Reflections from the Road

I’ve been traveling for about a month and a half now (time is flying), so it’s about time for a reflection post! Soon I’ll write about the actual countries visited, and about what I have been doing. I have a ton written down, so now it’s just a matter of putting everything together into a few coherent posts.

It’s a basic fact in my world that people are inherently nice, and not dangerous, scamming thieves, and that a smile and good manners will get you far. However, I’ve seen this in action so often recently that, as much as I say “Grr, people suck”, or “Argh, people are the worst”, I know in my heart that those statements could not be further from the truth. It’s time to reserve them for the times when they are legitimate and deserved. Also, I can barely remember more than a handful of times feeling unsafe or like I was putting my life in danger over the last few years of existing in other countries. I definitely feel more sketched-out in Albany (ugh) or Philly (but only at night. My Philly is a sweetheart during the day) than anywhere else I’ve been.

I’ve learned that I despise being perceived as a walking ATM, but that I’m willing to pay a bit extra, or the tourist price, as long as the seller isn’t outright scamming me or being a total jerk. This is especially true when I’m dealing with local businesses. That extra 5-100 pesos won’t affect me much in the long run, but can be the equivalent of a few meals for a family.

Water and sunscreen are SO IMPORTANT. Unless you’re swimming with whale sharks, in which case was that stuff off!

Walking is fun, and makes me feel great. Jeepneys (colorful shared vans) are a wonderful way to get around, and make me miss the Israeli moniyot sherut; three cheers for public transportation! Motorbikes are hands-down the best.

Chilling out sporadically is totally okay. I’m not missing out just because I need to take a day or two to relax, or because I feel like catching up on my shows one night instead of hanging out with people from the hostel again, or if I spend a few hours reading a book in a local café instead of exploring.

I can live comfortably without air conditioning, hot showers (especially if the alternative is swimming in a waterfall), and steady Wi-Fi, but I appreciate them as much as (or more than) ever.

Bargaining isn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be. Neither is standing up for myself when something is happening that is clearly not okay, even if sometimes I come across as a raging witch.

Pan-Asian food (currently I’ve tried a spectrum of Taiwanese, Japanese, South Korean, and Filipino foods in-country) is all-around AMAZING, and decently inexpensive depending on where you get it.

I’m not as afraid as I thought I was, or would be. I definitely thought going caving and riding on a motorbike would freak me out, but for both experiences I was already in the cave and on the bike before my brain started asking if it should start freaking out; it was quickly shut down by my eyes telling it “Shut up and live in the moment, because what you’re doing right now is awesome!”

On the other side, some things still freak me out. For example, I can argue with a guy about Cthulhus (something I know nothing about) but I’ll be nervous about flirting with his friend/travel buddy. Or, I can walk up to a random guy at a train station and offer to help him get relatively less lost, and talk with him for hours on the train, but then anxiety-out when it comes to meeting him at a theme park the next day after I see him walking in the opposite direction and realize that wow, he IS cute.

However, on the other-other side, it has become a lot easier over the last year to ask strangers to take my picture. Often I’ll repay the favor; couples especially appreciate this, since it means they get to be in a picture together. I can go to a sex-themed sculpture park and ask multiple people to take my picture while we’re all surrounded by giant genitalia, and not feel any sense of shame, or guilt, or embarrassment. I can easily ignore or brush off being laughed at for being touristy and asking for pictures of myself posing by strange or cool sights.

I haven’t been as body-conscious as usual. Maybe it’s because I’m (to quote Aida) “anonymous and gone tomorrow”, so there seems to be less pressure. Maybe it’s because I’ve been walking around a lot, drinking a ton of water, and eating decently (and making sure to eat vegetables at least once or twice per day). Maybe it’s because I’ve been seeing a lot of pictures of myself [doing kickass things] recently, and it has made me realize that maybe people mean it and aren’t just patronizing me when they tell me I’m cute.

One important thing I’ve learned is that, unless I’m physically ill (colds don’t count), I’m completely and totally willing to go on an adventure. Even if it’s supposed to be my chill-out day. Even if it means waking up before the crack of dawn. Even if it means asking to tag along on other people’s adventures because I don’t have a steady plan yet. Even if it means trusting strangers to get me to where I want or need to go, and getting pictures from them later. Even if I’m sore, or it’s hot outside, and the idea of moving sounds like the worst idea in the world.

It is always adventure time.

Minsu Folk Park Trip: In Which Becca Goes Israeli... Er, Taiwanese... Dancing.

My original adventure today was to see Minsu Folk Park, which is supposed to be a little slice of traditional Taiwan. I was going to take the bus right after teaching this afternoon.

I ended up going a few hours later, after getting an early sushi dinner. As it was, I got on the bus during rush hour, and thought I'd miss my stop simply because the bus was too full for me to see the scrolling stops at the front of the bus. I could still hear them, so that was fine.

Midway through the journey, it started to get dark. It gets dark here around 6pm/6:30pm, even in the summer. I thought I wouldn't be able to see anything, but there wasn't much to see in the actual park, anyway. But then I saw the dancers.

Every night, or at least a few nights per week, women gather in parks throughout the city to line dance. Tonight I finally joined in, and it was awesome!!! I danced with the women for a while, and then headed back to catch the bus.

While dancing, an adorable little girl started to mimic me, but then realized I didn't know what I was doing, so she went to dance next to the leader.

It apparently isn't summer for me without a bit of line dancing, so hello summer!

Children... Children Everywhere

“Point to where you need me to be, and I’ll go there.”

Monday, July 14^th, 2014

Today was the first day of our summer camp trip to Nantou! We gathered at school at 8:30am, and I was able to read for the entire hour and twenty minute bus ride. Although I was never under the impression that we were going camping, I was surprised by how swanky this place is. We are at a resort, which means toiletries are provided and our “cabins” have television and air conditioning. Nuts. Seriously. We’re in the mountains and there are snakes and mosquitoes, so it’s kind of like camping…no. Not at all. I’m sharing a room with the other American teacher, and with six 7-12 year old boys. We have four big beds and one bathroom for the eight of us, which isn’t so bad except that the boys take FOREVER.

We had an adorable opening ceremony. It consisted of passing a flag between seven groups of students so that everyone was included, and then I read the camp rules and the principal made a speech. Oh, and at lunch I led everyone in “grace”; when this was originally suggested last week, it was going to include a reference to God, but I succeeded in persuading the camp leader to change God to Earth, since our theme is space (I neglected to mention my squeamishness regarding the use of God in a completely secular setting). “Thank you, Earth, for the food” sounds better in my mind, anyway.

After lunch we learned our team cheers, went “shopping” for snacks with our Eagle Money in the principal’s room, presented our cheers to the other teams (my team won, yay!), and hung out at the resort’s amusement park (seriously, I can’t figure this place out. It’s ridiculous, in such great ways. See my Facebook for pictures.). There’s a little roller-coaster, a tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars, and a Disney Princess-themed merry-go-round which I absolutely must ride because how freaking awesome is that.

Dinner was the type of food that we normally eat at school for lunch, which I love (meat, rice, vegetables—can’t go wrong). After dinner we went to the resort’s hot spring! I didn’t go in because I didn’t feel like changing out of my clothes and into a bathing suit (seriously, for no other reason than I just didn’t feel like changing), so I chatted with a few students and read a book while everyone splashed around.

For one of the first times ever, I had the experience of being in the “cool” room/cabin. We had free time between the hot springs and going to bed, and kids kept coming in and out, and a bunch stayed to hang out. I felt like a cool chaperon, reading my book with the buzz of happy children in the background.

There were multiple water gun fights throughout the day, with water guns the students “bought” from the principal’s room. I didn’t realize it would be such a huge thing, and I’m definitely going to get one tomorrow so I can play.

A nice part of being in such an easygoing environment is that whenever an activity ends early, we have free time. Basically I spent a lot of today reading, listening to North American television in Chinese, and hanging out with kids. To borrow a phrase from the then-future frat boys from my high school, “It was chill.”

“Everyone in this room is too young to be sexy.”

Tuesday, July 15^th, 2014

Grr. Everyone woke up earlier than I anticipated, but at least they were quiet. I guess they weren’t also up half the night trying not to scratch the fifty-five mosquito bites (not kidding or exaggerating at all) they got on their legs and left elbow yesterday.

*Edit: I’m beginning to think they are ant bites. I sat outside to read yesterday and a swarm of little black ants ran around me. The bites aren’t fading as fast as mosquito bites usually do if I don’t scratch them, either.

Field games were successful. Most of the students had a great time. A few students fell, or got hurt in other ways, or didn’t feel like playing for one reason or another. We had a watermelon-eating contest and hula hoop races. We also played “Swim, Fishies, Swim” and a game where the students had to jump over a line if the word fit the category (for example, if the category was “Things we can eat”, and the teacher said “Watermelon”, then the students would jump to the O, but if the teacher said “Table”, then the students would jump to the X. If they jumped to the wrong side, a teacher would write an X on their arm with face crayons).

One student started bleeding during that game (probably from a bug bite, because he didn’t seem to be in pain or notice anything wrong), and I cracked up while watching a teacher crouch behind him and attempt to mop up the blood with a tissue whenever he jumped back to her side. What troopers!

After lunch we had our first English session. I taught a bunch of eleven-year-olds (I am, as usual, guessing their ages) about the solar system. They were bored, but paid attention for the most part. I started off the lesson with the Coke and Mentos trick, but with one of those baby cans of Coke (I guess my supply list wasn’t read correctly). Anyway, it was still great. One Mento made it fizz, and then the students kept egging me on so I put the rest of the mini-pack into the mini-can.

We were supposed to go to a Sky Bridge, but it was raining so we took a tour of the resort’s grounds on a shuttle, and then chilled out for a while until dinner. I walked around and took pictures after dinner.

“Are you excited to walk on the sky?”

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Alternative Title: “Shawn, Jeremy, and Stanley: You all were great, but after a year of having you in my class, I am so excited to hit you in the face with a pillow.”

Today we played more field games (volleyball and more relay races). The teachers even ran one against the students! We went on the Sky Walk and Sky Bridge (see my Facebook for pictures). It was pretty cool—we got there by going straight up part of the mountain that the resort is on by riding a small cable car system. When we finally got to the Sky Bridge, the view was amazing. We were in the mountains, so that was most of the view, but if the other mountains weren’t there we could have seen forever.

We had a barbecue for dinner. In the span of three hours I was entrusted simultaneously with fire, beer, one of the grills (each table had two small grill areas), and children’s safety. It was one of those “is this real life?” moments. I sat there holding the beer for a few minutes in utter disbelief, even after watching one of the other teachers, who was there with her five-year-old daughter, drink her beer while wandering around the cooking area.

AFTER DINNER WE HAD A PILLOW FIGHT. I LIVE IN THE COOL ROOM AND WE HAD A PILLOW FIGHT WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND IT WAS AWESOME. This is everything pre-pubescent and adolescent Becca dreamed of during those years of being afraid to go to overnight camp for fear of getting desperately lost on the campgrounds and getting yelled at by counselors for not being in the right place at the right time (I was a nervous kid, okay? Also, I did get desperately lost every time I tried out overnight camp as a child. My sense of direction hasn’t improved much since.).

I learned how to say “zombie” in Chinese (jiangshi), because after the pillow fight ended and the principal and the other students left the room, my kids turned on a zombie movie. Oh, and from one of the relay races earlier, I’m pretty sure 7UP is qisui.

“I open at the close.”

Thursday, July 17^th, 2014

Nothing about this trip was Harry Potter-related, but I like the quote so it stays. Today was the last day! We had our final games, a big lunch, and our glorious closing ceremony where a few kids burst into tears from the heat (it was one of those days). The resort had a little haunted house, so we went there while we were waiting for an area we needed for the closing ceremony to open.

One of the games this morning was a treasure hunt in the small hot spring area (cold springs during the day). I hadn’t bothered to put on a bathing suit because I didn’t think I would get wet, but then I waded in up to my knees in one pool while the students were hunting in the other, and then we all started to play, so obviously I had to get completely soaked from head to toe, because how else would I know if I were having fun? But really, it was a ton of fun.

After the closing ceremony we FINALLY got on the bus and left around 3pm, and were back at school by 4:15pm. Now it is 4:45pm and I am HOME HOME HOME! It was a great trip, so much better and less stressful and tear-inducing than I anticipated, but I’m still so ridiculously happy to be back in the BatCave.

Wednesday Blues (But Not Mine)

All of the students looked out-of-their-minds exhausted at student pick-up today. We're in the last weeks of school and it is ridiculously hot outside, so who can blame them for being tired and done? Too bad we still have another week and a half of Eagle, during which I need them to concentrate because we have our final exam next Wednesday and Thursday, and a big review week this week.

Saying goodbye next Friday is going to be strange and bittersweet. It always is (this I know from many summers and the accompanying goodbyes, though in those cases they tend to be l'hitraots--until we meet agains). In this case there is a much smaller chance of reunion past the upcoming summer session.

In my younger classes we can finish "The Lion King" this Friday, and then I think we'll watch "Finding Nemo" next Friday, as a mini goodbye party. Our unit for the last few weeks has been on aquatic animals, reptiles/amphibians, and insects, and "clownfish" was one of our words, so "Finding Nemo" (or "A Bug's Life", ooh!) would be a perfect wrap-up movie. Now I just have to pick something for the older students, because they haven't gotten to watch anything fun this year (except for one or two episodes of "The Magic School Bus" which they pretended not to enjoy because preteens aren't allowed to like things).

Update: Apparently I'm not supposed to show them a movie on the last day, which is ridiculous and stupid because we'll fix our quizzes and go to the park regardless of whether or not I play games with them or show them a movie. Anyway, this means we'll finish "The Lion King" next week instead of this week, and not watch "Finding Nemo". Oh well. If my boss gives me trouble, I'll explain how hard my students have worked for the last ten months, and how it's not like I'm showing them a movie in Chinese--they're still practicing English! Plus it's summer so all of my students' brains have melted anyway. Seriously. Ahh.

Rant over.

Creative Writing Experiment

We're in the last two weeks of school, and my oldest students' review packet calls for them to do a bit of creative writing. I decided to tackle the prompts in an attempt to start writing again.

Warning: Flowery language ahead. Being surrounded by not-English makes me overcompensate with eloquence to an almost comical degree to make up for the simplistic language I use in and out of school.

The prompt: Describe a dolphin using these senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch)

*Note: I didn't completely fulfill the prompt, but I'm not taking an AP test so it's all good.

Nauseous from the boat tossing and turning in the rough waters of the sea, the ill feeling within my body was exacerbated by the hot and sour bile rising quickly through my esophagus. A cool spray of seawater eased my raging headache ever so slightly, until I was sickened once again by the taste and smell of salt and seaweed. Upon hearing someone cry "Dolphin!" I decided to tempt fate, and opened my eyes with the hope of catching sight of the majestic creature. Suddenly, the magnificent being leaped out of the water, its sleek grey skin still shiny with the water it had momentarily left behind. I reached out to touch it, but grasped only air. Its lithe body sliced gracefully back into the water, a kind soul slipped a trash can into my arms, and a wave of relief washed over me as my breakfast came pouring out.

The prompt: Write a detailed description. You may use one of these subjects, or you may choose your own subject. Write at least 5 sentences and at least 5 different details.

1. The zoo after closing time

The animals quietly unlock their cages. They creep stealthily into the pathways, meeting in the center of the zoo. With the clear, starry night above them, each species sends out its call. First, the mighty lions roar, followed by the howl of the moonlight-dappled elephants. Only the giraffes, regal and stalwart, remain silent.

*After writing this one I realized it was probably inspired by slipping through the cobblestone streets in Jerusalem on the way to the Kotel with friends one night in the fall of 2012.

2. Santa's toy workshop

Elves ran frantically from station to station as the bustling workshop readied itself for the Christmas season. Packages in all colors, shapes, and sizes were piled precariously in ceiling-high stacks.The room smelled of candy canes and gingerbread, with hot chocolate fumes wafting into the air. Every hour, Saint Nick would let out a hearty Ho! Ho! Ho!, signaling that it was time for the ten minute break. Mrs. Claus sailed through at that time with a plate of savory meats for each hardworking elf.

3. Filming a war movie

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Ping ping!" screamed the rifles, as thunder crashed and lightning flashed overhead. It was easy to forget that this was only fiction, and that in a matter of minutes, seconds even, all action would cease as suddenly as it began. On the shout of "Cut!", foes would become friends and brothers would reunite.
[*Weird tense change here*]
Grunting sighs of relief as they stripped off their packs and muddy outer layers, the men washed their hands and faces and readied themselves for lunch. The fully-functional mess hall had tables laden with tasty treats, and the actors began to eat, their chatter rumbling harmoniously throughout the elaborately decorated space.

Insomnia Strikes Again!

I couldn't sleep tonight, so I wrote this.

"I Don't Know How to Sleep Right"

(to the tune of "I Don't Know How to Love Him")

I don't know how to sleep right.

How to get those nine hours per night.

Going insane. Yes, really insane.

In these past few nights when I've been awake,

I think I'm going to break.

I don't know how to take this.

I don't see why I can't sleep.

Up all night.

It's not alright.

But I've spent so many nights awake,

For oh so many years. What is one more?

Oh, I twist and turn,

But my thoughts still churn.

If I fall asleep,

Will I wake up for work?

Don't think I'll ever get to sleep.

Who needs it anyway?

I don't think it is that funny.

I can't find the right position.

Optimal sleep

Escapes me now.

Some herbal tea. A fluffy bed.

Nothing helps me sleep. Why not count sheep?

Don't think I'll ever get to sleep.

Who needs it anyway?

Yet, when I get enough sleep,

I find myself disoriented.

I can't cope. I start to mope.

And then, I think--I'll get more sleep.

I slowly start to weep.

Insomnia's back.

It comes right back.

Insomnia's back...

Kaohsiung, Kenting, Dragon Boats, and Tainan (Oh My!)

 Sunday, June 1^st, 2014 (Morning)

Surprise, surprise, I haven’t slept much over the last few days (well, years, but I don’t want to talk about that). I’ve been staying up to watch movies and do laundry and clean in a futile attempt to de-mold my apartment. This weekend we have the Dragon Boat Festival on Monday, which means a three day weekend! I’m on the way to Kaohsiung right now. My itinerary for Sunday: 3 hour train from Taichung to Kaohsiung, 3 hour bus from Kaohsiung to Kenting, hang out on the beach in Kenting (the southernmost point in Taiwan) for a few hours, bus back to Kaohsiung, sleep. For Monday: Train to Tainan, watch the Dragon Boat races, see some historical sites (Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan), train to Taichung, sleep.

Before 7:30am/since last night I…

-roasted carrots and mushrooms, bought a baguette, and made barbecue chicken sandwiches for Sunday.

-booked my train ticket online, printed out the information at a 7/11, and got to the train station.

-had a Zhongwen-filled conversation with my cab driver after misreading the bus schedule.

-did a lot of laundry (towels, backpack, etc.).

-watched a few silly, yet somewhat interesting, movies.

-finished one book and started another.

-charged all of my electronics and hid my computer from scoundrels.

-washed dishes.

-packed.

-Skyped with my NYC-bound sister.

I can’t wait to sleep on the train and bus! Both have my destination as their final stops, which means anxiety-free napping. I booked my train online, which means I guaranteed myself a seat AND was able to pay in advance, thus accruing airline miles (travel rewards card—such a good idea. If everything works out, I will have a $30 nonstop flight from Istanbul to NYC next year when I finally come back to the US).

Sunday, June 1^st, 2014 (Night)

I slept for a little while on the train, but not much because I accidentally over-flirted with a baby who then decided that my sole purpose in life was to entertain her. I was happy to oblige. After that, I read a book until I fell asleep (and finished it when I woke up).

It was easier than usual to find the bus station, and I was able to board almost immediately upon arrival. Two and a half hours, a few naps, and a quarter of a book later, I arrived in Kenting!

The beach itself wasn’t the nicest I have ever been to, and wasn’t as nice as I expected it to be, but it was still wonderful. I’m sure if I were on one of the resort beaches it would have been nicer. Nevertheless, I took a few spectacular naps, read about half of a book, and dunked in the water a few times. I watched the sun set over the water, and then left as it started to get dark.

This time around it took a little while to find the bus stop (it was in a random hotel on a street with a busy night market), but everyone was really helpful. The bus took *forever* to come, and then the ride itself was an hour longer than I expected, and ended at a station further away from my hostel than I had anticipated. Near the end of the ride I talked to this girl and her friend from Cornwall, ON. The girl has been here for two weeks and is (shocker) teaching English. Her friend was visiting.

Three cabdrivers and an English-speaking man in his 30s ultimately figured out how to get me to my hostel, where I promptly ate some Thin Mints I had smartly packed in my bag, and wolfed down a surprisingly delicious bowl of ramen (one of, if not, my first).

Monday, June 2^nd, 2014 (Afternoon)

Today I went to Tainan from Kaohsiung to see the Dragon Boat races. It took a while for me to find them, but I settled in a shaded spot with a Taiwanese family who had two exchange students—one from France, and one from Poland. We watched the races, and then I left to see historical sites in Anping District (but not before stopping to watch a European crew team stretch).

Before heading to the sites, I stopped for lunch at 7/11. I kept telling myself, “Your American is showing”, because I ate pasta with carbonara sauce (yum—good going, 7/11) and drank a beer (to be fair, it was a Taiwan Beer).

I keep reading books about women who go on epic journeys to find themselves (which, by the way, is not what I’m doing—I just want to see and experience as much of the world as possible before settling for anything). Common themes which I have experienced in my own travels include otherness (duh), and women getting help. Not help in the “AHH, I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHERE I AM OR WHAT I AM DOING” sense, though obviously that is sometimes the case. In my experience, people will go out of their way to help travelers, especially if you are female, you are alone, and you look like a teenager. Oh, and smiling helps.

A lot of people like to strike up conversations, too, which means that as much as I protest this fact, my small talk skills and ability to talk naturally with strangers have improved by an incredible degree over the last few years. I have also gotten a lot better at asking for the help that people so willingly offer up. Oh, and I am well aware that things would be different if I didn’t appear to be the least threatening person in the universe, but there isn’t much I can do about that—short of a Dauntless transformation (can you tell what books I have been reading lately?).

Monday, June 2^nd, 2014 (Night)

The historical sites were kind of cool, but not incredibly noteworthy, and most had closed by the time I got there. While waiting for the bus, I had a lovely conversation with a French woman and her Taiwanese boyfriend; they were around my age, and were on their way back to cheer some of his teammates on in their next dragon boat race.

I got on the wrong bus after a failed attempt to see one of the historical sites, so the ride to the train station took an hour instead of 20-30 minutes. Ironically, it was the historical shuttle, so while breaking my heart by going who knows where, it showed me all of the sites I hadn’t gotten to see, including the one I had been trying (and failed) to see. Trains run super-late, anyway, so everything ended well.

I didn’t have a seat for the first leg of the train ride (they are assigned), but that was only for the first 45 minutes of a two hour and forty minute ride. At the end, the door was locked, so we ran to the next train car in order to exit. Yikes. That part was terrifying.

All in all, this was a great weekend, and I’m glad I got myself in gear and actually took the trip instead of choosing to stay home and sleep for the entire weekend.