first day - less than perfect but still taiwan

so, after a long flight on eva airlines (the stewardesses could be asian supermodels), where i watched the hulk and get smart, plus some random taiwanese tv shows, i arrived in taiwan, and it actually felt...commonplace. i came last year, and i was so excited about being here, i swear i almost jumped out the window of my aunt's car. but this time, it was a different feeling. it's great being here, because i love this place, but it feels very everyday.

also, yes, asia is enticing for those shopaholics, or people who love to go out, but for some reason, i don't feel the need to have to go to those places. i think it's because i made some mistakes last year - "everything's so cheap! i'm going to buy everything i see!" - that i know to be more careful this time. and even if you think that you'll wear the things you buy here in the u.s., you won't. because the u.s. is so, so, so much more casual than taiwan could ever be. i can't find a normal t-shirt here, for example. it has to have some kind of special design or special picture on it that makes it look very un-hollister or un-gap. gap wouldn't make it here in taiwan. anyway, i am usually really into the pop culture and fashion here, but i don't feel like i will this time. that is a really good thing.

anyway, i went to the bank and cell phone store and realized you need some form of a taiwanese ID for everything. and, in order to work, i need an ARC, which only the schools can get for me easily. GREAT. plus, my visa is only for 60 days, which means i have to leave the country every 60 days until i get the ARC. another plus. my first day in taiwan is going great. went to go eat breakfast with my aunt and the food is amazing. it was a regular stall in the early morning market and a pretty run-down place, and my aunt actually said it was pretty normal, but i thought it was amazing. houston just doesn't have food like this.

i freaked out about the visa thing so i called the helpline for http://www.tealit.com/. some very funny american guy living in taiwan answered and helped me with everything i needed. he sounded cute and intelligent. but anyway, i went to several english schools to apply for jobs with my aunt and cousin. the american guy said it shouldn't be a problem. things are always harder than you can imagine...

i got green tea and milk tea! their drinks are just so different here. houston really can't compare. new york city chinatown has comparable drinks, but houston can't compare, even though we a have a large Chinese population. you would think that would make some kind of a difference.

at night, i went out with a friend of mine i met here in taiwan last summer named william. he's from australia and has been living in taiwan for about a year and a half. he just bought a car and is opening a restaurant franchise called "coffee museum". isn't that the coolest name ever? he says he doesn't like coffee or museums, but what the heck, it's a cool name, plus his dad knows the owner or something like that. didn't really listen that carefully.

i made a crapload of calls, i.e. English schools, Bread of Life Taipei church, etc., etc. i'm going to join a small group and bible study here. maybe i'll learn to play the guitar.

all this depends on if i actually get a job....please pray for me!

<3 shoutout to my friends and small group! <3