WELCOME

WELCOME TO TAIWAN.

Well, after a horrendous 18 hour travel day of planes, trains, and buses in foreign languages, we finally arrived at the school around 10 this morning. Upon arrival, we were shuffled into the building, signed a bunch of paperwork, and were told that we weren't going to a get a break. If I sound a bit drugged, it's because I haven't slept since who knows when. I hate jetlag.

For lunch, we went to this cute little restaurant where they served these fabulous dumplings--which are basically potstickers, so of course I loved them--and then we went to get a "bing-sha" which is basically just a crushed ice and fruit smoothie. Super good. Us newbies here were following around the veteran 20 something female teachers that have been here already for a whopping 6 months and know nothing of the language. So, of course, we're inferior. But it's cool.

After lunch, we were presented with our noble steeds, the rusty bicycles that will get us anywhere within Feng Yuan that our hearts desire, as long as they're up to it. Then we went grocery shopping at a decidedly boring corner shop that I was completely underwhelmed with. Nevertheless, I managed to get the essentials: milk, bread, cereal, and top ramen. What else do I need to live, really?

After our bike ride to the corner market place, we were cajoled into driving around for a tour of the city, which basically consisted of stopping at parks, and wandering around just enough to keep us awake and in a stupor. We did, however, stop at this temple where they pray to their ancestors, where I took these little gems:
So starts the impulsive picture taking. I thought it was cool.

We also went to a Wal Mart meets the mall kind of store, where everything was sold on a bunch of different levels connected with a slanted moving sidewalk. (NOT an escalator, mind you.) It took me back to my days back in Ireland, because at their Wal Mart meets the mall, they had a slanted moving sidewalk, too. I'm such a world traveler. Anyway, I bought a pillow.

After we finished hiking up and down Feng Yuan, we came back to the school, and were told that we could do anything we wanted, but go to sleep. I'll probably disregard that. Unpacking my two 50 pound suitcases took a depressingly short time, and then I was left to do nothing but dwell on my utter lack of hand-eye coordination skills due to my inconceivable sleeplessness.

Wanna see my space?If I can live out of that pathetic closet for a whole year, somebody better give me a medal.