Culture shock
It's been two weeks and a week of language class. I've somehow made some observations about the locals here. I may not be 100% accurate but I'm just a foreigner here and this is based on my first-hand observation.
1. Women can drive scooters in heels and dress (flowing skirts and all). So you'll know which one is going to a party or something.
2. Shaving the armpits isn't a strict part of their hygiene. I've seen one and thought she just forgot to do it even if she was wearing a sleeveless shirt. But then I met another one, while I was about to go swimming at the university's indoor pool (biggest pool I've ever seen) and I saw a mini-forest there. I swear her pits have not seen a razor for quite some time. (And oh, when I got to the locker room I saw a butt naked caucasian girl. Her stuff are beside my stuff so I have to stand beside her.)
3. They have a lot of varieties of green teas. And I mean A LOT. Instead of water, they also serve cold green teas in the fastfoods. Something I don't normally get in Manila unless I go to Starbucks. Now I'm saying goodbye to the saccharinely sweet iced teas of the Lipton and Nestea variety.
4. They smile a lot and care for my satisfaction if I like their food/service or not. Hmm, probably because they know that I'm a foreigner. Provincial folks are friendlier than those in Taipei I heard. But
On my personal reflections ...
1. The homesickness feeling started to sink in 12 days after I got here. I actually miss my own cooking and Glorietta 4. I also miss someone calling me up on the phone so I'm getting my own Taiwan sim today. I'll still use my Globe number for incoming SMS but I have to find a second hand cellphone for that.
But me and my classmates will be going on a canyoning trip this weekend, and it's for free because Cecille (the other Pinay's) husband runs an outdoor trip kind of business.
I've also signed up for the tea ceremony and calligraphy class that will start next week. I'm kind of imagining myself doing calligraphy the "Hero" kind of way..robes and all. I don't know what exactly it's all about but what the heck, it's free and I have a lot of time in my hands so I'm joining.
1. Women can drive scooters in heels and dress (flowing skirts and all). So you'll know which one is going to a party or something.
2. Shaving the armpits isn't a strict part of their hygiene. I've seen one and thought she just forgot to do it even if she was wearing a sleeveless shirt. But then I met another one, while I was about to go swimming at the university's indoor pool (biggest pool I've ever seen) and I saw a mini-forest there. I swear her pits have not seen a razor for quite some time. (And oh, when I got to the locker room I saw a butt naked caucasian girl. Her stuff are beside my stuff so I have to stand beside her.)
3. They have a lot of varieties of green teas. And I mean A LOT. Instead of water, they also serve cold green teas in the fastfoods. Something I don't normally get in Manila unless I go to Starbucks. Now I'm saying goodbye to the saccharinely sweet iced teas of the Lipton and Nestea variety.
4. They smile a lot and care for my satisfaction if I like their food/service or not. Hmm, probably because they know that I'm a foreigner. Provincial folks are friendlier than those in Taipei I heard. But
On my personal reflections ...
1. The homesickness feeling started to sink in 12 days after I got here. I actually miss my own cooking and Glorietta 4. I also miss someone calling me up on the phone so I'm getting my own Taiwan sim today. I'll still use my Globe number for incoming SMS but I have to find a second hand cellphone for that.
But me and my classmates will be going on a canyoning trip this weekend, and it's for free because Cecille (the other Pinay's) husband runs an outdoor trip kind of business.
I've also signed up for the tea ceremony and calligraphy class that will start next week. I'm kind of imagining myself doing calligraphy the "Hero" kind of way..robes and all. I don't know what exactly it's all about but what the heck, it's free and I have a lot of time in my hands so I'm joining.