This place never ceases to amaze me.
Yesterday I slept in and when I did wake up, I did so slowly. Rolled around on my yoga mat, showered, and scootered to Dantes cafe to proceed in the endless planning necessary to take over five classes on monday. Emily and I worked hard for a few hours and when our stress level hit its peak we rode over to the place beside our apartment and feasted in dumplings and a Taiwan Beer from 7/11 on the patio. I had 3 steamed leek dumplings, 3 vegetarian, and then 3 of each pot stickers. After we put in our order we strolled down the road to 7/11 to grab a much deserved bottle of beer. A big bottle costs about $1.50 cdn and the man who works there is the SWEETEST. He opened it for us because we realised it wasn't a twist off, then sent us on our way with two little cups. He cheered me right up from the stressed out state of mind I walked in from. Sitting on the patio reading and enjoying our food and drink I alternated from the pages in my book to people watching and realised how much I like it here. Em mentioned how happy everyone seems and its so nice to be smiled at so often. Plus, ALL of the kids are adorable. While eating, I watched a brother and sister pop a squat under a tree before returning to their play. True story.
After dinner we picked up developed photos and headed to the starbucks near our place to continue working. Peter, the barista, is the sweetest and makes me smile the few times i've been there. We headed straight upstairs to grab a table and while we were setting up our computers, a guy at the table next to us asked me if I was new to Taiwan. Blonde hair is such a giveaway. We started chatting and he asked how we were liking it and then asked if he could treat emily and myself to a drink, of the starbucks kind. So kind. So we all went downtstairs and emily and I tried feverently to order a chai latte. Nobody knew what we were saying so we settled on the drink of the day which was called a "lei chai" because it sounded so similar. Fingers crossed as we took our first sip, but alas, DEFINITLEY not a chai latte. We thanked our new friend Wade profusely while we loaded our coffees up with vanilla, chocolate, and cinnamon powder and headed back up the stairs. Wade sat with us for the next few minutes and we chatted. He's 32, owns his own business in town, although i'm not sure what kind exactley. He has never been to Canada but has a friend that he met in Kaousiung who is Canadian. He loves meeting foreigners. Then he asked us when our birthdays were. I realised he was trying to figure out our astrological signs and that's when I knew I really liked him :p
He told Emily she is a romantic and i'm very balanced and said we were destined to be lovely friends. He asked if he could have the pleasure of showing us around Kaouhsiung on Saturday. He wants to take us to the beach and to a restaurant to eat seafood! =)
Soon after Wade left for home and Emily and I got down to work but he definitley made our nights. I certainly have NEVER had someone approach me at starbucks and ask to buy me a drink to welcome me to their country. Unreal.
And that's the end of that story.
I just woke up from a great sleep to a lovely text from dad so ill write him an email now, do some yoga, read and drink tea. Then emily and I are headed to the javascript:void(0)gym to check it out and then back home to set up shop at the tables in the courtyard downstairs and get back to work. This planning is intense. Tonight we are meeting up with a bunch of people from KNS for a going away party for the teachers who we're taking over for. Should be fun.
Happy eve to all you in canada, and happy day in Taiwan
xx
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