105 down, 2 to go
Well, Amanda's on her last leg in Taiwan. This is my one hundred and fifth week in this country and i'll be leaving in 2. Of course i'm sad to leave. Utterly torn. Yes yes. But it's all boldly exciting too. I've never been to Thailand, and heading back to Europe is rather dizzying. what is it that i'll miss here in this corner of asia?? other than the people i work and play with, i've compiled a list of sorts..
WHAT will i miss?
*dirty public squat toilets with no toilet paper
*betelnut stains
*clean MRT's
*bus drivers called God
*dumplings
*breakfast smells of burgers and hash browns downstairs
*sentences with no prepositions or articles or conjugated verbs
*chinglish on everything
*people asking to touch my hair
*people asking to take a photo with me
*asahi japanese beer from 711
*MRT platform conductors with their whistles and menacing faces
*temples dotted throughout the alleys
*incense smells
*stinky tofu smells
*dirty puddles at the bus stop
*typhoons and earthquakes
*the first day of class when i can be anyone i want to be
*the last day of class when i know the students
*box-set-five-hour-marathons
*shoes off in the house
*house slippers, bathroom slippers and balcony slippers
*street vendors blocking the sidewalks
*busy streets, parks, everything
*long lines at "famous" food stalls
*old men playing GO in youth park
*taichi in the early mornings
*cheap phone calls
*expensive western breakfasts
*crowded noisy dim sum
*night markets
...
oh - at first i thought i wouldn't be able to think of enough things to even make a list!!
i understand if you got bored and surfed away.
i have a lot of erands to run, things to pack, shopping to do, preparations for CELTA in Bangkok, and i'm still teaching 8 hours a week. not very impressive. but enough to keep me in taipei. (unfortunately, but i know i'll appreciate it when i can actually buy dinner) so wish me luck and magic.
and i'll see you on the other side.
WHAT will i miss?
*dirty public squat toilets with no toilet paper
*betelnut stains
*clean MRT's
*bus drivers called God
*dumplings
*breakfast smells of burgers and hash browns downstairs
*sentences with no prepositions or articles or conjugated verbs
*chinglish on everything
*people asking to touch my hair
*people asking to take a photo with me
*asahi japanese beer from 711
*MRT platform conductors with their whistles and menacing faces
*temples dotted throughout the alleys
*incense smells
*stinky tofu smells
*dirty puddles at the bus stop
*typhoons and earthquakes
*the first day of class when i can be anyone i want to be
*the last day of class when i know the students
*box-set-five-hour-marathons
*shoes off in the house
*house slippers, bathroom slippers and balcony slippers
*street vendors blocking the sidewalks
*busy streets, parks, everything
*long lines at "famous" food stalls
*old men playing GO in youth park
*taichi in the early mornings
*cheap phone calls
*expensive western breakfasts
*crowded noisy dim sum
*night markets
...
oh - at first i thought i wouldn't be able to think of enough things to even make a list!!
i understand if you got bored and surfed away.
i have a lot of erands to run, things to pack, shopping to do, preparations for CELTA in Bangkok, and i'm still teaching 8 hours a week. not very impressive. but enough to keep me in taipei. (unfortunately, but i know i'll appreciate it when i can actually buy dinner) so wish me luck and magic.
and i'll see you on the other side.
posted by Amanda | 11:07 PM
3 Comments:
Hey, Amanda! wow, that's quite a list you made there. are you sure you want to leave? hehehe. of course it's time, it's time. Sending some magic your way.. ****{}****
aawww, memories, you summed it up well...i feel sad now...love you, hurry up and visit me!
i forgot to add the most important everyday experience that i'll miss here!! the shoeprints on the western toilet seat!!! no matter where you are, or how modern the facilities seem to be, there's always the odd woman who doesn't know how to sit on the seat, and squats instead, usually missing the bowl too....
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