Week 2

Think of this blog as the last blog before the big move. I cannot believe it's Saturday and we're doing A's tennis lessons, Ch's golf lessons, and A's soccer game all over again. Tonight is "Daddy Date Night" and I am staying at home with the kids while K and C go out to dinner and a movie. Last Saturday night I was invited to go with them, and we had a lovely light dinner of appetizers and wine at the top of the Shangri La hotel, their former home-away-from-home when they started this expat experience. The view was just gorgeous, and the hotel luxurious. Ahhh, the life of an expat....

Sunday, K and the kids went to a movie, and C and I did some exercising and grocery shopping. The TAS had Monday off, but A played a 3-on-3 basketball tournament all day. Ch met his friends for lunch and a movie and a hang-out. It really poured rain all day, but C and I went first to IKEA to shop for my new dormitory digs. We came home to leave everything off, and jumped back into a taxi to go to B&Q (a Home Depot wannabe) and Hola (a Linens and things wannabe). I pretty much spent my entire Fulbright paycheck on getting ready for the move-in...although it was not all that much! The best purchase was a dancing, singing God of Good Fortune, just what I need for my new room!

Tuesday C came roaring in after her weight-lifting class saying the Aussies were going to the Halloween-Christmas-Chinese New Year store, and wanted to know if we wanted to go with them. We quickly showered and dressed and took a taxi to meet them at the ACC (American Club of China). One of the women actually had her own car, and drove through the crazy traffic to exactly where we needed to be. We walked up and down a 6 block area to find CNY goodies...cloth lanterns, decorations, tiger wall hangings...anything that looked good enough to take home with us. C has hung her 3 lanterns, and decorated her pussy willow branches (she had to give away her good luck orange tree as flies were hatching from it in the house...not very good luck!). I will post some pictures of her CNY/Valentine decorations. PLEASE NOTE: THE PICTURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN AT THE REQUREST OF C.

Wednesday I took a 2 hour Chinese Brush painting class where I began to learn how to write the Chinese radicals (e.g., characters). Those of you who know my handwriting will be astonished to learn that I could actually do it. I walked 4 blocks to the newest Sogo department store, and gathered a few more things for my big move. That night C went to a cocktail "hour" upstairs, and the rest of us went out to eat our favorite spicy dumplings again. A helped me find the seamstress, who shortened the straps and skirt on the dress I may wear to the TAS Spring Ball/fund raiser.

Thursday, I was required to go to YZU, and did the trip meownself this time. The personnel office wanted me there as they checked off all of my paper work so they could tell me what my salary was going to be. Their last question asked if I had ever taught before...astounding, as Stephanie confirmed that they had already had a committee meeting about me before they offered me a contract as a full professor based on a copy of my Vita. They also asked for copies of my degrees, which Stephanie said she had already given them. Another "Taiwan Moment?" Or simply another example of a great HR group? Three young women and my tour guide from the COB were astonished that I had been teaching for almost 30 years. They indicated my basic salary would then go up, but they could not tell me what it was going to be until next week (despite the fact that they had the salary schedule in their hand...another TM or HR????).

My young man who accompanied me this week, a finance major, walked me back to the office to ask how we should set up my bank account. Incongrous? Maybe not...all the paperwork was in Mandarin. I signed my name when I was supposed to print it in the first blank...even though I had asked...We now had a printed and a signed example of my name to use for the next 20 times I was asked to "sign." They would just point to one or the other so that I could figure our which one I was supposed to do. Unfortunately, I still did not have my Alien Resident Card in hand so the bank account could not be completed...come back next Thursday...they are only open on Thursday! The HR office cannot finish my paperwork until I get a bank account...no pay until them. The HR group were astonished that I had an ARC, and asked how and why I got it. #1...it says I must on my passport (which they have copies of), and #2, the Fulbright office is my sponsor ("what is Fulbright?")...definitely a TM!

Friday after my regular walk in the park, I walked to the Shi Dang market place to look around. The cooking teacher had recommended a number of the stalls to buy from, but this trip I was just reconnoitering...a very fun place, and a great market. Kevin told me to walk outside around the back to an open air version, a great place to people watch. C and I took the MRT downtown to another Sogo's to shoe shop for C before we picked up the kids. She then went out for dinner and karaoke to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday. CH &K brought back local food for supper, and we all stuffed ourselves on Chinese pork chops, rice, veggies, and sides...all in one little nifty portion controlled box.

I apologize for not taking pictures to accompany all the stories, but I will eventually get used to taking my camera (and taking it out of my bag!) to get the local color.

The Aussies celebrated their national day this week, and are having a big party tomorrow afternoon. They invited the Kiwis and "other friends" to come along, too. I told them I was an honorary Kiwi, and they said they would not hold that against me, so all five of us are signed up to go. It should be a rowdy...I mean, rousing good time.

More from the move-in next week,
K