Meat!

So I’ve been here two weeks now and I’m settled in quite nicely. I’ve got my desk in the back corner of the room where I can listen to funny iPod songs while I work and watch my co-workers walk by and move around to the beat. I’ve hung a few very random posters on my walls – ads for Lufthansa, recyclable paper and Harry Rosen suits (not for the suits), and a particularly odd looking one of Warren Buffett that is meant to be motivational. These are of course temporary - all I had to choose from were ads from three Economist magazines that dad gave me before I took off on my flight. I keep telling myself to look for new art every time I go out, but I always forget – maybe these ones are growing on me.

Right now I’m juggling my time between Jeffery Gitomer’s “Sales Bible” which is highly entertaining but sometimes unrealistic when I try to apply it to the real world, and a product data sheet written by one of my Taiwanese co-workers that I am supposed to correct…or re-write once I can fully figure out the purpose of a PoE splitter and the benefits of the different powers sources ours supplies - Gahh so not my area of expertise. First time in the real world that the study habits I picked up from University are being put to use…didn’t take long to start seeing the benefits of those four years. It’s not easy but I’m coming along, I’m beginning to be able to talk the “technical language,” and the more I learn the more exciting it gets.

Aside from work I have been having quite the time here in a town that was meant to be – as my mom puts it – “social exile.” Hardly! The first weekend here Christina and I drove into downtown Hsinchu on Friday night (about a 25 minute scooter ride from our place). We had a nice dinner at an Italian place (It’s best to go for non-Taiwanese food when you don’t have to, just so you don’t get sick of it), and then made our way to a bar called Red – a small cozy place with darts and big wooden tables. It was fairly busy when we got there around 9pm and to our surprise, most of the customers were foreigners. We ended up chatting with a bunch of them, including Hannah the bartender, who is Taiwanese born but friends with all the foreigners, and going out and having a great night on the town. It was so much fun in fact that we did it all again this past Friday as well.

Hsinchu is actually a very lovely city in my opinion. Everything is within a short walk from the train station, but it is a big enough place that you feel as if you’re in a city. The centre is my favourite part where the river runs through and all the surrounding trees are covered in deep blue Christmas lights. I’ve named it “lover’s lane.” Unfortunately I’ve only ever walked down it with Christina which kind of takes the romance out of the whole experience (sorry dear), but it’s lovely nonetheless.

My other favourite thing about this place is driving the scooter around at night. I put my iPod in and listen to relaxed but upbeat songs with interesting instrumentals and buzz along the roads weaving in and out with all the other scooters along darks streets that are illuminated with multicoloured signs of all shapes and sizes. It really is something. I used to think the streets always looked so dangerous, busy and crowded, but once you get into it is can be extremely calming.

I have also discovered something new this time around in Taiwan that I have never before in my life found, and that is my love for big juicy burgers! That’s right, burgers! I’ve had multiple since I’ve been here and each time it is like I’m sitting in my very own heaven. Christina is amused. I’m guessing it’s got to be the lack of meat during the week in the cafeteria food, but by Saturday morning I wake up with this undeniable, ravenous desire for meat! Burger meat! With cheese and lettuce and tomato and onion and last week we found this place that puts aioli, cauliflower and broccoli on top – the Garden Cheese Burger. Uh my mouth is watering.


Here is a picture from this past weekend at Red with Hannah and Christina.

I still don't have a camera because all of my money is going to the four hours of Chinese class I have each week. I think it's worth it. All I have to do is get Christina to start snapping a few more and we're golden. It’s almost time to go eat and Christina just sent me the Outback menu to taunt me. Talk soon.