So as most people were last aware, I was well and on my way to Taiwan to begin my second stint as a foreign English teacher for the children of Asia.  In honesty, my head was filled with all sorts of thoughts and trepidation about the impending journey and how I would deal with it, to the point of questioning my own desire to actually go and a bit of remorse over not simply staying with my situation in Shenzhen.  However, that is past now and I felt calmer upon landing in Tokyo for my transfer, though wishing I had had time to explore Japan past its airport.

I got into Taoyuan County, just south of Taipei in the north, late at night, where I was picked up by a school employee and whisked quickly off to my dorm.  As a sidenote, the drivers in Taiwan are better than those on the mainland, and it was a welcome change!  My dorm room was one of 14 similar chambers arrayed down a hallway at the main school, with a decent kitchen, bathroom, and living room for common use.  The room itself was…in a nutshell, disappointing.

Coming into Taiwan I had my reservations, upon arrival the small pieces that would compose my everyday life became clear, such as living, work situation, neighborhood, etc.  And in all respects, it fell short of my Shenzhen experience.  I began contemplating whether I wanted to stay, how long it would take to justify giving it a shot.  And my gut told me not to, so I listened.

The typhoon was still in its waning stages on Monday morning when I hauled my bag out into the streets, straying from awning to awning in a vain attempt to stay dry.  A Chinese man remarked to me about the rain (tai yu!) and after a short exchange, he insisted on walking me across the street with his umbrella to my Taipei-bound bus, offering me a pack of tissues to dry off with once I was aboard.  Incredibly nice to do.

An hour or so later I was at the main station in Taipei, and shortly after that I’d made my way to the hostel, located conveniently along the Taipei metro line.  One thing I’ll say for Taipei- tons of 7-11’s!  And it kinda reminds me of a less flashy Hong Kong.  My day on the town was busy and active, and ultimately, quite satisfying and redeeming, starting off with a trip to the Chiang Kai-Shek memorial.

Later, on the recommendation of the hostel staff, I went to Din Tai Fung, a place that is known for its XiaoLongBao, one of my personal favorites of Chinese cuisine.  A kind man guided me to the restaurant after I got lost and flustered enough to seek directions.  After my meal, I was off to Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building, at least until Burj Dubai opens in the next year.  The view was spectacular, exceeding my lofty expectations and showing the sprawl of Taipei in its full expanse.

The remainder of my day was spent with a walk to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, a place where the man is so revered that the guards are literally not allowed to move, and a man has the special assignment of straightening their uniforms.  The only way this austerity was broken was with the passing gas emitting loudly from an elderly man walking through.  It elicited giggles.

I took a few hours to hide in the basement lounge of the hostel, leaving for a milk tea and some reading but otherwise avoiding the recurrent rains until it was late and the local night market opened, a splash of humanity, activity, and neon in the darkness.  The only disappointment was the lack of pirated DVD vendors out in the alleyways.

The next morning, I made the trek to the airport and took off for home again, where I have been for the last week.  So if you want more details or just to hang out, you know where to find me.  Now the domestic job hunt begins!