Who invented the Roundabout?--Traffic in Taiwan

Things I've learned while biking/scootering around:

1. All "right of way" really means is--don't get hit.
2. It's ok to drive the wrong way down a one-way street as long as you're facing the right direction and going in reverse. If you're on a scooter, even that doesn't matter.
3. It's ok to drive reverse anywhere.
4. If you bump someone or someone bumps you, it's ok to drive away.
5. If you're driving next to a bus, it WILL change lanes--so MOVE.
6. The right lane is the sidewalk.
7. Medians are only slightly bumpier than the shoulder, er, I mean the scooter lane.
8. A 50cc scooter can hit 90km/hr if you try really hard.
9. It's a good idea for pedestrians to wear helmets too.
10. It's ok to stop traffic to make a three-point turn.

Finally, un-traffic related--you know you're used to a place when it's 31 or 32 C (88 or 90 F) in your apartment and it's still not hot enough to turn on the air-conditioning. You only think I'm exaggerating.

**I've also posted pictures of my kids, and of the infamous farewell party. Although we can't remember it very well (In fact, I can't remember it at all), at least we'll always have the pictures.

Overcoming Language Barriers

We have a strict no Chinese policy in our classes and so the kids come up with all sorts of ways to tell you what they mean....

On one of my last days with my baby classes (I've since taken on an adult ESL class and had to give my babies up), Titus, featured above, gave me one of those priceless teaching moments that convince you that real life is inifinitely more entertaining than movies and sitcoms and that these absolute little personalities are the best of the bunch.

He was all like-- Teacha Teacha my tummy is so ouch!
Me-- Titus, what's wrong? Do you need to go to the bathroom?
(Titus shakes his head)-- No, no. But Teacha, my stomach is so this! So ouch!
Me-- Well, Titus, I can't really do anything about it, but if you need to, you can go to the bathroom.
Titus: No Teacher, it's this

At this point, Titus squats down, holds both arms stiffly to his sides, and says, "Teacha I can't this"--squints up his eyes and lets out an extended grunt.

I about died. And then I told him he should eat more fruit.


Stay posted for pictures of all my A1 darlings. There are some favorites.

Snakes on Crack

Seeing as how I'm a blogger now, I feel it's only appropriate to put in my two cents on Snakes on a Plane. Basically, if you haven't seen it, you really should. It's wildly entertaining, and fully deserves all the buzz it got and is getting. The whole sequence when the snakes start popping out of every crevice on the plane was glorious. The entire thing is deliciously ludicrous with enough nudity and gore thrown in to please anyone. It totally made me want to hop out of my seat and search for the nearest illegal exotic snake dealer. And I'd watch the movie again if movies in Hsinchu weren't $9 a pop. Unfortunately, at $9/ticket, I've only been able to watch the very best cinema has to offer: Miami Vice and Snakes on a Plane.