Im staying

What a crazy last couple of days it's been. Every day presents a new set of challenges which must be solved mostly through charades or an interpreter since my chinese is hi-how (so-so). Well lets be honest its not even hi-how its probably more like boo-how (not good). Under the advice of Jessie I have decided to write using paragraphs to ease the reading. I guess since im an english teacher it wont kill me to play the part.

Well i figured out who i was and i certainly know where im staying, and its with my current job. I had actually told my supervisor that i had found another job but hadnt made a decision. I felt so bad doing that. After some long chats and some soul searching i realized that 1) I felt horrible leaving my job (which is probably almost reason enough not to) and 2) If I can really make this job work why should I go? I've already asked for more hours and almost guarenteed got them. There are also the perks of being able to sleep in till at least noon every day, being able to sub teach for people going on vacation and also the vacations themselves. Since my current job has a plethora of workers finding a sub is never hard thus i am able to have more vacation time. My current job also has the power to send me to Singapore for a week for english camps in the summer. That would be a sweet deal. So thats that. Even if i didnt really have another job, i suppose bluffing about it and then deciding to stay woulda been a good move in allowing me to get what i want.

So Thursday was lottery day and turns out i won the Taiwanese lottery! Let me explain....Since the law basically doesnt exist with regards to lisences (business, building, drivers) and taxes most businesses simply wouldnt pay tax. In order to get their tax money, the government instituted a great plan where on every reciept printed there was a lottery number and every 2 months there would be a draw. Their logic being that people would then ask for reciepts (since they would want to play the lottery) forcing businesses to keep on the books. Well after mizing tickets for two months it paid off and i won 200 NT which is the equivilent of 7 canadian dollars. I was actually pretty close to winning 1000 (about 30 can) but i was off by 3 numbers, which means three customers before be won...bastard.)

Speaking of lotteries here is an example of how my school company sucks. This weekend was the end of the year banquet before chinese new year. Typical banquet, everyone gets dressed up ect. I never got a ticket though. Was just told to show up. I found out reason I didnt get a ticket was becasue they dont let people who have been working less then three months play the raffle. Like what the fuck is that. Someone made the brilliant analogy that a move like that is like inviting a bunch of kids to your son/daughters birthday party and only giving the kids who have known your son/daughter for a year lootbags. I think im gonna write a letter about it. They also make you pay a fine if you dont show up (the event takes place at 11 am on a sunday) which was almost a problem since i had been up late partying with my friend from Taipei, who was in town the night before. I made it though. No way was i gonna cough up more money to them.

Now for the good.

Here is a list of things that have improved my life in the past couple days.
1) A squash raquet...now i just need a place to play
2) My hookah came in the mail (thanks mom)...now i need to find nargila and charcoal
3) My work permit....now i am actually working leagally...ya! Not only that but it allowed me to transfer the scooter into my name so i dont have to bike 8 km (40 minutes) to work twice a day anymore....double ya! Riding the scooter is tons of fun as it is gorgeous almost everyday in this subtropical setting where palm trees are ubiquitous. (Stole your word bear)

Speaking of my scooter it actually broke down yesterday....dead battery and leaking fluid or something but i found a mechanic who spoke english and fixed it....not so cheap but had to be done.

4) My health card....Now i can see a doctor. On an aside for anyone interested, Taiwan's healthcare system is the most abused in the world. Chinese medicines and I think foot reflexology are covered by national health insureance. Where the avg. number of visits to the doctor per year back home is 4, I heard in Taiwan its 13.

5) A new burger at the londoner which is as big as my head and rivals wimpys. You have to understand that getting beef here is tough so a good burger/steak that isnt oober expensive is a HUGE deal.
Pictures of the burger to come soon.

6) Internet in the house...Now im able to download any tv shows or movies and watch them on our new TV (Thanks Joe). We also have a password that lets us download hockey games so we might start having hockey nights in Taiwan on Saturdays (They will just be of Thursday or Fridays games). i will also be able to figure out how to post pictures on this site since the buttons are no longer in chinese.

7) Dick in a box. I cant believe i just heard about this last week. You (my friends) have dropped the ball on this. I am disapointed no one passed this onto me keeping it unheard by me for so long. Seriously, shame on you all.

8) Jiu Jit Su. I started going last night and will keep going every Wednesday for as long as i can. Its awsome. Pure ghetto. All there is, is a mat in a cluttered room. Its also a minimum commitment in every way. You show up when you can, bring your own cloths, and even pay whatever you can whenever you can afford it. There is no set rate...kinda like a museum.
Reminds me of my days with Mr. Kim except theres only one punching bag and its downstaris in a differnet part of the building). Keeping true to my promise to moses, I will come back more dangerous than Bruce Lee. Some guy who kicked my ass last night is entering a MMA tourney in two weeks (mixed martial arts) I look forward to many more terrible beatings from him.

Off to my favorite spot for lunch. Well to be honest its only my favorite becasue someone was kind enough to translate the whole menu into English for me. So I actually know exactly what im ordering. But here that aint half bad. Happy February friends.