Updates from Taiwan (2)

Thanks to the connections here, I visited the Forensic labs under the Ministry of Justice and Taipei City Police, and also the Police University and its rather impressive museum. One of the Uni professors showed us around and kindly bought me a couple of toy police cars as souvenirs. At first he wanted to give policeman models, but upon hearing from a colleague that I have a thing for toy cars, he decided to give me the car models instead! Actually I'm currently collecting Mini Coopers only but I like toy cars of any sort hehe. Also amassed a tiny fleet of Minis on this trip! Post pics later...

Last week I rode pillion on a scooter for the first time when a colleague here decided out of the blue that we should go climb up a hill to catch a full view of Taipei City. We went to 象山 which was quite near the office. The ride was kinda scary at first even though we didn't go at a very fast speed! We got to the bottom of the hill and started our ascent by foot...a bit tiring at first but manageable. Abt motorbikes/scooters, Taipei is practically overflowing with them...it's very easy to get a licence. Girls on motorbikes very 型, but i'd rather have a car anytime...

Then one colleague brought me on the Ferris Wheel to see the night view of Taipei City...another wanted to bring me to Yang Ming Shan last Sun but the weather was horrible so we went to some hilly areas in 桃園 instead. Still, it was a very cold and wet outing...would've been much better if the weather was good...

Abt my mum’s illness...not as good as we hoped. Instead of just the 6-week radiotherapy, now she needs to undergo chemotherapy first, followed by medication and then chemo plus radio together...My dad didn't explain it very clearly over the phone but at least I'll be home next week to see how things go. First treatment session scheduled for tomorrow...chemo is very jialat isn't it? I worry for my mum...can she take it or not...

Updates from Taiwan (1)

Some updates about my 1 1/2 weeks here so far...Arrived in Taipei two Sundays ago and spent that day familiarizing myself with the surroundings. Getting to work from the lodgings is fairly simple and the buses and MRT are quite easy to navigate. The way people drive here is rather 'fiercer' compared to those in Sg so think you just need to be 'fierce' too.

Didn't know that winter in Taiwan can be so COLD! Last week I was absolutely freezing!!! Need some fats! Not surprisingly, the time I hated most was bathing time...brrrrr, but no matter what I can't stand not bathing or washing my hair everyday so I just have to bear with it! And the worst thing was the cold made my nose run...don't think it's a real cold as in illness, but still annoying...

First day at work...was brought around to the various labs for intros. Some thought I was still a student, haha! The first week or so was quite interesting...got to look at some case exhibits, use the equipment, read through past reports, visit a Disaster Prevention Museum and best of all exchange ideas through many casual discussions.

Taiwanese people are very friendly, maybe too friendly at times? Always fighting to make payment...after a while I just let them pay if they offer. I think that fighting to pay looks very ‘unglam’so I just stick to my usual practice: offer to pay next time.

One of the colleagues here brings me around a lot. While I think it's easier for me to remember the streets if I wander around on my own, after a while, I feel very grateful for her kindness. 被關心的感覺真好! My workplace is near the major shopping belt, so I've been to Mitsukoshi, 誠品 (a really huge bookstore), Taipei 101 and New York New York so far. But the place I like best so far is 西門町, lots of interesting stuff and CD shops! I found one that has lots of HK and Jap CDs; they've actually got the most hocc CDs I've seen so far in a single shop in any country - hocc2, free love, dress me up, best, glam, Butterfly Lovers etc and even the Leung Joke musical DVD/VCD! But HK stuff must buy in HK...it's too expensive here. I did grab quite a few Japanese ones tho...old habits die hard!

Visited 淡水 last weekend and also went to the Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Halls...will upload pics after I get back to Sg.

I find that they are all very respectful toward their elders or seniors here, calling their seniors 學長 or 學姊. One young colleague called me 學長! And this guy in my lab told me 如果你是男生應該很帥! Hmm...I don’t think so, but I'll take it as a compliment...hee...