The Start

The steps
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Okay, I’m going to make another attempt to keep a travel journal, let’s see how it goes …

I watched 2 movies, 6 TV shows, and slept, but the 14 hour journey from LA to Taipei still took forever. This was the last leg of my 25 hour journey from Columbus, OH to Taiwan. The huge 747 had a very rocky landing, but we arrived safely at the airport as typhoon Sepat stormed across the island.

My arrival was a bit confused, since the plane arrived at 6am – an hour early. By the time I arrived by bus into Taipei city I was still running ahead of schedule, so my friend wasn’t there at the bus stop.  Completely jet lagged, I figured it would be simplest just to walk over to his apartment.  I got off the bus and the streets were eerily empty, which is smart – I guess most Taiwanese no better than to be running around during a typhoon. I was soaked instantly as I hauled my heavy bags 3 blocks in the wrong direction before realizing my mistake. A few lone taxis passed by on the street, but the city was like a ghost town. All the shops were boarded up, except for 7/11s. I finally reached my friend’s apartment, but it was empty since he had gone to the bus stop – oy! Anyway, standing outside in the rain in front of his apartment we finally met up.

View from the apartment
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Saturday there really wasn’t anything to do except stay inside listening to the wind and rainfall. On Sunday we went out on a motorbike ride and looked at the damage, which consisted mostly of fallen tree limbs. The nice thing about typhoons is that all the polluted disgusting city air is sucked out to sea, leaving the city feeling very fresh. Strangely, it seems like no time has passed since I was last here in Taipei. I’m sharing an apartment with my friend in the Daan district, the South-east part of the city. It is a basic 2 bedroom apartment with a view of Taipei 101 from the balcony. The minor annoyance is that the rooms are located on the 6^th floor and there is no elevator. I can’t even describe how annoying it is when you realize you’ve forgotten something back in the apartment!

Street outside the apartment
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After many months of traveling, I’m now turning my attention to job seeking. Since I have no knowledge of Chinese besides a few basic words I’m only really employable as an English teacher, so the search has begun for a teaching job. Luckily, the city is full of privately owned Kindergartens catering to the city’s wealthy.  I've already combed through several job postings that are eagerly looking for native English speakers, especially woman. I know- it’s a scary thought that people would actually trust me with their young kids, but I think they will!  Today I have 2 interviews set up. So, wish me luck … :)