Chinese Year End Dinner Party
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The English school branch in Taipei had their anniversary dinner party last night. The company parties here are much better then company parties I've been to in America. There was choreographed hip hop dancing. There was also belly dancing which I think is pretty popular in Taiwan, very sensual. The teachers that performed had obviously practiced a lot. We also popped the balloons for prizes, had drinking games, played twister, a guy was singing a playing guitar.
The food was great. Peking duck – which is my favorite food of all time, crab with salad, mushroom soup, sausage slices, I think maybe even shark. Everything was delicious. The students and teachers at both the Jong Li branch and the Taipei branches are all good people. Lots of interesting conversations. I met a person who I had already met on Alki beach 2 or 3 years ago. Wild!
After dinner I went to the biggest club in Taipei with a few of the other teachers. There were D.J.s in 2 separate rooms, both of which were packed. It was super loud. When I ordered a drink, I couldn't even hear myself and I was yelling…but the bartender served it right up. He must have known the ancient Chinese secrets of super hearing… Watch out! We had a lot of fun. At the end of the night we passed a drunk driving checkpoint. They didn't bother me this time. I like the concept of the checkpoints because drinking and driving used to be a big problem. Traffic in Taiwan is insane enough as it is. Cars drive on the right side of the road. There will be sections where, with some bizarre method, the cars in both lanes drive on the wrong side of the road. Somehow, it all seems to work out.
Yesterday afternoon, the students took me to Taipei. We went to a couple of malls and electronic stores. There are some pretty cool phones that I want now. We found a street vendor selling all kinds of Chinese and Japanese antiques. There were bronze spear tips that were two thousand years old – not museum quality but interesting. I'm glad I didn't have a few thousand U.S. dollars on me because I would have walked out with some very impressive Samurai swords, statues, vases. I loved it, the students were not too thrilled though. The most beautiful thing I saw were these three pieces of driftwood that looked like a post modern sculpture. I wanted to buy it but when I asked the price – they were more expensive then the swords. Almost one thousand dollars U.S.
I've been snooping around Jhong Li looking for a really good Thai food place. The Director took me to a place that is owned by a former student. I'm officially in love with Taiwan. I was so happy with the food that I tapped on my plate with chop sticks. That is a faux paux in Taiwan. She told me the belief is, if you make noise while your eating, then you will become a beggar. Indeed the very few beggars I've seen on the island (two), have had pots and pans and where banging them like Jon Bonham.
A question that I get a lot lately, and with concern, is how do I like Taiwan. My response, of course, is that I love it. There are few negative things for me to deal with and they are not that bad. People tell me that their first month in a new country was their hardest time. For me, it's like the natty dread song goes, Everyday is Just a Holiday! That may stop, but I'm hopeful not for a long long time. It will depend on if I'm granted my work visa. I don't see why I wouldn't get it, but I'll be much relieved when I do. I should know in about 10 days or later.
