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An ESL Class – And I Survived

January 3, 2013 – 4:54 pm
Guandu Temple in Taipei

Thursday January 3, 2012
10:30 a.m. at the 7-11 on Chang-An Road
Another rainy and gloomy day here in Taipei. The rain, at least, isn’t pouring down. It’s barely even making the effort to be rain. It’s just trickling a bit here and there. I didn’t even bother to break out an umbrella for the walk from my apartment to here. I was the only one walking …

“Forever Love” New Year Concert in Taipei

January 2, 2013 – 7:29 pm
Forever Love New Year Concert

Wednesday, January 2, 2013
7:30 a.m. at a 7-11 on Bade Road
I’m sitting inside a 7-11 is just down the street from the building where I work. It’s only 7:30 now, and I don’t start work until 8:30, but I don’t mind leaving early sometimes. I have smooth sailing down the streets as rush hour hasn’t begun, and I can hang out and have a couple …

Vaccination Stories

December 31, 2012 – 5:24 pm
Return to the "vaccination house" at NTU Hospital

Monday December 31, 2012
7:40 a.m. at the 7-11 on Zhongshan Road in Taipei
Another red-letter day of a sort. A very Doug-style red-letter day: I broke out my Survival Kit from my touring bike. I use the left rear pannier bag as my main bag when I’ve gone on my bike trips. I call it my Survival Kit because it generally contains everything of ultimate value. …

Hitting the Museums – MOCA, TFAM, and Taipei Story House on a Sunny Day

December 30, 2012 – 5:01 pm
Dragonfly Wings at MOCA

Sunday December 30, 2012
8:30 a.m. at the 7-11 on Zhongshan Road in Taipei
The weather today is the type of weather that, in the end, can make Taiwan an unlivable place. Whatever I like about Taiwan, this cold, gloomy, drizzly weather is the killer. I’ve been hoping to go off on a week-long scooter trip for many months now, but the plans never work out. And …

Yellow Fever, Japanese Enchephalitis and Their Ilk – Getting Travel Vaccinations

December 29, 2012 – 4:34 pm
NTU Hospital Building - Where One Goes for Vaccinations

Saturday December 29, 2012
9:45 a.m. 85 Degrees Coffee Shop near MOCA
It’s a bit later this morning coffee session. That is, of course, because it is Saturday and I don’t have to go to the office or any school. However, it’s actually later because I ran an errand before I even had my first cup of coffee. The clock is ticking on my departure from Taiwan, …

Classroom Dynamics and the Documentary “The Imposter”

December 28, 2012 – 3:09 pm
Just a Picture I Like that Has Nothing to Do With the Blog Post

Friday December 28, 2012
4:45 a.m. at the 7-11 on Chang-An Road, Taipei
It’s pretty early this morning, as you can see. I was totally wiped out by the work this week and the classes I had to teach yesterday, so I collapsed into bed early. I never mind doing that, especially since my eyes pop open at a nice early hour the next morning and I …

Cleaning Up My Bike and My Trangia Cookstove Set

December 27, 2012 – 3:58 pm
Bicycle With Arkel Pannier Bags and Handlebar Bag

Thursday December 27, 2012
8:30 a.m. at the 7-11 on Chang-An Road
My plan for last Sunday was to work on my bike, and I did just that. I first had to make room for the beast, and I moved furniture around until I had created a spot in the living room. That involved moving my sofa to the other side of my small living room and …

Triple Hernias, Penzu, and Cleaning Up My Bicycle

December 23, 2012 – 5:38 pm
Rocky Mountain Route 66 Touring Bike in Black and White

Sunday December 23, 2012
7:15 a.m. at 7-11 on Zhongshan Road in Taipei
Now this is more like it – an actual weekend day. No traffic on the streets, no people in my 7-11. Having a work day on a Saturday was very strange. It felt like there was no Saturday, except, of course, that I didn’t go to work.
I’m not sure you could come up with …