Life in Taoyuan thus far...

So here I am in Taiwan – land of scooters. That saying stands very true. There are millions of them everywhere and although the Taiwanese make it seem really easy to ride, it really is quite difficult. Especially getting those turns down without hitting any of the pedestrians or other traffic that goes every which way. Actually, I don’t believe the Taiwanese even have a word for pedestrians, since the concept itself doesn’t exist. One of the few similarities with China, I’d say. But unlike China, Taiwan certainly lacks that “third-world-ness” I love so much! Ha! People here don’t run into things from staring too hard.

Anyways. The flight was great. Although I was kind of pissed off that the only bar in the terminal was closed at 12:30PM. Luckily, flying with the five star Malaysian Airlines alcohol was provided free of charge, even to second class travelers like myself. Moreover, it was unlimited. Hooray to the open bar! So with the help of some decent tasting Taiwanese beer and a few Ambien pills my mother slipped me, I had no trouble falling asleep on the flight. Tricking my body into a regular night of sleep in order to rid myself of jet lag was pretty simple as well since the flight took off at around 1AM and arrived in Taipei at about 6AM, even though the night lasted for about fourteen hours.

Once I was off the plain I was very surprised by the quick and organized customs procedures as well as the cleanliness of not only the airport but outside as well. Not at all, however, was I surprised by the sauna/steam room I walked into once I left the airport. I think I sweat about twenty pounds just pushing my suitcases around outside. No wonder I eat about ten times a day here.

After a few weeks of being here, I have to say I’m really happy and think I made the right decision. Anyways, this blog entry might seem a little chunky, but that is due to it being written over a period of two weeks. In fact, the last paragraph was added just minutes before I posted it to the web, since many have complained of me having deserted this blog. Not the case. Moreover, I’ve come up with some ideas how to keep this blog more interested, for example, v-blogging. I think I can really get my creative juices flowing, as the whole video-editing thing has always been a hobby of mine. Just wait and see what I can come up with.

First step to discovering Mandarin Chinese

No better way to learn a language than through music, at least in my opinion. The combination of repetition and colloquialisms you can catch in the lyrics in invaluable. Consequently, I've been trying to find decent Hip Hop/Rap/RnB music in Chinese. It hasn't been that easy, but I've managed to come across these three artists, which in my opinion are good. Don't laugh, as I know it is extremely hard to comprehend their "coolness" if you are not Chinese or even in the slightest interested in the language, but bare with me. Give it a listen.

A New Chapter - "A Pilot Episode" of my Blog

I thought it was appropriate, in order to commence my blog in a proper manner, to write an entry prior to my departure. I never imaged myself starting one of these things, but having been inspired by the many friends and acquaintances who are going abroad following their graduation, just like myself, and who have also started blogs about their adventures, I decided to follow suit and conform to this trend. Additionally, I think this will not only be a good way to update everyone about myself, but also a way to keep my English in check while trying to tackle Mandarin Chinese. This will really put my linguistic ability to the test.

So it’s Saturday… Sunday, actually. Another hang over. Not too bad, thought. Wow! This shows you how rather “degenerate” (a term which I appropriated from my dear friend and roommate, Siamack, without whom my experience at UCLA wouldn’t have been the same) my life has been in these two months following my graduation. I have led myself to believe, in accordance with “studies” (that I have never actually read myself) done vis-à-vis daily alcohol consumption, that a glass of wine (one glass) on daily basis is actually beneficial for a man. Don’t ask me how, but that one glass always turns into two or three, or I just grab a really BIG glass. Anyways, the summer following my graduation has thus far consisted of daily wine tasting, while being enthused by the awesomeness that is the show Weeds.

Nonetheless, I think it’s time to become a little more serious, at least a bit, and begin working. I think it's important to, at least, engage myself in something that is career related. So I’m going to Taiwan to teach English – to kids. Oh man. I’ve never been good with kids, so I’m quite curious of how this is going to turn out. Perhaps, this is going to be one of those experiences that will lead me to discover something about myself that I’ve never known. That I am actually all right at dealing with kids, for example. Only the future will tell.

Why Taiwan, you might ask? Well, I definitely wanted to do a Peace Corps like experience without actually doing the Peace Corps. I wanted to get paid (after all I am a Virgo, and I do have certain materialistic tendencies) see a little more of the world, and gain unique experience. So here I am. I am leaving in a week and it certainly doesn’t feel like it right now. I have my visa in my worn/wounded passport, wounds that it has acquired throughout my travels in the past. (We are going to war once again and there are more wounds to follow!) Most importantly, however, I have the mind set that renders me ready to embark on this new, exciting journey. Turn the page once again, and start fresh, which is something I am quite used to already – saying goodbye, going to a new place, and never looking back. So hooray to no more daily hang overs and a more meaningful existence!

I apologize in advance for having rambled on and on. I do have a tendency to do that. I am hoping to make this blog pretty entertaining by further enhancing it with pictures and videos, so stay tuned! And as this first entry approaches its denouement, I going to wish myself a bon voyage (祝你旅途愉快 would be more fitting) and bon courage and I will see all of you at some point in the future!