Solo Mission: June 2010

im comin through a little late with this update, apologies. there hasnt been much goin on recently. last weekend i went to taipei to hang with my friends up there. mostly just chilled with some drinks and some world cup action. i got in on saturday night and headed about the downtown scene to hunt for some places to watch the first round matches. luckily we got into a pretty decent place that was showing the England vs. America match. I totally forgot what it was called but it was pretty sweet. Fully stocked with a diverse crowd of probably every western foreigner (australian, canadian, english, and american alike) within city limits, as well as a solid taiwanese crowd. We had to wait outside for a half hour but it was all good because the giant screens were easily viewable and the weather was more than accommodating for the night. with the exception of a rowdy meathead crew of dudes cheering for america like a bunch of sleeveless neanderthals, the scene was pretty rad. the next couple of days were pretty much spent the same way. i threw $100 ($3 U.S.) down with 10:1 odds on one of the games…I cant remember which one exactly but I had either Ghana or Slovenia winning 2-0…irregardless (shout out to Colin) I lost. I’m expecting pipe-wielding goons to come knocking on my door any day now (im kidding mom). I came back to Douliou and since my workday doesn’t start until 2 p.m. ive been pretty much wasting way-too-late nights away in dives and pubs keeping an eye on this madness throughout the week. This past weekend was a sweet kick-off to summer as we threw an all-American cookout atop one of the joints I frequent. Steaks, burgers infused with chopped onions and spices, hotdogs, Taiwanese style pork that I overcooked, and lemon soaked chicken breasts a la chef Fordosi were carnivorously devoured by my work companions and barflies. I guess if my teaching career here flops, I can always open a restaurant based on simple, greasy ass unhealthy American foods. Solid.
A few more brief updates:
-Adelaide keeps telling me she thinks I look like Ben Afleck, so apparently ive gained 40 lbs and become an asshole, ha!
- oh yeah, i was woken up by a small earthquake last week, i wasnt sure if i was dreaming or it was real. then it was confirmed by my students.
-Ive recently started taking my laundry to a full-service Laundromat…its not that I cant do it myself, I have a fully operational washer in my building and im well domesticated…really I just don’t like hang drying my clothes all the time because my t-shirts feel stiff and crunchy…I guess you can say im spoiled. Thanks mom!
-I ran into about 10 other western foreigners the other night. There’s nothing funny to follow that up with, I just thought you might like to know that there are more around.
Here are some pictures of random stuff that i found interesting or funny enough to take a picture of. Dig it.

dinner im eating as i write this

more graffiti

i dont need to explain

construction site robot. i give props for safety first, but i still think its really funny

this is just adorable

water park, in a small park thats between two busy roads

grillin and chillin

i guess adelaide thought a picture of her finger wouldve been way cooler

steak

various meats prepared at the hand of a chimpanzee

matt, straight grubbin

burgers have no chance against me

this hot dog looks amazing

this little guy has been barking at me on my way to and from work everyday since ive been here...

'Longlife" cigarettes. the picture above the genius brand name warns of harm and death to you and your loved ones. haha!

my losing ticket...

I treated some of my students, co-workers and friends to some fine american dining this weekend. i figured its the least i could do for all the ridiculously good chinese food ive been given. i reached into my bag of tricks, rounded up ingredients as best i could, heated up the frying pan and threw together some of the finest grilled cheese sandwiches this side of the globe. ha! they all said they liked it, then again everyone is really nice here so if they didnt like it they wouldnt've told me anyway. Ha! we'll see if they ask me to cook again, then ill know for sure whats up.
the rest of the weekend was spent with a small crew exploring the outskirts of douliou into the county that is yunlin. just a little sight seeing lead by tour guide Adelaide. heres some pictures of some stuff to be found in my neck of the woods. enjoy the colors and wonders that are countryside taiwan!