Last Week's TMs (Taiwan Moments)

I had just returned from my morning walk with Jong Li on Thursday, and wanted to read my US newspapers online. I took off my sweaty pants, and was sitting in my underwear when the building snapped (I could hear the sound), the blinds began to sway, and I was so disoriented I thought I was in another time zone. I quickly grabbed my pants and headed for a doorway, but the earthquake had already stopped. I really thought nothing of it until Scott and Anne sent a very quick e-mail asking if I was "OK." Not knowing exactly what they meant, I googled earthquake Taiwan 2010, and found out, yes indeed, I just had my first earthquake experience in Taiwan. A said TAS' lights went out, and they were without electricity for a short while. C was exercising on the bike at ACC, and completely missed out on the experience. K was in Shanghai. I am just grateful that it wasn't any worse, and that the world did not catch me with my pants down!

Jong Li and I had lunch in the faculty dining room on Monday, otherwise known as the "Teacher's Restaurant." It was really quite bland and awful...I will probably not return. I will take my own chili sauce if I do, as no condiments were offered. I was told it was an "all you can eat"buffet for NT$60 (US$2). We arrived shortly after it opened at 11 AM (breakfast and lunch for us), and they did not have everything out on the buffet line. I went back to the line to get cooked cabbage and some green beans that they put out late. The "boss" came over to Jong Li, and started lecturing her in Mandarin. It turns out it is more like all you can pile on your plate your first time through the line buffet...you may NOT go back...even if the buffet line wasn't ready. Tinsley showed me the student cafeterias, the Subway Shop, and a new coffee/tea shop in the student dormitory area. Most think they are located too far away from the office. They are actually only about 3-5 minutes across campus. I'm sure we will try other cafeterias, Frankly, the student food looked much better than the faculty food! Even the students know the "Teacher Restaurant" is not very good.

One of my students in the Seminar class is from Missouri and has an UG degree from Iowa Wesleyan. His best friend at college was from Taiwan, so he came here to pursue his masters, and is now working on his Ph.D at YZU. I asked if he had taken the free international students Mandarin class, and he had. He was shocked when I told him they would not let me sit in on the class, and suggested I try again. I told him I didn't think that was possible (it's not!). He got a funny look on his face, then confessed it was not very helpful to him, and he now has a private tutor. He offered to get me a private tutor, but I'm not quite ready for that right now...I need to get further into the semesters' classes before I can tell if I have the time. I'm thinking my "time" will be spent traveling...

I ask my students to introduce themselves by filling out a card. I ask them to start with their family name, given names, English name, and then to tell me what they prefer to be called. They refer to their English name as their nickname, which seems logical to me. Two students came up to me after the Friday afternoon make-up class to say one of the students was ill and could not make it to the class. I asked what her name was so that I could notate that on my attendance list. They looked at each other, chatted a bit in Mandarin, then one laughed and said "we think her name is Yvette. She doesn't like her nickname, and she has decided to change it." Now, folks, if you're unhappy with your name,...just move to Taiwan!

The garbage trucks in Neili play little electronic songs as they go about their daily pick-ups. I repeatedly hear Beethoven's "Fur Elise" being played. Itta (a marketing prof on our staff...she has a purple shirt on in the luncheon pictures) told me her dog recognizes the music, and starts barking, knowing she will be able to take a little walk outside to take out the garbage. Now, of course, every time I hear the garbage truck, I think of Itta and her dog!

I have been online updating the blog for almost 3 hours (its takes forever to get the pictures uploaded). I am now going to treat myself to a hot bath in the Kreiling's bathtub. And the tub is in a bathroom that does not flood...I don't have to squeegee today...WOO HOO!!!

Stay tuned...I am going to try to upload daily blogs from the HK Seminar.