A Beary Good Hostel indeed

Maybe it was just chance that I stumbled across a really decent one, but after my Singapore trip, I’m convinced now that hostels are the way to go especially if you’re traveling alone.

By far the best reason is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, convening at one point at one time. Threads of fate crossing each other then going their separate ways. A couple from Italy, a Chinese girl schooled in Canada and working in her native Vietnam, a father-daughter combo from the Philippines, a girl from Brunei (it DOES exist), a Japanese girl from beer heaven Sapporo.

Of these, the most inspiring was this dude from Germany I talked to in the living room one of the nights. I found out he was doing an Asia tour but he started off in Australia, where he worked part-time for about six months. Apparently he spent the first three months doing some bartending, which he said made decent money but the living expense in the cities are too brutal so he couldn’t save much. He therefore decided to take a job working as a farmhand out in the fricken boonies. Hearing him describe it, it sounded like hell. Miles away from civilization, no phone, no internet, no running water, a tent to sleep under but no bed to lie on…

He worked for 3 months straight, everyday waking up at 5AM, picking fruits and vegetables under sweltering heat until 5PM. The upshot was that with all the money he was earning there was absolutely no opportunity to spend it where he was, and so it piled up… Once he decided it was enough he proceeded to buy plane tickets to travel all over Asia.

Everywhere he goes now, it just feels that much better when compared to life at the farm. I was simply impressed by his attitude towards travel and life. I would say I was inspired too, but then I found out he isn’t even college yet. In Europe students out of high school have a gap year, and this is how he chose to spend it. When he goes back he said he’ll likely study medicine. I didn’t even have much words of advice for him, just told him to keep doing what he’s doing. Where was I at his age?

Added to their guestbook

Without even mentioning the sights, this was a good trip.

Read Full Post »

Backpacking

Completely on a whim, I decided to make a last-minute trip to Singapore not too long ago- in my nearly two years in Taiwan I have not so much as stepped foot in another country (going home doesn’t count) so it was high time for me to go out and explore.
Part of the reason I haven’t travelled was because I was more or less confined in Taiwan for a year as I was getting the whole army bullshit straightened out. But, after an eternity of toil, I’m now armed with an exemption certificate and free to fly as I goddamn please. And what better way to celebrate with a week to myself before starting my new job?
Why Singapore? Originally I wanted to go to Hong Kong, but after mulling it over I decided against it since I can go there any time for a weekend trip because it’s so close by. Singapore is similarly highly developed, transportation is convenient, and the government is really anal about orderliness and safety. I believe you get fined and can even receive a lashing for spitting in public (not sure about the latter part). Plus, I figured exploring a city by myself would be better than hitting up, say, a resort area alone.
Of course, the winning factor was that I had a couple of contacts there that might be able to show me around. One was a friend of a friend, the other a fellow student I met when I was at MTC, which just highlights the benefits of attending that school aside from just learning the Chinese.
Thus I booked the cheapest flight I could find and found a hostel the day before my flight for about 20 bucks USD a night. Sure, it was a good deal, but honestly who’s gonna refuse a place called “A Beary Good Hostel”?

More on the trip and my first time staying at a hostel coming later!

Read Full Post »

Answers

Coming Tuesday.

Read Full Post »

The Decision

Earlier this week, I received a bit of news that finally puts an end to the rumors and speculation: I will be taking my talents to The Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, as part of a Substitute Military Service program that will allow me to complete my required service.

To give a little bit of background, I, being a Taiwanese-born male, am subject to the conscription laws of this country. Being an American citizen does not exempt me from having to serve. There is a loophole some overseas Taiwanese use to avoid service that allows them to simply leave the country for a day and come back every four months. This works for people born before 1985. I was a year too late. Also, I believe there is a height minimum that would free me from doing service. I checked myself and I was half a centimeter over.

Another option was to relinquish my Taiwan citizenship. Not happening.

The thing is, I like this place too much to be restricted to staying only 183 days out of a year, until I’m 35. I would much rather just get the service over with and be free to stay as long as I choose. Luckily there exists the Substitute Military Service that, instead of having me stand guard in a camp in the countryside (or worse, getting sent to some  forsaken island like Kinmen), I could work at a government agency or teach English somewhere. The hassle I went through to apply for this is a story for another time.

So, I’ll be starting the end of August, and it lasts for 14 months. The veil is off.

To the ones that mockingly told me “I hope you get drafted”- you got what you wished for. And I guess I did too.

Cheers to the Next Episode.

(P.S. I might be allowed to visit home before I start, we’ll see)

Read Full Post »

Round 1

This week marks the end of a chapter in the Chronicles of G.

The last post I’ve made here was in March. A brief rundown of how this week went/will go down shows how shits changed since then:

Tuesday– Went to class, gave a hastily patched-together presentation about Mackay, a Canadian missionary who came to Taiwan. Afterwards, went with class to have a celebratory lunch, as it was our second-last day of a long semester. Once lunch was over, I raced to catch the bus to head to my part-time job. I’m now working at an international patents office, mainly corresponding with clients who have unpaid debit notes. I think of myself as a glorified collections officer… although at least collections officers can employ scare tactics.

I’ve been working there since the end of April. My bosses are great and coworkers seem cool too, though I haven’t had time to meet all of them yet. With my school semester wrapped up, I think I will work full time in June.

After I finish work at 6, I hopped on the MRT to meet up with a new student to tutor. I was introduced to her by my friend’s fellow Rotaract club member. I think it was in the Tipping Point that I read that most of your hookups are through acquaintances rather than your close friends. Seeing how my part-time gig was basically introduced to my by another student, I think this idea holds merit.

I’m now tutoring three students a week, mostly engaging in conversation to pick up their listening/speaking skills. Luckily they’re all around my age so I don’t have to deal with little brats.

Wednesday was the last day of class. As I mentioned, it’s been a tough semester. It was nowhere near as fun as the last semester and there’s a lot of reasons for that. Mostly it was the teacher, who at times I found unbearable, and probably was the cause for some of my classmates to basically stop coming to class. My own attendance record took a hit towards the end as well, somewhat due to having the side jobs, but also because her teaching method was boring and she had a terrible sense of humor. Classmates also weren’t as fun as in the last semester, to be honest.

The last day of class saw a rather cheerful mood, as one of my classmates brought some French snacks and wine. Drinking wine before noon is always fun. My teacher was prepared to give a lesson but we ended up just chatting jovially all the way to the last minute.

After three semesters at MTC, I can say that the experience was priceless. I’ve met friends from all over the globe, and it’s sparked an interest in visiting Europe, which I’ve had no interest in doing whatsoever in the past. Of course, I’ve learned a little bit of Chinese during this time. I’m still far from my goal of fluency, however.

Thursday– With no more class, I can finally take this morning to relax and reflect before I head off to work. Tonight, I’m also meeting up with my Asian and Asian-American studies professor from college, Professor Kaldis. He’s in town to give a conference this weekend, which I unfortunately can’t attend because I’ll be out of Taipei, but I’m meeting up with one of my original inspirations to come to Taiwan tonight. I’ve updated him here and there on the progress of my journey, and it seems fitting that we’ll meet right as my last semester came to a close.

Of course, none of this holds a candle to the news I received early this week. It’s so big that I’ll have to write a separate entry for it, so please stay tuned.

P.S. I’ll be celebrating the close of this chapter this weekend in 澎湖 (Penghu), an island just off the coast of Taiwan.

Read Full Post »

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.

Read Full Post »

Jack has arrived

Jack Y Chen is officially fresh off the boat. Brace yourselves, TW.

Read Full Post »

The Early Years 3

With great power comes great responsibility. Greg knows what he must do.

Read Full Post »

Taipei is a Small Place

The plan for Wednesday was:

Class->Study->Uniqlo->Head home early and get a good night’s sleep

By day’s end, I somehow added “Watch Chinese Opera” in between.

I was on the MRT on my way to Taipei City Hall, to pick up a pair of pants from Uniqlo. Somewhere along the way my mind blanked out, and I exited the MRT one station early, at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall station. Even worse, I didn’t even notice until after I swiped my card and went through the turnstile. Me: Hmm, exit 2 looks different today…oh shit.

What was I to do? Rather than waste another 12NT to go one stop, I decided to walk it. I glanced at the map for a bit and promptly went out Exit 4.

As I was leaving the exit, I noticed a familiar face just standing right outside. Upon closer examination, it turned out to be someone I knew. After confirming who it was, I proceeded to stare at her until she recognized me. Turns out she was waiting for a mutual friend’s gf to go watch some Chinese opera performed nearby. Since I wasn’t in a particular rush, I decided to wait with her until her friend arrived.

When she showed up, I learned that she had an extra ticket and they asked me to go. I’m not into theater and I’m probably not going to understand a word…but what the heck, I thought. I didn’t have my camera on me but I decided to accompany them for the experience anyways.

Despite my best efforts to stay awake in the beginning, I couldn’t help but doze off just for a little while. It was just like college- sitting in lecture all over again. Not even pinching myself can avert the inevitable slumber. However, just as in lecture, when I woke up I was able to pay full attention for the remaining duration.

It didn’t matter. I didn’t understand a word. Afterwards, when my friends explained the story to me, it made a lot more sense and I was able to appreciate it a lot more.

Anyways, I thought it was more interesting how I was able to bump into my friend completely by accident. Despite the title, Taipei is not that small of a place. I first had to get lost and then somehow choose the right station exit. Also, it’s not like I have that many friends here in the first place. I’m not one to read much into these things, but I’m fascinated by the improbability of it all. It reminds me of something that blue guy in the Watchmen said to the girl. You know, that blue guy with his wang hanging out all the time.

Doctor Manhattan: Thermodynamic miracles… events with odds against so astronomical they’re effectively impossible, like oxygen spontaneously becoming gold. I long to observe such a thing. And yet, in each human coupling, a thousand million sperm vie for a single egg. Multiply those odds by countless generations, against the odds of your ancestors being alive; meeting; siring this precise son; that exact daughter… Until your mother loves a man she has every reason to hate, and of that union, of the thousand million children competing for fertilization, it was you, only you, that emerged. To distill so specific a form from that chaos of improbability, like turning air to gold… that is the crowning unlikelihood. The thermodynamic miracle.

Laurie Juspeczyk: But… if me, my birth, if that’s a thermodynamic miracle… I mean, you could say that about anybody in the world!

Dr. Manhattan: Yes. Anybody in the world… But the world is so full of people, so crowded with these miracles that they become commonplace and we forget… I forget. We gaze continually at the world and it grows dull in our perceptions. Yet seen from another’s vantage point, as if new, it may still take our breath away. Come… dry your eyes. For you are life, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg; the clay in which the forces that shape all things leave their fingerprints most clearly. Dry your eyes… and let’s go home.

It all leads me to wonder one thing: was he wearing underwear when he was a giant and stomping a mudhole in ‘Nam? Is that why they would only surrender to him, and his blue Johnson?

Read Full Post »

The Song(s)

I chose a song by Mayday (sorry, Chinese songs only so Katy Perry was out of the question). Actually it’s two songs- same melody but one is in Mandarin and the other in Taiwanese. Going into the contest, I rightly figured that looking like a regular Taiwanese person would only work against me. Therefore, I had to take it up a notch somehow. Since learning some Taiwanese was a goal of mine while I was here, there was a perfect situation.

The song is called 鹹魚 (xian2yu2)- Salted Fish.

What kind of name is that? Well, a “salted fish” is someone who’s just an average Joe…at best. 很不起眼的人. Run-of-the-mill, unnoticed by society, maybe even worse. The person can be down in the dumps, bottom of his/her career. I guess it gets its name from the rows upon rows of salted fish laid out in many marketplaces.

In my last post I talked about 成語, Chinese idioms. Well this is quite indicative of my incredible timing, because an important idiom relating to the song is coming up:

“鹹魚翻身”(xian2yu2fan1shen1) – Salted Fish Turns Over

This means that this person finds a way to turn it all around, and achieve success.

Let’s look at the lyrics of the chorus:

我　如果有夢　有沒有錯　錯過才會更加明白　明白堅持是什麼？

我　如果有夢　夢要夠瘋　夠瘋才能變成英雄　總會有一篇　我的傳說

If I have a dream, even if I make a mistake, afterwards I’ll only better understand. Understand what perseverance is?

If I have a dream, the dream better be crazy enough- crazy enough to become a hero. There’ll be a page of my own legend.

That’s my rough translation, but hopefully you get the point, and it’s easy to see why I liked this song.

So there you have it, this was the song I chose…in Mandarin.

Next up, the gamebreaker: singing in Taiwanese.

Yup, I learned this one from scratch. The name of this song is “憨人”(han1ren2), which means “crazy person”. It’s heard more often in Taiwanese, pronounced “gong lang”- a (crazy) fool. I had a coach teach me the Taiwanese and the meaning of the lyrics. Content-wise, it’s kind of like the other song.

Here’s the second verse from someone’s translation of the lyrics (link):

背景無夠強　天才無夠弄　逐項是攏輸人
I don’t have a strong background, neither am I smart enough. I can’t compete with others.
只好看破這虛華　不怕路歹行　不怕大雨淋
So I have to put away unreal thoughts and go go forward, even if there’s a storm await for me.
心上一字敢　面對我的夢　甘願來作憨人
Even though being thought of a fool, I’ll fulfill my dream.

There’s also some wordplay here. 敢 (gan3) means “daring”. If you add a heart under it, 心(xin1), it becomes 憨(han1)- “foolish”.

How did I link the songs together? Well, I asked a friend to make a mix of the two song’s instrumentals. It would play the first song all the way till the end of the 2nd verse, and then before the chorus began, it would pause for a few seconds on purpose. When the fans thought the song was finished, the second song started up and I’d go into Taiwanese.

Actually I entered this contest without really thinking about winning. I thought these songs would be perfect way to describe my decision to come here.  Those of you that know me would probably understand. Therefore, I really just wanted to perform these songs for myself, and as an inspirational shot to anyone I know.

Probably the best part of this was that, since my mom arrived the day before, she was able to attend the competition. So, in spite not winning, or even almost not competing, this was still one for the Chronicles.

敢 + 心 = 憨

Read Full Post »