Web tools I'm finding incredibly helpful:
Zhongwen.com -- Basic dictionary, uses pinyin input, displays both traditional and simplified, animated strokes available for simplified only (grrrr!).
xuezhongwen.net -- Dictionary that uses a variety of input methods, displays animated strokes for both traditional and simplified (yay!), displays traditional or simplified based on user preference. Bonus: allows user to type in Chinese characters or pinyin with accent marks.
adsotrans -- Extremely useful tool that can translate or tell you what the pinyin is for characters you don't know. Hard for me to explain how it works though my understanding is that AI is used and the community is relied upon to contribute annotations. So it improves with time. Go here for more info.
Chinese pera-kun -- Firefox add-on that enables one to translate words by mousing over unknown characters in the browser. Only complaint is that sometimes the definitions aren't entirely accurate or it is only able to translate the individual characters in phrase.
To fully immerse myself, I'll tune into the local radio stations. The more popular ones are listed below.
Hit FM -- One of those top 20 stations. Streaming audio can be found here.
KissRadio -- Another pop station. I think they provide an in-browser player (could be wrong, I'm too lazy to translate the page) which can be found here.
e-Classical -- A classical station that I always listen to when I'm in Taipei. They play a good selection and I'm glad to see (or hear, rather) that they are still in business. It's hard to find a good classical station in the States, or even find one at all.
The U.S. is probably the only country that doesn't provide easy access to popular music from other countries, which is a pity. In Taiwan, all the pop stations play a mixture of Chinese pop and popular songs in the States. It's probably accurate to say that other countries know of all the big artists in the U.S. as well as their own while we are mostly ignorant of the music from other countries.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
相當忙
Even though I'm having a great time living abroad, there is a great sense of comfort I get when I hear a familiar voice, like Scott Simon from Morning Edition. Yay for NPR internet radio stations! And podcasts! <3 When I have a steady income, I'll definitely give back to NPR.
Class is in session and I find myself buried under a mountain of Chinese characters. ICLP wasn't kidding when it said it's program was intense. All my waking hours are filled with either class or studying, mostly studying because I'm trying to keep up with my schedule. I'm not sure if my Mandarin is improving or if I'm just stuffing characters into my brain but incorrectly using them. We shall see how this thing turns out. I really like my instructors and classes. If I didn't have med school waiting for me in August, I would be tempted to stay the year.
I made a mea culpa this week. I went to pay the bill at a restaurant and the waitstaff's back was turned towards me. I saw the person had really short hair, so I addressed the person as "sir" in Chinese. The person turned around and I thought, "Oh no, I think she's a girl." Then she spoke and confirmed my fears, I accidentally called a girl "sir"! That's the problem with girls having really short hair over here, I can't tell sometimes whether they are male of female! From now on, I'm just going to say "excuse me" to save myself the embarrassment. Oh, the guy standing beside her was holding back laughter during the encounter, I could tell. >_<
Homework calls, to the books!
Class is in session and I find myself buried under a mountain of Chinese characters. ICLP wasn't kidding when it said it's program was intense. All my waking hours are filled with either class or studying, mostly studying because I'm trying to keep up with my schedule. I'm not sure if my Mandarin is improving or if I'm just stuffing characters into my brain but incorrectly using them. We shall see how this thing turns out. I really like my instructors and classes. If I didn't have med school waiting for me in August, I would be tempted to stay the year.
I made a mea culpa this week. I went to pay the bill at a restaurant and the waitstaff's back was turned towards me. I saw the person had really short hair, so I addressed the person as "sir" in Chinese. The person turned around and I thought, "Oh no, I think she's a girl." Then she spoke and confirmed my fears, I accidentally called a girl "sir"! That's the problem with girls having really short hair over here, I can't tell sometimes whether they are male of female! From now on, I'm just going to say "excuse me" to save myself the embarrassment. Oh, the guy standing beside her was holding back laughter during the encounter, I could tell. >_<
Homework calls, to the books!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
開始上課/Class in session!
Tomorrow is the first day of class for me, yay! I'm excited. It's so novel to be so willing to go to class, not to say I didn't enjoy my classes in college, there were definitely some favorites that I looked forward to attend, but since I've been out of school for two years, I guess going back to school is something new for me now. Plus, I have a renewed passion for learning my mother tongue. While medical school should also be full of interesting classes, the stress will probably make it less enjoyable. Since nothing depends on the grades I receive for the program, I am very much at ease.
For those who don't know, I am spending my summer in Taipei, studying Mandarin at National Taiwan University aka Tai Da (台大) through the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP). (For those interested in the program, click here. It's quite pricey for such a short amount of time, but hopefully it's money well-spent. Prior to the start of class, everyone takes entrance placement exams, the results of which are used to place students in classes of the appropriate level. I'm a bit curious to know how I measure up with my ICLP peers, but we're not given the results of the test. Probably for the best, I haven't studied Chinese since first year of college and my language skills have significantly deteriorated. We'll see how much I've improved by August.
It's really interesting to be on a campus of a foreign university just to see how it compares to those in the States. Tai Da is the highest ranked college and it's facilities are comparable to those in the States. The only difference being that the dorms are a bit different in that girls are kept separate from the guys and there are no guys allowed in female dorms. Some dorms even have a guard and are surrounded by a fence of barbed wire. o_O Bicycles are in the hundreds on campus as they are a popular way to get around campus. There is a shuttle bus, but I've seldom seen one while I've been on campus.
The surrounding area of Gongguan is really lively with all sorts of shops and eateries. Anything one needs can be found there, it's fantastic. I already have a couple of favorite stores and eating spots.
While the standard of living in Taipei is probably comparable to cities in the U.S., eating out can be very cheap if you want to save money. For example, a lunchbox (bian dang) can be as cheap as 35 yuan (it's about 32 or 33 NTD to 1 USD). Some smaller treats are as cheap as 10 NT each! And it still tastes great! I'm in foodie heaven.
Also, health care seems to be relatively cheap, at least for students. At the student health center, my visit with the ophthalmologist + prescription eye drops was 179 NT! I think that is around $5 USD! Granted, I think I saw a Tai Da medical student, but since Tai Da is a highly ranked school, the students are the best in the country so I should be in good hands. Oh, did I mention that the price is for someone without health insurance? I wonder how much it is with health insurance. Seeing a doctor is very convenient in Taipei because they work on weekends, too. If only the U.S. system was this nice! Granted, no doctor in the States relishes working weekends, but it does make things more convenient for the public. However, since it's so convenient, there is usually a long wait for the doctor. Sometimes, you don't need to make an appointment, just walk in and take a number.
I <3 Taiwan! ^_^
For those who don't know, I am spending my summer in Taipei, studying Mandarin at National Taiwan University aka Tai Da (台大) through the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP). (For those interested in the program, click here. It's quite pricey for such a short amount of time, but hopefully it's money well-spent. Prior to the start of class, everyone takes entrance placement exams, the results of which are used to place students in classes of the appropriate level. I'm a bit curious to know how I measure up with my ICLP peers, but we're not given the results of the test. Probably for the best, I haven't studied Chinese since first year of college and my language skills have significantly deteriorated. We'll see how much I've improved by August.
It's really interesting to be on a campus of a foreign university just to see how it compares to those in the States. Tai Da is the highest ranked college and it's facilities are comparable to those in the States. The only difference being that the dorms are a bit different in that girls are kept separate from the guys and there are no guys allowed in female dorms. Some dorms even have a guard and are surrounded by a fence of barbed wire. o_O Bicycles are in the hundreds on campus as they are a popular way to get around campus. There is a shuttle bus, but I've seldom seen one while I've been on campus.
The surrounding area of Gongguan is really lively with all sorts of shops and eateries. Anything one needs can be found there, it's fantastic. I already have a couple of favorite stores and eating spots.
While the standard of living in Taipei is probably comparable to cities in the U.S., eating out can be very cheap if you want to save money. For example, a lunchbox (bian dang) can be as cheap as 35 yuan (it's about 32 or 33 NTD to 1 USD). Some smaller treats are as cheap as 10 NT each! And it still tastes great! I'm in foodie heaven.
Also, health care seems to be relatively cheap, at least for students. At the student health center, my visit with the ophthalmologist + prescription eye drops was 179 NT! I think that is around $5 USD! Granted, I think I saw a Tai Da medical student, but since Tai Da is a highly ranked school, the students are the best in the country so I should be in good hands. Oh, did I mention that the price is for someone without health insurance? I wonder how much it is with health insurance. Seeing a doctor is very convenient in Taipei because they work on weekends, too. If only the U.S. system was this nice! Granted, no doctor in the States relishes working weekends, but it does make things more convenient for the public. However, since it's so convenient, there is usually a long wait for the doctor. Sometimes, you don't need to make an appointment, just walk in and take a number.
I <3 Taiwan! ^_^
Friday, June 15, 2007
Pale is Beautiful -- Beauty in the Eye of the East Asian Beholder
In East Asia, pale is in. TV and magazine ads abound with beauty products, much like the States, but there is one difference -- most skincare ads are for whitening products. They all make claims of being able to lighten the tone of your skin by several shades. Most daytime facial moisturizers are SPF 50 and above. Reminds me of when my travelmate, Matt, commented that he never knew SPF 70 sunscreen existed until he traveled with me. >_< Yay, Neutrogena. Unlike other countries, in which the population favors bronze tones for the skin, in Taiwan (and other East Asian countries) pale skin rules. It's so amusing how cultural standards of beauty can be so different. Self-tanning products would probably get such strange looks if sold in shops here. While I'm not easy prey for beauty advertisements in the U.S., while I'm in Taiwan, I think I'm prone to be like every other girl and buy into the advertisements. Dangerous, very dangerous.
I've taken up the habit of carrying my umbrella with me rain or shine. The umbrella is such a versatile accessory, it keeps you dry in the rain and it keeps the sunshine off you on sunny days. In the States, carrying an open umbrella would attract odd looks but over here it's quite normal. I'm tempted to continue the practice when I return, but I may cave and conform to social norms. True, there is sunscreen, and though my favorite brand claims to be light and non-sticky, it's not quite as lightweight and non-greasy as I would like. Either that or the heat of Taiwan makes it impossible for the sunscreen to dry. Maybe I'll try one of those spray-on options next time. No melanoma for me! Oh and no worries, I'm making sure I still get my vitamin D through sunshine or milk.
I've taken up the habit of carrying my umbrella with me rain or shine. The umbrella is such a versatile accessory, it keeps you dry in the rain and it keeps the sunshine off you on sunny days. In the States, carrying an open umbrella would attract odd looks but over here it's quite normal. I'm tempted to continue the practice when I return, but I may cave and conform to social norms. True, there is sunscreen, and though my favorite brand claims to be light and non-sticky, it's not quite as lightweight and non-greasy as I would like. Either that or the heat of Taiwan makes it impossible for the sunscreen to dry. Maybe I'll try one of those spray-on options next time. No melanoma for me! Oh and no worries, I'm making sure I still get my vitamin D through sunshine or milk.
Friday, June 8, 2007
China observations/notes/tips
(A la Sei Shōnagon.)
1. China is a veritable smokestack by virtue of all the cigarettes smoked by the general population. Smoking seems to be very vogue right now, especially amongst the men. Bah, I detest smoke and it made the trip a bit less enjoyable at times. Especially vexing is the fact that any place is fair game for smokers. There is no refuge from it! Even our hotel rooms in some places would have traces of the fumes from the previous customer. If it does not reform, China will have the largest population of lung cancer patients.
2. The Chinese enjoy people watching and they make no efforts to hide it. If you look like a foreigner, they will stare at you. The brave ones may start guessing your ethnicity aloud to see if you will respond to tell them if they are correct or not.
3. The Chinese do not wait for anything, they just go for it. So none of this polite waiting in line business, if you want something, you better fight for it. Lay aside all notions of respect for the elderly, because those grannies can be aggressive! They don't protest or accuse you of rudeness if you gently, but firmly, shove them aside. If you're not aggressive, you'll never get anywhere or anything.
4. Spitting, or more specifically, hocking a loogie, is a popular habit, right up there with smoking. I don't mind this habit as much as the other one so long as they aim away from me. The government is supposedly trying to eradicate this behavior before the 2008 Olympics. We'll see if they succeed.
5. Popsicles (called "bing'er") are only 1 kuai/yuan, less than $1 USD! Some flavors are more expensive at 1.5 or 2 kuai, but still, less than a dollar! A great treat while traveling during the hotter months in China. Especially in Xian where it's incredibly dry and hot. I'm not sure if popsicle would be the correct term since the flavor I usually got, green bean, isn't really an ice+water treat. But I'm not quite sure exactly what it is made of. Maybe it's the green bean that makes it seem more solid and less water-like.
6. The are travel agents wherever you go when you travel, so if you don't have a hotel or method of transportation, no worries, you can always get a travel agent. They can be found in airports, on trains, and near hotels. It's really convenient if you're playing things by ear. Just make sure you bargain to get a good price.
7. For any sight you want to see in China, you will have to pay an admission fee. Sometimes, as in the case of the Forbidden City, there are parts within the sight that you have to pay an additional fee to see. We didn't feel like forking over additional yuan for a sight that was under construction, but if it were another time perhaps we would have been more inclined.
8. Like many Asian countries (with Japan maybe being an exception), you cannot flush any paper products down the toilet, this includes toilet paper. Since Taiwan is like this, I'm used to it, but some of my travel mates were unaware of this and as a result, clogged their toilet, which was a weak flusher to begin with. Also, toilet paper is not available in all public restrooms, so you should come armed with your own. When toilet paper is provided, the rolls are so small so you must be conservative in your use of them, unless you brought an ample supply. (Thanks to Matt and Abe who supplied the group with our TP needs.)
9. You should not drink the tap water in China. Hotels usually provide either a water cooler or a water cooker. Check the water cooker to make sure it looks clean and in good order. Bottled water is readily available and can be as cheap as 1 or 1.5 kuai.
10. When shopping or reserving a hotel or a bus, always bargain, you will most likely get a lower price than what you were quoted. If possible, have a native Chinese person with you as they will be able to get a lower quote by virtue of their accent and then they can put their bargaining skills to use (thanks Hao!).
11. If you are a pedestrian in China you must learn to not fear death as cars will not yield to you and you are on your own when crossing the street. You will learn that cars will dodge you, but you should not abuse this fact. Just watch the natives and copy what they do.
12. Traffic laws don't exist in China. Okay, they do, but they're not really enforced. Two cars can be in the same lane at the same time, or sometimes a car will drive on the shoulder to pass the slower cars, everything seems to be fair game. Oh, and did I mention that seat belts are not worn?
13. Beijing is a clean and modern city, different from what I expected. Chengdu is also a modern city and has ample internet cafes, unlike Beijing. Xian is really hot and dry, and probably my least favorite place of all the cities we visited in terms of the weather. The terracotta soldiers were interesting though.
14. Be very careful of the food you eat in China as it can make you extremely sick. The irony for us was that it was the food in an upscale, well-known restaurant that made is incredibly ill, not the food from the shadier places at which we ate. Acidophilus pills can only do so much. If possible, carry antibiotics with you, like Cipro. And should you find yourself with gastric distress, go visit the local Chinese pharmacy as they carry effective medicine and since it is herb-based, it has no side-effects.
15. Oh, going back to traffic-related items, drivers in China use the horn quite liberally. If one is changing lanes, the horn is used. If one is passing a slower car, the horn is used. If the car in front does not move immediately when the light is green, the horn is used. For almost any reason, the horn is used, thus resulting in a cacophony of car horns 24/7 in nearly every place we visited. It's incredible how much the horn is used. Makes me appreciate the more conservative use of it in the D.C. metro area. However, there usually isn't any ire coupled with the horn usage, unlike in the States.
1. China is a veritable smokestack by virtue of all the cigarettes smoked by the general population. Smoking seems to be very vogue right now, especially amongst the men. Bah, I detest smoke and it made the trip a bit less enjoyable at times. Especially vexing is the fact that any place is fair game for smokers. There is no refuge from it! Even our hotel rooms in some places would have traces of the fumes from the previous customer. If it does not reform, China will have the largest population of lung cancer patients.
2. The Chinese enjoy people watching and they make no efforts to hide it. If you look like a foreigner, they will stare at you. The brave ones may start guessing your ethnicity aloud to see if you will respond to tell them if they are correct or not.
3. The Chinese do not wait for anything, they just go for it. So none of this polite waiting in line business, if you want something, you better fight for it. Lay aside all notions of respect for the elderly, because those grannies can be aggressive! They don't protest or accuse you of rudeness if you gently, but firmly, shove them aside. If you're not aggressive, you'll never get anywhere or anything.
4. Spitting, or more specifically, hocking a loogie, is a popular habit, right up there with smoking. I don't mind this habit as much as the other one so long as they aim away from me. The government is supposedly trying to eradicate this behavior before the 2008 Olympics. We'll see if they succeed.
5. Popsicles (called "bing'er") are only 1 kuai/yuan, less than $1 USD! Some flavors are more expensive at 1.5 or 2 kuai, but still, less than a dollar! A great treat while traveling during the hotter months in China. Especially in Xian where it's incredibly dry and hot. I'm not sure if popsicle would be the correct term since the flavor I usually got, green bean, isn't really an ice+water treat. But I'm not quite sure exactly what it is made of. Maybe it's the green bean that makes it seem more solid and less water-like.
6. The are travel agents wherever you go when you travel, so if you don't have a hotel or method of transportation, no worries, you can always get a travel agent. They can be found in airports, on trains, and near hotels. It's really convenient if you're playing things by ear. Just make sure you bargain to get a good price.
7. For any sight you want to see in China, you will have to pay an admission fee. Sometimes, as in the case of the Forbidden City, there are parts within the sight that you have to pay an additional fee to see. We didn't feel like forking over additional yuan for a sight that was under construction, but if it were another time perhaps we would have been more inclined.
8. Like many Asian countries (with Japan maybe being an exception), you cannot flush any paper products down the toilet, this includes toilet paper. Since Taiwan is like this, I'm used to it, but some of my travel mates were unaware of this and as a result, clogged their toilet, which was a weak flusher to begin with. Also, toilet paper is not available in all public restrooms, so you should come armed with your own. When toilet paper is provided, the rolls are so small so you must be conservative in your use of them, unless you brought an ample supply. (Thanks to Matt and Abe who supplied the group with our TP needs.)
9. You should not drink the tap water in China. Hotels usually provide either a water cooler or a water cooker. Check the water cooker to make sure it looks clean and in good order. Bottled water is readily available and can be as cheap as 1 or 1.5 kuai.
10. When shopping or reserving a hotel or a bus, always bargain, you will most likely get a lower price than what you were quoted. If possible, have a native Chinese person with you as they will be able to get a lower quote by virtue of their accent and then they can put their bargaining skills to use (thanks Hao!).
11. If you are a pedestrian in China you must learn to not fear death as cars will not yield to you and you are on your own when crossing the street. You will learn that cars will dodge you, but you should not abuse this fact. Just watch the natives and copy what they do.
12. Traffic laws don't exist in China. Okay, they do, but they're not really enforced. Two cars can be in the same lane at the same time, or sometimes a car will drive on the shoulder to pass the slower cars, everything seems to be fair game. Oh, and did I mention that seat belts are not worn?
13. Beijing is a clean and modern city, different from what I expected. Chengdu is also a modern city and has ample internet cafes, unlike Beijing. Xian is really hot and dry, and probably my least favorite place of all the cities we visited in terms of the weather. The terracotta soldiers were interesting though.
14. Be very careful of the food you eat in China as it can make you extremely sick. The irony for us was that it was the food in an upscale, well-known restaurant that made is incredibly ill, not the food from the shadier places at which we ate. Acidophilus pills can only do so much. If possible, carry antibiotics with you, like Cipro. And should you find yourself with gastric distress, go visit the local Chinese pharmacy as they carry effective medicine and since it is herb-based, it has no side-effects.
15. Oh, going back to traffic-related items, drivers in China use the horn quite liberally. If one is changing lanes, the horn is used. If one is passing a slower car, the horn is used. If the car in front does not move immediately when the light is green, the horn is used. For almost any reason, the horn is used, thus resulting in a cacophony of car horns 24/7 in nearly every place we visited. It's incredible how much the horn is used. Makes me appreciate the more conservative use of it in the D.C. metro area. However, there usually isn't any ire coupled with the horn usage, unlike in the States.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Heaven on Earth?
Juizhaigou
Originally uploaded by mattm3a
Of all the places we visited in China, Jiu Zhai Gou has to be my favorite. It also ranks amongst the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The lakes are rich hues of blue and green that I've never thought possible in nature. When one is able to get away from the hordes of people, it is wonderfully tranquil and the hikes were lovely. Unfortunately, all the lakes are big tourist destinations, so you have to fight for a good photo spot or to even get a good view of the water. However, looking back upon the trip, it's the scenery that I recall, not the crowds. At one of the lakes, we were told that it was a set for the movie "Hero". (If anyone recalls the scene where Jet Li's character fights Tony Leung's character on a lake, that was filmed in JZG as well as some other scenes, possibly.) Anyway, the scenery is truly sublime.
JZG is also home to nine Tibetan tribes, though if I recall correctly, only three tribes currently reside there now. In the center of the park, there is a Tibetan village which is set up to attract tourists to spend their money. There, we ventured into what we thought was a restaurant but discovered that it was the living room of our hostess. We were treated to a traditional Tibetan tea that isn't like any tea I've ever had. It consisted of some sort of power and yak fat mixed with hot water. Our hostess was a young girl (all the people in the JZG area had very clear complexions with ruddy cheeks and looked very young) who spoke Mandarin fluently (apparently learned from watching TV) and had a cheerful disposition. She even welcomed us to stay with her family (JZG visitors are generally not supposed to stay in the reserve), unfortunately our luggage was left at the hotel so we couldn't accept her offer. But when we came on the second day, we returned to visit her and the sample some of the traditional Tibetan snacks like yak and lamb and a type of flat bread (all very delicious).
Visitors have the option of purchasing a one- or two-day pass to Jiu Zhai Gou. We purchased to two-day pass and it was definitely the right decision to make because it would be impossible to see all the spots and do some hiking in one day. For anyone who plans to visit, definitely get the two-day pass. It's more expensive, but so worth the money.
Unfortunately, I am not able to upload my pics so I've stolen the one you see from my fellow travelmate. (Matt, if you want me to take it down, just say the word.)
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly in the Plain
I believe the rainy season has started in Taiwan for it has rained every day since I've arrived. Thankfully, the storms don't usually last long so I can venture out during the day. With the weather so hot and humid, the rain is a blessing since the air cools to a more comfortable temperature. However, I'm a bit reluctant to go out and explore they city when it's wet outside though it seems with the amount it rains, I will have to grin and bear it or else I'll never leave the house! On the other hand, I love having an open window when it rains to let in the cool breeze and to listen to the rain fall. It's especially nice when going to sleep at night, like nature's lullaby.
Yesterday afternoon I set out to explore the sights of Taipei. I was fortunate to have a tourist map of Taipei that I snagged from the TECRO (i.e. Taiwan Embassy, but we're not allowed to call it that because of China) booth when they visited the NIH. First stop was the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (zhong zheng ji nian tang), which I've visited before but on this visit I discovered that there are gardens surrounding the square. The gardens are quite extensive and have an incredible variety of plants native to Taiwan. Apparently, the gardens were constructed to provide schoolchildren with a place where they could study botany. I suppose since Taipei has hardly any greenery in the city (having been cleared out for construction), someone thought to put some back into the city via gardens. It's a nice oasis and one forgets that one is in a bustling city while strolling through.
The next place I visited was the Taipei Botanical Gardens. Again, a huge diversity of plants can be found and it's a very quiet place to get away from the city. I'm not a amateur botanist or gardener of any sort, but it was really nice to walk and commune with nature.
Yesterday evening I cooked my first meal. I bought some brown rice, broccoli, and olive oil as well as what appears to be yellow watermelon (yellow fruit instead of pink). Brown rice requires different prep and cooking methods than white rice so I have yet to get a hang of it. The broccoli was no trouble at all since I'm used to stir-frying vegetables. Unlike the States, Taiwan has open air fresh produce markets. I did all my grocery shopping at a Welcome grocery store yesterday, but I will inquire about any nearby produce markets since they are bound to have cheaper, and possibly fresher, produce.
I do understand why my cousin and his wife seldom cook though. It requires time which is something they don't have with their work schedule. They go to work at around 8 or 9 AM and don't return until about 7 or 8 PM. It is not too different from the schedule young professionals have in the U.S. Plus, eating out is very convenient in Taipei as there are restaurants and food vendors galore. It's also cheap if you purchase most of your meals from the street or from cheap home-style restaurants rather than established chains or more upscale eateries.
I'd have to say that Taiwanese are some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. It's definitely a good country to visit if you're a foreigner because they will be happy to help you if you are lost or if you have any questions, they are more than willing to answer. I've found the employees of the local convenience stores to be very helpful since they know this area better than I do and have been able to direct me to anywhere I need to go. Also, yesterday, when I was doing some sightseeing, I had stopped outside the metro station to get my bearings when a lady stopped and asked if I needed directions. I suppose I must have looked lost, but it was nice of her to offer help without my asking. With her directions, I was able to find the gardens with no problem at all. Granted, you shouldn't go blindly trusting everyone you meet, but so long as you exercise common sense and caution, I think one will find that there are many friends to be made when visiting Taiwan.
Yesterday afternoon I set out to explore the sights of Taipei. I was fortunate to have a tourist map of Taipei that I snagged from the TECRO (i.e. Taiwan Embassy, but we're not allowed to call it that because of China) booth when they visited the NIH. First stop was the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (zhong zheng ji nian tang), which I've visited before but on this visit I discovered that there are gardens surrounding the square. The gardens are quite extensive and have an incredible variety of plants native to Taiwan. Apparently, the gardens were constructed to provide schoolchildren with a place where they could study botany. I suppose since Taipei has hardly any greenery in the city (having been cleared out for construction), someone thought to put some back into the city via gardens. It's a nice oasis and one forgets that one is in a bustling city while strolling through.
The next place I visited was the Taipei Botanical Gardens. Again, a huge diversity of plants can be found and it's a very quiet place to get away from the city. I'm not a amateur botanist or gardener of any sort, but it was really nice to walk and commune with nature.
Yesterday evening I cooked my first meal. I bought some brown rice, broccoli, and olive oil as well as what appears to be yellow watermelon (yellow fruit instead of pink). Brown rice requires different prep and cooking methods than white rice so I have yet to get a hang of it. The broccoli was no trouble at all since I'm used to stir-frying vegetables. Unlike the States, Taiwan has open air fresh produce markets. I did all my grocery shopping at a Welcome grocery store yesterday, but I will inquire about any nearby produce markets since they are bound to have cheaper, and possibly fresher, produce.
I do understand why my cousin and his wife seldom cook though. It requires time which is something they don't have with their work schedule. They go to work at around 8 or 9 AM and don't return until about 7 or 8 PM. It is not too different from the schedule young professionals have in the U.S. Plus, eating out is very convenient in Taipei as there are restaurants and food vendors galore. It's also cheap if you purchase most of your meals from the street or from cheap home-style restaurants rather than established chains or more upscale eateries.
I'd have to say that Taiwanese are some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. It's definitely a good country to visit if you're a foreigner because they will be happy to help you if you are lost or if you have any questions, they are more than willing to answer. I've found the employees of the local convenience stores to be very helpful since they know this area better than I do and have been able to direct me to anywhere I need to go. Also, yesterday, when I was doing some sightseeing, I had stopped outside the metro station to get my bearings when a lady stopped and asked if I needed directions. I suppose I must have looked lost, but it was nice of her to offer help without my asking. With her directions, I was able to find the gardens with no problem at all. Granted, you shouldn't go blindly trusting everyone you meet, but so long as you exercise common sense and caution, I think one will find that there are many friends to be made when visiting Taiwan.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Home away from home
I may be ethnically Han Chinese like the many millions of people in China, but I realized after my trip to China, that Taiwan will always be my home away from home. I speak Chinese with a Taiwanese accent, I am familiar with Taiwanese food (and love eating it!), and most of my relatives here. I feel more at ease here than I did in China, but that may be because I'm more familiar with this country and I have the convenience of family relations to rely upon. It may just be me, but I feel like Taiwanese people are very warm, friendly people, moreso than Chinese and I don't have to always be worried about being cheated out of my money. Granted, as in any foreign city, one must exercise common sense and caution, but I've settled fairly quickly into life in Taiwan.
China is supposedly known for having some of the best food on earth, especially in the Chengdu region. While I had great food in China, I would venture to say that Taiwan has much better food. (Granted, I could be biased.) I was chatting with the ladies at the local 7-Eleven and one of them asked me, "So what do you feel like is the one thing you must do in Taiwan?" to which I quickly replied, "To eat all of the Taiwanese food!" She said, "I knew it! Everyone knows that in Taiwan you must eat the food."
While people do own cars in Taiwan, mopeds are still quite popular, especially with young people who don't have too much money. Yesterday, I went with my cousin as he ran some errands and he decided to take the moped since it was just the two of us. At first, I was a bit nervous to ride on the back of a motorized bike but it's really fun and I'm debating whether or not to try driving it myself. Most likely not, since I don't want to be responsible for damaging or losing something that belongs to my cousin. Taipei is a pedestrian-friendly city so I plan on walking or taking the subway. The subway system here is really nice and quite extensive as well as user friendly. It's one of the reasons I decided I should be fine studying abroad in Taipei for the summer. Without the MRT, I may have been less inclined to do so. The MRT has signs in English and Chinese, so one doesn't need to know Mandarin to get around, though it definitely helps to know the language.
I haven't done anything really exciting since arriving in Taipei, but since classes begin this week, I should have more to report later in the week.
China is supposedly known for having some of the best food on earth, especially in the Chengdu region. While I had great food in China, I would venture to say that Taiwan has much better food. (Granted, I could be biased.) I was chatting with the ladies at the local 7-Eleven and one of them asked me, "So what do you feel like is the one thing you must do in Taiwan?" to which I quickly replied, "To eat all of the Taiwanese food!" She said, "I knew it! Everyone knows that in Taiwan you must eat the food."
While people do own cars in Taiwan, mopeds are still quite popular, especially with young people who don't have too much money. Yesterday, I went with my cousin as he ran some errands and he decided to take the moped since it was just the two of us. At first, I was a bit nervous to ride on the back of a motorized bike but it's really fun and I'm debating whether or not to try driving it myself. Most likely not, since I don't want to be responsible for damaging or losing something that belongs to my cousin. Taipei is a pedestrian-friendly city so I plan on walking or taking the subway. The subway system here is really nice and quite extensive as well as user friendly. It's one of the reasons I decided I should be fine studying abroad in Taipei for the summer. Without the MRT, I may have been less inclined to do so. The MRT has signs in English and Chinese, so one doesn't need to know Mandarin to get around, though it definitely helps to know the language.
I haven't done anything really exciting since arriving in Taipei, but since classes begin this week, I should have more to report later in the week.
It's because we all look alike
I never thought I looked anything other than Chinese until I went abroad to China and Taiwan. Perhaps it is because non-Asians may find it difficult to distinguish the different ethnicities that there was never a question that I looked Chinese until now. However, even with my Asian friends, I never was told that I didn't look Chinese. I thought I'd be amongst my kind in China and Taiwan but it doesn't seem to be the case. I suppose in China, it is because my accent is Taiwanese so when I speak, they can tell I'm a foreigner. Also, as much as I tried to blend in with the locals, my clothes did flag me as a non-native. That and probably the huge backpack I lugged around. >_<
The first day in China, as we walked around Beijing to find our way to our hotel, the more daring of the Chinese people in the streets would call out in Mandarin, "Are you from Japan? From Korea?" It's either Japanese or Korean, though I was considered to be Korean most of the time. My Beijing friend says it's because of my pale skin, which I didn't think would be too unusual since many Chinese celebrities are super pale but I guess I'm wrong. I think the Chinese are less likely to guess Japanese because China and Japan don't have a very good relationship and it's quite common for Korean students to come to China to study Mandarin.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, since Taiwan and Japan have a fairly good relationship and Japan occupied Taiwan for a bit, the natives are more inclined to guess I'm Japanese than Korean. Not that I care that much about what ethnicity people think I am, but it is rather amusing. I guess I'll always be a foreigner no matter what country I am in.
The first day in China, as we walked around Beijing to find our way to our hotel, the more daring of the Chinese people in the streets would call out in Mandarin, "Are you from Japan? From Korea?" It's either Japanese or Korean, though I was considered to be Korean most of the time. My Beijing friend says it's because of my pale skin, which I didn't think would be too unusual since many Chinese celebrities are super pale but I guess I'm wrong. I think the Chinese are less likely to guess Japanese because China and Japan don't have a very good relationship and it's quite common for Korean students to come to China to study Mandarin.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, since Taiwan and Japan have a fairly good relationship and Japan occupied Taiwan for a bit, the natives are more inclined to guess I'm Japanese than Korean. Not that I care that much about what ethnicity people think I am, but it is rather amusing. I guess I'll always be a foreigner no matter what country I am in.
Recap of China trip, part deux
I'm writing from the comfort of my cousin's living room in Taipei, Taiwan. It's nice to finally be in a somewhat permanent state of residence, rather than always changing hotels as we did in China. I thought I might be tired of being a foreigner after the China trip, but I think I've adjusted quickly to life in Taiwan and so I don't feel homesick yet.
So, the remainder of the China trip:
5/24
Three members of the group are fairly ill with food poisoning. Myself and another are sick but not as serious and one is completely fine. The healthier ones venture out to find drinks and light food at Carrefour. Since I was the only one of the group that ventured out who had Mandarin knowledge, I was in charge of finding the way to Carrefour (a Wal-Mart-like store). Spent about 15 minutes staring at the advertisement on the road to figure out the directions (cursed simplified script! I'm familiar with traditional characters only!). Tried asking for directions but the girl I asked wasn't very helpful and told me I should take a taxi. >_<>_<
-From Xian train station we catch a taxi to our 3-star hotel in Xian. A really nice change of pace after some of the hotels in which we stayed. The ranking system in China isn't on par with the one in the U.S.. I'm not sure what category Holiday Inn falls into, but I would say a Chinese 3-star hotel is comparable to a Holiday Inn.
-Eat dinner at nearby restaurant
-Return to hotel to rest after an exhausting day. One member of the group goes to get a foot massage. He discovers the massage place is a cover for "other services". He runs away after getting foot massage.
5/28
-Eat breakfast at hotel
-Walk around Xian, go tour Bei Lin/Stone tablet forest (a misnomer since all the tablets have been moved indoors)
-Eat lunch at a Taiwan-style restaurant. Lesson: don't eat Taiwan-style food in China, it's nothing like Taiwan food and not that good either.
-Hao has digital camera stolen out of his pocket while purchasing popsicle from a stand. China's pickpockets are very skilled; even though he felt the hand in his pocket and responded as quickly as possible, the camera was already gone. Probably passed onto another partner or two. Ironically, Hao is the only native Chinese person of the group.
-Kill time in hotel lobby while friend files police report. There isn't much one can do when something is stolen and the likelihood of getting back the camera is slim.
-Take overnight sleeper train from Xian to Beijing. The sleeper car was actually quite nice (either that or anything is better than the bus we had just taken). The hard sleeper (or did we take the soft sleeper?) consists of a small compartment with three bunks per wall, one on the left wall and one on the right. Not a lot of space, but since you're supposed to be sleeping, it wasn't a big deal.
5/29
-Arrive in Beijing in the morning. Find a cheap hotel in the Qian Men area. It has Western-style toilets and a/c, but we later discover the a/c didn't work that well and the shower had no hot water. By this point we only had a few days left in China so we decide to just deal with what we had. At least there was a roof over our heads.
-Met up with Marcus who is currently studying Chinese in Beijing. He took us to Houhai, where we ate delicious Yunnan food in a restaurant in a hutong as well as hung out on the rooftop of one of the bars nearby. Houhai seems to be a bar district, with lots of places to go out at night. We saw a number of foreigners and young people about in the evening. I really enjoyed Houhai and walking through the hutongs. It was a different side of China that I hadn't seen yet since most of the things we did were more outdoorsy nature activities. Thanks to Marcus for showing us around and treating us to dinner!
5/30
-Shopping day! We go to Sanlitun to a popular mall where many foreigners shop so the vendors all speak some English. It was very amusing to watch non-Chinese speakers bargain with the salespeople. I discovered the thrill of bargaining. I also discover that salespeople can tell right away if you're a foreigner and will try to get the most money out of you as possible. My proudest accomplishment is getting a lady to sell me a 150 yuan skirt for 50 yuan.
-We're treated to dinner by one of Hao's friends at a restaurant on the campus of Beijing University (Bei Da). We say good-bye to Hao's friends, who we've met during our time in China.
5/31
-I'm the first one to leave since I had a morning flight out of Beijing to Hong Kong and then Taiwan. Hail a taxi by myself for the first time. Flight from Beijing to Taipei was a bit of an adventure in itself. But that's another post.
Time for bed! Will hopefully go into more detail later. I just wanted to get the general events of the China trip down before I forget them.
So, the remainder of the China trip:
5/24
Three members of the group are fairly ill with food poisoning. Myself and another are sick but not as serious and one is completely fine. The healthier ones venture out to find drinks and light food at Carrefour. Since I was the only one of the group that ventured out who had Mandarin knowledge, I was in charge of finding the way to Carrefour (a Wal-Mart-like store). Spent about 15 minutes staring at the advertisement on the road to figure out the directions (cursed simplified script! I'm familiar with traditional characters only!). Tried asking for directions but the girl I asked wasn't very helpful and told me I should take a taxi. >_<>_<
-From Xian train station we catch a taxi to our 3-star hotel in Xian. A really nice change of pace after some of the hotels in which we stayed. The ranking system in China isn't on par with the one in the U.S.. I'm not sure what category Holiday Inn falls into, but I would say a Chinese 3-star hotel is comparable to a Holiday Inn.
-Eat dinner at nearby restaurant
-Return to hotel to rest after an exhausting day. One member of the group goes to get a foot massage. He discovers the massage place is a cover for "other services". He runs away after getting foot massage.
5/28
-Eat breakfast at hotel
-Walk around Xian, go tour Bei Lin/Stone tablet forest (a misnomer since all the tablets have been moved indoors)
-Eat lunch at a Taiwan-style restaurant. Lesson: don't eat Taiwan-style food in China, it's nothing like Taiwan food and not that good either.
-Hao has digital camera stolen out of his pocket while purchasing popsicle from a stand. China's pickpockets are very skilled; even though he felt the hand in his pocket and responded as quickly as possible, the camera was already gone. Probably passed onto another partner or two. Ironically, Hao is the only native Chinese person of the group.
-Kill time in hotel lobby while friend files police report. There isn't much one can do when something is stolen and the likelihood of getting back the camera is slim.
-Take overnight sleeper train from Xian to Beijing. The sleeper car was actually quite nice (either that or anything is better than the bus we had just taken). The hard sleeper (or did we take the soft sleeper?) consists of a small compartment with three bunks per wall, one on the left wall and one on the right. Not a lot of space, but since you're supposed to be sleeping, it wasn't a big deal.
5/29
-Arrive in Beijing in the morning. Find a cheap hotel in the Qian Men area. It has Western-style toilets and a/c, but we later discover the a/c didn't work that well and the shower had no hot water. By this point we only had a few days left in China so we decide to just deal with what we had. At least there was a roof over our heads.
-Met up with Marcus who is currently studying Chinese in Beijing. He took us to Houhai, where we ate delicious Yunnan food in a restaurant in a hutong as well as hung out on the rooftop of one of the bars nearby. Houhai seems to be a bar district, with lots of places to go out at night. We saw a number of foreigners and young people about in the evening. I really enjoyed Houhai and walking through the hutongs. It was a different side of China that I hadn't seen yet since most of the things we did were more outdoorsy nature activities. Thanks to Marcus for showing us around and treating us to dinner!
5/30
-Shopping day! We go to Sanlitun to a popular mall where many foreigners shop so the vendors all speak some English. It was very amusing to watch non-Chinese speakers bargain with the salespeople. I discovered the thrill of bargaining. I also discover that salespeople can tell right away if you're a foreigner and will try to get the most money out of you as possible. My proudest accomplishment is getting a lady to sell me a 150 yuan skirt for 50 yuan.
-We're treated to dinner by one of Hao's friends at a restaurant on the campus of Beijing University (Bei Da). We say good-bye to Hao's friends, who we've met during our time in China.
5/31
-I'm the first one to leave since I had a morning flight out of Beijing to Hong Kong and then Taiwan. Hail a taxi by myself for the first time. Flight from Beijing to Taipei was a bit of an adventure in itself. But that's another post.
Time for bed! Will hopefully go into more detail later. I just wanted to get the general events of the China trip down before I forget them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)