Halloween

A friend of mine is teaching in Korea and shared this blog that she came across. It's crazy that even though it refers to life in Korea as a Foreign Teacher, it's almost identical to life in Taiwan haha.Not alll of the clips but some of them I was dying laughing!! Especially the ones referring to worklife/coteachers/the weather/saving money/foreigner guys/night life/western food/weird smells/manners of people...just substitute the word Korean with Taiwanese/Chinese..Anywho, check it out and be sure to go through all the pages! You'll get a laugh! http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/



Halloween in Taiwan

So last year I didn't have a full on Halloween experience. I had like..3 friends and it was the first time in my entire life that I didn't dress up and go out (whether going out is trick or treating or going to a bar) Of course I had an assembly to do and this year my helper, Chiao Wei, wanted to switch it up a bit and do a trivia game show. She really put a lot of thought into all this..assigned helpers to run around like ghost skeletons and grab students to be the game show contestants and she chose 5 Chinese teachers that were scared shitless to step on stage but she prepped them with possible answers so they'd be more confident with their English and prepared little jack o'lantern candy gifts for them and the students..I just had to create the ppt. I was happy that Chiao Wei did this because previously, Wenli told me that I'd need to use a different ppt than the one I used last year. The game show was a hit. The students had fun and the teachers seemed to have a good time..pretty sure Chiao rigged the game so that the teachers would win..but whatever..kids this age play for fun and are resilient, teachers here need to save face and make sure they are all high and mighty..a loss on stage= public humiliation= not acceptable.

I decided to go to Taipei for Halloween this year to meet up with Shija. My friend, Gessyka was rounding up a big group of Taichung people to head out there and was selling tickets. Her favorite phrase is, "you can't miss this event, it's the biggest one of the year.." (Until the next event that is)..she's ruining my liver I tell ya! I woke up the morning of the party to go downstairs my apartment building to the hair salon. I had a cut/color appointment which is always cause for anxiety/disappointment in Taiwan..but this new stylist spoke great English and had it together. He had a mini espresso bar in his salon with bailys and kahlua to offer (except he didn't offer..) He made a fresh latte which I was unable to drink because he was stabilizing my head for most of the time.. (I never understood why they offer you drinks at the salon when you can only sneak a sip of it when the stylist reaches for a new pair of scissors or some foil..) My hair turned out shorter than expected, of course, but I had to hurry up to the mall to get some near white lipstick to complete my costume. I decided to be a 60's Go Go Dancer this year.. to be honest the reason I chose this costume is because I fell in lust with a cute little dress at the night market but couldn't find a justifiable reason to wear such a bright piece..and then I thought..oh I know! Halloween! and bought it. Also in my defense, I talked the lady down from 3,000 NT to 2,000 NT..that's a big difference! I had Caroline text me the Chinese for, "I want the fastest train to Taipei" only to realize I purchased a ticket for the fast train that wasn't leaving until 2 hours later..so I could've toke a slower train and gotten to Taipei faster if I would've left right then and there..defeats the purpose...next time I'll say, "WHEN does the FAST train leave..if it's now, I want it..if its 2 hours from now, I don't want it." Keep it simple Diana! At the station it was madness and there weren't any seats so I sat on the floor with my food and my bags. 5 minutes into eating I look up from my music/chicken sandwich trance and see 4 old Taiwanese people waiving me down. They were motioning me to sit with them because a seat opened up. I went and sat with them and turns out 5/7 of them were deaf. So interesting, they were trying to communicate with me but through their interpreter who was also trying to understand me..it was probably like a game of telephone by the time they received my message haha. Very nice people though. It was one of the first "stranger reaching out to an outsider" situations in a public place that I've had. Taiwanese are very warm, friendly, and helpful, but usually they aren't the ones approaching you to if they don't know you.

Finally made it out to Taipei and met up with Shija. Only our 2nd reunion since I've been back in Taiwan! She has yet to come back to Taichung to visit because she's got a busy big girl schedule. It's definitely different not having her presence around but it will be ok. We're both busy and we plan on seeing each other for our next Chinese New Year adventure--Thailand 2013!