A Two and a Half Thin Mint Day

12:40pm

I’m really tired and out of it today, I think I have a tension headache, and all I want is to go home and take a nap (and listen to Alanis Morissette, because I just got one of her songs—“All I Really Want”—in my head. Not sure if it is stuck in there yet). Too bad today has barely begun. I still have seven hours left at work, and an hour to perk up before my first class and our mini field trip to the supermarket. Shouldn’t be too hard. Until then I’ll keep refilling my tea mug. I’m glad this is only a four-day week. Maybe I can sleep for a long time on Friday during Peace Memorial Day.

5:15pm

Perked up! The field trip was great—we brought our students to the supermarket to learn about fruit. The other teacher and I held up different fruits and asked our students about the colors and if they liked the fruits or not. It went exceptionally well considering my students’ gnat-like attention span. Plus, I got a Thin Mint for that class as part of my reward system.

6:10pm

I ate Thin Mint #2 as a reward for my second class going well. Best reward system ever (for me, at least). Also, Spring has sprung and life is goood. I’m going to start increasing the frequency of my nighttime dance parties in the park.

8:15pm

Third class was decent so I gave myself half of a Thin Mint (blasphemy, I know). Upon leaving school I almost got hit by a car which decided to back out after I had already started walking in the pedestrian zone, and then would not stop. The driver was on the receiving end of one of my patented “If Looks Could Kill” glares. I despise motor vehicle operators in my city. I’m sure they are nice enough when not trying to run over everyone and everything, but seriously, folks. Sometimes I’m afraid to walk around.

How Becca Found Her Mojo (and Got Her Groove Back)

Nervously, and somewhat hesitantly, she put on a sports bra and purple gym shorts, debating whether to wear a t-shirt or a tank top; the latter would show every last hill and valley, including some best left hidden, while the former would shield her torso and upper arms from both the sun's rays and people's stares. It was her first time leaving the apartment in two days, and her first time running in weeks. Her self-consciousness was at its peak, in part because her nocturnal nature had kicked in a few days before and she therefore hadn't slept since 5pm on the previous day, and by now the sun was shining. Anyway, she slept better during the day.

She decided on a tank top, because her t-shirts all smelled like laundry day was still a few days out of reach. Purple socks and electric blue sneakers completed the get-up, as did keys and an iPod, white headphones fitting snugly headband-style over her ears.

Once outside she stretched for a minute, then began to run as the first song was ending and a new one was beginning. She ran up and to the right for two or three songs, then slowed to a dance-walk as she approached the park. All she wanted was to be in the sun, but close to shade for the security it held.
Settling on a spot by one of the slender trees which dotted the park, she began to stretch to the music. When the Backstreet Boys song came on her iPod, it was like she was transported back to her university dance aerobics class; the beat made her want to excitedly punch the air with childlike joy. Right-right, left-left, right-left-right-left. Double-punch, double-punch, single, single, single, single. It was one of those songs where the rhythm remained constant, save for a few disruptions which called for spirit fingers and lithe body-swishing.

While dancing and punching, she was delighted to recall that her fellow park-goers did not pay attention to anyone else, and all self-consciousness melted away.

The Backstreet Boys tune was replaced by a Kelly Clarkson hit, from the artist's phase as a jilted lover. The girl's body electrified, punching the air and swaying in the sunlight like the happiest and spazziest of cattails.
She stayed in the park for a few more songs, singing and dancing without a care in the world, continuing in a similar fashion on the walk home.

And that, my friends, is how Becca found her mojo (and got her groove back).

The Avengers

The Avengers: Not as good the second time around (but still awesome)!

This could potentially be attributed to the positive aspects and setting of the first viewing--in the theater, at an appropriate time of night, and surrounded by my family and obvious Whedon fans (they were the people who laughed in all of the appropriate places, then continued to giggle from the pure elation of experiencing Whedon's first stab at big-budget film directing [at least since Serenity back in 2005]).

This time, I: watched the movie alone (and was therefore the only Whedon fan in the vicinity), started at 12:30am (oops), couldn't marvel at enough of the surprises from the first viewing, and had way too many external distractions.

That cast, though. Witty, intelligent, talented, and gorgeous, down to the last member (looking at you, grown-up Chrissy from Growing Pains).

Today's Mishap Is Brought To You By Dysfunctional Directional Skills And A Blatant Mistrust Of Technology.

Today started off like any normal day, except that it began at 5:30am. I tried and failed multiple times to fall back asleep, but ended up watching a few movies instead. Lunch was homemade chicken curry with a side of movies, then I got ready to sub at a friend's school.

I left about an hour and a half before I was supposed to be at the school (which was still a half hour before class was going to start), and the bus ride was going well until I thought it wasn't going to bring me to the right stop, so I got off at what was the wrong bus stop. Oops. I ended up walking for almost an extra hour, which included backtracking on multiple streets. My phone helped GREATLY, but I don't know how it was working, because I don't think it has data...but oh well. if GoogleMaps is going to work on my phone, then I am not going to question it.

At 4:55, I finally got to the school, prepped in the five minutes before class, then headed up to the classroom. My friend had outlined a lesson plan for me, which was wonderful. The students were super quiet and shy the whole time, but they did warm up a lot when I scattered a few games of Simon Says and singalongs of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes throughout the lesson.

Upon leaving the school, I found a market on the way to the bus. I didn't buy anything, but had a great time looking around at all of the fresh produce.

On the bus ride I saw a lot of lights and statues at my favorite park, so I got off the bus and walked around and took pictures. It was so cool! However, it took me a while to realize that there were probably horse statues (which were colorful, electric, lit-up, and awesome) everywhere because we are now in the year of the horse.

Hungry and tired at this point, I started to dance-walk home, did some fun shopping, then stopped for a sushi and blog-writing session. After sushi I went home and was asleep by 10:30pm.

Laundry Day!

I knew I wouldn't actually follow through with going to the beach. I think I needed motivation to clean my apartment (besides it being its usual pigsty of a mess). Plus, I have been saying for weeks that I need to do laundry, but I had enough clean clothes or a awhile to get by.

Doing laundry is such an ordeal--I have to put all of my dirty clothes into suitcases, then haul it all to the 24-hour laundromat, which always feels so much further away than it really is. Sometimes the creepy guy is there; he smokes inside and doesn't like when I try to fit all of my clothes into one machine--I'm not even really over-stuffing. He also always tries to help me, which is nice enough but I don't need help and HATE when other people touch my laundry, especially people I don't know. It is almost always raining in some capacity when I do laundry.

This time was pleasant. Two suitcases meant three washing machines and two dryers. Two machines for clothes and one for towels, which became one dryer for clothes and another for towels. The man wasn't there, and I had enough $10 coins to pay for the machines.

After I finished doing laundry (it was now 3am), I went back to my apartment, slacked off for a few hours, then cleaned EVERYTHING. I swept the floor, recycled glass, paper, and plastic items, and threw out trash (I was good, and there wasn't much trash by this point).

Well, That Happened...

I should have known something was wrong because the booking process was going so well.

I've looked up this flight so many times that I didn't think to look closely at the dates I had chosen when I finally got to the United website. I got through the entire process, including payment and confirmation, before realizing that I had booked the flight for the day before I was supposed to leave. This wouldn't have been too much of a problem if the flight didn't involve me getting to the Taipei airport in time for an 8:45am departure (which it does).

Commence nausea, complete body numbness, and feelings of doom. Luckily, I have been through this (not this particular situation, but with booking various modes of transportation) enough times to immediately spring into action. Upon receiving my confirmation e-mail from United, I clicked on the "Manage My Reservation" button, then cancelled my flight (first time ever doing this), then re-booked with the appropriate departure date, taking care to ensure that everything went correctly. Problem solved!

Hong Kong: The End

Thursday, January 23^rd, 2014

By the time I finally got around to writing this post, I was kind of over the blogging part of the trip. The trip itself was fulfilling, interesting, and entirely relaxing.

Of course my last day was the first day on this trip that I woke up fairly early. I had my usual lazy morning, then indulged in a delectable sushi brunch. I went to the market to get a few ripe mangosteens as a thank you gift for my host (his favorite fruit) and figs for myself, then went back to the apartment, wrote a thank you letter, packed, and left.

I had a relaxing bus ride to the airport, then wandered around lost for a few minutes until I found the right terminal to check in. Everything went smoothly until I realized that my flight had no gate. I dealt with an incompetent flight attendant who kept looking at my ticket and pointing at the board (a process which was repeated about five times), then settled in at a random gate until my flight.

When I got back to Taichung, I bought groceries as a homecoming gift to myself (and because I got rid of most of my edible food before leaving).

Thus ends the Hong Kong posts! Many thanks to everyone who stuck it out with me!

Hong Kong Day 4: Like a Star at her Peak*

Wednesday January 22^nd, 2014

*The title was supposed to be a silly pun but now seems misguided. It stays!

I had grand plans (kind of) for my last full day in Hong Kong, but instead I did a total of two things, three tops. I started off the day with my usual lazy morning, then took the metro to get to the ferry, and stopped to have lunch at Café de Coral (Hong Kong fast food). My meal was an octopus/chicken/mushroom hash over rice, and it was delicious.

Following lunch, I went to the Star Ferry, got my token, helped a couple who couldn’t read English or traditional Chinese get theirs, and flirted with an adorable baby. The ferry was AWESOME.The smell and breeze were wonderful (I love love love the water).

I had heard and read about a tall building with great views, and saw one upon debarking from the ferry. I wasn’t sure if it was the right building, so I went in and asked. Turns out it was a correct building! The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, 55^th floor. Too hazy for great views, but it was still nice to see the city and harbor from that high.

I later found the bus to get to “The Peak”, and did the 2.8km “Peak Morning Walk”, except at nightfall and alone (oops). It was beautiful, with stunning views of the city and harbor at and after sunset, but it was also terrifying. I did a piece of a Next to Normal chorus (“I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m so alive!”) with a dance-spin when I got to the end. All in all it was something I would definitely do again, but earlier in the day or with a buddy if at night.

After waiting in the horrendously long line for the bus, I took the ferry back to Tsim Sha Tsui (the port/harbor on the Kowloon side), then ate dinner where I had lunch (same meal,too—it was that good) while reading No Reservations. I have a newfound crush on Anthony Bourdain and part of me now wants to be a chef. To complete the night I walked around Tsim Sha Tsui again, and a random man enlisted himself as my photographer after I asked him to take one picture (which was not as creepy as it sounds).