Around the World in 330 Days: Brian's Fulbright Journey in China and Elsewhere: Days 59-60: Taipei, Part One

So we flew to Taipei on Thursday (Oct. 26). Kerry just made it with the visa requirement, leaving China on his 59th day in the country (he had to leave by Day 60). The airport checked our bags all the way to Taipei, and we got good food on the flight again. However, on the first flight (Shanghai Hongqiao to Ximen) Kerry and I had to sit behind each other in aisle seats, and I'm not a fan of aisle seats. Fortunately, on the second flight (Ximen to Taipei), an older woman asked us if I'd switch seats with her, and I did gladly because she had a window seat. On this second flight, we noticed a lot of people with shaved heads--even the women-and debated as to whether they were Buddhists or Hare Krishnas. They seemed very kind and peaceful and kept smiling at us. The cab driver dropped us off at this busy area, where it said "Lane 114," and motioned to us to walk down the alley and we'd find the hotel. We were skeptical but did find it. It was called the Via Hotel, and we had to walk upstairs, through a little shopping mall, in order to get to it. The lobby was decorated for Halloween, they had lots of free snacks for guests, and the desk clerk (Chris) spoke perfect English. Remarkable! After we got settled, we went to forage for food. We found a chicken place, where we ordered a popcon chicken and squid combo. I had the squid and Kerry had most of the chicken. We were in the Ximending--Ximen district--a loud, busy shopping area, with lots of food and shopping and colored lights. But it was amazing! It reminded me a bit of Times Square in NYC. We strolled around a bit, and I bought a stuffed panda in the stuffed animal store (I think the third or fourth I've bought so far). We turned in soon after, as I had to go lecture and give the workshop the next day.

Friday, the next day, I went to National Taiwan Normal University. Initially, I caught a cab and had the cabbie drop me off at a Starbucks on Shiba Road, where I met Brena, the professor of the class with the lecture. I lectured to some MA students on "Writing and Literature: What Works? What Doesn't?" During the lecture, I mostly talked about how to write an effective literary analysis essay; I talked a lot about the essay writing process. The students were attentive, took notes, and asked some good questions. We were in a seminar room, with about 11 students, not a lecture hall, so that surprised me a bit. After the lecture, I went back to the Starbucks and ordered a pork and cheese sandwich and an iced black tea. Then I went strolling around Shiba Road for awhile. My purchases were minimal--I really didn't see much of anything exciting to shop for. A lot of pharmacies and restaurants. Went back to the Starbucks, and I had a couple students (Gillian and Joyce) pick me up and take me to my second event, a "workshop" for students. However, the "workshop" was more of a lecture, ironically. I went over four select papers with the class as a whole, and we discussed the merits of each, and what needed improvement. So it was like a whole class discussion rather than the peer review groups that I'm used to at home. Still, the students talked to me after class. One--Herbert--even asked me to review something that he wrote. As we left the classroom, I left my suit jacket in there, and Iping, the professor, and to find someone to open the door. Security is uber-tight at that school: teachers and professors need to enter classrooms with cards, and the light in the hallway was completely out after my workshop. I'm not sure why. Brena and Iping treated me to dinner at a nice out-of-the-way cafe within walking distance of the campus. I had beer-battered chicken, greens, white radish soup, and cabbage, cooked by a buzz-haired female chef who brought the food out almost immediately. I even imbibed coffee (black) afterwards, which I almost never do. Iping asked me a lot of questions about the benefits of my Fulbright. When I told her what they provide, she kept exclaiming, "Lord Jesus!" Example: "They provide your language lessons? Lord Jesus!" I thought this was amusing. Iping reminds me of Xuewei a bit--older Asian woman, very kind and nice. Brena is younger, just starting at NTNU as a professor. They told me that they want to invite me back for gender studies work, and I'd love to go. Then they put me in a cab and sent me back to the hotel. In the evening, Kerry and I walked around the shopping district a bit more, purchasing a few things--lots of gifts for others back home! Before the evening ended, we went to our first gay bar in China: a bear bar called "Bear Junkies." We just happened to find it by chance. The food wasn't great, but it was a cozy place--tables and such--with stuffed bears all over. Pretty much all Asians; I think one group of Englishmen/Aussies came in at one point. We just hung out and had chicken fingers/nuggets and drinks. After that, we headed home.

Here are some Taiwan pics: