The View from Taiwan: Fox Paws and Snafus

The last couple of days have put me in such a good mood that I thought I'd stop talking about myself, and instead point to an interesting article by Taiwan-guru Michael Turton: The View from Taiwan: Fox Paws and Snafus.

Even if you're like me and not much a political person, read the story about the US's nuclear fuse snafu, and the 'dam' follow-up article. Guaranteed to tickle your funny bone.

It's been a good day

First, I heard from a dear friend with whom I hadn't spoken in quite a long time.

Next, I received my passport back today with my Taiwanese visa. The whole process, including mail time, took only 4 days!

Then, just a few minutes ago, I received an email from the college transcript evaluator, who hand-pulled my diploma from the stack that was to be signed by the college President, and assured me that I'd have it no later than tomorrow.

This weekend I'm going to visit the friend mentioned above. I can hardly wait!

Going, going...

[squeal]I leave for Taiwan on April 14th![/squeal]

Stuff people like

Found these two blogs today. Some people love 'em, some hate 'em, but everyone, it seems, has an opinion about 'em.

Stuff White People Like
and
Stuff Educated Black People Like

Taiwan Update: I will be leaving in the next 3-4 weeks. I'll post more details as I know them.

Almost surreal

My About Me tag, over there to the right, says that I'm "concentrating on completing the necessary steps to be teaching English in Taiwan by 2008." It looks like that will soon be a reality.

I'll be leaving for Taiwan in early April. Once I'm there I will be following up on interview requests. I'll also be roaming the streets, hurling my CV at any and all possible employers.

As I fill out my visa application, things are feeling surreal. I mean, this is what I've dreamed and planned for the past year, and now it's becoming real. I'm indebted to my family and friends here who have supported me in my endeavor. I'm also grateful for my new friends Marc & Zenny, who are graciously providing me a soft-landing in Taiwan. Also Jim, whom I met while in TESOL training in San Francisco, and whom I'm looking forward to seeing again once he returns to Taipei in the summer.

I plan to use this blog as a means of sharing with friends and family my experiences while living and working on "The Beautiful Island." Hopefully I'll become more regular with my postings!

Still sick

March came in like a lion for me. I have the flu. I haven't been this sick since I was hospitalized with pneumonia in 2001. Since Friday it's been nonstop fever, horrible body aches, congestion, the regular flu stuff. The worst part has been the fever, because it produces these sharp pains in my head and back every few seconds, and my heart would pound like it was coming out of my chest and neck when I lay down. Sleeping has not been easy. Today is the first day I've been on the computer, because my fever finally went down. My chest feels like it someone is sitting on it, but at least I can finally sleep and I'm not in a feverish fog all day. I'm still really weak, so that's it for now.