January 29, 2009: Taipei, Taiwan

Yah for Taipei again! It felt like coming home when we ended our bus tour, even though we’ll only be here two more days.
Our last stop on the bus tour was Taroko Gorge, the place that apparently represents Taiwan best. It’s kind of a big deal. It was gorgeous (hah! Get it? …I know, very bad) and the story of the road’s construction through it was almost as impressive. It was dug out by hand for most of the way since when it was being built Taiwan’s infrastructure and technology was pretty nonexistent. For one section of 200 meters, 2000 people were injured or died. This is why I won’t work in construction. Even if working a big rig would be something work bragging about.

Tram and I are known unofficially as the White Twins. I’m Big Twin and she’s Small. Reason being I were my white hoodie every single day and she also has a white hoodie she wears nearly every day. They’re both Aeropostale too. We also happen to always be in the same place at the same time and bicker about every possible thing. I think we were a good match as roommates.

Yesterday we went to Taipei 101, a giant building that they love to talk about. It’s one of those engineering marvels that get included on Discovery Channel programming once in a while. The elevators take you from floor one to 89 in about 40 seconds. Does anyone else think it’s frightening to think how many meters per second they have to be moving? Elevators = one of Kaela’s irrational fears. I blame it on watching a movie where the cable snapped when I was a child. I don’t remember any of the rest of the movie or even if I watched anything other than that scene. We also went to Memorial Museum of Art. I remember nothing other than there’s a lot of pottery and some gold stuff.

Today we went to yet another museum, the National Palace Museum. Again, I remember nothing. I guess art just isn’t my thing. The coastal part of the northern island was more interesting to me. It was absolutely packed. Which wasn’t so bad of a thing when you were out in the open, but down the street where all the street stalls and shops were made for a living sea of people. I can see over their heads. The small children reach my knees if they’re lucky. I feel like Godzilla.

I can even move like Godzilla. See, there’s no such thing as “space” here. If there’s a gap, someone will be in it before you can even think about moving into it. The result of this is a cultural norm of shoving, esp. in crowded market places. You just walk where you want to walk and if there’s no gap (no matter what size. A gap is defined as visible space between people and objects) you make the gap. I make gaps rather easily and if my class mates walk behind me close enough they can just file in behind. Most of the others still move like Americans in crowds, polite like. I find it refreshing to be able to plow through without having to worry about decorum. The only rules are Don’t hesitate and Don’t take it personally. Trampling young children is probably discouraged, but not ruled out entirely.

Dinner was at Professor Ying’s house (he gave the lecture on economics earlier on) where we met his family. His wife and nanny(?) made the meal. All of it from scratch. Oh so so good. We were all suitably impressed. Have you ever made lasagna noodles from flour? I imagine it’s not quite so easy…

As a side note, there was actually enough for all of us. We eat like starving wolves. The four boys easily tuck away as much as all eight girls eat. We call them the human garbage disposals. Before we even finish our meals, they’re always eyeing our table for leftover food. It can be a little unnerving. I hold the title for fastest eater on the trip. If we have single servings of food, I will win that race every time. It only looks like I don’t win when we group eat because they have stamina where I have speed. I haven’t choked on a fish bone yet, but it’s a definite possibility (since they don’t debone anything here).

Professor Ying has two daughters and after his wife gave a rather informal lecture on the healthcare and educational system in Taiwan I had the older one teach me Chinese Chess~checkers. It must have been the prelude to adult checkers cause I’ve played that before and this was a little different. A bit easier, but impossible for me to play without asking lots of repetitive questions. You had to remember which piece was stronger or weaker so you could kill other pieces, which is hard to do when you are looking at Chinese characters. She said I was harder to play than her Dad, which makes me feel pretty cool. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t go easy on her either. Watch out David VanB, I’m coming for you! (Yes, my self-confidence is boosted when I can beat a 7 year old. Except I didn’t beat Professor Ying’s daughter…)