Dragon Boat Festival

Wow, trust me to completely miss the Dragon Boat Festival. But to make up for it, my house mate and I decided to go on a sporadic cycle, after about 5km, we ended up near Longshan Temple, a shadier part of Taipei compared to the city centre precinct we live in. Finally, I get to see a more authentic (less sterile) Taiwan that I remember from childhood!

(insert photos!)

"Falling Back Up Again"

We learn so much every time we fall and sometimes the outcomes of climbing back up again surprise us.

I have always been a big believer in determination, if you haven't fallen, you're not reaching your full potential yet. While I have been working in Taiwan, I have definitely stumbled a few times which cultural differences in work dealings, having supervisors tell me off for crappy work that some else did, etc. But let's just take it all in stride! This video is truly brilliant, and really reinforces my beliefs about not giving up! (Since it's not a Youtube video, I can't embed it in this post, so you'll have to click on it to watch it, sorry about that!). 

http://news.distractify.com/culture/a-runner-fell-in-a-race-but-then-she-got-back-up-and-taught-everyone-a-major-life-lesson/?v=1

Multicultural Debate: Religious Schools

I think for too long Australia has been overly diplomatic about multicultural matters that it stunts our true understanding of each other's culture/s and/or belief/s. From this article alone, it is difficult to assess whether there is a right or wrong; and reading through the comments, while I don't agree with everything, it's good to see there being honest opinions and debate. I definitely think you're onto something here, truly job well done Rhian Deutrom! Thank you! 
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/principal-of-redlands-college-mark-bensley-transfers-muslim-student-teachers-after-they-wear-hijab-to-school/story-fnihsrf2-1226930481260

I myself attended a Catholic High School and while my parents are buddhist, they have never forced me into any religion. Having visited Malaysia and Singapore, I've met lots of Muslim friends and while I don't agree with all the teachings, I still think it's interesting to learn about it. I think people mistake "not appreciating a culture" as "racisim". But I think with different cultures, you don't have to appreciate it, you just need to understand it. Understanding is the first step towards reducing ignorant actions in society.

Copping someone else's load.

It's weird. Today I got told off at work regarding the lack of quality in a document that we were supposed to send out to a client. Thing is, I didn't produce that document at all. At first I was annoyed about having to stay back because I had been intending to go home early to nurse my sore throat and building headache. I stayed back and finished the document according to their specifications and just got home at 10pm with two of my fellow colleagues. For some reason, I'm actually really happy now. Despite the accusation, I've unexpectedly learnt more things by picking up after someone else's grunt. I guess if we live with the intention to learn then it doesn't matter how others see us. (Also, on another plus side, I get to do the graphics art for a concert, one of our clients is a prominent Taiwanese rock singer, consider him the Bruce Springsteen of Taiwan!) 

Laundry in another CIty

People interested in high density living: In Taiwan, the balcony area's main purpose is for laundry and when there is not enough space, an extension rope gets suspended above ground. Amidst my slight sickness (sore throat and slight headache), I almost drop my laundry down a six storey pit which I have no idea how to access, might have to holler out to the people on each level to pass it back up? Australia, you sparse heaven with an abundance of ground level laundry space! On the plus side of this laundry arrangement in Taiwanese apartments, it teaches you to be pretty coordinated and have quick reflexes even when you are sick. So why am I so caught up over one shirt? Because my male colleague commented the other day, "Alice, for a girl, I've noticed you only have six shirts."

His observes correctly...and creepily.

Meeting New People: Brandon Gray

Don't you agree that a good conversation should not be prescribed who's turn it is? Let the other person finish expressing all their energy, passion and ideas properly. I do this for you because later I do not want to be abruptly cut off later when it's "your tun to talk". The time spent on forced flows of dialogue, we might as well be silent and humming a tune. 

你會不會認同聊天不一定要把輪流當做順需？

A revelation in the chat of BG's Shangrila Hotel, had the most massive chat that went from 8pm-3am. Love moments like this, meeting cool people having great conversation!

Taipei - Day 1

2014, it's become a common theme that I travel and have a great time but then become too tired to document it in a diary/blog. I've had the most amazing/tiring first day in Taipei, I do not really want to leave. Lucky I am not leaving anytime soon. But main question: How important is it to document travels?

Interesting people I met and had conversations with today:

11pm -7am: Dr Chen the Dentist: I was seated in 7A, the seat right next to the emergency exit on the flight from Brisbane to Taipei. Thanks to Nick Chang, who I didn't know worked at the airport who changed my seat 3 times and got me to the awesomest seat ever. We were the first 2 people to get out of the plan after the business class passengers. Dr Chen frequently travels between Brisbane, NZ and Taipei so knows the ins and outs of his seat (7B) very well. He even knows quite well the ins and outs of the seat equivalent on the Eva Air jets.

Bob Witworth: Met him on the transfer bus. He's from Gympie of all places! And donated some pine planks to Woodford last year. He was teaching me how to spot hoop pine in the Taiwanese landscape. Hoop pines are native to Australia but thrive surprisingly well in Taiwan.

8am:'Annoying "Egg" Man from the States': An egg is someone who is Caucasian but only likes and targets Asian females mostly in a creepy way. If it is merely an informed personal preference, fair enough. But if it is a fettish derived from ignorance, then that is gross. This man singled me out this morning and asked me:

"Why do you speak English? None of the other people here do, they only speak Mandarin."
Me: "Well, it is their country, not ours."

Howard Huang (East Tone Mobile Attendant): Very helpful and gave me insights on how the service industry in Taiwan are used in many case studies in international service training programs as exemplars of what to do.

Receptionists at Hostel: Haha, they are all so hilarious. One of them gave me lots of good tips about not getting gipped by local employers, she's a graphic designer too. And the whole gaggle of them (about 6 of them) started giving me tips about house searching and hot guy searching. They are helpfully hilarious.

Kai: Shop Assistant at "Rice Revolution" who was giving me samples if fruit vinegar so that I could decide on which one I wanted. He studies Production Studies and is quite an all rounder explorer of the universe. He's invited me along on a Matsu Agricultural Blessing Pilgrammage next weekend! Apparently we have to walk for 35 hours straight! Very much looking forward to it. We've got each other on Facebook now!

Robin Winkler: www.winklerpartners.com. <--- Read that and it is only the beginning. We only had a brief exchange at 'Rice Revolution' when he gave me his card but he seems like a really cool soul.