im off to venice!

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 think i might be excited.

so much for my carbon footprint though im mildly ashamed (although actually not) that after this trip i'll have clocked 16 flights this year. the chances of this happening again are fairly slim so i guess it's not that bad.

If it's cold just run around in circles!

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 your hair is left standing upwards or shooting off to the right, or if your really unfortunate it'll be the rain and you'll be soaked through) but what do we do? Complain incesantly? well... yes. But what else do we do?
We take the cold weather and turn it into the best way to cool down after a ceilidh.*
You gotta love that attitude. It makes this time of year something to look forward too. Lots of ceilidhs and stovies, mulled wine and fireworks.
I love it.

Although, regardless how many celidhs I go to I always forget how much it's going to hurt the next day.(I was at one last night. Muscles hurt that I didn't know I had and have bruises on my arms today - nevertheless - seriously good fun!)

*mildly insane energetic scottish country dancing

It's winter.

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 myself in the middle of a snow storm in the afternoon.

So it's official. It's winter.

My car seemed to notice too. I just picked it up from the garage on wednesday and on thursday it died in the middle of rush hour traffic smack bag in the middle of a main road. I'm pretty used to breaking down, I think it's a gift, so wasn't fazed by it, but it was just a bit annoying given that it was new so there was no way I could have broken it that quickly.

I don't do cars. They're a necessary evil. So here's my theory: never let them catch you thinking nice thoughts about them (they were starting to float around my head just before it stopped) or it grows an ego for which the engine doesn't have the right capacity and so it self destructs.

I think I might be on to something...

the best layed plans

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 dinner and early bed.

I thought it was going okay until the tiredness took its toll. Unfortuanately on my dad's car rendering it useless for the best part of a week and left me stuck away from uni chasing up the garage to fix it before my folks got back (nobody wants to explain why there is a car less in the drive after a long flight.)

Fortunately for me the mistake I made (filling up a diesel car with petrol and driving it till it stopped) cost a fifth of what it should have in an amazing turn of events where the engine didn't need replaced. The very definition of relief given that my financial status is that of a student and I didn't want my parents to pay for my mistakes.

Should anyone find themselves in a similar situation take note of the following stroke of genius...

I made a heap of apple spiced muffins for my grandparents to thank them for coming to the rescue. Seeing the results I realised that this wouldn't be te worst way to break the news to my dad on his return that despite the apparent fineness of his car it may in fact die at any point over the next week. But muffins dont possess the caliber needed for such a task. They just don't cut it. What was needed, was brownies. Not just any brownies, but the best brownie recipe in existence to my knowledge, impervious to drying out and sufficiently gooey.

Lo and behold the 'but I made brownies' line never fails to bring a smile to any silly thing I may have done for the last couple of weeks. I tell you - genius!

To account for the time between te cars return and now, I must rely on all the catching up that had to be done mixed with a couple of bad colds.

So now I'm back, and although I have learned come to the realisation that during a final year at uni, it's actually not possible to blog every day, I will make every effort to do so at least once a week (probably a saturday) and more if anything interesting happens.

And she's back... again.

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 that at some point it is more than likely to dissolve into a pile of incoherent, emotion charged drivle (as you're probably already suspicious of, if you are reading this.)
Disclaimers out of the way, that was the introduction to the new blog for the whole one of you who actually read this.

not the end the end

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 Scottish accent...)

Waiting to leave has a foreboding imminence about it. You want to hold on to the last minute, but you have the dilemma of being prepared mentally to go. Start to early and you may as well have already gone, but too late and you'll find yourself halfway over Russia trying to work out where you are.

After a few interesting hiccups (and a bought of uncharacteristic assertiveness) I boarded a plane in Taipei an hour or so earlier than expected (with a free upgrade to business class) to commencing my journey that would end just over 24hours later.

It wasn't too bad. Being someone who gets bored quickly, I generally try and make a point of at least being friendly to the people on either side of me, be they Dutch business men or Australian organic farmers. One minute you're offering them a pre-take-off mint, then by the time you're landing they've given you their life story and a few intriguing insights to chew over on your next flight (should the company be less talkative.)

And then Scotland greeted me back. With the crisp fresh air, more than a little rain chased by blue skies, and a hug from my dad, I was back.

For better or worse this is where I'll be for the next year so I'm going to make the most of it.

Wednesday27thJune07

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 myself to any buildings.)

I eventually came to the conclusion that the fact I hadn't packed yet wasn't a good thing. I realised that since I have an exam and a flight tomorrow that this was really my only chance.

Almost as soon as I had finished a girl from up the hall came by with a freshly made mango desert thing for me.

From then on the day has been filled with people knocking on my door to find out flight times or say goodbye. I'm finding it all a bit bizarre, but there's a looming feeling of dread in the back of my mind that they might be doing this because I'm actually leaving. There's a distinct possibility.

nine people

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, in the middle of lots of mountains, overlooking the sea. A lot of it was built by the Japanese when they occupied Taiwan so it was a fascinating mix of the two cultures.

The town itself has lots of stairs and intriguing little shops, but if you take a short bus trip a little further up the mountain you come to an old gold ecological park with beautiful scenery and a few museum type places.

We had just gotten near the end of the walkway (next to Teapot Mountain which looks like it has a teapot on top) when it started to rain. We took shelter in a Japanese restaurant (with great food) just in time for the rain to really let go. When it rains here, it really rains. Although fortunately it doesn't lie for long since it's so ridiculously hot.

Right now I'm stuck inside waiting for a rather large thunder and lightning storm to pass so I can go out. But I must admit, there's something fascinating about watching lightning streaking across the sky and spiking out every-so-often. It makes you glad to be inside.

Monday25thJune07

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 brings with it a constant stream of people going about their lives. I always wonder what they're thinking, where they're going, where they've been, and what life has in store for them next.

Today I was mostly just in wonder at the innocences of this place. It comes with all the usual perks of a big city, in that you need to be careful about leaving things lying around and there are lots more people to get lost in amongst, but this place is different.

As I was sitting wondering a young guy came and marked his territory on the table next to mine, leaving his bag there and disappearing back downstairs to get his coffee. Granted we were the only two people on the top floor, but where on earth would you do that? Maybe it was just naivety on his part, but it's not that first time I've seen this happen.

I wondered if it's maybe due to the lack of foreigners and tourists here, the people have remained relatively untainted. I'm not sure, but at the least it made me laugh. Maybe I just don't look like the sort of person who would steal a bag.

Sunday24thJune07

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 at the moment and so I passed on my preferred 'find a mountain or some coastline' method which comes in especially handy when you just can't stop thinking. (Helps you to realise how huge and amazing the world is and that it doesn't revolve around you.) It helps sometimes to take a step back from things for a while. As much as I know my friend is going to get through it and totally has the strength to, when it's you in the middle of it all, it's hard to think objectively.

But I think, at the end of the day, the noise and craziness isn't going to go away, so you have to learn to find quietness in yourself sometimes. Learn to shut out harmful noise and clutter without escaping from it.

Although I still think it's good (if possible) to find somewhere like that, where you can just go to be alone.

Bodies of water are not always the best place to find peace and relaxation, however.

Today I got a little over excited about a potential photo opportunity, misread the terrain next to a river (thinking the concrete continued at a steady level with only a little mud on top), slipped (after being duly warned by my friend) and ended up ankle deep with my hand and shoe stuck in some rather grimy gloopy mud (all the while with my one free hand trying to keep my skirt and camera safe.)

Fortunately I don't embarrass that easily and just found the whole thing quite funny (if not a little stupid.)

Saturday23rdJune07

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 met up with some Korean friends (said some more goodbyes) for some drinks. It was a surprisingly good night until our taxi driver tried to scam us by taking us the wrong way home. (One of the serious disadvantages of being a foreigner.) Thankfully, my friends flat comes complete with security guards who sorted everything out for us and managed to stem the tide of angry remarks in various different languages that were flying back and forth, most of which I couldn't understand. (I think that may have been a good thing.)

Friday22ndJune07

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 some film footage of pedestrian crossings, but both have run into problems.

I think there was a mix up somewhere along the way with the lady who said she'd help me translate for the girls. She's been really busy at so I guess it's not too surprising, but still, it's pretty disappointing. I thought we had everything planned out but then she seemed to forget all about them. Unfortunately a little late in the day for me to find any other mean of getting what I wanted, or even a compromised version of what I wanted.

The filming has hit the snag of a seemingly messed up system in the offices here in general, whereby rhyme and reason seem to be non-existent. Equipment is obviously not their top priority but unfortunately that has had a bad effect on coursework that requires video camera footage for here, as well as for back home.

But I haven't given up hope on that one yet. I still have a few days left, and if the worst comes to the worst I could always take some low quality film with a my normal camera.

a small goodbye

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 such a sad event – I love Taiwan, but I do not love this university) commemorated by having to give a presentation on Russian sociology (which, I have to admit to actually enjoying a little, even though the subject matter was not exactly what you could call exciting.)

So that's it for me, other than exams next week, all the academic stuff is done here.

Finally.

Wednesday20thJune07

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 time she came back with the worst sunburn I've ever seen in my life. It was fairly horrific. When I asked how she managed it (thinking she'd been with a friend in Taipei for the whole time) she said she woke up one day with some friends on an island off the south of Taiwan and had no idea how they got there. (Taipei is in the north of the Taiwan and it's not massively easy to get around unless you speak Chinese.)

I've said it before and I'll say it again – the weight limit for planes to get here is stupid. Thankfully my parents took out all the stuff I couldn't manage on the way here (books etc.) but then they all have to go back again. So today I dragged my other roommate to the city to help with Chinese at the post-office and to share the weight of the box that had been christened 'Gigantor.' (I guess it wasn't that heavy, but I'm not that strong.)

The woman at the post-office seemed quite amused at my request to send him to the UK (and wasn't sure where it was) but was nonetheless helpful.

Later I got a call from a friend who had managed to acquire a moped from the lady he buys his breakfast from, asking if I wanted to go for a short trip. We headed up a mountain (there are lots around here) with a great view of Taoyuan. Then to a random temple that turned out to be closed for the night.

I'm not the worlds biggest fan of mopeds, and given he'd only been riding it for a few weeks he didn't exactly fill me with confidence.

But when you're face with the choice to go or not to go, it's generally better to go, right?..

Tuesday19thJune07

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 rice with either meat or red bean, wrapped in some kid of leaf in a triangle. I'm not overly fond of the rice, but the rest of the food was amazing! Everything from shrimp and sea cucumber casarole, to bamboo salid. There was loads of food, and all homemade traditional Chinese style.

I sat across the table from the Grandma who spent the whole time looking up at me and smilling or giggling. She was fascinated and seemingly impressed by my apparently 'perfect' hold and use of chopsticks (I guess it has something to do with being taught how to use them when I was little) which is possibly one of the best compliments I've had since I've been here. Then when I would go to try something new, taking only a little to taste first, she would lean across the table (completely ignoring my attempts to stop her) and fill up the rest of my bowl with whatever it was that I had just taken. I became very cautious of what I tried, unless I was willing to commit, it was avoided, or at least until she wasn't looking.

They also taught us one of the coolest things ever. Once a year, on this day, between 11am and 1pm it is possible (with a steady hand and a bit of luck) to balance an egg vertically on its fat end. Our hostess managed to do it, and it just sat there until around one o'clock when it fell over. I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

They welcomed us in like part of the family, teaching us how to play Chinese chess and then taking us out on a tour after lunch. It has to be one of the best afternoons I've had here, and a great opportunity to see some real Chinese culture.

Monday18thJune07

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 disappear that far. You can't help but stare in awe, wondering if they're digging for green matter or grey.

The night itself was really good. I met loads of new people (unfortunately a little late) and the music was really decent.

This last weekend has started to set my biological clock back to British time a bit prematurely, and since I had an appointment tomorrow, we decided to call it a night around two thirty and head back to Taoyuan.

Sunday17thJune07

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 back I had to take a taxi from Taoyuan city to the dorms. Usually when I get into a taxi I tell them where I want to go in Mandarin, then when they start the usual banter I quickly cut them off telling them that my Chinese is not good, they say okay and that's it for the rest of the journey.

Today, however, was a little different. As soon as I got in he started chatting away, despite my protests of being bad at Chinese. I had no option but to try and figure out what he was saying (something I do a lot less than I should.) Turned out I picked up enough to roughly understand most of what he was saying, and answer a few questions (very badly) along the way. (Although part of me wished I didn't know what he saying.) To my embarrassment I realised he was telling me how beautiful I was, potentially one of the last things you want to hear from your taxi driver. He then went on to ask if I was from America, (adding that Taiwan was a lot better than Scotland so I should stay here,) did i have friends here, why I was going to the university so late. It was hard work given that I could only pick up the odd word here or there, but he was persistent.

I thought I'd done not too badly until we got near our destination and he asked a question that I could not understand at all. It was multiple choice, he said the answer was either one, two, three or four. I tried to show I didn't understand but he kept asking; 'one, two, three or four?' What was the worst that could happen? I had a 25% chance of getting it right so picked the first one that came to me; one.

Evidently this was not the right answer.

He broke into uproarious laughter.

I still have no clue what he was asking, but I'm not too sure I want to. What you don't know can't hurt you, right?

Saturday16thJune07

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 the departments' flags being carried in by girls in white and red military uniforms, followed by the Chinese national anthem. Then the President of Ming Chuan got up to speak.

But all through this none of the rest of the noise stopped. Everyone, including the graduates, where talking amongst themselves, taking photos of each other, cheering when different people entered, so you couldn't hear a word that was said. I found it very strange and part of me was frustrated at the lack of respect for people speaking, but that's just part of the culture here. (and I have to admit, it made things go a lot faster) Even in classes, when the teacher speaks, there are, more often than not, about four other conversations going on at the same time.

It takes getting used to.

Afterwards there was a massively impressive fireworks display and a buzz in the air with hundreds of people scuttling around congratulating each other, hugging, taking photos. There were balloons, flowers and bears everywhere (mostly bought from the mini market that had been set up just outside campus.)

It seemed the adrenaline had woken everyone up again, so I was dragged out with a group of friends for dinner. It was so late that the only place that was open (other than McDonalds) was the 24hour spa, so we ended up there.

The concept of sleeping seems to have gotten lost somewhere along the way.

Friday15thJune07

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 met the singer before, due to some freak coincidence which was kinda cool); professional salsa dancers and some serious decoration – including turret things that shot out fire every-so-often.

It was a pretty good night, lots of people, lots of dancing, but it didn't end there.

A whole heap of us piled onto buses and taxi's to Taipei where we pretty much took over a night club there.

It was a really great night full of much hilarity (especially since they don't close till 5am here.)

Thursday14thJune07

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 leaving my class and she was waiting outside for me. She explained that next week is a special holiday and so she wanted to give me something to remind me of it. She gave me this scented Chinese style material heart along with one of the nicest letters I've ever had. I was totally taken aback. I wasn't sure what to do, but obviously accepted it gratefully thanking her.

It made my day, despite the unexpectedness.