Walk to Work

Entrance of Dun-wha Market
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It takes 35 minutes to walk to work, but I usually leave 50 minutes before my first class to give myself some prep time. Grabbing my Ipod I unplug it from the computer. While tinkering with the device in one hand I pick up my green messenger bag, which is lying at a heap next to the door. I go down the six flights of stairs until I’m at the glass door that separates me from the street.

The sun is usually beating down as I walk down the little side street where my apartment is located. Only once have I had to walk to work in the rain, instead the showers usually appear from 4p-8p drenching me as I return from work. Two blocks on the side street takes me to the main road. I pass shop after shop as I struggle by lingering pedestrians browsing the store windows. A few shops are little family run restaurants, but the majority are high end home ware stores, cell phone stores, or chains like 7/11 and Family Mart.

What people are reading in Taipei ...
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At the first 7/11 I pass I usually grab a bottle of vegetable juice from the cold racks in the back of the store. I search for a sushi triangle to eat for lunch. If the first 7/11 doesn’t have it, the second 7/11 I pass usually does. On my way to work I pass four 7/11s, as well as 3 Family Marts and a Neko Mart.

After 10 minutes of walking I pass a particularly busy intersection where Dun-wha market is located. Women sitting on stools sell fresh fruits and vegetables to passersby. Venders at the entrance of the market sell brown looking deep fried tofu, meat, vegetables, and who knows what else. The other people on the sidewalk usually thin out after the market. Not until 3 blocks away and another main intersection am I again joined by a crowd of people as we wait to cross the street. This corner holds a large chain bookstore. I find it interesting to peak through the windows and see what Taiwanese people read.

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I have another few blocks of walking straight, in which I pass several mechanic shops, including one who has a black Myna(?) bird sitting outside. Then the road intersects with another even larger road and I veer left, continuing my walk. I pass several restaurants that have fish lying in boxes of ice displayed on the sidewalk, as well as numerous clothing boutiques.

I’m a little over halfway through my walk by the time I reach the Sun Yet-sen Memorial. Everyday buses line the street in front of the memorial. Across the street from the memorial is a McDonalds. Every day I pass a hundred yelling energetic kids running across this street with their worn out teachers struggling to keep up with them. I continue down the street passing more 7/11s, family marts, and office buildings. I reach the elevated highway and wait underneath for the walk sign to light up. In Taipei the “go” signal for pedestrians is a little green man in what looks like a triangle hat racing across the street. I cross the street, while dodging the cars that are making right hand turns. On the other side of the street is a small temple burning incense. I’m usually able to determine what days are auspicious depending on how many people are in front of the building bowing in prayer, holding incense sticks. After another block I turn left at a dry cleaners and walk down the 2 residential blocks leading to the school. I clock in, and with foreboding I’m swept away by the energy of the little first grade monsters.