Here I am
So much time has passed that I feel tempted to just start over with a new blog. It seems fitting, however, to pick up the pieces with this one. I've learned that picking up the pieces is one of life's most valuable skills.
During my senior year of college, my best freng and I rented a duplex apartment together. It was one of a small group of metal sided duplicated duplexes in the fenced semi-circle that we affectionately referred to as "the commune." A young family resided in the other half of our duplex. Frequently we'd be greeted by our 5 year old neighbor. He'd fling the door open, put his hands on his hips and, looking quite exasperated, would say, "Well, there you are!"
I moved to Taiwan to start a new life, and I did. In fact, it eventually became a very good life. I had amazing adventures and made a good friend who was very accepting, fun and insightful. More importantly, though, I started feeling like myself again.
Then, last winter, I, once again, had to start a new life. I left Taiwan and am now living in Spokane. My mom has become ill, and it's time to dedicate some of my energy to making things right for her. I didn't jump into this new life quite so enthusiastically. I didn't want to leave Taiwan, my students or my friend. I believe I'm in the right place though, and I see a lot of possibilities. My transformation back into myself is almost complete as well. I step back and watch myself interacting with the world, and I remember that I used to know that girl. Man, is she weird.
So, to those who may have noticed my absence from this blog, and to me, who recognized my absence from this life, I'd like to say, "Well, here I am!"
Water You Talking About
I have completed my initial training, now it's on to Lungtan. Lungtan is a quaint little town with plenty of small businesses lining the streets. I suspect it's much like US towns used to be before WalMart (hereafter referred to as "the antichrist") and similar stores started polluting our communities. It can be a bit frustrating, however, to find the store that carries a given item. Today's purchase was an oscillating fan. Aparrently, "oscillating" is not a common word. I did find one, however, and I will lug it back to my apartment this evening.
Even less convenient than the sporadic shopping success is the total lack of water in Lungtan. Since the last typhoon, Lungtan has not had water. The pools and puddles have been drained one bucket at a time. The fire department has started rationing buckets of the coveted liquid to the different neighborhoods. If water doesn't arrive soon, I can imagine people biting, clawing and stampeding to get to the fire trucks. Well, it probably won't be that bad, but it's funny to imagine. I can just imagine people guarding their buckets of water -- growling and attacking anyone who dares approach.
Until then, this stinky teacher will be continue to apply a fresh layer of perfume and antiperspirent, hoping it's enough.
Plots
I realize I've been remiss in my blogger duties lately. It has been such a chaotic time that I don't know where to begin. So, I'll begin with coffee. Just a second, let me grab a cup. I'm at an internet cafe in Taipei. I had purchased a carton of Fresh Caramel Pudding Milk, but, as I'm sure you're aware, you can only drink so much caramel pudding milk before you can't take even one more sip.
Since I last wrote I...
...spent about 2 weeks with my mother and family.
...spent a lot of money on stuff I thought I might need in Taiwan.
...had a tearful goodbye with my sweet puppy.
...left my mother at the airport in Spokane.
...flew to Seattle.
...had an informative conversation with a Vietnamese man in the Seattle airport about his experiences in the Vietnam War.
...flew to Tiapei. The seats were very cramped, and I was next to the bathroom.
...struggled with a taxi driver to find my new apartment.
...drank a lot of beer and ate a lot of fatty meat.
...watched the South Africa vs. Australia rugby match.
...took a bus to Taipei for training.
...have experienced total communication breakdown several times.
have had training stalled for 2 days because of typhoons.
That brings us up to today. This was a barebones plot of these past few weeks. Margaret Atwood wrote a short story called Happy Endings. In it she says, "That's about all that can be said about plots, which anyway are just one thing after another, a what and a what and a what.
Now try How and Why."
Odds are 10 to 1 in my favor
It seems that a chapter of my life is ending. I've quit my job, said my goodbyes, reserved my U-Haul and packed my life into boxes. I will leave for Spokane early Friday morning to spend some time with my family before taking off for Taiwan.
In numerology, 10 is considered the number of completion. It is the end. By adding the numbers in 10, however, you come up with 1, which is the beginning. Therefore, every ending is also a beginning.
It does not make farewells any easier, however. I cherish the many relationships I've established in Billings, and it is difficult to imagine what life will be like without them. They have provided support, laughter and occasional honest feedback. I will miss my friends, and ex-family, in Billings. It is tempting to look backward for awhile, and I anticipate doing a lot of reminiscing about the people and memories I've treasured.
The gifts I've received from my Billings friends will not be forgotten. I'm beginning my new life now. I will be in Taiwan in a little over a week. I have an exciting job and a new life of adventures awaiting me. I wonder what the future holds. I guess only time will tell.
Farewell, my friends. "Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again."
Do you take your coffee with one hump or two?
I went out on Saturday night to celebrate my departure with the co-workers who are more gifted at celebrating with shots than with cake. Bars are surreal to me. People change their personalities as they walk through the door. Suddenly everyone is more sexualized and gregarious. I guess the alcohol, whether consumed or just in the air, gives them an excuse to let themselves express their ids more freely. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with people being sexualized. Heck, I like sex. My grandmother says that she'd rather have a cold cup of coffee than sex any day. I don't see why I should have to choose. Just pour that old Sanka over my body and clean me up however you see fitting. But I digress. What I do struggle with is that many patrons seem to actually be grocery shopping. They talk about a place being a "sausage fest" if there are a lot of men present. "Brown sugar" is of course a reference to the good looking African-Americans. We mustn't forget "melons," "six-packs," "nuts," "buns" and the occasional "red snapper." We use these words and phrases to make natural but taboo topics more palatable. I can't deny that reading that list makes me hungry.
Now that I think about it, maybe "cold cup of coffee" was my grandma's reference to something particularly brazen. Maybe if I knew the code, I'd prefer cold coffee to sex too.
I Always Knew I Hated Uranus
I went to an astrologer yesterday. I thought it would be an interesting endeaver before taking off for the far side of the world. She also determined my Jungian archetypes. Most people have 5 archetypes; I have 7. The archetypes themselves didn't really surprise me. I'm a mystic, an artist priestess, a warrior, a teacher and a nourishing mother. Ironically, my shadow-self is a combination of wisewoman healer and dark mother. So, I'm a nourishing mother and a dark mother. The way I figure it, I must have Munchausen by Proxy.
I have something called a Grand Square in my chart. I was told that they are rare and that they present "a tremendous opportunity for growth" which is, of course, a euphamism for "problem." She knew immediately that the last couple of years of my life have been turbulent. She explained that Uranus is on Virgo and is squaring Jupiter. Pluto is on my Midheaven and will square my Dark Moon this winter. I asked her when things would settle down for me, and she said meekly, "Well, Pluto moves very slowly. It should stop impacting you so strongly 2 years from Christmas time." TWO YEARS FROM CHRISTMAS! As if that weren't enough, she gently added, "You might want to watch your health."
I asked her if she had any good news for me. I reminded her at this pointed that I was paying for the reading. Her good news was, "Pluto and Uranus will only be in these positions once in your life." Well, at least I have that to hold onto.
Pup Goes the Weasel
My wonderful companion and friend, Yoshi, spent a few days at her daddy's house. I just picked her up, and have taken her to a new house, with new furniture, new people and new smells. We will be staying here until we leave town in early August. For those who are unaware, Yoshi is a Japanese Chin who is practically the only "possession" I took with me when I moved out of my home a couple months back. As I watch her roaming around her new environment, I am amused and inspired by her routine. In the past hour, she has attempted to explore behind and under each piece of furniture. She has gone upstairs, then downstairs at least 4 times. She has sniffed and attempted to eat various little particles she has found on the floors. She has also licked their books and stood in the middle of their dining room table. Playwright Patrick Shanley once said, "Almost everyone you see, meet, talk to...is asleep. Only a few of us are wide awake, and we live in a constant state of amazement." I hope to one day be as awake as my dog.
