Day One: NO WAAAY! I'm back in East Asia! I like it here...

We (another teacher and I) flew in last night and were surprised to find our own hotel room and a granted day of freedom today. We took our liberties and caught a train to Taipei City.

I about flipped out this morning in a convenience store (a 7/11 that is, as there is about one on every block) as I fully came to realize that I was truly back in East Asia! Quite endearing the realization was. I feel somewhat at home here- certainly very comfortable.

Today we (the other teacher, Kat, and I) walked around Taipei city, getting lost and asking for directions countless times! It was common that our direction-supplier would even walk us to our destination, which we may not have found without this help! Oh, lovely Taiwanese people. This morning we even got a ride to the train station in Taoyuan (after walking around lost for at least an hour!)

The one hour+ excess stroll did afford us with fun first interactions. We walked past a school as the students were being released, and we surely were a highlight of their day! We also walked past a nice, local incense making "factory," with the pink-stemmed incense pictured below..

When we walked into our first 7-11 this morning to buy water, I had a huge feeling of homecoming, as I recognized all of the products and smells and whatnot from the convenience stores across Tongshan Lu, opposite my flat in Shanghai!

The prospects for moving here look good, as there are nearly an endless amount of opportunities for me to do what I love (teach/tutor English, dance, grow vegetables, relax, hike) as well as many outlets of education in areas I want to learn (Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mandarin, autonomous Indigenous populations). Either way, I won't know until I am able to check out the coasts and see the places where I want to move. I'm surely not moving to Taipei...

This is my new friend (a pretty cool) Kat, another teacher for Broadband Language Institute. She's off to teach an English Vacation in Thailand! The school offers those kinds of trips twice a year and sponsors English teachers to go along. They already offered me the positions to go to Singapore and Thailand in July, which would be an awesome choice if Bangladesh doesn't work out.

We made a nightcap to the Shida St. night market in north Taipei, Da-an neighborhood. 'Twas Brilliant! I adore night markets, and there was plenty of delicious-looking food stands (lots of veggies!) We'd stopped for a late lunch in a hole-in-the-wall so we didn't have too much of an appetite. But, when I saw an elderly couple selling baked sweet potatoes on the street corner, I knew I loved this place. Vava Taiwan!

Kat and I both have nearly officially kicked jetlag in the butt! My principal strategies were fasting on the 13 hour flight and hydrating myself to the maximum. We had a great first night of sleep, and I woke up refreshed this morning.