Don’t Drink and Drive

Caught around the ‘hood.

喝醉 + 飆車 = 不好的結果

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The other day in class..

We had to come up with sentences with various phrases. One of the phrases was using “比不上…” (can’t compare)

I came up with this gem:

“我的能力比不上我的野心”
My ability cannot compare to my ambition

Then came the silence. Then the slow clap.

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新年快樂!

Wishing everyone a great 2011.

I think I’ve made enough resolutions to myself before coming here, so instead of tacking on more, it’s probably best just to revisit my goals, my vows, my dreams- keep them in sight, and take it one step at a time.

夢應該要夠瘋狂.

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Idiom: 全力以赴

全力以赴 (quan2li4yi3fu4)- 把所有的力量都用上去.

…Do one’s level best; go all out.

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New Year

I really chose a great time to come to Taiwan. 2011 marks the centenary for establishment of the Republic of China, making this New Year’s Eve especially grand. Thus, this year’s fireworks at the Taipei 101 had to live up to the magnitude of the occasion. In short, the fireworks show was unforgettable. For this year’s show, there was a segment of a fireworks spiraling up the tower of the 101, resembling a golden dragon.

We viewed the whole thing from the rooftop of Room 18, a nightclub that happens to be right by the 101. Needless to say, the view we had was stunning. There were lots of people on the rooftop but I never felt it was too crowded. Everyone was just having a great time, enjoying the music and the rooftop bar while awaiting the countdown.

I went with classmates and few other MTC students who had the foresight to book a table early on. Some of my good Taiwanese friends came through too. Originally we weren’t sure if they were going to be able to get access to the rooftop but luckily everyone was able to go up. Really glad everything worked out. Although I wasn’t with my friends from back home, it truly felt like I was ending (or starting?) the year in style.

After the fireworks we all went back into the club and continued our celebrating. Room 18 is well-known for having celebs frequent it, though I’m not sure if there were any last night. Since I was looking too damn fine that night, I didn’t get too crunked. I figured that night would probably be one of the very few chances I’ll ever get to wear a tie, slacks, and shoes in Taiwan. Eff it, GQ it up for a night.

Everyone started heading out around 4-5 in the morning. I went with one of my good Taiwanese buddies to my classmate’s KTV in Ximending. After singing our hearts out for about 2 hours, exhaustion finally kicked in and we all went our separate ways.

One to remember.

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Random Wednesday Night

麻辣火鍋 (Mala Hotpot)

After about a month of this intensive class, I decided it was time to go out on a school night.  An old friend from my previous trip to Taiwan came back from her studies in Europe, so I joined her for dinner. She and her friends were eating hotpot, which turned out to be perfect for this admittedly chilly weather.

An old friend, now wielding a Masters

I was told that the Mala hotpot I had last time wasn’t the Taiwanese version. The difference was in the spiciness. It’s Ma-la for a reason. It put my sweat glands in overdrive. Like any good hotpot place, it left a lasting stench on my clothes, making me hesitant to join a fellow MTC student at the bar right by school. But, I decided to go anyways.

Tony, the Korean 大哥

On Wednesdays, Roxy 99, the bar by Shida has a promotion of 2 free beers for the first 200 people. It’s only available for an hour though. When time’s up everyone migrates to the corner 7-11 to continue the cheap drinking. Gotta love working with a student budget.

A bunch of slacker MTC students surround MTC librarian

Even the librarian who usually yells at us to shut up in the library comes out on Wednesdays. The scary part is that she knows my Chinese name, even though I’ve never really spoken to her before.

A good night out. A prelude to an even better New Year’s Eve.

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