The eagle has landed

It's Saturday morning here in my new home...not too bad.

Charlene moved into this new one bedroom apartment this past week. She was previously living in a studio apartment that leaked water everytime it rained. Here is some video footage from the old apartment during the Typhoon when I was here last month:

The new apartment is larger and is a one bedroom. There is a large bedroom and living room area with a small porch. There is also a small kitchen and bathroom. There are nice hardwood floors and an overall nice feng shui (wind water - learned that from my Fluenz Mandarin DVD).

I don't have to worry about an alarm clock. This one bedroom apartment that Charlene and I are living in is on the ground floor and literally...and I mean LITERALLY right across from a park. There is a sidewalk outside our porch where I can stick my hand through the bars and touch people if I so desire (I don't). Well at least it's a park and not something too crazy. There are a large number of elderly people who get up in the morning and excercise there, it kind of reminds of of Night of the Living Dead, but with old people instead of zombies. It is kind of loud and noisy, but I don't speak Mandarin too well so I'll know I'm improving when the conversations outside start to get on my nerves.

The plan for today is to go outside explore the area and maybe buy some food and take the subway. Later this afternoon after Charlene gets back from teaching an art class in Hsin Ju, we will go to the computer mall. Basically anything you could ever imagine pertaining to computers, MP3 players, cell phones, etc can be found there at great prices. I need a web cam and router so we can both use the internet at the same time.

Classes start on Monday, so I have 2 days to "relax". My classes will be from 1:00-3:00pm everyday and 1:00-5:00pm on Thursday and Friday. I have the textbooks and the language doesn't look too bad (thanks to practicing my Mandarin Fluenz DVD), but the written characters are going to kick my ass.

I was actually quite proud on the flight over when I got up and asked the stewardess "Duibuqi, nimen you pi jiu ma?" She showed me a Heineken and Kirin Ichiban beer, I gladly took both (I think she only wanted to know which one I would like). I said "Xie xie" and walked proudly back to my seat.

Baby steps, but progress none the less.

Jim