Sorry for the lack of posts, but I’ve been busy busy with GMAT studying and whatnot. But a real quick FIY, on April 1st (aka Census Day 2010), if you’re a Taiwanese-American (like me!), then make sure you put yourself as that. For more info, go here.
First off, Happy Belated Chinese New Year’s/Valentine’s Day.
I get two weeks off for the holidays: last week and this week. The boyfriend got ten days off last week too, but we were kept busy due to an unfortunate event so there were other things on our minds besides enjoying the break.
I’m surprised that this little island of ours hasn’t drowned and disappeared into the ocean yet. It’s been cold and raining nonstop for the past two days, which also means that I haven’t left my place in 48 hours which will be going on close to 72 hours. Because it’s Chinese New Year, and everyone takes a week off, there’s also not much stores or shops open either. I ordered a lot of pizza on the first night and have been living off that for awhile. Kinda feels like college again, especially the lounging-in-sweats-and-eating-cold-pizza-while-studying-occasionally part.
Why the studying? I’ve finally signed up for the GMAT. I’m taking it on March 9th. I’m one of those people who just work better under pressure and deadlines, so I figured if I didn’t actually sign up, then I would never really get around to taking it no matter how much I studied. Technically, I’ve been “studying” on and off since last April. Ergo, a deadline is necessary.
Anyways, I was born in 1985, the year of the Ox, so this is my forecast for this upcoming year.
Forecast for 2010
The Ox loves methodical planning and everything working out in the correct time. The Year of the Tiger will throw all this to the wind with it’s fast pace and unexpected developments! People born under this sign may find 2010 a challenge but in a good way. The Ox will have to adapt to new routines, delays and obtacles thrown in his way, but he will be well able for any task and may find new hidden talents and personal power he didn’t know existed. Hobbies, relaxing pursuits and friendships will all be beautifully highlighted during the Year of the Tiger and will provide a welcome relief to any stresses he may face. Home improvements and redecorating plans will move forward smoothly with excellent results. Career opportunities will present themselves from April to June, while exciting, intense romantic encounters are likely in July, August and December. An important aspect for those under this sign in 2010 is to be mindful and caring of loved ones. It will be crucial to listen to them and also to accept any help they may offer during this changeable year.
Hey, that sounds pretty good to me. I’ve always had a thing for horoscopes, but I do have a sneaking suspicion that they only sound so accurate because I can always think of something in my life that applies. Is that the point? Or are they really just that good? Let me know; you can find out yours here.
I got a digital perm last weekend because I got tired of my straight straight hair which I’ve worn for years. Usually when I get tired of my hair, I usually just cut it short, but this time I decided to do something really different.
I kind of made an impulse decision to get a perm or something that would give my flat and straight hair some volume and body. So after a couple of hours of research online, I decided that I would get a digital perm. (This blog post pretty much helped me make up my mind.) Basically, a digital perm, which started in Japan, is a hot perm applied to the ends of the hair so you get big curls and/or loose waves. A cold perm is close to the head and produces small tight curls.
This is what my hair looked like before my appointment.
When I got to the salon, they applied creams and such to my hair to protect it, then they hooked me up to this contraption where the heat is kept at a certain temperature based on what kind of hair you have, i.e. thin, coarse, thick, fine, etc.
The whole process took five hours (partly because the salon was really busy that day), and it cost $4500NT ($140USD), but I got a 50% discount cause I had a coupon. After the stylist dried and styled it, it looked like this.
Now, I can just wash it, put some curl-enhancing product in it while it’s damp, and then let it air-dry. The waves appear when it dries. Then if I want it a bit more curlier, I can take a curling iron to the locks in front for a few seconds, and voilá!
Fun Fact: The movie theaters here serve sweet and salty popcorn. They usually just give you the sweet popcorn by default when you ask for popcorn because that’s what the Taiwanese prefer.
In the beginning, I refused to get the sweet because I thought it was the sweet kettle corn which I’m not a fan of. Then, one time, they accidentally threw in a few sweet kernels, and I suddenly discovered a little piece of caramelized heaven.
Since then, I’ve been getting popcorn half and half because what’s watching a movie without salty and buttery popcorn which goes great with an ice cold fountain coke, right? (Although the popcorn here really isn’t that buttery. It’s an Asian thing, along with less cheese and less sauce on pizzas.) Salty on top, then when you get to the sweet on the bottom, it’s like dessert!
Now, I’ve been getting (probably hormonal-related) cravings for caramel popcorn and have been looking all over Taipei for some since I don’t think you can just buy concessions at the movies without tickets. First was the caramel popcorn imported from the States that I found at City Super, but that tasted funny. Then, the boyfriend suggested Herson’s Popcorn located in the food court of Shinkong Mitsukoshi (shopping malls) by Taipei 101. Now, that counter is seriously popcorn heaven. They have flavors from blueberry to bacon to cotton candy. We got a decent size bucket of caramel, green apple, and Oreo cookie for only $140NT ($4.38USD). Yum!
I try not to stay up past midnight anymore, but it’s a bit hard when there’s domestic abuse going on two feet away.
There’s something wrong with some of these Taiwanese women. Or with the men that’s making the women this way. It’s not like there’s a shortage of males to females, and I would know because I looked it up. (CIA Fact Book)
Today, on the very crowded MRT, a woman got on talking loudly on her cell phone and yelling at her boyfriend to return the money to her because she sold the house so it’s her money and even though she lent it to him, he still needs to RETURN IT. The entire MRT car, and probably the next one over, obtained all of this information throughout her conversation the entire time she was riding.
The lady across the hall yells and beats her boyfriend/escort/pimp (Who really knows what he is? Especially if he is so dumb or superficial to stick around after all the abuse? In my professional opinion: dude, grow a pair.) about once a week. She does it loudly, and it actually does border on insanity a bit, the kind where she really could use a padded room and straitjacket.
What I don’t understand is that if all of these women are so unsatisfied with what they got, then why don’t they go out and just get a new one? There are enough men for all of the women here on this island, and that’s NOT counting the foreigners. All they can do is bitch and moan about how these guys cheat on them or don’t do enough for them, OR they beat and scream at their “animals” with no mercy. (A while ago, during a fight, the lady across the hall kept calling her victim “你這個動物” (read: you’re such an animal) with an accompaniment of slapping sounds).
Come on, women, you can do better than that. If you don’t like the way he’s treating you, then MOVE ON. Live and be the “I am woman, hear me roar”! Trust me, you WILL find someone else, and he’ll be a hundred times better than the last one. Unless, you know, you enjoy going for the kind of guys who treat you like crap then you’re on your own.
I have even heard stories from American guys here about crazy Taiwanese ex-girlfriends who were jealous and possessive, and they would patrol facebook, email, MSN, etc. to ensure no other female contacts with their boyfriends.
Despite all of that, these women still insist on being high-maintenance. They would rather not cater to the guy, and if things aren’t perfect for them, then they really will lose their sh*t.
Come on, men, just because these women get all dressed up and pretty themselves up for you doesn’t mean that you have to put up with their crap. But also, don’t do anything stupid to deserve it in the first place.
So is it the men or the women? Is it years of unfaithful men and failed marriages that have bred the women to be like this? There are even many marriages here where the man is homosexual, but due to culture and tradition such as the need to carry on the family name, so there are infidelities and unhappy women all over the place. (I’m not making that up. I really do have a source.)
You know that phrase, “Crazy Asian Moms”? Well, I’m sure it started out as “Crazy Asian Girlfriends/Wives”. God forbid the lady across the hall to bear any children. Her children would definitely be abused to no end.
[Disclaimer: I'm not stereotyping that all Taiwanese or Asian women or men are like this. These are just examples from experience and observances.]
Hi, I'm Tina, I'm 24, and I'm teaching English in Taipei.
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