lonely girls in Taipei

JC~I have an addictive personality. I'm not going to lie 'bout this sort of thing. If it's a song I can listen to the same song 24 hours everyday for weeks straight. If it's a food I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, linner and dinner. If it's a cartoon/movie I can waste days wikipedia-ing facts and information about the actors and their respective  "universes." You get the idea. I have to be very selective when I try to pick up hobbies during the school year or else I'm pretty sure I would just fail out of university. Out of sheer procrastination. If I could major in Stalking or Procrastination with a minor in Napping life would be amazing. I would be at the top of my field.

I know what you're thinking at this point though: "Why don't you just have self control?" My response to that is: I'm working on it. =____=

Now I'm sure that y'all who are taking the time to read this are wondering where the story is going. It all began on a summer day when my boyfriend and I were walking around Taipei. I'm easily distracted by noises, shiny things and flashing lights....and because of this I usually notice immediately when an arcade is nearby. Nestled within this particular arcade was a machine. A flashing, loud, behemoth of a machine that everyone and their mom was playing on. I had to figure out what this was. I mean it looked like this:

KC. During the seldom times I manage to catch a conversation with my Toronto friends, they always seem to mention one thing: "Katherine, you never update your blogs anymore!"

I will admit - I don't update as frequently anymore on either of the blogs. AHH SORRY! Forgive me please. Whenever I look at my Lightroom archive, the number of pictures waiting to be edited, resized, cropped, uploaded and captioned, is not pleasant at all. I do not feel overjoyed and want to run around in the bright green pastures found in The Sound of Music. Instead I feel dread and guilt overcoming me. At the moment, I have 999 photos on just FOOD alone, categorized into 60 folders, all taken within the 2 months I've been here in Taipei. Then again, I took over 400 photos at the Flora Expo Concert and probably 100 on Jay Chou alone. Yes, I am freaky. Leave now if you are scared.

This week and the next week are midterm weeks, hence JC and I will be busy studying last-minute during this time. Then we're going to stay overnight at Jiufen 九份 next weekend. But I decided if I really want to blog all the pictures I've taken, I will need to start putting some time aside every week to simply blog. Otherwise, it'll take me until the year 2050 to finish blogging my Taiwan exchange. And at that time, I'll be too old to be starring at the computer screen for more than 10 minutes.

SO... I'll have you guys know that my Lightroom archive truly does haunt my dreams at night (and frequently too), we're still alive, and we'll update at least once a week from on :)

I'll end this post with some pictures to let you know what we're learning in Chinese class.

JC~Frankly speaking, as a tourist in any Asian country you will definitely see three things: 1.) Asians, 2.) Misappropriated English, and 3.)Terribly Translated English. For tourists finding these hilarious translations has turned into a kind of bizarre scavenger hunt. Engrish is everywhere...in menus, slogans, t-shirts, shops, and signs. Essentially anywhere that has printed text you can find a potential Engrish GEM. THE WORLD IS YOUR PLAYGROUND.  

Obama, Mandela, and Pele Coffee. Respectively American Roast, African Roast, and Brazilian Roast. Pele was the most popular.

Black Person Toothpaste

JC. KC is going to be so mad at me. Real post soon...I promise. However this news was too exciting not to share. 7-11 has an anime.

JC. When most people think of 7-11 they usually have a stereotypical image of a dingy corner store, a grumpy clerk sitting behind the counter, stacks of Mountain Dew, Cheetos, Oreos, and other miscellaneous snacks filling all the shelves that aren't taken up by cigarettes, condoms, or alcohol. I bet most of you would be surprised if I told you that during this exchange I basically lived inside 7-11. Yes, like western 7-11 stores, the ones in Asia are also open 24 hours and 7 days a week. However, the shopping atmosphere is unlike anything I've ever experienced. The only thing I can tell you is that Asian 7-11s, and the whole convenience store culture, is completely and absolutely different than what we "westerners" perceive efficiency and convenience to be. The 7 will become an integral part of your life if you're an exchange student, visitor, or a future resident of Taiwan. For indeed, it literally has almost everything.

First of all right outside my dorm is the largest 7, as Taiwanese locals lovingly call it, that I have ever seen. It even has mascots! 7-11 has mascots you say? Yes, they are RIGHT HERE.
In addition to the plethora of wonderful things that 7 sells, Taiwanese 7-11s constantly have product promotions going on to reward your loyalty as a 7 customer. At the moment for every $60 NT you spend at 7 the cashier gives you a sticker, and the stickers act as a form of currency. If you accumulate 30 stickers you can trade them in for a physical prize, buy some select 7 products, or use them as coupons in larger stores and restaurants around the area (i.e. Coldstones, Starbucks, Dominoes, Afternoon Tea, etc.)

The interior of 7 is even more amazing. It is well lit, well stocked, and is very perceivably clean. Although 7 does sell junk food their stock selection is wide and diversified. Produce? Fruits? Oden? Riceballs? Tea? Ice cream? Breakfast and freshly baked bread? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.


7 also stocks basic sundries, like toothpaste, clothing detergent, and a small selection of makeup and facial products. But did you know some of them also sell mattresses? Blankets? Pillows? SIM cards for your cell phone(s)? For the price that they offer the products are pretty decent.

7 also offers some basic business-y functions for busy individuals and poor students: you can print, copy and fax documents, all for less than $.10 US. Taking a turn for the domestic, most Taiwanese people and some exchange students, also can pay their water, electricity and phone bills at 7.

If you're an exchange student, 7 is one or the most important places for planning your adventures around the island. The little green kiosk that offers printing and music show & concert tickets, also sells High Speed Rail tickets. The HSR, is literally the fastest and most convenient way to get around the island. And as of two days ago, 7 got even more convenient. You can now purchase airplane tickets at your nearest and most accessible 7.

AWESOME.

+Love

JC. I've always wanted to start a blog! Even though I've never been the journal type, and my photography skills are quite shoddy....I'll do my best! So I'll have to take a couple of notes from KC's book. =P I'm glad I met her, she's seriously amazing. =)

::lol::

At Danshui

This was a brief break during the typhoon

Fulong Beach

This is what I wake up to every morning

While walking back to dorm today...

JC: Hey, you know how the iphone 4 has that reception problem, where if you hold it in a certain way, there's no reception.
KC: *nodds* Okay, go on.
JC: And then Apple started giving away free cases for the iphone 4 to solve this problem in every country except Taiwan, where many of its components are made! So now the Taiwanese people are angry and are going to sue Apple!
KC: Umm... I was in the same class with you today when we heard that.

... With a view like this.

And this is what I see.

But at least we're lonely together. <3

-JC