Okay.. so apparently everyone "knew" I was staying. I don't know how they all knew when I didn't and literally made a clutch decision and spent 2 hours beforehand agonizing over it before I kind of just ended up with this decision...

I spent all day packing and organizing my stuff. And in the past few days I've been stuffing my face, and running around town on the "what does Jean want to do in Taiwan" tour. (I'm really fortunate to have such great relatives btw.) Any weight I may have sweated off is back, and then some. So it seems kind of anticlimactic that I stay... but supposedly no one here sees it that way, or they're just being polite. There have been moments where I've been really bored or thought "if I was at home (insert friend's name here) would do this with me", and was really ready to come home. And then got to talking about trips my cousin was planning on taking in the next week or two and I was a little amiss, but still okay. My aunt was taking me to the airport, but had to stop by her work to grab a few things. In the elevator I see this poster about the Dragon Boat Festival and holidays and suddenly realize it's a bigger deal than I think. I make a few phone calls, agonize over this decision, drive to go get my already packed bags, call some more, mull over it some more, call the airline company to see what would happen if I didn't get on the plan/cancel my online check in, thought about it some more, made some more phone calls, googled for some insight, thought about it, and then 10pm rolled around and it was "about" time that if I didn't leave 5 seconds ago, then it'd be too late for my flight. Plus I figured if I really started to get homesick, I could just come home at any time really. But it was more like my reason for not staying was feeling bad about not leaving. Is that reason?

So.. I'm hoping I have fun at the Dragon Boat Festival (which.. I really think Festival is misleading in the "American" sense because I think it's mostly the races, and not like a bunch of booths or anything.. but we'll see!) and my cousin is planning a trip to Sun Moon Lake. If that doesn't happen I'll be pretty not so pleased, but I think it's pretty set, especially since I stayed. I'll have to look up other things that I want to do that don't involve stuffing my face or draining my bank account, and hopefully just have a merry time even though I'm supposed to be on a plane right now. I think this is the first time I've missed a plane in my life. What if my future husband was on that plane? Well.. I guess it's too late now. Mom, Dad - no grandkids cuz I decided to stay longer in Taiwan.

Here's an update to my list:

1. Mister Donut
2. More KFC Egg Tarts
3. Mos Burger
4. Little Shanghai Dumplings
5. Visit Grandma
6. Night of debaucheressness @ Room 18?
7. Taroko National Park (yay!)
8. Pack
9. Clean up Apt.
10. Find yellow umbrella
11. Yong Kang Jie?
12. mmm.. anything else? cut hair again? trim bangs? buy more purses?! (am I too good for fake Marc Jacobs?)
13. Sun Moon Lake
14. Dragon Boat Festival
15. Unpack

So.. a quick blog. I haven't been very good at updating while I've been gone - but that just means I've been busy out doing stuff!! Plus and then there's the whole I'd like to make it exciting add pictures and that take time, and I'm not always around the computer - so there ya go. Last week I went to Hong Kong and Shanghai and didn't bring my computer, plus didn't really have internet anyway, so there was that. And the day after tomorrow I'm leaving!! Yikes! How did a month pass by so quickly. I've been contemplating staying a little longer, row in a dragon boat race or something, but I think I should maybe get a life... figuratively, of course. Or at least stop being a drain on the people here as they have their lives to attend to. Although I've been pretty good about stimulating Taiwan's economy.

Leaving in a little over 48 hours definitely adds a slight sense of urgency to everything that I want to do, but hopefully I will cram it all in, and it won't be another 3 years before I return. But my sister keeps threatening me with that fact. (Is $100 worth it to stay longer? Plus all the money I'll spend here and then the excess baggage fees?!) haha. I like life here, mostly because it's simple be cause I have no responsiblities here. No parents to have to answer to, no real bills to pay, no daily drama, no job... haha. But it does get a tad bit lonesome when I pass by the wine bar or the whisky gallery and want to go in but have no one to go with, or no real income to support a drinking habit. It's been a good run, but the asian in me is thinking that I need some structure in my life (how sad am I?) But I am excited to hang out with Jaymie who's moving to London soon (*sniff), Angelee who's coming down for the 10 year HS Reunion (scary), eating with anyone who will meet me @ Open Sesame, catching up on the 307 hours of TV I've missed (any of you ruin it for me I WILL SHANK YOU), and seeing everyone back in the place that I call home. I don't feel like it's been that long, so I don't think that I've really been "missed" because it's like any other long period of time where you just don't have time to hang out, so you know.. you just go about your life. I feel like everyone has just done that. Dorina's probably the only person (oh.. and Brennan) who it's most noticeable for. But apparently they just went to Mexico, so I might have to stay away for 7 more days just to see if she develops a fever. She's got a bad immune system, that one.

I'm excited to have my iPhone back in full force, reunion with my car, possible (hopefully!) run-ins with neighbor guy, working on projects (MAKE ME DO IT) and maybe even finding some work that will be good for me. But enough on home.

Things to do before I go:

1. Mister Donut
2. More KFC Egg Tarts
3. Mos Burger
4. Little Shanghai Dumplings
5. Visit Grandma
6. Night of debaucheressness @ Room 18?
7. Taroko National Park (yay!)
8. Pack
9. Clean up Apt.
10. Find yellow umbrella
11. Yong Kang Jie?
12. mmm.. anything else? cut hair again? trim bangs? buy more purses?! (am I too good for fake Marc Jacobs?)

So it's coming towards the end of week 2 here and I started to get a little bored last night. A little stir-crazy if you will. I managed to fight it by calling up my cousin and whereas I suggested bowling, we went to the batting cages instead, but it was Ladies' night and I got to play for free, so I guess I can't complain too much. It was nice hanging out with the cousin, and while he's kind of quiet, he'll answer pretty much any question I ask, and then we trade questions about how to say certain words in Chinese/English.

I finally got a chance to check out the Whisky Gallery by the place that I'm staying at. It'd pretty be Jaymie and Angelee's dream. It's not too shabby I will have to say and I had two drinks, both from Scotland, and wasn't going to complain. Although a little pricey - but I guess that's just what good drinking costs. It was around $12-$15 per glass, so not terrible. Kind of on par with a place like 7 Grand or something. But definitely a lot less fuss.

It's possible that I may be heading to Hong Kong and China next week, partially out of boredom, partially out of things working out just right timing wise, partially out of wanting to go exploring and thinking "when else am I going to get the chance?" I will really be draining my bank accounts (sort of) - but it might be well worth it. Especially if I end up at Hong Kong Disneyland - and although it's less fun to hang out there by my onesome, it's still Hong Kong Disneyland right?!

Random note: I was looking at some pictures and I'm reaaaally craving some good Mac n Cheese right now. I'm going to put that on my list of things to do when I get back (or Dre.. put that on our list!) along with Father's Office. Two musts.

Not too much else is "going on" that doesn't seem like normal life. I got a bit too much sun today (foolishly not putting on any sunblock of course..., plus I didn't factor in the swimming time in addition to the laying out time, so my arms/chest are so awful!) so I'm hoping I just turn to tan instead of peeling.



I went on this motorcycle ride and hiked up this mountain to get to this view. I can't say it was my first motorcycle ride, because I'm pretty sure that I've ridden on a bike when I was little and got burned by the tailpipe by putting my leg in the wrong spot. But my first "real"(?) ride. It was fun, and just through the city - so not like speed racing downhill on a Ducati or anything, but nice, despite the rain. It's definitely a nice way to "see the city" although probably more so if I was the driver and not the passenger. The hike was fun, a little (a lot) dark, but I got to see some fireflies and there weren't too many crawling things. Apparently there's a different place that has an even better view, but you have to go through this graveyard to get there? And just when I was going to face my fears to do it, the rain spoiled this little excursion of mine (it's a sign!). Regardless, I love views, and it kind of reminded me of Runyon Canyon, except you can't do Runyon @ night (is there any LA views you can get to at night? Shouldn't I know this?)

My sister has a food blog and while taking me around town has been re-visiting some places and collecting info for posts. I love her little organization skills and her notebook for cataloging everything, and i hope I'm not giving away too many of her secrets, but her book is kind of awesome. Plus you know, I don't mind being a guinea pig for all the stuff she wants to try. I'm still really curious about the Mexican food in Danshui! Hopefully I'll get to go on the weekends, and I also have to remind myself to have a Mos Burger before I go. Food I have had while I've been here includes: italian, pig intestine noodles, shaved ice, fresh made ice creams, yummy dumplings (both fried and not), mochi desserts, sausages off carts , burgers, corn dogs (not very good, don't get corn dogs in Taiwan), tofu/noodles/rice cakes off carts, paninis, korean food, chicken soup, green bean wraps and brunch. it runs the gamut of good to not so great and western food here doesn't really compare to california food at home, so i'm less inclined to eat american food here - but nothing has been super terrible. I haven't been to my favorite soup buns and beef noodle soup place yet, so I'm hoping for some of that soon. And Saturday we have a lunch at Din Tai Fong. There's a branch in Arcadia and apparently Chinese people of all sorts flock to it and exclaim how good it is, but I think is kind of overrated (you know me and hype), but maybe my mind will change come Saturday.

And finally, two of the cutest kids ever.