Blogs from Hualien, Taiwan, Asia - page 11

Lao-puo called me this morning from the station to see if I could ask someone what was going on, because her train did not arrive. Bin, my friend one of the math teachers, took my phone and got Lao-puo to put a Chinese speaker on to the blower. It turns out that there was an accident, just a few minutes ago, at a level crossing at the edge of town, with multiple fatalities. It’s astonishing to me that such an accident could happen, at a crossing with bells and lights and a barricade that comes down, but there you have it. Trains run on the left here, Japanese style, a holdover from the colonial period (or the occupation, depending on one’s historical perspective). We have a nice long weekend coming, because January 1st is a statutory ... read more

We took advantage of a break in the rain (Saturday afternoon, evening, and night were a series of intermittent downpours) to go into the city on Sunday morning. We discovered a back road short cut to church. The route completely avoids Hwy 9 north of Hualien City, with its semi-trailers loaded with marble and its cement trucks hurtling by a top speed. In the afternoon we bumped into my sidekick Paul Rowe from the workshop in Taipei County last August. He knows the city a lot better than we do, so we went to an exquisite Cantonese place for lunch. Afterwards we went to an art show that the wife of Lao-puo’s classmate was putting on. The location of the art show was as interesting as the display, because it was held in a restored Japanese ... read more

There was another earthquake last Sunday—just a 2—but we didn’t feel it because we were on the motorbike at the time. There is a winter typhoon named Typhoon Durian, raging along well to the south of us (headed for central Philippines), and it will miss us completely. All is well, in other words. I seem to have spoken too soon. Over 200 people died in the typhoon, mostly from mudslides. My renaming project is moving along. “Apple” has become “Abigail” (“Abby” for short). “Maxine” has become “Max”. There’s nothing wrong with the name “Maxine”—unless you happen to be male. I felt sorry for Abby the other day. The poor little soul was crying, because someone was picking on her for being aboriginal. The comments were hurtful drivel, to the effect that you don’t belong here because ... read more

It’s a rainy Tuesday afternoon as I start to write this. We are as snug as bugs (or at least as snug as bugs could be given that we live in an unheated concrete apartment). We were going to head down to a town about 20 km away for dinner, but it’s no fun in the rain and then coming back in the dark. Besides, I’m tired. Teaching English is really a high-energy job, if done properly. Suzanne did a lovely report about last weekend. Some readers may have already seen it. I really have very little to add: A Great Beginning! November 5 - 12 I'm here in Guangfu Township, safe and sound, happy and busy. It was the usual ordeal to get over here, but taking the red eye flight helped as it cut ... read more

I’m starting this on my Monday night, early Monday morning at home. Where is home? I don’t know anymore. Esmerelda is tucked away, because it’s raining. I forgot to mention that I was busted the other day. I don’t like to buy my beer in Guangfu, because there are always kids around who would see me, and comment. (The only thing I don’t like about being a teacher is being obliged to set a good example). I went to the next little town, about 5 km away, and popped into a ma and pa store. Just as I was coughing up, I heard a girl’s voice say “Hello Teacher Doug!” I whipped around in astonishment, and there was Amy—one of the favourites that I’m not supposed to have. It was her parents’ store—the family lives upstairs—and ... read more