tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81139584261221943092012-02-16T18:51:55.472-05:00Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.comBlogger2111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-79686571285764849652009-02-12T05:25:00.003-05:002009-02-12T06:29:08.480-05:00

the journey home was an interesting one. one for which i had certain pre-conceptions based on prior experiences with the airline (and long journeys back to scotland.)i presumed i would have reasonable amounts of legroom, great food, customer service that would leave a little to be desired but that i'd be in a chemically induced coma most of the way so it wouldn't matter.the legroom was good, food

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-9369518555797878862009-01-29T22:53:00.002-05:002009-01-29T23:11:32.367-05:00

so tonight i went to a one man show at the cinema.when roger mentioned a few months back that he was going to hire out the theatre for the night and put on a one man show i thought he was joking. lo and behold, i was wrong.named 'where's the fat guy?' the premise was a motivational evening from a guy who (after losing 133lbs later on in life) knows how hard it is to change a lifestyle for the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-75291337872849185852009-01-22T16:19:00.003-05:002009-01-22T17:04:53.525-05:00

A friend of mine sent me an email today and in it was the line:“We don’t know where we’re going, but we’re on our way”Two weeks today I'll be leaving here to go back to Scotland. I'm in the process of job hunting (fun in this economy) and have no clue what I'm going to do when I'm back there.I have a couple of exhibitions coming up in the next few months, a bunch of weddings to attend, and

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-18662294907127649592009-01-18T18:52:00.002-05:002009-01-18T19:13:39.000-05:00

every week, on the way home from the soup kitchen, the conversion of choice in the car generally revolves around cricket. despite growing up with a dad that loved the sport, i never got it. it is, however, a good opportunity to admire the view out the window.yesterday, however, the tables were turned a little. a couple of students from the new york film academy were out for the weekend and, since

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-16282515575069188182009-01-12T22:41:00.004-05:002009-01-14T14:40:20.644-05:00

today i've been wondering about tea. (amongst other things)it was late this afternoon after a morning out with the girls from the pantry (getting into trouble for lack of risk in clothing choices) and i was chilling out with a cup of tea at the kitchen table.big mug. mid strength. no milk. no sugar.daydreaming into the cup, watching it cool, it reflected the light from the ceiling fan. like a

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-50582477534634341122009-01-08T15:11:00.004-05:002009-01-13T17:19:59.866-05:00

this morning the food pantry was freezing. (i'm still trying to warm up)it wasn't so much the heat as it was the lack of people. there must have only been around twenty families served thismorning which meant that we weren't running around like normal, keeping ourselves warmed up.i don't know where they've gone. perhaps the holidays brought stuff in for some of them, either way. to be honest i

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-75687242553505257582009-01-07T17:28:00.006-05:002009-01-07T19:46:05.312-05:00

sometimes photos are for keeping hold of things we want to remember.people, places, laminated, sealed, held in place for later reminiscence.i took a lot of photos in new orleans, there was so much to take in that i used photography as a tool to aid in processing what i was seeing. for the most part, due to disbelief.but it's a funny thing. the one part that i didn't photograph is the part that

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-81764948005284501772009-01-07T17:28:00.001-05:002009-01-07T17:28:26.378-05:00

The Wallsees of facessomewhere, mass along wet muck, graveldeep water churning torrentsdrowning in getting closersees of facesfeet keep walking blindinto the heart they gowatching muck and gravel lines and facesforming, merging watching wavesoutlines now surround ussee the facesone, anotherline up one, back up the nextdark I watchsee the facesi've known your faceI know your facewade into

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-58958806338237527932009-01-01T12:21:00.003-05:002009-01-01T12:53:39.904-05:00

so last night i went to a hogmany (new years eve in these parts) party with some friends.it was a little quieter than in past years, a few families getting together for a suburban soirie. it was good fun, the people were lovely and it was nice to have a more civilised hogmany. (maybe it was just that i had a weird family, but i did find it a little strange that the kids and adults were in

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-4181676744825378262008-12-31T15:09:00.004-05:002008-12-31T15:26:36.077-05:00

so Christmas (yes it's all just a big chronological mess, but it's almost the end of the year so it's all got to go before it's out!)it was awesome!i thought i might feel a bit homesick but i really didn't. the reason: i was with people that i really love anyway. it started with a big english breakfast (with food brought from england by roger's sister) and was a bit of a food frenzy for the next

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-86187793754957438942008-12-31T14:28:00.003-05:002008-12-31T14:36:14.936-05:00

what would you do if you had the option to choice the 'if...'? what would you do if you couldn't think of anything you could do if?it's hogmany.it's the end of the year.it's 1430 and im still in my pjs.it's snowing outside.it's time to think about the possibility of maybe moving.the quota for belly button contemplation is full for the year.what would you do if it was another year tomorrow?well

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-83208664436886942662008-12-25T21:52:00.002-05:002008-12-25T22:31:24.610-05:00

Growing up, my brother and I had an advent calendar. A big christmas tree hung on the wall that my mum had made for us from green material with red and gold numbered pockets of different textures. And of course, i big gold star pocket on top for the last day.We would split the numbers, one person got odds, the other evens and we'd switch every year (to determine who got the gold star.) When we

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-17815018266989103282008-12-24T20:33:00.003-05:002008-12-24T21:19:10.851-05:00

tis the night before christmasshe thought with a pause'im in new york,for the season with Clause!'specials on tv kids bouncing off wallsfood stuffed in till up-chuckand homeward bound calls...nb: apparently 'the night before Christmas' is the most parodied poem ever written, i stumbled across a couple that made me laugh a little more than i should probably admit...'An Ernest Hemingway Christmas'

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-49646951443278811912008-12-20T21:18:00.002-05:002008-12-20T21:49:48.842-05:00

today was another fantastic day!i was talking to someone today who made a very good point. if the news was our only sorce of information about the reality of the world we live in, it would be pretty dire. it only ever seems to show all the bad stuff. of which there is a lot. but there is also an awful lot of good in the world. there are a lot of good people out there and a lot of very generous

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-52894387471769247132008-12-19T22:02:00.004-05:002008-12-19T22:39:08.097-05:00

today was fantastic.first of all it snowed!white, clean, powdery, big snowflakesi think (other than in the mountains) that was the most snow i've ever seen! it was really cool. we got around 6inches of snowfall today and are scheduled for more over the weekend and some seriously cold temperatures through the week. it did have a downside though.other than the obvious implications for any of the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-9970166135528315482008-12-16T21:54:00.005-05:002008-12-19T22:40:23.855-05:00

it's the run up to christmas and it's all just a bit strange. christmas for the last few years has felt a bit strange, a mixture of being aware of post new year uni deadlines and then last year when we all changed venue and spent it with family in three different locations.this year im away from family altogether which is weird, well, blood related family anyway. i'll miss them, but i'm with my

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-51565183596502053852008-12-11T16:56:00.002-05:002008-12-11T17:25:06.847-05:00

Cinemas have always fascinated me. The last time I went to the cinema I couldn't for the life of me concentrate (John Travolta as a dog with identity issues, funnily enough, wasn't quite enough to stop my mind from wandering that night... although the hamster had it's moments.)I spent a lot of the time considering 'non-disbelief.' Before you can enjoy fully, a movie (or any story for that matter)

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-19833222037331278002008-12-08T11:07:00.016-05:002008-12-08T12:12:52.581-05:00

Today I opened an email that made me laugh (well actually i got three that made me laugh but that's beside the point.)"Dear Beckie are you dead. If you are don't bother to reply to this e-mail as I know that it might be inconvenient."(my granpa has a very Scottish sense of humour)A lot has happened in the last little while and I'm not sure where to start, so instead I'm going to follow the old

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-53792973636057415482008-11-29T10:15:00.002-05:002008-11-29T10:16:28.706-05:00

Alright, so I didn't make it onto the show, for some reason they wanted to focus on the heroes...Watching the show was a very surreal experience. I became very aware of how normal everyone was, from the celebrities, to the heroes, everyone there was a normal person who the media tries to paint as a demi-god. If they're demi-gods then why honour their work? But they're normal, down to earth,

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-28828888232952153102008-11-28T11:23:00.003-05:002008-11-28T11:30:44.127-05:00

so the lady (Liz McCartney) who's organisation we were working with to rebuild houses in new orleans (St. Bernard Project) won the cnn heroes award last night. the list of people was amazing, so any of them winning would have been phenominal, but i think it's pretty cool that it's someone i actually know who won!i've set the tevo for it tonight. can't wait to see it (the fact that we were at the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-84610731965117769522008-11-23T14:48:00.003-05:002008-11-23T15:21:39.203-05:00

Yesterday it was cold.I'm not saying this for sympathy, but to try and paint a picture. I'm Scottish, I know cold, but not like this. The wind was careering around like a rapid dog, wearing you down and biting at any glance of bare skin. I stood outside for maybe ten minutes before i lost the feeling in my glove-clad fingers and toes (i literally couldn't feel the click of my index finger on my

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-7599610021594944362008-11-20T20:34:00.004-05:002008-11-20T21:29:49.114-05:00

today i witnessed a miracle.i don't use this word lightly.i watched it unravel as the day went on in overwhelmed awe and awkward sadness.today it got cold. the temperature has dropped suddenly by about 20oC in the last week or so and was at -3oC today. dry and just beginning, it bit as i left the house to go help out at the pantry this morning.the food pantry is one of my favourite things about

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-7961223574609950832008-11-17T16:02:00.003-05:002008-11-17T18:04:21.144-05:00

today i was searching for a book with info and images from the immediate aftermath of katrina and it got quite frustrating because the ones you could look inside had a lot of photos very similar to what i already had. (why by the book when you have the photos?)then it struck me - the photos i have are very similar to the ones of the immediate aftermath. three years later.there's a little less

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-16834555462645448282008-11-16T21:58:00.000-05:002008-11-16T21:59:38.230-05:00

I just got back from a trip to New Orleans (that I'll go into detail about soon) that blew my mind. Give God half a chance and that always seems to be the outcome. A team of ten of us to do some construction work predominantly. The most eclectic team you ever met: from 16 to 60; from electricians to artists. But from the word go we meshed impeccably and became a team in the best sense. We were

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-74938362116117113122008-11-08T22:29:00.001-05:002008-11-08T22:31:28.711-05:00

It goescars, people, lines and lightone hundred nameless, faceless. plightIt goescar, person, line and lightone name, a face, a life worth. fight

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-64969119313932610212008-11-07T18:09:00.002-05:002008-11-07T18:42:34.809-05:00

it's friday night so what else would you do but battle some guitar hero, watch a movie and eat some pizza?i'm babysitting a friend's kid tonight, he's eight going on 28 with a crackin sense of humour so it's far from a hardship.i'm stayin with them for a couple of days (which he seemed pretty chuffed about and i am too) they're great i love spending time with them. tomorrow we're heading to the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-74048914375209648342008-11-04T23:39:00.002-05:002008-11-04T23:59:05.899-05:00

history has been made.obama was called just as i was about to go to bed, and is running away with votes as i type, so now i find myself fixated by mccain's impressively gracious speech and comments from people who stood by mr king jr back in the day.i mean whatever you think about the political standpoints, thinking about this from a racial standpoint, it's major. these guys who are speaking gave

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-19860198129043780442008-11-04T22:05:00.002-05:002008-11-04T22:40:26.740-05:00

well i just got back from another night of looking out for some crazed kids (although this time minus the sugar) and find myself sitting watching the climax of the political 'tug-of-war' that's been the main story of the news for the past 20months and all i've been hearing about (and trying to stay out of) since i've been here.i guess this happens every four years but the fact of the matter is

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-2486551144145559182008-11-01T11:26:00.002-04:002008-11-01T11:29:45.763-04:00

This year, instead of getting dressed up and silly with some friends and cheesy tunes from the 80's, I went along to soft play area from heaven with a bunch of kids. I was just gutted they weren't for adults.Afterwards I stayed over at a friends to watched her kid and his friend in the morning. Needless to say, there was little sleeping involved after they'd been pumped full of candy and this

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-24849268318960747782008-10-30T22:48:00.001-04:002008-10-30T22:51:06.404-04:00

“a frog's a bit thick and will jump right off whereas a toad on a table will just sit there. Maybe hop to the edge and look over, but ultimately won't jump.”-the conversion that met me as i tuned into radio 2 on line for some background sound yesterday afternoon. I was struck by how very British the whole thing was; a reserved conversation about the difference between toads and frogs; physical or

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-18095784509802904482008-10-28T22:45:00.002-04:002008-10-29T09:58:55.497-04:00

tonight im chilling out (freakin out at the matrix-esque themes in House this week a little) after helping out with a bunch of insane kids who were all up past their bedtime.im surprised they let me back after last week; after chasing and catching a baby girl, bee-lining to a socket, holding her at arms length in an attempt to avoid injury as she had decided it was a prime time to start dancing.

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-7232001700518771422008-10-24T14:17:00.000-04:002008-10-24T14:18:20.729-04:00

I always presumed that it referred to a level of elation towards the forthcoming period of rest. Not today. It definitely has more of a feeling of foreboding. It all began this morning when I went to take a shower. The intention was good, but somehow I managed to pull down the entire shower curtain and pole. And I wasn't even in it at the time.The afternoon was shaping up to be a lot better and

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-69735073748742915052008-10-23T20:48:00.001-04:002008-10-23T20:48:53.740-04:00

So where have I been?Well, other than spreading my cold germs to everyone in the house, I've been pretty busy.Sunday (feeling a little sorry for myself) I called my folks who had just got back from Kenya. A trip that I found out about through a friend noticing my mums status change on facebook, and my brother found out about when he received an email to say they had arrived safely. His response:

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-24997551172504824982008-10-17T13:28:00.001-04:002008-10-17T13:36:29.598-04:00

In the grand scheme of things it's only a number.After a conversation with my grandparents today, as my granpa passed on messages of threats to anyone who wasn't treating me properly, I was reminded of the fact that I'll never be much older than six in their eyes (and neither is my mum which makes for a quieriable explanation for my existence.)Can we be defined by our age? Does it actually mean

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-2839055121119996402008-10-16T22:25:00.002-04:002008-10-16T22:29:05.343-04:00

It's never enough.It's easy to point a finger at our culture and call it apathetic. It is.The not-too-distant trip to new orleans is in it's final stages of preparation. The group (that has now grown to ten) is pretty much set with flights booked and accomodation organised.A few days ago, as we were pulling together that last details it occurred to me how much i've been looking forward to this

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-19367417387682522792008-10-15T21:54:00.002-04:002008-10-15T21:56:27.867-04:00

Sunday afternoon was spent cycling through suburbs with a friend. She called up to ask if I was free for a wee cycle. Three hours later... it was truly lovely though. We cycled through suburbs on wide open roads flanked by quaint houses with mail boxes and the occasional over enthusiastic halloween decoration.And there were the trees.It's been uncharacteristically warm for this time of year so

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-76705071172393726072008-10-14T12:31:00.001-04:002008-10-14T12:31:53.350-04:00

'One Art' is one of my favourite poems.At first it may seem a little depressing. Losing things; some, seemingly arbitrary; others, more absolute.Today I momentarily lost my computer mouse, the last in a growing list of things I've lost recently. Most annoyingly my pen drive and sunglasses have gone walkabout. I blame tidy living. I could always find things in the organised mess that was my

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-43019424520728366642008-10-13T23:16:00.001-04:002008-10-13T23:18:06.916-04:00

“I'd like shweet, a shower and a shave.”shaid Shawn Connery in 'the rock.'The man has a lot to answer for. (not counting the random SNP cold call messages he narrates.)The last time I checked, his particular twang was not a typical representation of a Scottish accent. People here, however, seem to think a little differently. For the record, being compared to an old man (albeit one who played some

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-41859141814890974592008-10-07T22:36:00.001-04:002008-10-07T22:36:36.447-04:00

Tonight I was completely flattened.Words were lost.I met a lady who I'd never met before who, after some generic introductory type chat, told me that until two years ago she had never had a friend. This woman I guess was in her forties. She had always presumed that she had until she met people that were real friends. Genuine, honest, there for you when you need them, friends. Around then I knew I

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-3672571703077958262008-10-06T17:00:00.002-04:002008-10-06T17:01:26.342-04:00

I arrived, met up with my parents, navigated our way to our hotel, got changed then headed to the preview of an exhibition I was part of.For the first hour or so there were only artists and a few curators looking around, checking work had been hung properly etc. To say it was daunting would be an understatement. It might have been partly because I hadn't slept in a long time, but I couldn't

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-62828971652369451552008-10-04T21:24:00.002-04:002008-10-04T21:52:43.981-04:00

this afternoon a few stolen minutes were spent lying on the living room floor with the latest vogue that i'd treated myself to; the new pages crinkling beneath my finger tips as each colourful, glossy page was turned for the first time. i felt at home, completely at ease.yesterday, it was as if somebody had pulled a whole bunch of cotton wool out of my head. i final felt properly fine after a few

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-33378810605798899472008-09-30T19:05:00.001-04:002008-09-30T19:09:04.205-04:00

So i'm sitting here watching Ironman after a day at home (relaxing, though not necessarily by choice, after another interesting sleepless night – I've just been told (slightly less eloquently) that I have a face like two pee holes in snow... beautiful analogy) Jace (the 8year old grandkid) just got back from a day at the mall with his grandma so I, by great personal sacrifice, helped him build

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-83993458783459261332008-09-25T19:53:00.003-04:002008-09-25T20:10:33.606-04:00

i've been a little under the weather since i got back from london (hence the lack of blogging since looking at a computer screen made me nauseous) and today was coerced into going to the doctors. im fine it's just a combination of infections and congestions that im putting down to flying too much lately (that many people in a confined space = theme park for cheeky wee germs.)but going to the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-77395705572038502412008-09-22T15:44:00.003-04:002008-09-22T15:54:37.417-04:00

i got back to new york last night after going to london for a few days. so today was spent catching up with myself and staying awake. i'll catch everyone else up with myself tomorrow.i'm going to shea stadium (hopefully to watch a game this time instead of being washed out of one) again tonight and leaving very soon so i'm afraid i'll have to leave it short but sweet.needless to say, i had a

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-88388189556382645622008-09-15T22:32:00.003-04:002008-09-15T22:48:39.044-04:00

an australian, an indian, a scot and a little chinese girl are on a train...new york is nothing if it's not diverse. i love it. from race to lifestyle there's such a wide range of people here it's fantastic.yesterday after church i hopped on the train (with our new friend from india since he was heading back into the city then anyway) to go meet a great friend of mine i met in taiwan. (she's

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-59170120042866896782008-09-13T21:42:00.003-04:002008-09-13T21:58:38.687-04:00

last night was a moment to be remembered.i was going to participate (all be it as a viewer) in a historic match; one of the last games to be played by the mets at shea stadium before they relocate next door (literally a few feet away) to their new one.we pack everyone, and a wee picnic into the car, arange to meet another friend there and head off, braving friday traffic and the elements on the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-52833870832195689002008-09-11T21:22:00.004-04:002008-09-11T21:43:30.503-04:00

so today is the anniversary of 9/11. its a day that, although being aware of it, generally passes me by, but this time it's kinda different. here people were part of it. while i was sitting in confused shock, still in jacket with school bag on hours after having gotten home from school, people here were living it. they had friends there; had been there just hours before the event and took active

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-35589149438459195152008-09-11T20:57:00.003-04:002008-09-11T21:18:28.611-04:00

so it's the bottom of the sixth,the ducks are down 5 to 1,we have one man out,the bases are loaded and our duck batter gets up,pitcher strikes him out,two men out, the tension is highsecond batter uphits it out of the field and it's a grand slam bringing the ducks into the lead!it was no major league game but good seats in the vip section with a great view behind the batter, it was great fun! i

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-15830655670727951652008-09-10T15:20:00.001-04:002008-09-10T15:23:04.789-04:00

this evening im heading to a baseball game with a couple of eight year olds.i may survive to tell the tale...

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-63885390528585474882008-09-09T20:30:00.002-04:002008-09-09T20:31:21.347-04:00

Today was quite a busy day.So on Sunday I went to a meeting with some folks who were interested in going down to New Orleans in November to help out where possible, and somehow I ended up as the liaising/ admin person for the trip. I must admit that I'm kinda enjoying it, checkout out flights, following/ figuring out schedules etc. It's not something I would normally so am enjoying the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-6732810820350724862008-09-09T08:06:00.002-04:002008-09-09T08:07:56.255-04:00

Time to walk.Earphones in. ipod on.Walk.ipod off.Earphones out.Listen.Walk.Hazy heat lingers somewhere above my head making it's slow descent into the day.My footsteps marking their way on the tarmac.Twig breaks.Trees flank open roads. Change is coming, you can almost smell it. Green making a final futile push to be while autumn's poised to pop. Sycamores throw out winged proteststhat

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-42954323443987089672008-09-08T19:33:00.000-04:002008-09-08T19:34:31.774-04:00

Today was Monday, and as such, the day that the office is closed.First port of call: weight watchers. As well as being a pastor Roger is also a local weight watchers leader, something that I am very grateful for. I've been following it for the last wee while but due to uni etc had to just follow the program (which I did a few years back) without going to meetings. Since for the past week and a

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-49752210150047727002008-09-07T21:49:00.000-04:002008-09-07T21:50:14.158-04:00

Today disappeared very quickly but for some reason felt like two. I was woken this morning at 3 mins to 7 with a knock on my door and was in the car less than ten minutes later. I'd slept in (set my alarm for 6pm instead of am) waking up when I should have been in the car.So off I went with Roger and Rohan (a guy whose over from India doing some post grads in Manhattan and comes out here on

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-14302382113735733722008-09-05T16:20:00.001-04:002008-09-05T16:23:21.488-04:00

If ever there is a fleeting moment of wonder as to what I'm doing here I'm going to remember this moment: I'm sitting outside in a rocking chair in shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops, listening to music, laptop atop lap, a mug of coffee and my camera by my side. the sun is beating down with a cheeky wee breeze blowing to take the edge off... mmmm... I had a dream last night that got me thinking:I was

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-48573154506705404852008-09-05T09:41:00.005-04:002008-09-05T10:25:52.646-04:00

yesterday there was something up with the page i post from so that's why i'm posting a day late.life is a funny thing. i haven't slept properly in months but since i've been here i've been getting amazing sleep (even slept through my alarm yesterday.) but why is it that when you get lots of sleep you're enevitably more tired than when you worked without it? i guess sometimes you just need to wait

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-22568971451806477162008-09-03T19:51:00.002-04:002008-09-03T20:05:49.391-04:00

today was time to get to work.the school kids started back today and so did i.after an early morning walk around the area with gill (and some breakfast) i set myself up in the basement offices. the main thing i started today was a short stills film of the street fair from last sunday. it's a good wee project to get to grips with some software that i'm not used to working with and am quite looking

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-45946125177899638782008-09-02T21:32:00.002-04:002008-09-02T22:05:25.044-04:00

today was a day of juxtapositions.i headed into manhattan with Gill (whose home i'm staying at along with her husband Roger) her daughter and grandson. on arriving we parted ways; they headed uptown to the natural history museum, i downtown for some discount shopping (although i never bought anything.)manhattan is big. or at least in character and ego. this little island sure does make up for any

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-39298249655231861752008-09-01T21:10:00.005-04:002008-09-01T21:40:59.271-04:00

today i decided it was time to really get to grips with the culture here which involved more hard work than expected.the day began painfully early being dragged out of bed for an arduous exodus to the Hampton's where i was forced to socialise and sunbathe on a white beach for the entirety of the morning before being coerced into lying on a lilo in the back garden pool. after which i had to watch

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-3678325971937056132008-08-31T19:15:00.005-04:002008-09-01T21:10:16.882-04:00

the cars are bigger; the food is bigger; the people are bigger; there are no pavements; the temperature is higher. i'm in america.i love it.this is the ultimate in consumer society - 'we make nothing so we must sell everything' - and although i don't prescribe to that in general, i still love it here.i've been here three times (once this year already) but never for that long, but while taking

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-5664132490686185682008-08-29T18:53:00.002-04:002008-08-29T19:00:55.482-04:00

After what may have been the most on time set of flights I've ever had I have arrived. Albeit lacking in luggage, but I'm here.I must admit that it feels a little weird how un-weird it feels to be here. But I guess that's because I've just gone from one family to another. I'm pretty tired, trying to make it to 9 o'clock, but I just can't wait to get stuck into life here for the next 6months!

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-62604269313877096642008-06-16T04:53:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.634-04:00

I finished!!! (and with a pretty decent grade too) As a result (and also cos I moved to a place with no internet a few weeks ago) I will be bidding this page fairwell until the end of august. (when i go to New York for a few months)So yeah, that's it.

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-15073479205644528542008-06-01T08:00:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.634-04:00

the cables aren't working, the paints not going on thick enough, it's a plethora of plinth-ridden madness!it will be okay.the latest freak out is the fact that people are actually going to be seeing this work, some of which is pretty personal (although the only person that'll probably know that is me.) i'm really looking forward to the whole exhibition buzz: the feeling that you've created

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-52294943971579732082008-05-30T04:37:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.634-04:00

it's down to the last few days and the stress is high but there is a definite 'light at the end of the tunnel' feel to this week. that said, given how quickly the last few years have gone by and how surreal this all feels, it's hard to imagine that it'll ever end. even thinking about a summer with no thoughts of going back to uni at the end of it, i can't get my head around it.while writing up a

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-75035541018719789492008-05-25T08:20:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.634-04:00

it's the title of the first piece i finished up today and is (ironically) what i've been thinking about today.this morning i realised i had no food in the house so before punctuating my week with a flying visit to the beginning of church, then going to uni for the rest of the afternoon, i decided to spend the morning in the park, getting breakfast when the shops opened. normally when i decide to

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-2878574123142068362008-05-24T11:08:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.635-04:00

After a week on crutches there's a lot of catching up to do, but I've had some amazing friends stepping in to help out. Doing everything from being honourary carry monkey to priming and painting my degree show space (the person who had it last year left it a lovely shade of dark red, and I need it white.)So today my parents came in to feed me and help with the last coat of white paint (although

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-40568620330157628792008-05-14T06:46:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.635-04:00

“Robert Frank’s The Americans (1959) is not read as a “masterpiece of incisive social criticism [as] it has come to be considered,” but instead as “the somewhat narcissistic reflection of a personality caught up in the romance of the existential dilemma.”- James R. Hugunin talking about Andy Grundberg’s ‘crisis of the real’Talk about a harsh criticism. I quite like ‘the Americans’ and happen to

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-79008465448684382982008-05-14T06:46:00.001-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.635-04:00

When the real is no longer what it used to be, nostalgia assumes its fullmeaning. There is a proliferation of myths of origin and signs of reality;of secondhand truth, objectivity and authenticity.—Jean Baudrillardamazing

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-35330352839414150572008-05-14T04:01:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.635-04:00

So stress…This last run up to the degree show is tense to say the least. I’ve been remaining outwardly calm to get work done and periodically venting on friends’ shoulders when away from uni. They’re amazing people, consistently encouraging me to keep going. One such friend (who happens to be a midwife) on one such occasion decided to impart some encouragement in the form of an analogy: ‘ it’s

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-92150461825009198662008-05-07T06:23:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.636-04:00

Well, it’s getting in to the last leg of the journey. The final push before the degree show and finally things are starting to make a bit more sense. I have a fair amount of work to show as an installation type dealio with different pieces working off of each other, and a fair amount of stuff not being shown, as secondary work, so although there’s the inevitable, I could have done so much more or

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-45236196321749003472008-04-25T07:46:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.636-04:00

A while ago I came to a realisation and have decided to do something about it before the end of uni.It occurred to me that I’m a bit of a collector.When I move to somewhere new, after a while, I take out my camera and explore the intricacies, and general points of interest for me in whatever place I’ve adopted as a place of meditation (aka that chill out and breath space), generally the garden.My

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-82125086579042816292008-04-25T06:38:00.001-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.636-04:00

So Saturday…I had a friends wedding Friday night so didn’t get home till very late. All week I’d had one of those hovering cold things where one minute you feel fine and the next you feel dead, I thought it had gone but by the time I got home the next morning I felt like rubbish and it didn’t really go away till about today. So Saturday, later (but still early) that morning I headed up along the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-10373748860578985562008-04-25T06:37:00.001-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.637-04:00

Today is a gorgeous day! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I’m stuck in a basement AV lab editing audio and film from last weekend, and I’m feeling pretty disillusioned with uni at the moment, struggling to find motivation for the final hurdle.Despite the circumstances I’m in an inexplicably optimistic mood. I’ve been a bit sick for the past week and today is the first day my lungs

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-76779044206496231332008-04-18T05:36:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.638-04:00

I've been off the circuit these last couple of days but have now returned.The last few days have been a mad flurry of scooting between various places, collecting work, materials etc and trying to organise a trip to a farm this weekend to go film lambs being born. It's amazing how much time it takes to fit in all that stuff. Im developing an appreciation for the bus service here, it might not be

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-83217970205721846442008-04-15T04:44:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.638-04:00

"I'm like an honourary spectator in my own life.Photographs bring people closer to life and reveal things we would never normally see. They force us to pay more attention to the subtleties and awesomeness of the world around us; to appreciate it a little more for its beauty. They can show us suffering, passion, harmony, or something as simple as a pebble on a beach."It's coming to the end of my

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-83674722067276043412008-04-14T07:07:00.003-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.638-04:00

This weekend I’ve been considering daffodils.I hadn’t intended on starting this short documentation of life leading up to the degree show on such a theological note, but given that this is essentially a space where I can freely articulate my thoughts, and my understanding (or lack thereof) of God is generally the basis for how I perceive the world, I decided to go ahead with it anyway.I recently

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-89441952934528385472007-12-19T18:49:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.638-04:00

okay, so the last entry was a little on the concise side of life, but my fingers were all typed out.some thoughts from the dissertation of doom:"Philosophers and scientists for years have been trying to figure out a 'theory of everything,' but is this even possible? It may be that someone already has, a gardener perhaps happened upon it while tending to some weeds at the bottom of a garden

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-44824637190214074192007-12-14T11:41:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.639-04:00

The dissertation is done!Well... part one anyway...So tonight, in honour of this festive time of year, I'm going out for cocktails with some friends! Can't wait!

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-8018628848177418472007-12-11T09:54:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.639-04:00

Venice was AMAZING!I felt like a kid in a sweetshop. Days were filled with great art, (some that wasn't so great, but overall overwhelmingly good) great coffee (involuntary shiver worthy) great scenery (walked for miles round cobbled streets and bridges flanking canals and all surreal in their classic architectural beauty) and great food (it was Italy, 'nough said)!It really helped put some of my

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-6421002045114656552007-11-14T16:16:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.639-04:00

well it happened again...but i have to admit that breaking down in cars has brought me into conact with some lovely people lately that i never would have met otherwise so there's really nothing worth complaining about.my current lack of car is even less important for the next week since tonight im leaving for venice for the biennale. a solid week of art. although it hasn't really sunk in yet, i

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-49231406940753436282007-11-11T15:14:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.639-04:00

Scotland is a strange place at times. I think it might be because of the people here. I've never felt particularly like I belong here but don't get me wrong you can't help but love it here. I think that might be because of the people too. Winter comes along, everything gets a little bit minging, (the short distance between house door and car door becomes a mini expidition - the wind attacks and

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-29397632257059714852007-11-09T11:27:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.640-04:00

Why is it that winter always seems to sneak up out of nowhere? It happens every year and every year we (that'll be me) feel hard done by and taken by surprise. Wednesday I walked outside with no need for a jacket. Thursday some shockingly strong winds made for a very interesting drive to uni (lorries blown over etc.) It seemed pretty cold but I figured I was being melodramatic until i found

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-79005270037778475002007-11-05T04:53:00.000-05:002008-08-18T15:08:22.640-04:00

Okay, so I may not have gotten off to the great start (or any really if I'm being honest) that I had hoped for. But in my defence - here's my defence: My parents (who I'm currently living with) went to Kenya for a couple of weeks leaving me my dad's car. Unfortuanately that meant I had to run my brother to work - a two hour drive there after 6.15 wake up call, and near two hours back for a late

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-70956038593858649482007-10-15T05:35:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:08:22.640-04:00

Due to badgering from certain parties, amongst other things, I have decided (after conceding to the potentially narcissistic qualities involved in keeping a 'blog') to start this thing up again. Despite the fact that this is now week four of the semester, most of this will most likely revolve around my final year at uni and the mahem that is bound to ensue as a result. Although this does mean

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-71399538588479972612007-07-05T07:48:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:06:21.478-04:00

The time had come. Exam at 8.30 then on to preparations for leaving. Most of my things were packed so it was more cultural preparation. Reinstating the prominence of r's into pronunciation being (debatably) the most important. (The accent has calmed down a lot in the past few months, to the point that, on more than one occasion, I have been given the 'compliment' of having no discernible

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-66251672406906025742007-06-27T19:45:00.001-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.516-04:00

Today I met up with some of my Korean friends. It was a nice way to bookend my time here given that they were the first people i met. It was a weird day. People kept saying goodbye to me, and i found myself giving the appropriate reaction ('oh... i know... I'm so sad to leave...') when actually it hadn't remotely clicked. (I'm trying to hold it back till I'm safely in the air and can't chain

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-59251613450990585452007-06-26T08:29:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.516-04:00

Today I went on a small trip with some friends. One of them did an exchange at Gray's (the art school I go to in Scotland) last semester (although I never knew her then) and the other is going to Scotland for a year to study there. Ironically her flight leaves two hours after mine on Thursday. We went to a place called Jioufen, which is a pretty funky wee town situated on the side of a mountain,

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-20979425530650490402007-06-26T08:25:00.001-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.517-04:00

I spent this morning in the top floor of a coffee shop, chilling out and watching the world pass by. This place has served me well over the last few months, granting me refuge whenever I want it. A place to be unseen. Unfortunately it's a little far from the dorms, but it was always worth the trip. The view isn't anything special, it overlooks a junction in a side street in Taipei, but it

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-16198929069136725212007-06-25T05:50:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.517-04:00

Why is it that when things get hard, that's only thing we seem to know how to do well? It would be so much easier if we had reboot button so when we crash we could just breathe and start again. When everything is hectic it's hard to get perspective. This is especially the case in a city where there is never any quiet, and there are always people. A friend of mine is having a pretty tough time

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-13900635682923067112007-06-25T05:48:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.518-04:00

Today I went to the jade market with a friend. He'd never been before so it came as a bit of a surprise to him. The masses of tables, curios, jewellery, ceramics, beads and gemstones (some authentic and some not) everywhere. It's a hive of activity filled with people bartering and bustling around everywhere in search for a bargain, and a lot of fun (so long as you don't get ripped off.) Later I

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-44804900869298490692007-06-25T02:45:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.518-04:00

Today I was supposed to go to the jade market with a friend but after finding out that it's only open on the weekend (finding information about things that are going on in Taiwan online isn't easy) so instead spent the day checking I'd got everything sorted for going back to Scotland next week. I had a list of things I wanted to do before I left, primarily interviewing betel nut girls and taking

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-21863286423564156632007-06-21T11:29:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.518-04:00

Today my Mongolian flatmate left. It was pretty sad. Our room was the only room in the whole floor where everyone got on together. And we more than got on together. The three of us have been so close, get on amazingly well with no disagreements for the past few months, so now we're down to two it feels like something is missing. Today was also the day when I had my last class (perhaps not

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-50203159689900263312007-06-21T11:23:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.519-04:00

Okay, this late blogging is starting to become a bit of a bad habit but with barely over a week left you can't blame me for being a little busy. Today my roommate re-emerged. She has been MIA for the past few days and we were starting to get a little worried. (Especially due to the fact that the last time she disappeared for a weekend she came back married... but that's another story.) This

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-13938508293258930512007-06-21T11:22:00.001-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.519-04:00

Today was the Dragon-boat Festival. I was faced with two choices: to go stand in a packed place and hope to maybe catch the odd glimpse of the boat races, or, to go as a 'plus one' with a friend to a Taiwanese family's house she had been invited to in Taipei. I chose the second. And I was so glad I did. We joined them for lunch complete with the traditional Dragon-boat Festival food – sticky

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-6446678187392797832007-06-21T11:17:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.520-04:00

Today was a holiday so I had no classes (thankfully.) In the evening a few friends an I went to Taipei to a lounge bar to chill out together. Public transportation always seems to bring out the most fascinating enigmas. The most haunting of all, perhaps, are the unbelievable feats of nasal archeology. I'm not sure if nose cartilage is more flexible here, but I had no idea that fingers could

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-53822563360847558202007-06-17T14:18:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.520-04:00

Last night we ended up staying at the spa all night (they have everything there – restaurant, beds, movie screen, karaoke bar, tv rooms, and all the rest of the health and relaxation related stuff) since you pay around four pounds for everything for up to twelve hours we wanted to take full advantage.After I got back I slept till late afternoon and headed into Taipei with my roommate. On the way

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-11849244695929578242007-06-17T13:20:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.520-04:00

After getting home at around seven this morning, I think it had to have been something close to a miracle that got everyone to their graduation ceremony on time. Unfortunately, that meant me too. My roommate's parents couldn't make it so she asked me to go take some photos of her.It had to be the weirdest ceremony ever. The hall was packed, incredibly hot, and incredibly noisy. It started with

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-43047191319798789572007-06-17T12:56:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.521-04:00

Today was prom. The seniors all graduate tomorrow so the prom is tonight. It was potentially one of the earliest proms in history – starting at 6:30 and ending at 9:30 – and there were more rules to abide by than there were people there (you had to sign a sheet to say you'd stick to them) but man they went all out, on production especially. They had a really decent MC, DJ and band (I had

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-56345437570430359052007-06-17T12:16:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.521-04:00

The sweetest thing ever happened today.A few weeks ago I was picking up some dinner when this girl stopped me (and very nervously) asked if she could interview me for a class project. Of course I said yes. Turned out she'd been plucking up the courage for a few weeks but didn't think I'd say yes. She was so sweet and ended up asking for my msn address so she could keep in contact.So today I was

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-19617099589099145942007-06-17T12:08:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.521-04:00

It's all well and good going away for a while, but you inevitably have to deal with all the catching up with work on your return. Mandarin class today, however, consisted of watching a silly movie followed by pizza. Now that's what I call catching up with work. Our teacher is lovely. She always gives me extra help (possible due to the 'what the heck are you talking about?' look I sport for the

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8113958426122194309.post-54247130107488620422007-06-16T09:49:00.000-04:002008-08-18T15:07:11.521-04:00

Today was the day I was left KL. I had a really great time there but I must admit to looking forward to going back to Taiwan. On the way to the airport we stopped in past a kindof relative's restaurant again for lunch and say goodbye. Then I left. The flight back was strange. It felt like I was going home, which I was in a sense since this has been my home for the last few months, but it's

Rebekah Taithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03355590246759295687noreply@blogger.com0