Monsoon Season

In the middle of the monsoon season, it rains here everyday, sometimes for hours or days without pause. My classes are sufficient (3-hours a day), and though they're quite easy, they give me a lot of much needed speaking and listening practice. My family tells me I sound like an American, even in the way I say "American".

I live in a three bedroom apartment with a retired teacher, who I call Wang-Laoshi. It's fairly large, and just her and me, and in any case she spends much of her time with her daughter's family who live just above us. My room is large and getting more comfortable every day, and though I can't cook as there is no gas for the stove, I have a hot pot and some instant oatmeal for those times I don't feel like braving the rain. The food however is brilliant, delicious and cheap (20 cents at the bakery!). There are vegan organic restaurants where you can get a giant bowl of noodle soup or chao-fun for 2.50. Everyday I spend less than $5 on food, and I'm always full.

Adam Wu's family has already taken me to yi-ling-yi (101, the tallest building in the world), the zoo (in the rain), and various homes and restaurants. Wu-ling's family took us (me and grandma) to Dan-Shui, the seaside, were we ate non-stop, including such delicacies as oyster dumplings, squid on a stick, Turkish ice cream and local extra-tall mango soft-serve, iced coffee, cakes, and tofu ball soup. All delicious. Yesterday they also took me to a steakhouse with a buffet, which was delicious (I had the steak. There was only steak). At this particular restaurant, two elderly Taiwanese women complimented my large eyes and lovely eyebrows for an uncomfortable length of time.

But I've been making friends, one of the only pasttimes allowed me here that doesn't cost money. I'm not permitted to work, or even volunteer, but I am allowed to participate in language exchanges with the locals. My classmates are lovely, as in need of some friends as I, and we're getting along quite well. All in all, though its not the busy schedule I've grown used to, my baba says its a good chance to get my life right, and figure out my future. Or I could go meet some friends for bubble tea, instead...