Finally, after 10 weeks of waiting, we now have fast internet in the apartment. Ironically, I am sitting in the same position on the corner of my bed, where the old bootleg wireless connection was strongest.
Now I need a desk and chair and finally I’ll get my room in a state I am happy with.
Happy Happy Joy Joy!
One thing that I have realised is that my life back home is as exotic for the locals as it is the other way around. So many assumptions and stereotypes have been squashed by by time here … and an equal number reinforced! And it is of course funny to talk to them to hear what their views on what our lives are like back in Europe.
Michael sent me some great photos from my time at Asus which are worth putting up – I am waiting for my new camera, so have to make do with others’ images for now.
The new job is going well, and I am learning to work in a smaller, faster team again. It is not without its problems, but the opportunities are exciting. And there are some great people there to enjoy lunch with. More on that some time!
… I’ll finish this post some time. I now have my camera and need to add some photos!
Writing is rather sporadic at the moment – no internet connection at home at the moment, which is a bit of a pain.
However, last night was the momentous event of being able to cook for the first time in a whole year! I now have a kitchen and want to get back into the habit of cooking for myself. Slightly rusty in the supermarket as a result of being catered for for a year now, I seem incapable of buying things for cooking. I still managed to escape from the place with a pack of spaghetti, some garlic and olive oil, plus the closest thing I could get to a courgette.
Unfortunately, I ended up frying a cucumber, but still it tasted good and I appreciated it alongside a nice glass of red wine in the new apartment, which is slowly getting better.
I’ll post some other events soon. My digital camera is off for repair and I am weighing up buying a new one instead. The humidity of Taiwan destroys electronics, and in my case the menu buttons have stopped functioning, which is handy.
Various frustrations, plus the prospect of a new job made the decision logical, if not entirely easy. I will, of course, be leaving behind my dearest friends in Taiwan and a group that has warmly welcomed me to Taiwan. But the time is right to move on.
I’ll be starting at DEM, working as an Industrial Designer under Michael Young. I’ll be working with Lorenzo again and I think I should be learning an enormous amount in the coming months. Check the links below for some more information:
I’ll post some more information soon, but for now that is enough … I am also moving apartmant this week, so some real life upgrades here in Taiwan!
My last ever Gon Bao Ji Ding (Kung Po Chicken)
I have display rather strange behaviour once every few months. I think other people go through the same things, but it is useful to be aware of it. I seem to work on a cycle of once every few months going into a deep spot lasting a few days, where I am terribly anxious, a touch paranoid about things, unable to plan and very sensitive about my friends out here. I also become withdrawn and tend not to communicate these feelings back home to HQ. The result of lots of tensions building up, concerns about work, feeling a long way away from home, friends and family, and generally a little out of control – it is rather unpleasant. But it does pass. And for reference, I wanted to put this down so I can see it next time!
I signed today for another year at Asus in Taiwan. One year already? Amazing!
I had already met some of July’s family the previous weekend, but this was a regular large group reunion for some of the cousins and extended family. So, quite a high stakes affair and a chance to meet July’s father. Yikes!
All was smooth, however, and I had a great time. The food was good and I did language exchange with July’s improbably cute cousins. I became their new play station, and was asked at the end if I could possibly move into their apartment because they wanted to see more of me … so I passed an important test!
Nosh – a hot soup where you add ingredients as you like. I had done a similar thing with Michael some time ago, but this was much better with the guidance of some people who knew what they were doing (ie: we did not set fire to anything this time).
Nio Nio – a delight
… and plus Ge Ge
I was asked to appear in an advert by a friend last week. I could not turn it down as it sounded pertty hilarious and worth the extra money. In the end it turns out it was for Philips Home Theatre systems. Being ordered around in Chinese was massively confusing and I kept on trying not to say ‘Suntory Time’ – just like Bill Murray. For reference, I was supposd to be a jazzy dude listening to a band in his living room…. I think I was more ‘twat in a hat.’
Work it baby
It had been a fantastic, fantastic week with my parents here – I really appreciated their visit.
We had a very relaxing train ride back to Taipei and followed it up with a rather splendid curry at my local joint – surprisingly good. I walked them up to their hotel along the river and we said a rather wrenching goodbye. I had just got used to having them around and all of a sudden they were going again, which was simply not fair.
Goodbye from HsinSiang Station and Taiwan!