Day 81 -- August 13

Once I left the dorm room my first order of business was to go to the vegetarian place and get me some awesome tofu and vegetables for lunch. I always get weird looks for not wanting rice but it adds another 30 NT and I had plenty of food. I’ve never so excited to see eggplants in my life. I went in a got my food then swung over to get my coffee. At some point I realized I had forgotten chopstick so I needed to ask for some. They were happy to provide me with some, and I was on my merry way. At some point in the elevator I realized I had about 5 minutes of successful communication. One of which I had not planned out in my head, I simply needed some chopsticks and on the spot I ask. It was awesome I was really pleased with myself. The food was epic and I was happier for it.

    Class was interesting, for some reason directions in Mandarin simply do not mesh well with the way English speakers tend to give directions. They was some confusion over a few instructions, we spent a stupidly long time trying to explain our point of view. Loashi, by the end understood a little better but it just overall frustrating. Also she was using America as the country that everyone was supposed to describe. It was interesting hearing the names of familiar cities in a different language. My favorite was San Francisco which became Old Gold Mountain after the mass migration of Chinese workers during the Gold Rush and Railroad construction. I guessed that one on the first go simply by knowing the history of the area. I would like to say I probably could still pass a geography class on my native country.

    After class I was extremely tired so I went and took a nap. At some point Johnny arrived back from his trip around the island and I met up with him for a bit. It was good to see him again even if he hadn’t showered yet. We chatted for a bit, he too is feeling the time rushing towards when we leave. Tomorrow morning I have plans to go with Jillian to the national museum before class. It should be fun. I’ll see you tomorrow!

    After writing this our dorm came under siege by cockroaches. We are up to at least 15 kills and there are probably more. One of our windows has a hole in it that we were not aware of so during the day we no one was in we think they crawled in. So now we are armed with Raid, brooms, shoes and Sunny (my umbrella), I am going to go to sleep and try not to think about it. Thank goodness for my mosquito netting.