7th to 15th September

7 September

Well, knowing that the corner breakfast eatery closed down a few months ago I knew it was time I needed to scout out a new place to visit.  I found one not so far from here but obviously a lot further than simply walking out the front door of the apartment building and across the street.  I even had the menu (much of it) memorized as to what was what.

The food items at this new place are very similar to what the original eatery provided so I’m happy.

Nicholas sent me a text asking if I wanted to go to his Aunt’s place for a bbq.  I knew where we were going and of course how could I say no.

This Aunt lives just outside of Tainan in the countryside and they seem to enjoy hosting family gatherings and I’m always invited to them it seems…love it!

Their two children studied in college and university in Toronto so their English along with Nicholas paves the way for me to socialize with everyone.

We took the HSR (high speed rail) and it’s only a 15-minute ride (first stop outside of Kaohsiung enroute to Taipei).

Return fare per adult to Tainan is $290 NTD (we received a $10 discount).  That’s equivalent to around $11 CDN. 

We rode the MRT (subway) to the HSR station but next train wasn’t leaving for another 15 minutes so decided to get a latte at the 7 Eleven (yes just as good as starbucks) and then noticed soft ice cream ‘2 for 1’.  How could a person pass that up?  Why do I associate Taiwan with food all the time? LOL

A short ride on the HSR to Tainan then waited for Nicholas’s cousin (Jeannie) to pick us up.  Their home is approximately a 10-minute drive from the station.

We arrived early so Nicholas, his two cousins and myself jumped in and started to help out with food preparation. 

Most of the family members started arriving around 6 then John (cousin) began to bbq and John’s father started the cooking pot for the garlic chicken. (see pics)

Talk about food…

Nicholas said his aunt is quite sensitive about ensuring the food does not run out and everyone is full before they go home.  Seemed like an endless production of bbq’ing.  The Taiwanese do not eat quickly or all food at one time.  It’s a somewhat slower drawn out process but eating a little at a time but over a long period of time.  A better way to enjoy so one does not simply get full and the socializing is over. 

A wide array of food consisting of:  corn on cob, baby corn, fish patties, pork, chicken, grilled peppers, clams, sausage, mushrooms and toast bread.

Jeannie drove us back to the HSR station as Jocelyn needed to work the next day and we left around 9:30/10:00pm.

I heard fireworks going off for much of the night and I’m sure tomorrow night will have even more going off.

I went to bed at 11:30pm…wow, perhaps I’ve recovered from jet lag.

8 September

I actually woke up at 6am this morning…now I know things are back to normal.

Rode scooter to Dream Mall, as I hadn’t been there yet since my return.  A few new shops on the lower levels and especially in the food court area.

Just at the main intersection there seemed to be a serious scooter accident.  I saw a couple people lying on the road and the police were there but I kept riding.  That is now two seemingly serious scooter accidents I’ve seen in 2 days of each other. 

Had light breakfast/lunch at Dante Café, which is located in the lower floor of Dream Mall.

Met up with Nicholas around 2pm and he took me to the area where the as explosion was on the Sanduo Road.  Horrible seeing what has happened and I’m sure it’s going to be some time before the streets are back to normal.

Went to a café for latte (yet another new one).  I didn’t know my whereabouts at the time but as we were leaving I noticed familiar sights and yes, this café was just down the street from Bird Café.

Going to school tomorrow for the first time since arriving in Kaoshiung.  This week will normally consist of meetings everyday prior to the students’ arrival next Tuesday.  Should be fun and interesting to see familiar faculty and administrative staff.

9 September

Well, today was the day that life begins here in Kaohsiung. 

I left the apartment around 6:20 this morning and will figure out a good time to ride the scooter to school before it gets crazy on the streets.  Wasn’t too bad so might go in even a little bit later tomorrow.

As I was riding, it just seemed like a short time ago I was doing the same.  Same route, same points of interest and probably the same riders.

I stopped off at the corner 7 – 11 store to get my latte, which is just at the corner prior to where the university entrance is.

Seems like nothing has changed.  The local elders doing their exercises, as they have been everyday on the grounds of the school.

Analeigh (office assistance) arrived at 8 so as usual, I was there by 7 and couldn’t do much because had no Internet connection (wasn’t registered in system as of yet) so I then read one of the teaching texts.

10 September

I left the apartment slightly later than yesterday once again simply checking out traffic status and how manipulative it could be at that time.  One thing that I did notice clearly is that the sun is just high enough in the horizon that it’s bothersome and need sunglasses to see properly.  I’ll weigh out the pros and cons of leaving earlier or later.

The other notice was that just within the short time difference from yesterday to today is that there were now double the amount of scooters traveling on the streets.  I seem to be riding more cautiously now than 2 years ago.  Perhaps knowing the scooter is larger or the fact I’m wiser because I’m two years older…hahaha

Some traits never change and how the people ride scooters and pay attention to rules and regulations is one of them.

Quick scenario:  enroute to school there is a detour/construction site in the middle of an intersection.  There are clearly marked orange signs with black arrows to go to the right of this construction and continue on but no, scooters going to the right and going to the left and merging together on the other side of this small detour.

What I needed to be aware of is that now I have scooters coming from all sides of me and joining me as I continue riding with a smirk on my face realizing that hey, this is Taiwan and anything is possible.

Will meet up with President Jimmy (NKUHT) later today as well.  Pre-ordered my box lunch as usual.  Different departments take charge each day in ordering box lunches for faculty and office staff.  I just give our student worker in our office $1000 NTD and she takes care of the rest.  When the money is near completion then she’ll say please Chef Doug, I need more lunch money…hahaha

Just back from meeting President Jimmy and was good to see him again and we had short but productive conversation.  This will be President Jimmy’s last year as President and the choosing of a replacement will be announced near or around next April/May. 

As Paul and I were waiting for the elevator, Fred (Dean of research) walked off and that was the first time for me to see him this time as well.  At some point I think Hsiao-I, Fred and I are going for dinner.

11 September

I think I’ve decided (from experiencing this morning’s ride to school) that I don’t leave the apartment any later than 6:30.  Scooter traffic was crazy and of course once you get caught up among all the scooters, the exhaust fumes are not the best thing to smell early in the morning.

James (personnel office), Jasmine (international office) and Analeigh (administrative assistant our office) drove me to immigration to submit paperwork for my residency card (ARC).

We were number 52 with the current number at 40.  The room was packed with people and I would say majority of them were from Vietnam or perhaps Cambodia.

Time went by quickly (maybe 1/2 hour) we had everything signed, dotted and now will wait for my ARC card to be mailed here to personnel office.  This should arrive near the end of next week.

James treated us to lunch, beef noodle soup.  We arrived back to school shortly after 1 so now updating my lessons for next weeks’ classes and getting the new trial of blackboard up and running for the Taiwanese students.

12 September

Friday and the first week of school is already behind me.  Time truly seems to go faster here than back home in Canada.  Getting my lessons in order and ready for the students arriving next week.  Monday is an orientation day for freshmen students and Paul will also introduce me to his freshman class at that time.  I remember clearly at this time 2 years ago when I attended orientation in the newly built gym, I was sweating profusely and simply didn’t seem to adapt well to the heat.  I was so uncomfortable since I was wearing business attire and a tie.  I’m better prepared this time around.

Met my TA (teaching assistant) today.  The TA is like my translator/helper for my practical labs.  She is a graduate of the baking and pastry program and now studying for her masters in baking and pastry. 

My TA for the other practical class is one of my former students I had here at NKUHT and she just completed her one-year of study at Humber.  It will be great to see her after a couple months’ hiatus.

Met up after school with Nicholas and went to Fiona Café for a latte then to my favourite beef noodle restaurant for dinner.

13 September

Met with Lee and we decided to ride to the coast front of Kaohsiung (near to Cijin Island) and where the National Sun Yat-Sen University is located.  It’s a nice scooter ride from my place to there as the route goes past the ferry terminal (to Cijin Island).  As we were riding through the dense forest area we noticed a couple of monkeys playing around on a steep rock edge and then they somewhat just disappeared in a clump of bushes on the edge then instantaneously one of the little buggers jumped out onto the road and I had to swerve to advert a collision….it actually scared the crap out of me because I’m thinking if I hit it (wouldn’t be much damage because of slow speed), the monkey would probably be angry and attack us.  They can be vicious and are noted to attack people/students if they’re looking for food. 

Always interesting happenings here in Taiwan.

We went to Dream Mall to walk around then went to Café Bird for a latte.  Afterwards we decided to go bowling.  Now the last time I bowled was maybe 12 or more years ago and it was 5-pin bowling.  This was 10-pin and I had never tried this before.  An experience I was thinking and oh yeah, it was.

We played two games and my scores were 68-first game and 74-second game.  Talk about embarrassment…hahaha

The alley was quite large with 38 bowling lanes and it was busy as well.

All scoring is electronic and it costs $3 CDN per game/per person.  A lot of fun and I now realize how challenging it can be to throw that 10# and heavier ball.  The gutter was my companion throughout my entire time there.

Afterwards we went to a dumpling eatery not far away.  I had been there before the last time I was in Taiwan and I will say that it’s one of the best places for dumplings I’ve eaten.  The only problem is that I could never find the location by myself.

Around 6:30 we rode the scooter to a local night market.  This one apparently has been around for some time but since last time I was here, two side by side markets joined as one. 

It wasn’t very busy when we first arrived because it was still somewhat early and it was raining lightly.  The market got busier as time went on and the weather cleared.

Seemed like all we did was eat and wow, the food can be interesting and tasty.

There is usually some form of entertainment acts that take place at night markets and we were not disappointed.  A couple of young guys were playing drums in sync to some form of hip-hop music.  They were very good and entertaining to listen and watch.

When we left around 8pm or so, it was quite busy at the market but still, not as busy as it could be and I’m thinking because the weather was still somewhat unsettled. 

This was a full day that’s for sure.

15 September (Monday)

First official day of school was today but only the incoming freshmen students were in and around the school as it was a day of orientation for them.

I got caught up on some teaching material then scouted out my labs to see if they had been cleaned and organized and yes they were. 

I went with Paul into one of his classes for introduction, as I will be teaching those freshmen with one of the courses.

Well, I was either stupid or brave in what I did in the evening but one thing for sure is that I can say I truly have a sense of riding a scooter during rush hour (seems all the time rush hour, but double/triple around 6pm), and the nerve racking experience it is.

Lee and I rode the scooter to his place of work a few days ago so I could see and it is located in the suburb of Fengshan, which is northeast of where I live.

I’m guessing at the distance to be around 10km.  Now that doesn’t seem far but believe me when riding a scooter in unfamiliar territory, it’s far.

I thought I had the route memorized but unfortunately I did not and made a goof up mid way and had to back track and get back onto the street I exited from.  Now that was an experience for me.

I finally made it back onto the street I needed and continued on and eventually I made it to my destination.  Can I say that I’m fully capable of riding anywhere now?  Hmmmm probably not but it was a good ride and good experience to ride that distance by myself.

Riding back seemed to be more congested with traffic and at one point I was weaving in and out of cars, buses and trucks simply trying to maneuver down the street but I was only following the scooters in front of me and keeping up with the flow.  If I had of simply stopped or slowed down, I would have been literally hit or the chances of being hit by something.  When one is inches away from a large moving bus and vehicles inches away on the other side of you and scooters all around, yes I will honestly say I was a bit nervous.