Teacher Ali in da house

This is for you Dinky

Ice cream, parks, guns and pigs.

MORE FACE!

Before I can teach, I have to figure out my washing machine that is in Chinese.

As promised. I am rambling bc I have stuff to get done today. Sorry friends.

See you tomorrow, promise.

Video coming tomorrow. Sorry I am super lame at updating, it might get better.

Stinky Tofu

Hello all,

I hear there are some troubles accessing the vlog. That's a shame because they are treats to watch. I will look into it but for now, I will do it the old fashioned way and chisel some words down.

For the past three days I have been in Hsinchu observing classes and finding an apartment. I have successfully accomplished both. I am very pleased with my new digs. Sam, another English teacher at my school will live below me which will be nice.

Here are the dirty details, I will be teaching 2-3 classes a day which are 2 hours each. The kids range in age and skill level and I am not sure where they will be putting me yet.

I start orientation in Taipei this Monday and will begin teaching June 25! I am very anxious to start teaching and get more settled into this place.

I saw my first Taiwanese Mafia incident the other night. I woke up to a ruckus outside my apt and ran to the window to see what was going on. I saw 5 or 6 guys beating the hell out of some guy with bats, crow bars and kicking him as well. I was terrified! I ran to turn out my lights so they couldn't see me watching. At this point, I realized I didn't know the police's number. I went to google it but by that time, I heard sirens coming. THEN, I saw a cop pull his gun on a guy on the ground who I assume was a suspect? I am not sure. I went to bed and closed the blinds.

No more shootings or beatings lately.

Moving on, I am excited to start teaching! Everyone here is SO helpful and kind. I think once I get into my groove, I will like this place a lot.

Want to hear some funny stories now?

I decided I couldn't live off of Pringles and M&M's any longer so I ventured out for food. I had a plan to find a restaurant with pictures so I could point to one like an American idiot. Turns out, there were none. I wandered for like 20 minutes and I thought I was going to die from not eating. I stopped at this corner place and said to the woman "Hello, I can''t speak Chinese. I am hungry. Will you make me some food, please?" She looked at me with a blank stare. So I mimed out what I had just said. SHe understood it and brought me some food. It. was. terrbile. After talking to a friend, he told me it was stinky tofu, a delicacy here. not. It was deep fried tofu with a marmalade center and spicy cabbage. I choked it down and rewarded myself with an ice cream bar and beer.

Hope America is treating you all well, tell her I say hello!

Yaysia

I'M ALIVE STILL!

您好！

That is Chinese for hello, thanks Google Translate. I hear the last video post didn't work? Too. Bad. Just kidding I will fix it later.

Let me see, things are as hot as ever over in the Asia. I haven't started anything to do my job so I get to spend my days exploring, eating new foods, and whatever the Asia I want. A normal day consists of 1. waking up at a fairly decent hour ( I can't help this, I would like to sleep in but I think this is my punishment for having no other jet lag) 2. Reading a little 3. First shower of the day 4. Meet Matt for lunch 4. Explore a little more 5. second shower 6. Explore or eat a little 7. Dinner with Matt

Here is a list of things I have discovered about Asia...
1. No one says bless you after you sneeze
2. Older people don't smile back/at you on the streets
3. No road rules here. People drive/bike on their own terms
4. Men and women aren't friends with each other unless one is gay or they are dating
5.

I am really looking forward to getting settled into my apartment and job.

I went to Taipai on Saturday with Matt and some of his friends, it was a blast-o-rama.

1. had my first Asian quesadilla which was delicious. Not as good as mine, but it's okay Asia.
2. We took the train to Taipei and the conductor was so nice! He stopped and talked to us for a bit and wrote me a love not on my ticket welcoming me to Asia and such. Asian boyfriend number 1.
3. We proceeded to the skate park, but not before stopping in a 7-11 for some beer. There are no open container laws here so cheers to that!
4. Watched Matt's friends skate for a bit and then proceeded to his freind's Anre's house for a rest up then out to a pub.
5. We went to this place called on tap to watch the soccer game and meet some friends.
5.5 Had the most amazing gravy fries there.
6. Stayed until the end of the game around 5 am. Decided to get a hotel and just sleep there since we had Taipai business in the afternoon it didn't make sense to go back to Matt's apt.
7. Went to a bakery for some grub. I got a suprisingly horrible concotion that looked and tasted like it had fur on it. Won't make that mistake again.
8. Matt is getting a tattoo here from this AMAZING artist so we went to her house so he could pay the deposit. I was looking at her sketches and it is going to look so good. She is amazing.
9. FOr lunch/ dinner we went to a pita pit-ish place which was delicious.
10. Came home and passed out at like 9 pm. solid.


I know these entries are kinda lame-o and not so detailed/coherent, but I am all scatter brained all the time and that's what you people get for now.

Woke up in America, went to sleep in Asia.

Do I look more Asian?

Look at my face!

Yay video blogs!