miscellaneous rambling

This year marks my 10th year as an expat. This exceeds my original plan by oh... 9 years.
Which is needless to say that, life continues to surpise despite all that one plans. and this is one of the reasons why I"m still where I am.

So.. I go back to Edmonton almost every year, and every year I see the changes in my fair hometown. This year though, I went to Toronto too. The biggest of Canadian cities. The business capital of Canada. (one of ) the cultural centers of the nation. I looked forward to this trip alot. Especially because I haven't been there in many years, and also because many friends and family are there. I enjoyed the time there, but the giant of Canada didn't seem so big to me, and Dallas coming from New York thought Toronto downright small.

For me, the greatest impression of Toronto, and perhaps of many North American cities, was that of being in the Suburbs. With small offices and strip malls there, one can live and shop for their daily needs without ever entering the city of Toronto itself let alone it's downtown core.
That was a frightening thing for me. Clean Chinese shops and BBQ places. No dirt, no smoking in the buildings, no yelling and screaming, and so much English together with the Chinese. It was extreme culture shock for me.
I felt the soul of Chinese culture was altered, cleaned up and modified for 21st century North Americans, and I felt disturbed. Life seemed so sterile, and I didn't like it.

It was then that I felt that to move back to North America will be harder than I expected. Of course there are high costs of living, and the question of work, but more important than that I felt that I have really left for awhile and that things had changed alot. I have been thinking of the past decade in Asia, and the changes that have happened here and in myelf.
One reason why I continue to stay here is that there are new things that present themselves and opportunites always arise. Of course, that's not to say that they won't happen in North America though.~ you'll note I say North America, because I don't know if I'd end up in Canada or back in Edmonton for that matter.

Steinbeck writes in "Travels with Charley" about when he "was young, and the urge to travel was upon me, older people said that maturity will cure this." he goes on for almost two pages. In the end, he admits that he will never be rid of urge to travel unless senility sets in. and "once a bum, always a bum".
Perhaps this is/ will be me. Although I have to say, my travels seem shorter than before. I feel older and more settled in. I feel aches in my body that tell me that I"m really over 30 now, and can't deny it anymore. But perhaps the changes and excitement from travel will keep me around the world for sometime more.

I look back on the past decade as one that was as colorful as anybody's. Expats make alot of sacrifices to be where they are. I truly feel we are a different lot . I met a friend here that said he has no plans to ever go back to his home country. He sees no need, other than just a visit. I was very suprised to hear that. To me, it felt like "turning ones back" on their country. but now I see it differently. You cannot change who you are, and you can always be a representative of your country. It doesn't mean you have to be there your whole life.

After Zipper passed on, we decided to help a friend take care of a street dog. She already has 12 of them in her tiny house in Taiwan, and she can't handle anymore, even though she can't resist taking new ones in. ( she tries to find homes for them too).
Charlie has been here, and also at another friend's place for two weeks, and finally this week, we've decided to "officially" adopt him as our own. He is getting his new name placard made for his cage, and also will be posted on the school as the new official mascot. He has already learned many English words, and commands, and can ride a scooter with excellent agility.
Since he's in off the streets, we are helping him fight a bit of a skin problem right now, but we're sure he'll be fully recovered soon!

September always flys by way way to fast. Being an educator, it's one of the busiest times of the year, and the time that accelerates life until the new year begins again. Almost without fail, after every September, when I think that things will become "normal", I find that suddenly plans come up and before I know it, the rest of the year is already planned. This year seems to be no exception.
October is almost over and things still haven't slowed down. Upon coming back from Canada in the Summer, I picked up a new Vespa motor scooter, which I took hurtling over the mountains and back. Vespa riding has been a joy, and meeting other motorists into vintage scooters has been interesting. This is something that I never thought I'd be into, but once you start, you can't stop. Plus, since the scooter is the foremost popular form of transport in Taiwan, why not make it fun, and go CLASSIC!

Last weekend Dallas decided she needed to brush up on her art appreciation. So suddenly, on Friday we went to the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine arts, then over the weekend went up to Taipei to see the Taipei Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the National Palace Museum ( which has been recently renovated ), and to boot, went to the National Science Museum, because she wanted to see an IMAX film. Apparently the theater is supposedly better than the one in New York. I dunno, I think the one in Edmonton is still better. Smaller, same quality, and much cosier. Plus, watching the films dubbed in Chinese is a turn off.

We are getting ready for our school's anniversary as well as annual Halloween party. We've gotten new staff, and new students, and so workwise, there have been many adjustments for all.
I had planned to go hiking over the weekend, but decided to stay put to get things in order.

Next month has already been planned with guests coming to stay with us. 3 separate groups of people, which means the house, will be not only school, but hotel for the month of November. Not sure how we're gonna handle all this. The house will be the busiest it has ever been.

far left is mr. yang. he is the founder of the scooter movement in taiwan and organizer of these events.
to my left and right and in front are some of the guys who i rode with.
my friend is talking to me on the cell phone which is why I have my hand up to my ear.

I sold my black 90cc vespa ( aka. Vicky) and bought this 1969 150cc beauty which I name Betty Blue.

She took me across the mountains to the East coast without problems.

Here is a modified 90 cc vespa. It's been elongated so it will seat 3 people. In Taiwan, younger riders like to put stickers onto their vespas to customize them. This one has pink panther stickers on it.