I AM NOW IN TAIWAN. Again.
Today I left Korea, of which I am still slightly sad about. I do like Korea. It reminds me of a really skewed version of where I'm from. It's very similar to New England in climate and topography. Except Korea's mountains are higher. Also I miss being in the same country as Big Bang. So close, yet so far... *epic sigh of the melodramatic variety*
I got into Taipei around 1:30pm, after a 2 1/2 hour flight that was uneventful, other than I had to sit in a middle seat (BLAH! Though they did put me in the front row of the section, so at least I had leg room), and there was an Eastern European (I think) flight attendant. Who spoke perfect Korean. It was awesome. I also sat next to a fairly hot young Korean businessman who was all sorts of tall and lanky and wore a suit. He also helped me with my tray table, because it was confusing me.
Naturally I get to Taiwan, and it's cloudy, foggy, and rainy. It's also COLD. Not Korea!cold, or Massachusetts!cold, but cold enough so it's uncomfortable. And I actually need my jacket. Something I did not think I would need here. Like, it's 55°F here right now. Which is cold, for me at least. Especially when there is no form of heat around.
I had also forgotten just how depressing the ride from the airport is. Going from Taoyuan to Taipei is not a nice ride. It's very industrial. You can see a bit of jungle-y forests, but in general it's sad dilapidated concrete buildings. There are some very lovely parts of Taipei. You just don't see them right away.
My room is fairly nice. It's not OMG amazing, but it'll do. The bed is actually soft, and the internet is fast. I ever have a washer and drier. The area though... well, the area is a bit dicey. It's actually not REALLY in Taipei either. Last year or the year before the Taiwanese government changed Taipei county into "New Taipei City", which is confusing. So while I am technically in New Taipei City, I'm not in Taipei proper. I'm in Yonghe, which is to the southwest of Taipei proper. It's only one station away from the city, but STILL.
It's not that the neighborhood is creepy, it's just old and kinda gross. It's a hugely populated older section. What can you do?
The funny thing is, I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. Seriously. Where I'm staying is on an alley off a main road. I HAVE BEEN ON THAT MAIN ROAD BEFORE. This is where "Koreatown" is. Except it's not really a Koreatown. Unless you count stores filled with old lady clothes that were made in Korea. But it is familiar to me, at least. This is also where I saw the INSANE morning market. Take my word on the insane part. I don't even want to look at that area. I WILL NOT VENTURE IN.
I did stuff today too. I am proud of that. Not much, but something. I went to Family Mart to look for two things - inari and patata. I found patata (which, I'm assuming no one knows because they're not sold outside of Taiwan, is an amazing puffed snack thing. I don't even know if it's corn or rice, or what...), but no inari. So then I went on a small walking tour of the area. I never found the inari, but I went to the MRT to see how much money I have left on my Easycard. Turns out I have over $200NT, which is a fair amount. So yay! Also, if I use my card I get a student discount on the subway (despite not being a student any longer). So more yay!
I don't know what I'll do tomorrow. This morning I woke up sick (that'll teach me to not sit in the freezing cold/rain for four hours outside the YG building). I have a cold, and I'm hoping to all things it gets better. It'll either go away in a day, or become severe and incapacitate me for a week. So I'll see what I can do tomorrow. I might go to the area I went to school in, to shop for stationary and stuff. I also might make a trip up to Danshui. Because I miss that place.
So far I've been okay with the staring aspect. It's honestly like I never left, which means I feel more comfortable. I've spoken to a few people in Chinese, even if it was only "excuse me", or "thank you". I spoke to NO ONE in Korea. So already ahead of the game, here.
As for the cold, I don't know how I'm going to handle it. It'll be warmer during the day, but still. Taiwan is semi-tropical, so they don't really have heat here. It's not generally installed in buildings, so during the winter you just pile blankets on you. I honestly did not think I'd be this cold, but ever since I developed Raynaud's, I've been super super sensitive to it. Grin and bear it, I guess.
BLAH COLD. TIRED. SICK. SLEEP?
But yay Taiwan! I missed it here. Even it's odd constant state of moist-ness.
TL;DR
- I left Korea.
- I am sad I am not in the same country as Big Bang anymore.
- I am now in Taiwan.
- It is cold here.
- I do not like the cold.
- I am also sick.
- Being sick sucks.
- Patata is good.
- Yonghe has no Family Marts that sell inari.
- I am pleased at myself for not hiding inside all day.
- Tomorrow IDK what's happening.
- There are tiny ants on the walls of my room.
- Now I have to sleep!
I got into Taipei around 1:30pm, after a 2 1/2 hour flight that was uneventful, other than I had to sit in a middle seat (BLAH! Though they did put me in the front row of the section, so at least I had leg room), and there was an Eastern European (I think) flight attendant. Who spoke perfect Korean. It was awesome. I also sat next to a fairly hot young Korean businessman who was all sorts of tall and lanky and wore a suit. He also helped me with my tray table, because it was confusing me.
Naturally I get to Taiwan, and it's cloudy, foggy, and rainy. It's also COLD. Not Korea!cold, or Massachusetts!cold, but cold enough so it's uncomfortable. And I actually need my jacket. Something I did not think I would need here. Like, it's 55°F here right now. Which is cold, for me at least. Especially when there is no form of heat around.
I had also forgotten just how depressing the ride from the airport is. Going from Taoyuan to Taipei is not a nice ride. It's very industrial. You can see a bit of jungle-y forests, but in general it's sad dilapidated concrete buildings. There are some very lovely parts of Taipei. You just don't see them right away.
My room is fairly nice. It's not OMG amazing, but it'll do. The bed is actually soft, and the internet is fast. I ever have a washer and drier. The area though... well, the area is a bit dicey. It's actually not REALLY in Taipei either. Last year or the year before the Taiwanese government changed Taipei county into "New Taipei City", which is confusing. So while I am technically in New Taipei City, I'm not in Taipei proper. I'm in Yonghe, which is to the southwest of Taipei proper. It's only one station away from the city, but STILL.
It's not that the neighborhood is creepy, it's just old and kinda gross. It's a hugely populated older section. What can you do?
The funny thing is, I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. Seriously. Where I'm staying is on an alley off a main road. I HAVE BEEN ON THAT MAIN ROAD BEFORE. This is where "Koreatown" is. Except it's not really a Koreatown. Unless you count stores filled with old lady clothes that were made in Korea. But it is familiar to me, at least. This is also where I saw the INSANE morning market. Take my word on the insane part. I don't even want to look at that area. I WILL NOT VENTURE IN.
I did stuff today too. I am proud of that. Not much, but something. I went to Family Mart to look for two things - inari and patata. I found patata (which, I'm assuming no one knows because they're not sold outside of Taiwan, is an amazing puffed snack thing. I don't even know if it's corn or rice, or what...), but no inari. So then I went on a small walking tour of the area. I never found the inari, but I went to the MRT to see how much money I have left on my Easycard. Turns out I have over $200NT, which is a fair amount. So yay! Also, if I use my card I get a student discount on the subway (despite not being a student any longer). So more yay!
I don't know what I'll do tomorrow. This morning I woke up sick (that'll teach me to not sit in the freezing cold/rain for four hours outside the YG building). I have a cold, and I'm hoping to all things it gets better. It'll either go away in a day, or become severe and incapacitate me for a week. So I'll see what I can do tomorrow. I might go to the area I went to school in, to shop for stationary and stuff. I also might make a trip up to Danshui. Because I miss that place.
So far I've been okay with the staring aspect. It's honestly like I never left, which means I feel more comfortable. I've spoken to a few people in Chinese, even if it was only "excuse me", or "thank you". I spoke to NO ONE in Korea. So already ahead of the game, here.
As for the cold, I don't know how I'm going to handle it. It'll be warmer during the day, but still. Taiwan is semi-tropical, so they don't really have heat here. It's not generally installed in buildings, so during the winter you just pile blankets on you. I honestly did not think I'd be this cold, but ever since I developed Raynaud's, I've been super super sensitive to it. Grin and bear it, I guess.
BLAH COLD. TIRED. SICK. SLEEP?
But yay Taiwan! I missed it here. Even it's odd constant state of moist-ness.
TL;DR
- I left Korea.
- I am sad I am not in the same country as Big Bang anymore.
- I am now in Taiwan.
- It is cold here.
- I do not like the cold.
- I am also sick.
- Being sick sucks.
- Patata is good.
- Yonghe has no Family Marts that sell inari.
- I am pleased at myself for not hiding inside all day.
- Tomorrow IDK what's happening.
- There are tiny ants on the walls of my room.
- Now I have to sleep!