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Published: July 11th 2012
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Shilin MArket
12 hour layover in Taipei July 9
th2012
Today I left behind everything comfortable, everything that makes me who I am, and embarked on a journey; not just to Vietnam via Taipei, but to further explore myself.
This is my first real blog entry and my first real exploration out of my comfort zone. You see although Costa Rica and Spain were no less then an adventure, I had an idea of what was going to happen. I understood a little bit of the culture and language. I had expectations. Now if find my self on one of the scariest flights of my life, minus the flight to 13,000 feet for my skydive! This trip has created the upmost uncertainty and anxiety. Never before have I been so apprehensive to explore the unknown and leaving behind my loved ones. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. Don’t know a single word in Vietnamese, I have absolutely no idea how I’ll adapt to this new culture and I haven’t quite worked out how I am supposed to lead classes of hardworking Vietnamese people who are trusting me to teach them English! But I have faith.
I am currently somewhere near Alaska about 3 hours in on a 13 hour flight. I love flying overseas because the in flight entertainment is 10xs better! I have a whole list of movie, tv, games and music to select from my personal tv. Not to mention that China Airlines provides a little extra leg room… now that’s what im talking about =] I decided to watch “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” hoping to restore some of the wonderlust I have for traveling. (Also on my list to watch this flight, “The Lorax” and “Wonderlust” and “Act of Valor”.) It wasn’t as good a movie as I was hoping but it definitely did the trick. I shouldn’t be scared or anxious! I know as soon as I land and my feet are on foreign soil, my senses will come alive and the apprehension will float away. And what a way to have my first “holy shit” moment then right after my movie.
Dinner was being served and the lady across the aisle from me orders a beer, a Taiwanese beer! And I thought… well, when in Rome, right? So next is my turn and I ask how much a cocktail is and he says, well what do you want to pay!!? Uhhh I was tongue tied. But wait it gets crazier, after finding out they don’t have ginger ale or sprite the lady who just ordered the beer said she would split it with me because she has her son so she cant drink her whole beer. Sweet free cup of beer! Hell yea. So then I turn to my LA native seat neighbor who works in Hong Kong now, I ask him like uhhh wait so you can pay whatever you want for a drink?? And he was like oh no actually its FREE!! The shock on my face, I told him that I’ve never heard of such a thing! The steward was yanking my chain about paying as much as I wanted. So then the stewardesses were walking up and down the ailes with a bottle of red and white wine filling up anyone. They didn’t even ask for my ID.. So now I’m sitting here sipping on some wine, listening to some tunes and typing away. Not bad.
I may only have a few hours to discover your mystery but Taipei, bring it on!
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