the fact was that she made the effort to help me, and saved me a ton of time on my Chinese Symbol Dictionary iPod app by just telling me what dishes were pasta, which had cheese/vegetables/seafood, etc. And now when I go bac...

My adventures in Taiwan continue to accumulate and yet I relate none of them to my loyal audience. Where are  my manners? Some weeks ago, near the middle of September, a fellow Shane teacher and friend from training, Rory (name changed as always, guys!) and I hopped a train and went to Fulong Beach, which is about an hour's journey from Taipei Main Station in Taipei City. We'd been planning the excursion for a week and were worried we'd be rained out, but fortunately the day was bright and clear and promised to be fairly warm. Rory lives in Neili (some forty minutes southwest of Xinjhaung) so he got on the designated train first, and I joined him when the train got to Taipei Main Station. I was filled with no small amount of fear that I would get on the wrong train and end up in God-knew-where in Taiwan. Fortunately, this did not happen, as despite being labeled in Chinese the Taiwan train system is rather foolproof, and Rory and I met up in car 3. We stood for most of ...

I have to give a shoutout to a local bakery, Pinocchio. A friend introduced me to it and it was one of the best things she could have done. The bread they make in this place... you can tell from the taste, texture, and shape if it that they hand-kneaded it in the back room, like REAL BREAD. You can also tell they cook it fresh because what they have changes based on the time of day, because they only make enough for the day, and this morning my fruit-and-nut mini-loaf with cream cheese in the middle  was still slightly warm. They have sliced loaves, mini cakes (these change with the season and approaching holidays), muffins, and cold cakes (like the birthday and special-occasion kind) in a refrigerator. Everything is always delicious and you can taste the quality. Plus, the loaves are reasonably priced, so I don't feel bad about going once or twice a week to grab something (which I then proceed to devour in one sitting no matter what I promise myself). But that's not ...