some of the bad taste crew
Early in the evening we got a group shot of the bad tast party. Some truely hideous clothing,and some awfully bad taste!!
posted by Ang @ 7:32 p.m.
2 comments
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Off to Bad Taste Birthday Party
I quit waiting around for Leah to get back and show me how to post pictures, and figured it out for myself. YAY ME!!
My friend Ruth and I hired out a bar to share our birthday party. It had a Bad Taste theme. Some great costumes. I think Ali gets some credit for some truely BAD TASTE! Notice in the front of the group photo, a small child. Yes, in true Taiwanese and bad taste form, somebody brought their young nephew to the bar!! He had a great time though!
My friend Ruth and I hired out a bar to share our birthday party. It had a Bad Taste theme. Some great costumes. I think Ali gets some credit for some truely BAD TASTE! Notice in the front of the group photo, a small child. Yes, in true Taiwanese and bad taste form, somebody brought their young nephew to the bar!! He had a great time though!
posted by Ang @ 7:24 p.m.
0 comments
Monday, August 15, 2005
Single White Female
I can't even put into words what is happening, or why, or how I am feeling about it. There are no song lyrics that make sense to me, or they all do and it makes me feel REALLY pathetic. But here, at the end leaves me looking back to the beginning. It is a good story, I thought that it was a good enough story to make it last. I am big enough to realize that fairy tales don't really happen though.
This time three years ago I was backpacking through Europe, had been for just about two years. I was in Greece and some bad stuff happened. Bad enough to almost chase me home, and bad enough to rock my faith in men, man kind in general really. I ran into a girl that I had hung out previously on a different island, Cassie, and she invited me to join a group of people to head over to Turkey. It was just what I needed as I was hesitating to venture into Turkey in my vulnerable state. On the ferry over more and more people kept joining. It seemed that everyone decided to bring a couple friends until there was a group of 16 of us. It was amazing and safe and special. There were two guitars and a harmonica and everynight we sang and danced. There is nothing like a few Irishmen in the group to brighten the mood!
So at the end of the month when I was planning to go to Croatia by myself my arm was quite easily twisted to join the bulk of the group to journey up to Munich for Oktoberfest. Some flew, Cassie and I took a 52 hour bus ride, the Irish lads even hitchhiked. We all just managed to run into each other at the campsite!! The first night of Oktoberfest was spent drinking at the playground of the campsite. The boy/girl odds were stacked highly in our favour, and I was enjoying some fun attention.
As I was sitting there I saw three boys walk up, and thought that all of them were pretty cute. The shorter one sat down beside me and came on strong. He was from California, in the movie industry. Wanted to take me back to his tent and perform Rieki on me. So that's what we are calling it these days! I started talking to the other two. One a kiwi, the other Aussie both with long curly hair. I remember sitting there with the kiwi, James, and watching our friends playing in the playground and laughing. Suddenly everyone else was gone and there we were giggling, drinking beer, alone in the playground. Eventually we were so cold that we couldn't justify sitting there anymore. He casually mentioned that it would be silly for us to sleep in different tents. He hadn't even kissed me yet...So I kissed him and joined him in his tent. He was a gentleman and gave me his airmattress, shared his sleeping bag and held me tight.
In the morning we went our separate ways. It was Cassie's birthday and I followed a note left on our tent to one of the beer halls. God I loved Oktoberfest!! All the lads were teasing me about James as it was the first time they had seen me hook up in that whole month we had known each other. Even that first day I was smitten and when we got back to the campsite I definitely had my eyes peeled for him. And there, swaying in front of the bathrooms he was looking out toward the direction of my tent. I ran up and we kissed and danced and sang. We spent 5 nights in that tent where we joked about being each other's boyfriend girlfriend and going on dates, we kissed and enjoyed each other!
The morning we left was rough, we were hung over, tired and miserable. He was on a package bus tour back to England where he worked. We exchanged email addresses and I watched his bus drive away. The irishlads took great pleasure in trying to cheer me (or themselves) up by trying to make me cry. I got an email from him within a couple days!
After a couple months in Germany and Holland I made my broke ass back to Ireland to work again. Cassie was there too, and when a very large group of the lads decided to go to Edinburgh for Hogmanay (New Years) we eagerly joined. James and Scott (long haired Aussie) had also decided on Scotland..Hurrah! There were millions of people on that tiny street as Boy George sand his little heart out. Finding James through the throngs of people seemed impossible, walking seemed impossible. As the party wound down, and I was sulking about not getting my New Years kiss I decided to do one loop around as the people had thinned out significantly. Again wobbling, James was there. He had been drinking since New Zealand New Years which was at 10 am, and was as messed as I have seen him! After a brief incident where he kissed some girl, I walked away and realized that was not how we ended so went back and took him home.
We both said goodbye to our friends and traveled together in Scotland for a week. It was a whirlwind of Bed and Breakfasts where we saw a lot more of the beds. It was amazing. I never thought I could feel that way about anyone. During our tearful goodbye in Glasgow he assured me that we would be seeing each other again.
From Ireland to England we said goodnight to each other via text messaging every night. True to his word he came over to Ireland when he had some time off, which happened to be valentine's Day. We spent a week again in Bed and Breakfasts, this time around Ireland. During this week I told him that I was going to be going home, and thinking of doing a cross Canada trip, and would he like to join me...And yes he would!!!
When I went back to Canada I went back to my mom's place in Saskatchewan. I got a job at the local small town bar and James joined me a couple months later. His first week or two there I wierded out a bit, and he almost left, and then overnight I came around. We spent 2 months in SMALL town Saskatchewan, him doing odd jobs, and me being the local bar wench! We headed out to BC to my dad's place where we did some more odd jobs. We bought a car and headed out east. We spent two months traveling across Canada. We slept in a tent each night, and cooked on a small gas burner. We sat around the fire each night. We hiked, we kayaked, we explored the country and each other.
Once we were back in BC we knew it as coming to an end. He was only supposed to stay in Canada 6 months, and it had already been 8. I needed to finish up one credit at University, and his mom was going in for surgery. He had not been back home in 3 years. With my cousin Leah, we decided to meet up again in Taiwan after we all did what we had to do. I got here in 6 months, he in 8. We moved in together right away. I love teaching and it comes easy for me. The same can not be said for James....It wasn't all bad, but the good started to seem like a memory. I love him. I can't imagine not loving him. Even good stories come to an end.
This time three years ago I was backpacking through Europe, had been for just about two years. I was in Greece and some bad stuff happened. Bad enough to almost chase me home, and bad enough to rock my faith in men, man kind in general really. I ran into a girl that I had hung out previously on a different island, Cassie, and she invited me to join a group of people to head over to Turkey. It was just what I needed as I was hesitating to venture into Turkey in my vulnerable state. On the ferry over more and more people kept joining. It seemed that everyone decided to bring a couple friends until there was a group of 16 of us. It was amazing and safe and special. There were two guitars and a harmonica and everynight we sang and danced. There is nothing like a few Irishmen in the group to brighten the mood!
So at the end of the month when I was planning to go to Croatia by myself my arm was quite easily twisted to join the bulk of the group to journey up to Munich for Oktoberfest. Some flew, Cassie and I took a 52 hour bus ride, the Irish lads even hitchhiked. We all just managed to run into each other at the campsite!! The first night of Oktoberfest was spent drinking at the playground of the campsite. The boy/girl odds were stacked highly in our favour, and I was enjoying some fun attention.
As I was sitting there I saw three boys walk up, and thought that all of them were pretty cute. The shorter one sat down beside me and came on strong. He was from California, in the movie industry. Wanted to take me back to his tent and perform Rieki on me. So that's what we are calling it these days! I started talking to the other two. One a kiwi, the other Aussie both with long curly hair. I remember sitting there with the kiwi, James, and watching our friends playing in the playground and laughing. Suddenly everyone else was gone and there we were giggling, drinking beer, alone in the playground. Eventually we were so cold that we couldn't justify sitting there anymore. He casually mentioned that it would be silly for us to sleep in different tents. He hadn't even kissed me yet...So I kissed him and joined him in his tent. He was a gentleman and gave me his airmattress, shared his sleeping bag and held me tight.
In the morning we went our separate ways. It was Cassie's birthday and I followed a note left on our tent to one of the beer halls. God I loved Oktoberfest!! All the lads were teasing me about James as it was the first time they had seen me hook up in that whole month we had known each other. Even that first day I was smitten and when we got back to the campsite I definitely had my eyes peeled for him. And there, swaying in front of the bathrooms he was looking out toward the direction of my tent. I ran up and we kissed and danced and sang. We spent 5 nights in that tent where we joked about being each other's boyfriend girlfriend and going on dates, we kissed and enjoyed each other!
The morning we left was rough, we were hung over, tired and miserable. He was on a package bus tour back to England where he worked. We exchanged email addresses and I watched his bus drive away. The irishlads took great pleasure in trying to cheer me (or themselves) up by trying to make me cry. I got an email from him within a couple days!
After a couple months in Germany and Holland I made my broke ass back to Ireland to work again. Cassie was there too, and when a very large group of the lads decided to go to Edinburgh for Hogmanay (New Years) we eagerly joined. James and Scott (long haired Aussie) had also decided on Scotland..Hurrah! There were millions of people on that tiny street as Boy George sand his little heart out. Finding James through the throngs of people seemed impossible, walking seemed impossible. As the party wound down, and I was sulking about not getting my New Years kiss I decided to do one loop around as the people had thinned out significantly. Again wobbling, James was there. He had been drinking since New Zealand New Years which was at 10 am, and was as messed as I have seen him! After a brief incident where he kissed some girl, I walked away and realized that was not how we ended so went back and took him home.
We both said goodbye to our friends and traveled together in Scotland for a week. It was a whirlwind of Bed and Breakfasts where we saw a lot more of the beds. It was amazing. I never thought I could feel that way about anyone. During our tearful goodbye in Glasgow he assured me that we would be seeing each other again.
From Ireland to England we said goodnight to each other via text messaging every night. True to his word he came over to Ireland when he had some time off, which happened to be valentine's Day. We spent a week again in Bed and Breakfasts, this time around Ireland. During this week I told him that I was going to be going home, and thinking of doing a cross Canada trip, and would he like to join me...And yes he would!!!
When I went back to Canada I went back to my mom's place in Saskatchewan. I got a job at the local small town bar and James joined me a couple months later. His first week or two there I wierded out a bit, and he almost left, and then overnight I came around. We spent 2 months in SMALL town Saskatchewan, him doing odd jobs, and me being the local bar wench! We headed out to BC to my dad's place where we did some more odd jobs. We bought a car and headed out east. We spent two months traveling across Canada. We slept in a tent each night, and cooked on a small gas burner. We sat around the fire each night. We hiked, we kayaked, we explored the country and each other.
Once we were back in BC we knew it as coming to an end. He was only supposed to stay in Canada 6 months, and it had already been 8. I needed to finish up one credit at University, and his mom was going in for surgery. He had not been back home in 3 years. With my cousin Leah, we decided to meet up again in Taiwan after we all did what we had to do. I got here in 6 months, he in 8. We moved in together right away. I love teaching and it comes easy for me. The same can not be said for James....It wasn't all bad, but the good started to seem like a memory. I love him. I can't imagine not loving him. Even good stories come to an end.
posted by Ang @ 9:53 a.m.
2 comments
Friday, August 12, 2005
Crazy too!
I had too much to say in response to Leah's post, so I am posting it myself....
Last night James and I went for Chinese valentine's dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant. We sat outside as Pao Pao was with us. Up stumbled an obviously drunk and mentally disturbed Taiwanese man (starting to sound like bad joke....A kiwi, a canuck and their Chinese dog were sitting in an Indian restaurant when a ...) Anyway...It was very surprising as, although you often see people with physical disabilities, you really don't see the 'crazies' or Downs syndrome or any mental disabilities. I have asked about them, and I get the impression that there are a whole lot of institutions, but people don't really talk about it.
Even more surprising was the fact the man spoke a bit of English. He was in his mid-late forties and looking at him you would not guess he was educated. I guess that's the point with mental illness, you can't tell by looking. The guy commented on Pao Pao (he had a dog too) and was looking for interaction, not aggressive like Leah's experience. James quite politely told him that we were eating dinner, goodbye (without making eye contact). I looked up and smiled. As he stumbled away, knocking down the menu board, he told me I was beautiful and left.
I can not not make eye contact. I refuse to not make eye contact. Having just returned from Vancouver I have had a lot of recent exposure to people I 'shouldn't make eye contact with'. Downtown Van is filled with homeless people, drug addicts, pan handlers, crazies, bums, prostitutes, general dredges of society. These people are all part of my community, and are all part of my experience. I am not making any judgment on how other people deal with there own personal situations, but for me I CAN NOT relegate these people to untouchable status. I will politely say "Sorry, no" when asked for money, or sometimes give but I will always give a polite smile and acknowlegement. On more than one occasion this has led to more hassle/harassment than I was bargaining for, but I am willing to risk having to be rude to one person so that I can treat ten more like human beings.
I don't want to give the impression that I am holier than thou. This is not some complete altruistic attitude. Quite early on in my life I decided how I wanted to perceive the world, and the kind of person I wanted to be in it. One of the things I decided on was that I was not going to live in fear of my neighbor, the people on the street. If I am walking down a dark ally and (to emphasize the point in a stereotypical manner) a very large, tough looking African American man walks towards me...Hell a group of them walk towards me, I look up, smile and say good evening. My heart may be racing but I refuse to not. It actually got me in some trouble in Turkey, where I got followed home and grabbed at before I realized that in some cultures it is not a matter of manners, but invitation.
Leah, in your situation I would have done the same though. It is pretty self absorbed to think that there is anything we could do or say to alleviate their distress, or that they have any wish to be helped my some middle class white chick. At that point in time there is nothing more interesting than the eggs on your plate and what Uncle Richard is saying!! I like that you think past "some crazy guy was yelling at me and it was scary" though. I miss you!!
Last night James and I went for Chinese valentine's dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant. We sat outside as Pao Pao was with us. Up stumbled an obviously drunk and mentally disturbed Taiwanese man (starting to sound like bad joke....A kiwi, a canuck and their Chinese dog were sitting in an Indian restaurant when a ...) Anyway...It was very surprising as, although you often see people with physical disabilities, you really don't see the 'crazies' or Downs syndrome or any mental disabilities. I have asked about them, and I get the impression that there are a whole lot of institutions, but people don't really talk about it.
Even more surprising was the fact the man spoke a bit of English. He was in his mid-late forties and looking at him you would not guess he was educated. I guess that's the point with mental illness, you can't tell by looking. The guy commented on Pao Pao (he had a dog too) and was looking for interaction, not aggressive like Leah's experience. James quite politely told him that we were eating dinner, goodbye (without making eye contact). I looked up and smiled. As he stumbled away, knocking down the menu board, he told me I was beautiful and left.
I can not not make eye contact. I refuse to not make eye contact. Having just returned from Vancouver I have had a lot of recent exposure to people I 'shouldn't make eye contact with'. Downtown Van is filled with homeless people, drug addicts, pan handlers, crazies, bums, prostitutes, general dredges of society. These people are all part of my community, and are all part of my experience. I am not making any judgment on how other people deal with there own personal situations, but for me I CAN NOT relegate these people to untouchable status. I will politely say "Sorry, no" when asked for money, or sometimes give but I will always give a polite smile and acknowlegement. On more than one occasion this has led to more hassle/harassment than I was bargaining for, but I am willing to risk having to be rude to one person so that I can treat ten more like human beings.
I don't want to give the impression that I am holier than thou. This is not some complete altruistic attitude. Quite early on in my life I decided how I wanted to perceive the world, and the kind of person I wanted to be in it. One of the things I decided on was that I was not going to live in fear of my neighbor, the people on the street. If I am walking down a dark ally and (to emphasize the point in a stereotypical manner) a very large, tough looking African American man walks towards me...Hell a group of them walk towards me, I look up, smile and say good evening. My heart may be racing but I refuse to not. It actually got me in some trouble in Turkey, where I got followed home and grabbed at before I realized that in some cultures it is not a matter of manners, but invitation.
Leah, in your situation I would have done the same though. It is pretty self absorbed to think that there is anything we could do or say to alleviate their distress, or that they have any wish to be helped my some middle class white chick. At that point in time there is nothing more interesting than the eggs on your plate and what Uncle Richard is saying!! I like that you think past "some crazy guy was yelling at me and it was scary" though. I miss you!!
posted by Ang @ 11:01 a.m.
1 comments
Sunday, August 07, 2005
You Say It's My Birthday...
So I got back into this fine country on Mon and my birthday was on Wed. Usually I am counting down the sleeps to my birthday for a good 2 ...3 weeks...ok a month. I believe that everyone is allowed one day to be their very own day, and I get as excited about other's birthdays as I do about my own-well almost as excited. This year was a bit different as I was more counting down the days to come back to Taiwan, than for my birthday. It wasn't really so much a count down either, I mean part of me was really looking forward to being back, but it is always hard to leave home!
I woke up Wed morning to breakfast in bed..always a good start. After James went to work my friend Megan called to take me out for breakfast. As I had already eaten I had a smoothie, and we had some good girlie catch-up chats. By the time I got home it was lunch time so Pao Pao, James, Dave and I went out and Dave treated me to lunch.
I had to go straight to work from lunch. It was my first day back at the one job, and my first day ever at the second job. The first job was filled with hugs and I love you and missed you's...a good feeling on any day. I was a bit nervous about the new job, but it went well, and when I was done my class the came out with a cake and all sang to me and gave me a card...so nice!!
I drove home in the pre typhoon rain to a bouquet of irises (my fave!!), funky house slippers and a GIANT homemade card from Dave. James had made some inquiries and found a super funky romantic vegetarian restaurant to take me for dinner, followed by a beer with Dave. I got a text from my friend Ruth who I was to share a birthday party with last night, and she told me she was going to take me for a foot massage for my birthday. James is sending me to the 12 hour spa for my present from him...Pampered? Why yes, thank you!!
Ruth's birthday is tomorrow so, in very unLeo fashion, we decided to share a party. We hired out a little bar and called a 'bad taste' party. If I ever figure out how, I will post some photo's from the night because it was absolutely brilliant!! Most people put in a lot of effort or at least thought and the atmosphere was great. The people at the bar were so great too. They gave us the run of the place from 9-11. They gave Ruth and I each a 'red envelope' containing Nt200 ($8 Cnd) It is traditional for kids to get a 'red envelope' for there birthday and Chinese New Years. Bosses give them at Chinese New Years too, and when the kids grow up they in turn give them to their elderly parents and grandparents. It is done for luck (of course) but is a really nice tradition, and was a really nice gesture from the bar!! James and I stumbled home at about 5, and the animals went on to sing KTV until 8. I am too old for that shit now!! (truth be told I am still a bit jet lagged and only got 3 hours sleep the night before)
All in all a very, very nice birthday. My house is a disaster...with, much to Pao Pao's terror balloons scattered everywhere. I am tired. I am full. I have good friends and a place in this mixed up world that we call Taiwan. At this paticular moment in time, I am truly happy.
ps Leah, Dave and I had a moment of silence for you...you were there with us!!!
I woke up Wed morning to breakfast in bed..always a good start. After James went to work my friend Megan called to take me out for breakfast. As I had already eaten I had a smoothie, and we had some good girlie catch-up chats. By the time I got home it was lunch time so Pao Pao, James, Dave and I went out and Dave treated me to lunch.
I had to go straight to work from lunch. It was my first day back at the one job, and my first day ever at the second job. The first job was filled with hugs and I love you and missed you's...a good feeling on any day. I was a bit nervous about the new job, but it went well, and when I was done my class the came out with a cake and all sang to me and gave me a card...so nice!!
I drove home in the pre typhoon rain to a bouquet of irises (my fave!!), funky house slippers and a GIANT homemade card from Dave. James had made some inquiries and found a super funky romantic vegetarian restaurant to take me for dinner, followed by a beer with Dave. I got a text from my friend Ruth who I was to share a birthday party with last night, and she told me she was going to take me for a foot massage for my birthday. James is sending me to the 12 hour spa for my present from him...Pampered? Why yes, thank you!!
Ruth's birthday is tomorrow so, in very unLeo fashion, we decided to share a party. We hired out a little bar and called a 'bad taste' party. If I ever figure out how, I will post some photo's from the night because it was absolutely brilliant!! Most people put in a lot of effort or at least thought and the atmosphere was great. The people at the bar were so great too. They gave us the run of the place from 9-11. They gave Ruth and I each a 'red envelope' containing Nt200 ($8 Cnd) It is traditional for kids to get a 'red envelope' for there birthday and Chinese New Years. Bosses give them at Chinese New Years too, and when the kids grow up they in turn give them to their elderly parents and grandparents. It is done for luck (of course) but is a really nice tradition, and was a really nice gesture from the bar!! James and I stumbled home at about 5, and the animals went on to sing KTV until 8. I am too old for that shit now!! (truth be told I am still a bit jet lagged and only got 3 hours sleep the night before)
All in all a very, very nice birthday. My house is a disaster...with, much to Pao Pao's terror balloons scattered everywhere. I am tired. I am full. I have good friends and a place in this mixed up world that we call Taiwan. At this paticular moment in time, I am truly happy.
ps Leah, Dave and I had a moment of silence for you...you were there with us!!!
posted by Ang @ 10:40 p.m.
2 comments
Monday, August 01, 2005
First impressions
Home?
Jet Lag
Tired
Hot
Excited
PAO PAO!!
Puppy Love!
Confused
Suspicious
Guilty?
Angry
Sad
Relieved?
A wealth of emotions, and I can't really elaborate until I look at the situation with clearer focus.
I can only say that my heart is racing, and there may be some emotional posts later.
Right now I am completely alone. I used to embrace this feeling, and now it makes me sick. It was good for me back in Canada, because you get used to having someone around, and I don't just mean a boyfriend or girlfriend, and you forget what you are capable of doing on your own. The truly alone can be a scary place, I mean, look at how many of us are seeking contact with strangers and invisibles in this very forum. When I traveled in Europe I had some experiences that left me feeling completely isolated. Now that I look back on them I feel empowered by them in a way that I haven't felt in a long time.
Maybe it is good that Leah is not here for all this, maybe I need to prove to myself that I am still 10 feet tall and undefeatable. Maybe I am sleep deprived, jet lagged, homesick, culture shocked and making a 2 hour feature drama out of a mere half hour after school special, I'll let you know!
Jet Lag
Tired
Hot
Excited
PAO PAO!!
Puppy Love!
Confused
Suspicious
Guilty?
Angry
Sad
Relieved?
A wealth of emotions, and I can't really elaborate until I look at the situation with clearer focus.
I can only say that my heart is racing, and there may be some emotional posts later.
Right now I am completely alone. I used to embrace this feeling, and now it makes me sick. It was good for me back in Canada, because you get used to having someone around, and I don't just mean a boyfriend or girlfriend, and you forget what you are capable of doing on your own. The truly alone can be a scary place, I mean, look at how many of us are seeking contact with strangers and invisibles in this very forum. When I traveled in Europe I had some experiences that left me feeling completely isolated. Now that I look back on them I feel empowered by them in a way that I haven't felt in a long time.
Maybe it is good that Leah is not here for all this, maybe I need to prove to myself that I am still 10 feet tall and undefeatable. Maybe I am sleep deprived, jet lagged, homesick, culture shocked and making a 2 hour feature drama out of a mere half hour after school special, I'll let you know!
posted by Ang @ 3:31 p.m.
3 comments
