Having lived in a foreign country where I didn't speak the language before, I knew adjusting again would be challenging. But I didn't realize I would be this incompetent! If you can't read most Chinese characters, it's difficult to do even simple things like using the washing machine or buying food at a restaurant. I can recognize the characters for "meat," "chicken," "fish," and "vegetable" but that's pretty much it. And there are so many characters, and usually no English translations.
Same goes for ordering drinks. For some reason, even when I try to speak Chinese to people, they have a hard time understanding me. Like today I tried to order pearl milk tea from a small tea stand. I told them, in Chinese, "I want a small pearl milk tea, no ice, half sugar." Which is straight-forward enough to say, but the guy taking my order still looked confused. Maybe I'm not getting my tones right, but I don't think my accent is that bad. I can't wait for classes to start so I can see if other people in the class (including the teacher) can actually understand me.
It's been raining non-stop...again. It's really tempting to stay holed up inside (to avoid getting sick and to save money), but if I stayed inside every day it rained, I probably wouldn't ever see sunlight. So tomorrow I'm going to make it a point to go to this exhibit downtown. It'll also be the last day of summer vacation so I better enjoy it!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Simple Travel Tips
When you travel alone, you only have yourself and the kindness of strangers to rely on. Here are some tips to make the trip safer and more enjoyable.
1. Let someone know where you're going. This is a no-brainer. It doesn't take much time or effort to send someone a quick itinerary in the event that if your flight doesn't end up where it's supposed to, someone will know about it. When it comes to appeasing worried parents, I always go with the "treat others as you'd want to be treated" policy; if it were my kid, I'd want to know the flight details.
It's also a good idea to send a quick e-mail or phone call once you've actually arrived at your destination.
2. Check in with your hostel BEFORE leaving your home country. Some hostels have earlier check-in times than others. If the hostel hasn't contacted me before my departure, I like to send a quick e-mail just to make sure my booking actually went through and to double-check if there are any details I need to pay extra attention to. (For example, if the hostel is really hard to find.)
3. Always have a paper set of directions from the airport to the place you're staying, with the full address and phone number written down. Smartphones are great, but they aren't always fully operational right when you get off the plane. It's always good to have something physical to show somebody if the situation arises.
4. Change currencies in the airport of your destination rather than the airport that you're departing from; you get better rates. In my experience, banks tend to give the best rates and the lowest fees.
5. Try to carry some coins in case you need to use a pay phone. Many pay phones don't accept bills and it saves time not to have to break a bill in an airport you're unfamiliar with.
6. Make photocopies of all important documents/cards (passport, credit card, visa, etc.) and keep them in a safe place. If you lose anything, it's much easier to get a replacement if you have a photocopy with all the necessary info.
*Don't forget to call your bank before leaving and let them know you'll be in ___ for ___ amount of time, in case you need to use your card overseas.
7. For the plane, always carry a pair of socks (if you're not wearing them already) and a scarf. They will do wonders. Hand sanitizer is also useful.
8. If you don't already know them, learn 5 basic phrases in the language of the country you'll be going to: "Hello," "Excuse me," "Thank you," "Where is the...?", and "Do you speak English?" It doesn't take long to look them up and they can end up being lifesavers. If your memory's bad, write the phrases down and keep the paper in your wallet.
9. Always carry something to write with and something to write on in case someone has to draw you a map.
10. Even if you have a phone with you, carry a watch. You can manually switch the time on your watch once you arrive at the airport, but electronics aren't always so reliable.
11. If you have long hair, carry a spare hair tie. Having sticky hair in your face and on your neck is never a pleasant experience, especially when you have to walk a lot.
12. If you're traveling to an Asian country, wear shoes that can be easily taken off, since you'll probably be taking them off a lot once you arrive. Makes it easier to get through security as well.
13. If you're the worrying type, carry a small lock and key so you can save yourself the cost of buying a locker at the hostel. No one's going to take your suitcase or bag if it has a lock on it.
14. When going to a third world country or somewhere where the water may not be safe to drink, carry some iodine pills in your bag.
15. Always carry a small bottle of sunscreen. You never know when you're going to need it.
1. Let someone know where you're going. This is a no-brainer. It doesn't take much time or effort to send someone a quick itinerary in the event that if your flight doesn't end up where it's supposed to, someone will know about it. When it comes to appeasing worried parents, I always go with the "treat others as you'd want to be treated" policy; if it were my kid, I'd want to know the flight details.
It's also a good idea to send a quick e-mail or phone call once you've actually arrived at your destination.
2. Check in with your hostel BEFORE leaving your home country. Some hostels have earlier check-in times than others. If the hostel hasn't contacted me before my departure, I like to send a quick e-mail just to make sure my booking actually went through and to double-check if there are any details I need to pay extra attention to. (For example, if the hostel is really hard to find.)
3. Always have a paper set of directions from the airport to the place you're staying, with the full address and phone number written down. Smartphones are great, but they aren't always fully operational right when you get off the plane. It's always good to have something physical to show somebody if the situation arises.
4. Change currencies in the airport of your destination rather than the airport that you're departing from; you get better rates. In my experience, banks tend to give the best rates and the lowest fees.
5. Try to carry some coins in case you need to use a pay phone. Many pay phones don't accept bills and it saves time not to have to break a bill in an airport you're unfamiliar with.
6. Make photocopies of all important documents/cards (passport, credit card, visa, etc.) and keep them in a safe place. If you lose anything, it's much easier to get a replacement if you have a photocopy with all the necessary info.
*Don't forget to call your bank before leaving and let them know you'll be in ___ for ___ amount of time, in case you need to use your card overseas.
7. For the plane, always carry a pair of socks (if you're not wearing them already) and a scarf. They will do wonders. Hand sanitizer is also useful.
8. If you don't already know them, learn 5 basic phrases in the language of the country you'll be going to: "Hello," "Excuse me," "Thank you," "Where is the...?", and "Do you speak English?" It doesn't take long to look them up and they can end up being lifesavers. If your memory's bad, write the phrases down and keep the paper in your wallet.
9. Always carry something to write with and something to write on in case someone has to draw you a map.
10. Even if you have a phone with you, carry a watch. You can manually switch the time on your watch once you arrive at the airport, but electronics aren't always so reliable.
11. If you have long hair, carry a spare hair tie. Having sticky hair in your face and on your neck is never a pleasant experience, especially when you have to walk a lot.
12. If you're traveling to an Asian country, wear shoes that can be easily taken off, since you'll probably be taking them off a lot once you arrive. Makes it easier to get through security as well.
13. If you're the worrying type, carry a small lock and key so you can save yourself the cost of buying a locker at the hostel. No one's going to take your suitcase or bag if it has a lock on it.
14. When going to a third world country or somewhere where the water may not be safe to drink, carry some iodine pills in your bag.
15. Always carry a small bottle of sunscreen. You never know when you're going to need it.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tom and the Pond
Once upon a time there was a small, unassuming goldfish named Tom. He lived in a nice pond next to some nice flowers. Occasionally there would be a bird or bigger water creature that would prey on the fish, but for the most part, the pond was a safe and pleasant place to live. Tom had a family he loved, and friends he really enjoyed playing with. His job was to teach the baby fish how to avoid predators. Tom enjoyed his job but wondered if he wasn't destined for more.
One day, another fish from another pond, a much bigger one further away, swam over and asked if there were any fish willing to work and live in the other pond. The new fish, whose name was Stella, was friendly and knowledgeable and Tom very much wanted to go with her. After discussing it with his family and friends, Tom decided that yes, he would try to live in the bigger pond. His family and friends were sad to see him go, but wished him the best and told him they were looking forward to his return, whenever that would be. Tom waved good-bye and swam off with Stella.
The bigger pond was, in many ways, drastically different from the pond Tom had grown up in. It had lots of strange-looking flowers, and the fish there all spoke and swam differently. However, there were elements in the new pond that reminded Tom of home as well, such as the way mold would cling to the rocks at the bottom of the water. The sunlight was the same as well. Tom missed his friends and family, but he enjoyed exploring the new, bigger pond. It opened him up to more possibilities. Tom felt happy about his decision to live in the new pond and set about exploring his environment. Thanks to Stella, he made many new fish friends and even got to talk to a seahorse.
Sometimes, though, Tom would get frustrated. He couldn't communicate with the new fish very well, and some of them were wary of him because he came from a different pond. One day, Tom accidentally stubbed his fin because he couldn't navigate a winding path between some kelp. Some of his neighbors had swam right through but didn't bother to warn him. In his pain and confusion, Tom thought of his family and friends waiting in the other pond. He wondered if they thought of him.
That night, Tom told Stella that his fin was causing him an unpleasant experience and he was unsure if he could stay in the new pond for much longer. Stella asked Tom if he missed living in his old pond. Tom, somewhat abashedly, nodded yes. Stella asked Tom if he found some things about the new pond unfamiliar and therefore confusing; perhaps even a little threatening. Again, Tom nodded yes. Stella laughed and put a fin around Tom. "It's very natural for you to feel this way, Tom," she said, comfortingly. "Whenever I go to a new pond, I feel the exact same way." Tom was reassured. So I'm not the only one? He asked. "Of course not," said Stella. "But don't worry, we have many good things in this pond, too. And just because something is different doesn't make it bad."
Tom felt much better after talking to Stella and realized that he could learn a lot from being in the new pond. He resolved to stop thinking too much of the old pond and focus on all the great experiences available to him.
After some time had passed, Tom decided he would like to return to his old pond, even if it was just for a little while. He knew his family missed him and there were things he was really looking forward to about the old pond, such as his favorite hiding spots and the nice patch of seaweed that no one but him knew about. So Tom said good-bye to Stella and his new friends and began the swim back to his old pond. They wished him well and told him he was always welcome to come back.
When Tom entered his old pond, he was greeted by his family, who all gave him warm pats on the back. "Welcome back Tom," they said, smiling. Tom was happy to be back. He decided to visit his old friends' houses. One of his old friends had installed a new shell in his backyard. Tom thought it was a bit funny-looking, but he was too polite to tell his friend. "It's nice," he said. His new friend was head-over-heels in love with the shell and talked of nothing else. Tom felt a little bit bewildered by this new-found interest but decided not to voice his opinion, for fear of offending his friend.
Some of Tom's other fish friends had moved to a different section of the pond. When Tom visited them, he felt as if the water there was a little darker, the rocks a little bigger. He did not feel so safe in this part of the pond. "What are you talking about, Tom?" His friends asked, flabbergasted, when he mentioned his concern. "This pond is just the same as when you left." But Tom was not so sure. He thought of Stella and his friends from the bigger pond. Stella would understand what I mean, Tom thought to himself. She's been to many different ponds. But Stella was back in the other pond, and Tom wanted to concentrate on his life back in the old pond.
Tom found it difficult sleeping at night in the old pond. The rock he usually lay on had an unpleasant texture he didn't remember from before. It made his fins hurt. And when he swam out to his favorite hiding spots, he found that they weren't as spectacular as he remembered. It's quite silly, isn't it, he thought to himself. Tom swam round and round, trying to get comfortable with the old memories. But the pond felt like a whole different world to him.
Tom decided to ask his best friend, Daryl, what he thought. Hey Daryl, he said. "Hey Tom," Daryl said. "What's wrong?" Daryl always knew when Tom had something on his mind. Since coming back home, I feel like the pond has changed, Tom said. "What do you mean?" Daryl asked. Sometimes it seems smaller, sometimes it seems more dangerous. I don't know how to explain it, I just feel strange being here, Tom replied. "But how could you feel strange? You've lived here all your life." Daryl wore a perplexed expression, or as perplexed as fish can look. "Do you want to move to another pond?"
I don't know, Tom said, frustrated. I just think the pond here is strange now, that's all.
"I think you're the one who's strange, Tom," Daryl replied. He didn't give Tom a chance to respond before swimming away.
Tom lay on his rock that night, thinking. Is it the pond that's changed? He wondered. Or is it me?
The next day, Tom went to his parents and told them the same thing he had told Daryl.
"You always were a strange fish, Tom, " his father said. "Maybe you should have been born a shark. Then you could live in the ocean, instead of this small pond."
But I like the pond, Dad, Tom said. I just don't like it as much as I did before.
Tom's mother gave Tom a sad look. "Is this pond not enough for you, Tom?"
Tom put a fin around his mother. Just because I don't love this pond anymore doesn't mean I don't love you, Mom, he said.
She wiped a tear away with her fin. "This is your home, Tom," she said. "This is where you belong."
After his parents went to sleep (his mother still crying), Tom lay on his rock and thought some more about his predicament. If I leave the pond now, he thought, I might never come back. But if I stay here, I might lose the chance to leave forever. What should I do?
Finally, Tom made a decision. He knew it was the right decision because he felt nervous but not ominous about it. It was like the time he decided to befriend a koi fish: strange but not in a bad way. He and Daryl became best friends afterwards. (Well, maybe not anymore, Tom thought sadly.)
Tom fell asleep on his hard rock, happy with his decision. He would tell everyone tomorrow and hopefully they would understand. He couldn't wait to tell Stella, too.
The next day, there was a tsunami.
One day, another fish from another pond, a much bigger one further away, swam over and asked if there were any fish willing to work and live in the other pond. The new fish, whose name was Stella, was friendly and knowledgeable and Tom very much wanted to go with her. After discussing it with his family and friends, Tom decided that yes, he would try to live in the bigger pond. His family and friends were sad to see him go, but wished him the best and told him they were looking forward to his return, whenever that would be. Tom waved good-bye and swam off with Stella.
The bigger pond was, in many ways, drastically different from the pond Tom had grown up in. It had lots of strange-looking flowers, and the fish there all spoke and swam differently. However, there were elements in the new pond that reminded Tom of home as well, such as the way mold would cling to the rocks at the bottom of the water. The sunlight was the same as well. Tom missed his friends and family, but he enjoyed exploring the new, bigger pond. It opened him up to more possibilities. Tom felt happy about his decision to live in the new pond and set about exploring his environment. Thanks to Stella, he made many new fish friends and even got to talk to a seahorse.
Sometimes, though, Tom would get frustrated. He couldn't communicate with the new fish very well, and some of them were wary of him because he came from a different pond. One day, Tom accidentally stubbed his fin because he couldn't navigate a winding path between some kelp. Some of his neighbors had swam right through but didn't bother to warn him. In his pain and confusion, Tom thought of his family and friends waiting in the other pond. He wondered if they thought of him.
That night, Tom told Stella that his fin was causing him an unpleasant experience and he was unsure if he could stay in the new pond for much longer. Stella asked Tom if he missed living in his old pond. Tom, somewhat abashedly, nodded yes. Stella asked Tom if he found some things about the new pond unfamiliar and therefore confusing; perhaps even a little threatening. Again, Tom nodded yes. Stella laughed and put a fin around Tom. "It's very natural for you to feel this way, Tom," she said, comfortingly. "Whenever I go to a new pond, I feel the exact same way." Tom was reassured. So I'm not the only one? He asked. "Of course not," said Stella. "But don't worry, we have many good things in this pond, too. And just because something is different doesn't make it bad."
Tom felt much better after talking to Stella and realized that he could learn a lot from being in the new pond. He resolved to stop thinking too much of the old pond and focus on all the great experiences available to him.
After some time had passed, Tom decided he would like to return to his old pond, even if it was just for a little while. He knew his family missed him and there were things he was really looking forward to about the old pond, such as his favorite hiding spots and the nice patch of seaweed that no one but him knew about. So Tom said good-bye to Stella and his new friends and began the swim back to his old pond. They wished him well and told him he was always welcome to come back.
When Tom entered his old pond, he was greeted by his family, who all gave him warm pats on the back. "Welcome back Tom," they said, smiling. Tom was happy to be back. He decided to visit his old friends' houses. One of his old friends had installed a new shell in his backyard. Tom thought it was a bit funny-looking, but he was too polite to tell his friend. "It's nice," he said. His new friend was head-over-heels in love with the shell and talked of nothing else. Tom felt a little bit bewildered by this new-found interest but decided not to voice his opinion, for fear of offending his friend.
Some of Tom's other fish friends had moved to a different section of the pond. When Tom visited them, he felt as if the water there was a little darker, the rocks a little bigger. He did not feel so safe in this part of the pond. "What are you talking about, Tom?" His friends asked, flabbergasted, when he mentioned his concern. "This pond is just the same as when you left." But Tom was not so sure. He thought of Stella and his friends from the bigger pond. Stella would understand what I mean, Tom thought to himself. She's been to many different ponds. But Stella was back in the other pond, and Tom wanted to concentrate on his life back in the old pond.
Tom found it difficult sleeping at night in the old pond. The rock he usually lay on had an unpleasant texture he didn't remember from before. It made his fins hurt. And when he swam out to his favorite hiding spots, he found that they weren't as spectacular as he remembered. It's quite silly, isn't it, he thought to himself. Tom swam round and round, trying to get comfortable with the old memories. But the pond felt like a whole different world to him.
Tom decided to ask his best friend, Daryl, what he thought. Hey Daryl, he said. "Hey Tom," Daryl said. "What's wrong?" Daryl always knew when Tom had something on his mind. Since coming back home, I feel like the pond has changed, Tom said. "What do you mean?" Daryl asked. Sometimes it seems smaller, sometimes it seems more dangerous. I don't know how to explain it, I just feel strange being here, Tom replied. "But how could you feel strange? You've lived here all your life." Daryl wore a perplexed expression, or as perplexed as fish can look. "Do you want to move to another pond?"
I don't know, Tom said, frustrated. I just think the pond here is strange now, that's all.
"I think you're the one who's strange, Tom," Daryl replied. He didn't give Tom a chance to respond before swimming away.
Tom lay on his rock that night, thinking. Is it the pond that's changed? He wondered. Or is it me?
The next day, Tom went to his parents and told them the same thing he had told Daryl.
"You always were a strange fish, Tom, " his father said. "Maybe you should have been born a shark. Then you could live in the ocean, instead of this small pond."
But I like the pond, Dad, Tom said. I just don't like it as much as I did before.
Tom's mother gave Tom a sad look. "Is this pond not enough for you, Tom?"
Tom put a fin around his mother. Just because I don't love this pond anymore doesn't mean I don't love you, Mom, he said.
She wiped a tear away with her fin. "This is your home, Tom," she said. "This is where you belong."
After his parents went to sleep (his mother still crying), Tom lay on his rock and thought some more about his predicament. If I leave the pond now, he thought, I might never come back. But if I stay here, I might lose the chance to leave forever. What should I do?
Finally, Tom made a decision. He knew it was the right decision because he felt nervous but not ominous about it. It was like the time he decided to befriend a koi fish: strange but not in a bad way. He and Daryl became best friends afterwards. (Well, maybe not anymore, Tom thought sadly.)
Tom fell asleep on his hard rock, happy with his decision. He would tell everyone tomorrow and hopefully they would understand. He couldn't wait to tell Stella, too.
The next day, there was a tsunami.
How Not to Get an ID No. in Taiwan
Since I'm a scholarship recipient, the Ministry of Education in Taiwan is supposed to transfer funds to my university, who then transfers the funds to me (and students like me) every month. Doing this, however, requires that I open a Taiwanese bank account.
When I initially applied for a visa at my nearest embassy (San Francisco), I wanted to get a resident visa. This is typically the kind of visa given to students studying in Taiwan for 6 months or more. However, the people working at the embassy said that they could not grant me a resident visa until I had studied in Taiwan for at least 4 months and then provided them with a doctor's note after a check-up. (This contradicted what I had read online, but whatever.) So I ended up with a multiple-entry visitor's visa, which is only good for staying in the country 90 days (can be extended up to 180 days for students) and allows me to make multiple trips outside of Taiwan and still be able to come back into the country.
To open up a bank account, I needed an ARC (Alien Registration Certificate), which is only given to foreign nationals with resident visas. However, I could apply for an ID number in the interim (until I can switch my visitor's visa to a resident's visa), so that's what my school suggested I do. In order to do that, however, I needed to make my way to the local immigration office.
In Taipei, there are two immigration offices: one for those living in Taipei City and one for those living in Taipei County (such as New Taipei City). The one for those living in Taipei City is relatively easy to get to; you pretty much go out the specific exit of an MRT station and you're there. The one for those living in Taipei County is much more complicated, and even though my apartment is only five minutes away from my university by bus (which is considered within the confines of Taipei City), my residence dictated that I needed to go to the second immigration office to get my ID number. Weird, but I couldn't do anything but find my way there.
To get there, I took the MRT (changed lines once) and a local bus. At the bus stop, I had to make my way up a hill and navigate some windy roads until I found the immigration office. Happily, I made it there without any unnecessary detours, thanks to the helpful map the school gave me before my departure. Once inside the immigration office, you pick up a number and wait until it shows on the announcement board, which dictates which station attendant you should head to. I couldn't find the number dispenser and ended up asking another American for help. She was really sweet and pointed me to the form I was supposed to fill out (or so I thought). I filled out the form and sat down to wait.
While reading the back of the form, I noticed that it said that there was a $1000NT charge for the document. I only had $500NT with me and since I didn't have a bank account in Taiwan yet, had no way to come up with the extra cash without going all the way back to my apartment. However, I remembered there being an ATM in the lobby and thought that maybe, just maybe, it took foreign debit cards as well. Tried it, no luck. I cursed myself for not bringing more cash since I didn't want to make my way out to the immigration office again (it took maybe 40 minutes total, to get from school to there). Went back to the waiting area and asked the nice lady if she knew of any ATMs nearby that took American cards. She told me to walk back down the hill and there would be a Family Mart. I hurried down and tried my card there. Hurray, it worked! Walked back up the hill and sat down to wait once more.
I was number 150, and the number being called was 90. I wondered how long I would have to wait...in the meantime, I read my Kindle, twiddled my thumbs. The pregnant lady next to me said something to me in Mandarin and held out a number ticket. I thought she was asking me if I had dropped it and I told her it wasn't mine. Then I realized that she was trying to give me her number ticket because she was leaving and didn't want to wait anymore. Thanking her, I took it. Now I was number 137.
Finally, after another hour of waiting, number 137 is finally called. The immigration officer takes a look at my passport and then at my application. He appears puzzled. I twitch nervously in the chair. He asks me in Chinese, "Are you trying to get a resident visa?" I tell him my school wants me to get an ID number. A light-bulb seems to go off in his head, and he tells me that the form I filled out is incorrect, I'm supposed to fill out a different form if I want an ID number (and I probably didn't have to wait that long because it's a simple process that involves him printing out a piece of paper from the computer). The nice lady must have thought I was trying to get an ARC when she pointed me to the forms. So I fill out the new form and hand it to him. While he's looking at it, a giant red bug crawls out from underneath some papers on his desk. He freaks out and starts removing everything on his desk and tries to shoo the bug away. I wonder why he doesn't just kill it. The bug disappears. I wait in my chair and try not to burst out laughing.
The nice lady walks by and asks me if I need a ride anywhere, she has a car and she's worried because it's so hot outside. I tell her thank you but I'm not sure how long I'll be and I don't mind taking public transportation. She smiles, wishes me luck with my studies, and leaves.
Five minutes later, I have my ID number (which didn't cost anything, after all), and I find my way back to the MRT Station. More than five hours have passed since I set out for school that morning. I make my way to the bank (a different bus stop), hopefully in time to open a new account with my new ID number. I find out the bank closed at 3:30. (Really?) It is now 5 p.m. I buy some dinner and take the bus home.
When I initially applied for a visa at my nearest embassy (San Francisco), I wanted to get a resident visa. This is typically the kind of visa given to students studying in Taiwan for 6 months or more. However, the people working at the embassy said that they could not grant me a resident visa until I had studied in Taiwan for at least 4 months and then provided them with a doctor's note after a check-up. (This contradicted what I had read online, but whatever.) So I ended up with a multiple-entry visitor's visa, which is only good for staying in the country 90 days (can be extended up to 180 days for students) and allows me to make multiple trips outside of Taiwan and still be able to come back into the country.
To open up a bank account, I needed an ARC (Alien Registration Certificate), which is only given to foreign nationals with resident visas. However, I could apply for an ID number in the interim (until I can switch my visitor's visa to a resident's visa), so that's what my school suggested I do. In order to do that, however, I needed to make my way to the local immigration office.
In Taipei, there are two immigration offices: one for those living in Taipei City and one for those living in Taipei County (such as New Taipei City). The one for those living in Taipei City is relatively easy to get to; you pretty much go out the specific exit of an MRT station and you're there. The one for those living in Taipei County is much more complicated, and even though my apartment is only five minutes away from my university by bus (which is considered within the confines of Taipei City), my residence dictated that I needed to go to the second immigration office to get my ID number. Weird, but I couldn't do anything but find my way there.
To get there, I took the MRT (changed lines once) and a local bus. At the bus stop, I had to make my way up a hill and navigate some windy roads until I found the immigration office. Happily, I made it there without any unnecessary detours, thanks to the helpful map the school gave me before my departure. Once inside the immigration office, you pick up a number and wait until it shows on the announcement board, which dictates which station attendant you should head to. I couldn't find the number dispenser and ended up asking another American for help. She was really sweet and pointed me to the form I was supposed to fill out (or so I thought). I filled out the form and sat down to wait.
While reading the back of the form, I noticed that it said that there was a $1000NT charge for the document. I only had $500NT with me and since I didn't have a bank account in Taiwan yet, had no way to come up with the extra cash without going all the way back to my apartment. However, I remembered there being an ATM in the lobby and thought that maybe, just maybe, it took foreign debit cards as well. Tried it, no luck. I cursed myself for not bringing more cash since I didn't want to make my way out to the immigration office again (it took maybe 40 minutes total, to get from school to there). Went back to the waiting area and asked the nice lady if she knew of any ATMs nearby that took American cards. She told me to walk back down the hill and there would be a Family Mart. I hurried down and tried my card there. Hurray, it worked! Walked back up the hill and sat down to wait once more.
I was number 150, and the number being called was 90. I wondered how long I would have to wait...in the meantime, I read my Kindle, twiddled my thumbs. The pregnant lady next to me said something to me in Mandarin and held out a number ticket. I thought she was asking me if I had dropped it and I told her it wasn't mine. Then I realized that she was trying to give me her number ticket because she was leaving and didn't want to wait anymore. Thanking her, I took it. Now I was number 137.
Finally, after another hour of waiting, number 137 is finally called. The immigration officer takes a look at my passport and then at my application. He appears puzzled. I twitch nervously in the chair. He asks me in Chinese, "Are you trying to get a resident visa?" I tell him my school wants me to get an ID number. A light-bulb seems to go off in his head, and he tells me that the form I filled out is incorrect, I'm supposed to fill out a different form if I want an ID number (and I probably didn't have to wait that long because it's a simple process that involves him printing out a piece of paper from the computer). The nice lady must have thought I was trying to get an ARC when she pointed me to the forms. So I fill out the new form and hand it to him. While he's looking at it, a giant red bug crawls out from underneath some papers on his desk. He freaks out and starts removing everything on his desk and tries to shoo the bug away. I wonder why he doesn't just kill it. The bug disappears. I wait in my chair and try not to burst out laughing.
The nice lady walks by and asks me if I need a ride anywhere, she has a car and she's worried because it's so hot outside. I tell her thank you but I'm not sure how long I'll be and I don't mind taking public transportation. She smiles, wishes me luck with my studies, and leaves.
Five minutes later, I have my ID number (which didn't cost anything, after all), and I find my way back to the MRT Station. More than five hours have passed since I set out for school that morning. I make my way to the bank (a different bus stop), hopefully in time to open a new account with my new ID number. I find out the bank closed at 3:30. (Really?) It is now 5 p.m. I buy some dinner and take the bus home.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
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