Last test and New Year's Eve

I got back my 8th and last test today. So, on my 8 tests, I've scored: 93, 95, 84, 90, 90, 88, 93, 85 for an overall average of 89.75. There are almost daily homework writing exercises and other "small" tests so I'm guessing I'm right at about 90% average for the class. We have one Final Exam on the last day of class next Friday. We have 20 minutes to read a story in Chinese and then the teacher will ask us to answer questions about the story orally in Chinese. I'm not sure how it will go, but at least I don't have to worry about writing any Chinese characters, that's a first.

Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve and they will be counting down and setting off fireworks from "Taipei 101" the tallest building in the world (the building in Dubai isn't finished yet, so Taipei 101 still holds the world record). This may be the last year they will light fireworks on the building, so it should be a memorable event. This is picture from last year's display, pretty amazing:

On New Year's Eve we are going to downtown Taipei to watch the Taipei 101 fireworks display. The following morning we are going to take a train and travel to the east coast of Taiwan to visit the city of Hualien for three days. The Hualien coastline is supposed to be very beautiful with mountains, waterfalls and the largest marble gorge in the world. I hear that they don't speak much English there, so I'll get a good chance to test my Chinese.

Happy New Year!

Jim

Merry Christmas

Christmas isn't celebrated too much here in Taiwan, but it is slowly becoming a bigger holiday, especially with the younger generation of Taiwanese kids. Earlier in the week I went out and bought a tiny Christmas tree, a wreath and two mini-stockings. I can't help myself from having some Christmas decorations set up in our apartment.

On Christmas Eve we ended up going out to Outback Steakhouse and eating steak and potatoes. Not a traditional Christmas meal, but very good and filling none the less. On the walk home a group of around 20 college aged kids ran up to us dressed up in Christmas outfits and were singing "Silent Night". I think they were really happy to see a "white foreigner" to grant an authentic "Merry Christmas" wish. They even handed me a small candy snowman sucker, very nice.

We came back to the apartment, put on A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack and opened our presents. Some stuffed animals for Charlene and some Chinese text books for me. Pretty low key, nothing too crazy. Being away from everyone in the USA really does show that Christmas is more about family and friends than anything else.

Jim

Gold Melon Stone

Gold Melon Stone...well that is the literal Chinese to English translation of Jin Gua Shi, the old gold mining area that we visited today.

We took an hour bus ride from Taipei City to Taipei County to visit this beautiful area. Gold was discovered in these mountains over 100 years ago and there a many tunnels, tools, machinery and buildings left over from those times. It was also used as a POW camp for prisoners by the Japanese during World War II. In their museum they have supposedly the largest gold bar in the world, it is the size of a small suitcase. You can even touch it:

The coolest part of the day by far was when we got to use a dish and "pan for gold". We were instructed on how to use the dirt, dish and the water to try to acquire the gold. There is actually real gold in the tiny dirt samples they give you so this isn't BS. We both weren't able to get much out of it, but we ended up with tiny fragments of gold (imagine a few grains of salt). Amazingly fun. I always wondered what in the hell the people with the pans were doing in the movies, now I know.

We ended the day taking a tour of the area just below the mines called Jiou Fen. This area was supposedly made famous in a Taiwanese movie, and there were hundreds of people in this tiny market area. There were so many sights and smells it was a little overwhelming. Now that I know what smelly tofu smells like, I could smell it from a mile away. We ate some interesting foods (yes even I had an interesting pancake-type snack). I was happy to order a Coke and Ice Cream Cone in Chinese as well. My only problem was when she asked me what kind of ice cream I wanted. I didn't know how to say "Vanilla" but with my catlike reflexes I said "bai se" (white color)...well it's not perfect, but she laughed, understood me, and gave me the vanilla ice cream.

We then got in line for the bus to return home. There was an arcade where Charlene happily played the "use a crane to get a toy" game. After three tries, she finally got the prize after she dropped it, but it magically bounced back up and then went down the shoot. As we boarded the bus, the cutest little girl was sitting next to us. She was staring at Charlene with her new toy (a Tofu Doll with a parachute)...well there was only one option left...Charlene gave the doll to the little girl. The best of both worlds, winning the prize and giving it to a child who loved to receive it.

You couldn't have asked for a better day. Now off to study for my test in 12 hours.

Jim

2 down 1 to go

Two months are finished, with one month left to go here in Taiwan. It has been an amazing experience so far, and I've learned a hell of a lot...I've also realized how difficult it is to learn to speak and read Chinese. After three months, I will be able to speak a bit of Chinese, but that is nothing compared to what it takes to be fluent in a language. It's an amazing language and culture, I just wish I was younger and had more time to learn and experience it. My experience reminds me of the George Bernard Shaw quote, "It's a shame that youth is wasted on the young."

Here's something cool I learned in class today:

Jimmy = 吉米 (ji mi)

Guitar = 吉他 (ji ta)



Pretty cool, the first character of my name is the same first character of guitar. You learn something new every day.

Jim

Back from Thailand

So how was Thailand? Pretty damn amazing that's for sure. Where else in the world can you walk through the red light district, watch go go dancers, drink a beer and feed a baby elephant all at the same time? Bangkok, Thailand, that's where. This is really a baby elephant and not some staged photo, incredible!!!

We landed into Bangkok, Thailand around noon and got "scammed" at the airport. We went up to the taxi booth inside the airport and ordered a cab. 1200 baht (33 baht = 33 Taiwan $ = 1 US $) from the airport to our hotel. We thought it should be about 300 baht, "Oh that's what it costs outside as well". Ok, we just got here, let's take it. We get to the hotel and asked the front desk, "12oo baht? That isn't possible, do you have your receipt?" "Yes." "Oh you paid for a limo." Well I guess in Thailand a SUV is a taxi." We at least we didn't get scammed again on the ride back to the airport from our hotel.

That day we went to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. It was literally over a 1000 outdoor shops with any and everything you could think of buying. We saw: food, shirts, pants, hats, dogs, cats, fish, squirrels, chickens, a live cock fight, and many, many, many more things.

The highlight of the market was when we left and ran into a woman selling grasshoppers, cockroaches, worms and baby birds all cooked some kind of brownish color. As you can see Charlene was happy to sample the grasshoppers. I can't imagine why she ended up in the hospital when we got back to Taiwan (more on that later).

Later that night we went to Lumpinee Stadium, the most famous Muay Thai Kickboxing Stadium in the world and got to sit in the second row. It was amazing to not only see the sport up so close, but to also see the culture behind the fighting. The fighters enter the ring, and then do a Ram Muay dance to prepare themselves and pay respect to their heritage and training before the fight. A live band plays during the dance, and also during the entire match. Amazing stuff, it was a real privilege to see this first hand, in the birthplace of Muay Thai.

The next day we visited many of the temples that are everywhere in Bangkok. The only analogy I can give is they reminded me of an Asian version the cathedrals I have seen in Europe. These temples were magnificent. Enormous and beautifully decorated with many colors and tiny mirrors. Some of the most amazing architecture I have ever seen in my entire life.

The temple visit was slightly soured by being "redirected" on the street when Charlene asked for directions to a second temple (that is why men never ask for directions). He directed us to a tuk tuk driver (mini taxi-like motorcycle/car hybrid). We wanted to go to this second temple, but he lied and told us it didn't open until 2:00pm. Why don't you go visit this other "lucky" temple first and then go to the temple you originally wanted to go to...and it will only cost you 20 baht? Ok, what the hell, this guy is nice and that is a great price. Here is a luxurious tuk tuk.

A long story, short, we ended up being dropped off at a jewelry store first (ok fine) then come out after two minutes not buying anything then the same tuk tuk driver takes us to the "lucky" temple, where we meet a "nice guy" at that temple who speaks perfect English. Very friendly, but talks about how much money he makes buying jewelery and selling it in the USA. We then go back to the same tuk tuk driver who again waits for us, and takes us to a SECOND jewelry store. WTF! Ok, we spend five minutes in there, and again leave not buying anything. We come out, and the same tuk tuk driver finally takes us to the second temple we originally wanted to go to. Wow amazing, the temple was open all day and not closed until 2:00pm.

It was only after the fact later that day that we realized all 3 people and the 2 jewelry stores were all in on this "scam". We actually ran into the "friendly directions guy" again later that day. He avoided us like the plague. I felt like saying "Fuck off" or "You're a asshole.", but in the end I just shook my head back and forth when I walked past him.

Later that night we ended up going to the red light district of Bangkok. We were approached every few minutes by guys showing us signs asking if we...and I quote...(scan ahead if you don't want to read the XXX quote)..."would like to see the Pussy Ping Pong Show". Hmmm let me think about that? Ah no, but thank you. Ok fine one time, but this happened at least 10 times. We were shopping and wanted a drink so one of these guys directed us to a bar which ended up being the special "show" but all it really was, was just a strip club with a bunch of naked dancers on stage. No thanks, bye. We eventually found a normal bar with a band, had a few drinks and went to the other red light district (there are 2, this was the shopping friendly one with the "special shows").

The second red light district was much nicer. One long street called the Soi Cowboy area. This was a bunch of strip club bars with nice outdoor areas outside. It was funny, every bar had a large screen LDC TV playing live soccer games outside in front on the outdoor patio. Well they know what their customers like, beer, sports and naked women. We sat outside a bar enjoying the spectacle, and that is when we saw the baby elephant being walked down the strip. It was amazing for 50 baht, I was able to pet and feed this baby elephant. Unreal and definitely the highlight of the trip.

We returned back to the hotel that night and prepared to go home the next day. We got up, checked out, and went shopping a little the next day. Nothing too crazy, but a nice relaxing few hours. I even picked up a copy of the Iron Man DVD for 100 baht (about $3 US) on the street.

We made it to the airport and got back into Taiwan around Midnight. I had class and a test in 8 hours so I pretty much just went to sleep. I woke up the next day, exercised, took the test (got an 88, not too bad considering everything) and came home exhausted. I called Charlene and she was at work but feeling really sick and said she was going to come home. I felt tired, but not really sick. She came back and passed out for a few hours. She woke up around 7:00pm and said she needed some medicine because she had a fever and didn't feel too well. We walked up to the pharmacy store on our block and as she was talking to the pharmacist, she passed out. I caught her but she fell down to the floor. The pharmacist called a taxi and we went to the hospital two blocks away. She was only out for about 10 seconds, but it was a long scary 10 seconds.

Kind of scary huh? Just back from Thailand...I kept imagining the National Geographic shows "Survival, Almost Dead" or something like that where someone goes for a tropical vacation and comes back with some parasite in their brain. Well the hospital gave her an IV, and did a blood test. Everything looked ok and more than likely she was fighting something from some food she ate (remember the grasshoppers?). After three hours we left the hospital with some medicine and Charlene was feeling much better. She is feeling better today, so that's good. Moral of the story: don't eat insect street food on the streets of Bangkok.

Bangkok was an amazing city and the most international city of any I have visited in Asia. Most of the people were extremely friendly (besides the jewelry scammer guys) and everything was very inexpensive. It is definitely a great place to go on a vacation. I'd recommend it to anyone...just avoid the tuk tuk drivers.

Jim

Off to Thailand this weekend

Yes I know Thailand has been a little crazy lately, but hell, it seems like the entire world has been crazy lately. Supposedly things are a little better now, and the Bangkok airport is up and running. I need to leave the country again because my 30 day traveler's visa expiring, so it was either Japan or Thailand. Thailand seems to be a little more exciting and less expensive. So Charlene and I are leaving Saturday morning and flying back Monday afternoon.

I used to do muay thai kickboxing many years ago so I am VERY excited about going to Bangkok and to Lumpinee Stadium. This is the most famous muay thai stadium in the world. For those unfamiliar with muay thai kickboxing, it allows: punches, kicks, knees and elbow strikes to the entire body (except the groin). They also allow fighting and throwing from the clinch so there is no safety and resting like a boxing clinch. They have fights there every Friday and Saturday night, so it should be an amazing thing to watch.

Here is a video from the introduction of the weekly Lumpinee TV show in Thailand:

Hopefully things will be OK, and we'll be back safe and sound in Taiwan Monday night.

Jim

Taiwanese Puppet Show

There is a very, VERY cool show on Taiwanese television. It is a puppet show that is spoken in the native Taiwanese language (not Chinese) and has Chinese subtitles at the bottom. Puppets? Well these are not your everyday, puppets or even muppets. No these aren't your daddy's puppets, like the show Thunderbirds, these are super bad ass kung fu fighting, flying through the air puppets with cool special effects. May I present Exhibit A, a sample from the television show (no idea what in the hell it is called):

Charlene saw that I very much liked this show (and hey what's NOT to like about it?) so she mentioned that they have free live puppet shows outside of Taipei city in Taipei County. Of course I was very happy to go so we finally got to go today. In Taipei County, there is more of an aboriginal and native Taiwanese influence. These puppet shows on television and this live presentation are in Taiwanese, not Chinese.

We showed up about 10 minutes before the show and it was a pretty impressive stage as you can see.

I happily anticipated the performance and was not disappointed.

There wasn't super high tech special effects, but there was smoke, dragons, flying swords, horses, and some other cool stuff. There was even a live band behind stage playing traditional instruments.

Here is a short video from the show:

The show was longer than I expected, about an hour, but it was well done and really brought a feeling of what if must have been like thousands of years ago watching these exact same shows. This was their television and movie theater, it really was amazing to see this show live.

After the show, we left and went shopping a little on the streets. I found some great sweat pants (they even have pockets) and Charlene got some jeans. Then we ran into the infamous CHOU DOU FU "smelly tou-fu". I believe this is a Taiwanese specialty dish. It is "delicious" tou-fu, but smells like something you wouldn't believe.

Remember gym class freshmen year in high school? You put your smelly socks in the locker, then at the end of the year you have to clean out the locker and find the smelly socks you forgot about? Well this is what "smelly tou-fu" smells like. I don't care what it tastes like, I almost threw up in my mouth when I stuck my face in the bag, and took a deep wiff to see what the big deal is with this stuff. After that, it is safe to say that I won't be tasting this stuff anytime soon.

As you can see Charlene was very excited and happy about getting and eating it.

Well at least I saw the really cool puppet show and got some sweat pants that I like.

Jim

Halfway done

Today is my halfway point with my classes as well as my entire trip to Taiwan. It's been an interesting time for sure and I've adjusted to many things. I feel like I'm making a little bit of progress with Chinese...and then I'll learn something new and realize how much I don't know. I've stopped focusing so much on the characters. I need to learn them for my class, but I'm not spending any extra time learning characters that are not going to be on my tests.

I have exactly 6 weeks left as of today and am tyring to fine tune my learning and also take advantage of being "immersed" in the country, culture and language. I'm learning a lot from my classes, but I'm also studying my Fluenz Mandarin DVD, other books, from the Internet and also learning from many people here in Taiwan. That is so much information to cover and was taking me many hours every day just to review everything that I had learned up until this point.

So instead of studying from so many sources, I'm creating a "xiao ben hei se de shu" or "little black book". I'm writing down all of the important words and phrases that I will hopefully use, and using this as my study guide. It is small and can even fit in my pocket. I bought a small pen (hen xiao de bi) that fits with it nicely so I can write down and add new things to it when needed.

If I was younger and had two years, I think that I could learn to speak and read Mandarin Chinese pretty well. In the past 6 weeks I've learned a hell of a lot, but that's just scratching the surface of the language. It's so different from Western languages, but an interesting challenge for sure.

Jim

Trip to the Taipei Zoo

Tuesday is my shortest day of classes and the weather here was amazing. Nice breeze, not too hot, not too cold and the sun was out. The Subway Metro that I take to classes everyday continues on and dead ends at the Taipei Zoo. I wasn't sure when I'd get another chance to go there with such fine weather so I figured instead of studying in the afternoon I'd go check out the zoo.

Taipei Zoo...hmmm why does that sound familiar you ask? Oh yes, if you remember back in 2004, there was a guy who jumped inside the lion exhibit and started talking to the lions. He was shouting, "Jesus will save you!" Maybe Jesus will save the lions, but Jesus didn't save the guy from getting attacked. I can't imagine why Christianity gets a bad rap?

I was an idiot and forgot my camera so I don't have any pictures. It was pretty cool. As you can imagine if you can jump inside the lion exhibit, the animals are very close to you. This is a great thing about Taiwan, they don't have such strict safety measures, so you never know what might happen.

The best part of the zoo was the animals I've never seen before, mostly from Malaysia and Australia. Many, many kinds of monkeys and they had a very cool butterfly area where there were hundreds of butterflies just flying around inside the Isectorium. I was hoping to see the spider that was inside our apartment, but there were no spiders at all in this zoo.

I'm originally from St. Louis, and that zoo stands out as the best I've ever been to, plus it is FREE! I've visited the San Diego Zoo as well and that was nice, but there was something about the "fear factor" of the Taipei Zoo that makes me like it so much. I could have easily jumped into the rhinoceros or elephant exhibits, but obviously didn't. Kind of like thinking of swerving into oncoming traffic in the opposite lane...you'll never do it, but there's that voice in the back of you head saying, "I wonder what it would be like?".

Jim