Sunday, for the first time in what seemed like a month, there was nothing on my calendar. Not a single obligation was on the schedule. I fought my urge to hide at my apartment and I knew that I should explore. Luckily, I had a friend to venture off with as we saw more of Taichung city.
For the first time being back in the city in four months and the first time being here on my own, I’m not sure why I was surprised when I managed to get lost within the first hour of being outside my apartment building. An older couple came out, asked me in Mandarin which bus I was waiting for, and then managed to communicate to me that the bus I was waiting for would be there in an hour and I had to wait for the bus on the other side to come, then it would be shortly after in my direction. Of course, I didn’t realize they told me this until after I stood there for a few minutes and then processed what had just happened. By then, I was sitting in a 7/11 and had an “ah-ha” moment–a very terribly enlightening epiphany about my last conversation–and hurried to finish my coffee before I missed yet another bus out of the city.
No need to fear of course because when I finally got on the right bus, I was off to LongJing District, where I had stayed last time. My friend and I explored, saw Tunghai University (which is always a treat because it’s so beautiful and green), went to one of the best bubble tea places I’ve ever been to, and then we ventured into the city to do some shopping. We managed to get lost only a couple more times, but by the end of the day, we at least had a better grasp of the bus system and the city. Score one for us!
After more observations in the beginning of the week, I met up with good friends of mine for brunch and more fun in the city. We stuffed ourselves at brunch and then decided under the blistering heat of the fading Taiwan summer, a movie was a must. It was a good choice, and then at the end of a day that seemed to go by too fast, we made future plans and one of my friends drove me on his scooter back to work in the North District. Trust me, you haven’t seen a city till you’ve driven through it on a scooter. This I now firmly go by. I scared my parents when I told them that I wanted to get a scooter once I had a proper license and my ARC. To this, knowing me, they only said “buy a helmet”.
Now it’s Wednesday: my very first day of teaching. I have my doubts, but after ending my day yesterday with second and third graders reading to Teacher Marie during break, I am just excited to get into the classroom and use what I’ve learned and what I know. Of course I’m nervous, but who wouldn’t be?
