I'll Get You My Pretties...

Yesterday we went to the Salem Witch Museum. It was pretty cool actually, if a TEENSY bit cheesy. There's a reasonably informative presentation about the Salem witch trials in 1692, some background stuff about witches and Wiccans etc etc, and then you can buy a bunch of witch-themed crap in the gift store.

Salem is gorgeous (everything in MA is) and there are so many beautiful buildings I am completely satisfied.

After that we went into Boston (finally!) for a look round. Rachel and Caroline wanted to go to Chinatown! It was a bit soon for me. I just wanted to see Boston stuff - not bubble tea and steamed buns. Anyway, it's all good. We did both.

I'm getting myself together a bit - I opened a bank account and got a cellphone yesterday, so I am on the grid. The guy in the bank was rather bemused by the 3 of us, I think. We stormed his office, C&R ate all his lollipops, and for some reason he was convinced we were sisters. Yeah. Because we're practically identical. Whatever - the upshot is, I'm no longer nervous about carrying around large amounts of cash.

The only thing I can think of that I saw that amused me was a liquor store called Bunghole's. Wish I'd been able to take a photo, but we were in the car. Next time, I promise!

Tsai Jien Taiwan, Helloooooo America

Hi All - I survived it. The flight was predictably tedious, but I guess my decision to go out drinking and just stay up until it was time to go to the airport didn't help much. Hey - you only live once, right?? I'd like to thank my reprobate friends for assisting me in my foolish endeavours....

I got stuck in Texas for 2 hours longer than I wanted (airplane issues) so by the time we landed in Boston it was well past midnight and I was bug-eyed from 2 days without sleep.

Caroline and Rachel were huddled in a corner of the airport, scoffing Dunkin' Donuts and holding fluoro welcome signs that fortunately they didn't have time to wave because I surprised them!

A long drive back to Essex, and then I was tucked up in bed in Caroline's folks' house. It's so cute you'd want to curl up and die. I'll put up photos at some point.

Yesterday we drove around the top bit of Massachusetts, ooing and aaahing at old houses and beautiful trees. We drove through New Hampshire and Maine and went shopping at this weird town that seemed to be nothing but outlet malls, then had a typically gigantic American dinner at this all-day breakfast place in Portsmouth.

It's all kind of surreal right now. Such a complete change from Taipei. I can't honestly say I miss Taiwan, but I'm certainly feeling the loss of people there.

Today I'm determined to do at least one practical thing towards getting myself set up here, so I'll post later.

Sorry it's not funny - turns out, when places are beautiful and relaxing, there isn't a lot to be cynical about! Well - not yet anyway. I could definitely comment on the size of the bottoms around here, but who wants to hear about that? We already know who ate all the pies.

Last Day in Taipei!

Tomorrow's it, folks. New adventures await me. I've only got 2 more sleeps, 2 more hours teaching, 1 lunch, 1 drinks, 1 dinner, 1 adventure and maybe 3 more taxi rides to go.

I moved out of the bat-cave on Wednesday, which went very smoothly, and now I'm staying at my friend Kevin's house for a few days. It's stinking hot all the time because he's only got aircon in his bedroom, and the bed in the spare room is harder than a rock in a snit. Roll on Boston... (just in case Kevin ever reads this; thanks for letting me stay, mate! You're the best!)

I'm packing large amounts of American currency, my bags are mostly packed and I am ready to hit the road.

It might be a while before I'm a-bloggin' again, so try to make do until I think up something new to say.

The Last Week

Finally, it's here. My last week in Taiwan. I've got so much to organise it's ridiculous, but I'm sure it'll all get done. Well - it has to really, doesn't it?

Annie and I had our goodbye party on Saturday night, which was good I think. I had a good time, anyway!

And now I have piles of children to churn through, dan pings to scoff, things to give away, boxes to haul to the post office, cheques to cash, suitcases to stuff, rubbish to toss, and a sprouting garlic to euthanise.

Then it's BOSTON, BABY!!!

Green Thumbs

Turns out I haven't done the dishes in a while, because there's a sprouting garlic growing out of the food trap in my kitchen sink!

I'm reminded of my revered mother, and the time she managed to grow a mushroom in our bathroom...

I guess there's no denying the genetics!

A Note to my Fan

Dear Reader

I hear you can't read the green style blog very well, so I have changed to this rather dashing alternative instead.

I hope it suits!

Jody xxx

Ruminating a Little

As I rode the bus home this evening, gripping a seat back for dear life while its occupant pretended to be asleep so she couldn't be shamed into standing up for the old lady standing next to me, I started to think a little about the past year in Taiwan.

Most of the time, I think "thank goodness the end is nigh" or "nice try Taiwan, but I live to cross another road" or "WTF does he think he is doing?".

But yesterday I was freaking out a little. Not that I want to stay, but routine is nice, you know? And now I have to run around like a headless chicken getting organised to go, only to have to hit the ground running in Boston for fear I get run over by American traffic, or end up jobless and homeless, standing around a burning trash barrel and fighting some guy called Jed for the last of the rum.

Some things about Taiwan are really great. And some I am fond of, in a "oh aren't they retarded but sweet" kind of way.

Great things: dan-ping. And the MRT. And I hate to say it, but the 7-11s on every corner really are convenient!

Retarded but sweet: The way they manipulate bamboo into freaky shapes and then decorate it with red and gold bows. Their unnatural fondness for red beans and rice "treats". Their belief that playing basketball will make you grow taller, and if you punch yourself repeatedly in the thighs, you'll be thin.

Things I have NO time for and have driven me crazy: the peasant-like stares of 99% of the population as I go about my daily business. The way they grind their kids into the ground with work. Their selfish and clannish mentality and how that translates on a daily basis. Think: Driving around an injured scooter rider who's just been bowled by a car, because they don't know him. Keeping large dogs in cramped inner city apartments because if they are seen with a large dog, people will think they are rich and can afford a big place to keep it. Rarely the case.

I could go on and on and fill up all the left-over space on the internet, but I won't.