Not Very Exciting Pictures From Taiwan

Cool building eh? This was my work place for the week I was there. It was originally built by a German Architech (we bought the 1/2 of the company from a bankrupt German company).

Notice the size of those silver pillars vs. the cars.

I thought this was a funny sign, it was in all the Elevators.  There were 6 Elevators, 3 on each side. However, each side only went to selected floors. I thought that was sort of funny. Side 1 went to 1-4,6,8,10. Side 2 went through 1,3,5,7,9.

we all had to wear those blue booties to get inside.

This was my plane. Very large.

Me and my balding spot outside the company.

This was a park just out front. I'm on the 9th floor balconey.

this was my hotel room. VERY nice, the chaise lounge was quite the bonus.

Nice bathroom as well.  I didn't even have to use an outlet adapter while I was there either.

This is in the middle of the work areas. It goes for 3 stories. The German Architech strikes again.

Engineers

I work at a company that employs many engineers (of which I am one). There are a few things I find interesting about this. #1 is the sense of humor. When you make a joke about Pi, Silicon, Star Trek, Star Wars etc. you get a lot of laughs. #2 Is the social norms that engineers exhibit. Most of the hallways here are about 8-10 feet wide. It is VERY rare to find another person walking towards you who will look you in the eye and say hi (unless you know them of course). I can't tell you how often I've looked over at someone at the same time they looked at me, I nod at them and they continue on as if nothing occurred. Usually everyone just tries to avoid looking at incoming people.
#3 Is the dress. No one complains, nor notices what anyone else is wearing (nor cares). I like this, since it means no one really cares if I have stains on my shirt (somewhat common occurrence), or if I match etc. Since I often get ready without a Mirror (Jace has been sleeping in our bathroom, so I just get dressed in the Closet and leave) this lack of caring about appearance just helps me to fit in even better.

I admit, I'm a typical engineering geek, but there are perks.

"Santa Paws"

Yesterday, Suzy was in the Christmas spirit and rented a nice, innocuous Christmas movie for the kiddies (The Search For Santa Paws).



I was in the computer room, when I heard some pretty intense sobbing coming from the living room. Yup, it was the song and step-touch dance routine by a group of orphan girls and Suzy just couldn't hold back.

Okay, I jest. It was Kate, who REALLLLLLLY gets into movies. This one must have been a very emotional film, since I heard her crying (bawling) at least 3 separate times (luckily Suzy was there to comfort her, although I did come out once just to make sure she was okay).

About 10-15 minutes after the movie (which had quite he happy ending of course, sorry if I spoiled it for you since you'll probably be running out to redbox after this post), Kate came into the computer room. She was alternating between her "about to breakdown and cry face" and a smile. I asked her if she was okay, and in one of those "Fast Sunday" I'm about to cry voices she replied:
"These a-a-are happy tears".

It is a really fun experience watching a movie with Kate. She really gets into them. Faith seems to enjoy them, but in a much more stoic "thumb in her mouth, finger making knots in her hair" kind of way.

Worst Rendition of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer ever"

Soap

A few days ago, Suzy discovered that I'd put the hand soap dispenser refills on the floor of the pantry. In doing so, I'd set them on their side, and one had a cap loose, so of course it spilled on the floor. 

A recent email from Suzy,
Kate just emerged from the pantry with a disgusted look on her face.
I could tell she had just eaten something.
She led me inside and pointed to the puddle of liquid soap.
what?!
How have I raised children that will eat unknown dried goo off a floor??

One more Katism from Suzy
I just looked at the clock in the kitchen and said, "Where did the day go?!"
Kate replied, "Maybe to Mexico?"

Taiwan

Well, I'm in Taiwan for this post.  I just wanted to jot down some observations before I left.  Maybe I'll even take some pictures.

Taiwan is the second most population dense country, next only to Bangladesh (spelling?) I was informed by my hosts.  Apparently a lot of the land on this small Island is not livable, they have about 24 million people or so.  I'm here during the winter time, so its been in the 60s, no rain so far. It cools off to about 50 or so at night. 

I'm assuming because of the high population density, most people here don't have a sense of personal space. They're also mostly short.  Every day I come into the site for work and go up the elevator. Every day I'm surrounded by people who come up to my shoulder. By surrounded I mean everyone stands WAY to close to me. I try to lean back and forth and squash people just to teach them to give me some space.  It hasn't worked so far. 

The food here is interesting. I've been out to eat at two places. One they ordered for me, and I had to eat some weird stuff which I normally wouldn't do.  Surprisingly enough, the food tasted pretty terrible.  I keep hearing from other people that I need to try new things, cause I could be missing out on so much. Apparently I'm not missing out.  Jellied pig tendons really do taste as gross as that sounds.  Seafood dumplings (what they call pot-stickers) just don't taste good.  The chicken noodle soup had some type of spice in it that added a savory 409 or Windex flavor. Their "Taiwanese hamburgers" as I was told they were called (rice tortilla with ham, some veggies and some sweet potatoes) were at least palatable.  I had two of those to show how much I liked them, and to avoid having to eat some of the other weird stuff on the table.  For dessert they brought out a bowl of jet black yummy sesame seed mush.  I was being sarcastic when I said yummy.  They're also not into cooking their meat "too much". By too much I mean cooking their meat. 

Breakfast is interesting, I eat it at the Hotel. They usually have a little row of American food, including "Intestinal meats" as they call sausage.  I do like their french toast, although their pancakes taste weird. How do you make pancakes taste weird? You got me, but they figured out how.  They also have sushi, shrimp, grilled fish, something they call "congee". I've been afraid to open that pot to see what's inside.  Never name a food congee.  Seafood lovers would love breakfast here. The mussels are to die for.

The other place I went out to eat was excellent! I ordered for myself, and got a nice salad and a "stewed beef short rib".  It had mostly fat on it, but the meat was VERY good.  The rolls were delicious as well.

Travel is by taxi here, or if one of the other folks who are stationed here gives me a ride. I'd say there are 3 scooters for every car.  People drive pretty crazy here.  The guy whose office I'm in just totaled his car, the other three guys I know here have either hit a scooter or also totaled their car.  I think the company should just pay for everyone to have drivers.  Scooters will often pass on the right or left, in all sorts of situations.  Intersections are always fun, usually it's a game of whoever goes first, wins.  Americans could learn one thing though, there is almost no road rage here. People accept getting cut off as a way of life here. 

I'm listening to some girl sing "Yesterday" by the Beatles over the loud speaker right now.  They play light music at 1pm to wake everyone up (they're allowed to sleep from 12-1pm, which many people do at their desks).

The hotel I'm staying in is very nice and posh. I was complaining to Suzy though, I saw they had ESPN on the channels and got excited, until I realized that it was in Chinese. CNN is the only English channel. 

Anyway, I've enjoyed the trip, it hasn't been as weird as I thought it'd be.  I wish Suzy were here so she could see all this stuff too.  I realized (a while ago) that traveling for me is mostly fun if I share it with someone.  Otherwise, I'm not into seeing new stuff much.