Day 45 -- July 8

Well today was an early one. I had to get up and finally deal with my student ID card situation. I swung over to the international office and picked up a translator, because I can order food and ask for prices, but an actual conversation about my student card is beyond me. The international office is there to help people like me just learning so it worked out. I was able to get everything that I needed filled out I paid a 150 NT or 5 dollars and will get a new card made. It should be sent to the International office hopefully by Thursday. If not then I have to wait until Monday, slightly frustrating as i will have to pay full price for bus rides until but you got to do what you got to do. The girl who helped translate was from South Africa and her name was Jessica. We had a nice chat after we got everything squared away. One of the things I really like about this place is getting to meet people from all around the world.

    After that whole ordeal I went out to get some grub. I walked by my dumpling place and finally I got me some hand made eats! I was so happy I stayed and chatted for a bit with my lovely lady. She told me it had been a while I told her how I was always late and she had already closed up for the afternoon. She nodded and gave me some extra dumplings for my troubles. I really like her, she’s kinda my first friend here. it’s weird but I just like talking with her, and the sad part is I just call her Ayi, which is Mandarin for Auntie. It’s a term of endearment, she told me to call her that so I do. I picked up so iced coffee also done totally in Mandarin. I think it was a relief for the shop keeper because people had been yelling orders in English and she was getting confused. I stepped up and ordered and she just smiled and was very helpful. I then went up to study.

    Class was a good time, this chapter has a ton of common verbs and speech patterns. I hope that I might be able to describe my day in simple sentences. We shall see, it may or may not end up typed up on the blog, depends on how much time I have. I also was talking to Reid about Chinatsu and I are always poking fun and Shun. He was very surprised and actually had no idea what happening which in turn surprised me. Chinatsu and I are constantly laughing and harassing each other, Reid was surprised when I said that Chinatsu was sarcastic. Though later in the day when I was trying not to laugh (I really need to stop sitting next to Chinatsu, we are bad distractions for each other), Reid looked over and also smiled. I’m glad he shared in the mirth. I really love my classmates. Laoshi also brought us cookies from the break room, which was awesome. They were very yummy.

    After class I went home and stayed
in the dorm for a bit. Then i went traipsing through the night market for some niu rou mian or beef noodles. That’s probably my got to dish when I’m indecisive about dinner. I was walking back when I ran into Johnny at the track. He was off to dinner, I decided to accompany him. We started walking when we felt a few drops of rain, we made the decision to go back and get umbrellas, a wise choice. By the time we were halfway down the streets it was dumping rain. I had to tie up my pants because they were getting epically wet. I really have never seen rain like this in my life, it’s essentially sheets. It cleared up pretty quickly and Johnny and I spent the time chatting. I really enjoy talking to Johnny, he’s lived an interesting life and has different ideas about ow things are. I don’t always agree with him but I definitely enjoy conversing. We decided we would go to a movie tomorrow. We shall see if the pants help or not in terms of bites.

    I came back to the dorms after a long with walk and chat. I need to shower and get some homework done. Sometimes it’s easier to stay up late in this country and not wake up early. I have to do stay up and then get up early I think, because I am supposed to talk with mom tomorrow on skype. We shall see, ok I will say good night for now!