Fire by Roosevelt Road

Weekend means dinner with L and S (I like our tradition) and tonight we ate charcoal grilled meat with rice and some sidedishes at Shida night market. I'm happy that they take their time to have dinner despite their coming midterms next week. They are exchange students at National Taiwan University (NTU) which is considered as "Taiwan's Harvard" so the pace is very different from my Chinese studies at MTC. I take Chinese classes three hours a day only whilst they have five (!) courses running parallel with lectures, homework and exams.

I walked with them to Gongguan after the dinner (because I felt I needed to take a walk). On the way, we first saw the air was filled with heavy smoke and when we came nearer it appeared that the smoke came from a building in fire. There were at least ten fire truckers. I hope all the people in the building came out safe and sound.

My Neighbour...

• Eats instant noodles everyday (hey, Malnutrition!).
• Laughs when watches movie alone (I really wonder what this person watches).
• Sings so LOUD (and sometimes very false).
• Sets the alarm clock at 7.30 am. I hear it and wake up to the sound every morning even though it's just vibration. It's so to speak very unnecesary for me to turn on my alarm at 8 am. I'm not bitter, it's just a statement.

pH 9.0

Here one can buy water with pH 9.0 in the convinence stores. At first it seemed strange, I've never seen it before I came to Taiwan, but I haven't done research about it until today. So the question is: What health benefits are there to drink water with pH 9?

It turned out that there are several reasons why there is a market for alkaline water i.e water with slightly higher pH than the neutral pH 7. According to ION vatten (a company that sells alkaline water, I'm aware that it is a biased source but I find their theoretical background biologically reasonable) water with higher pH acts as an antioxidant to free radicals and therefore aids the body cells to neutralize the acids. The acids in the body come from external sources like food and drinks also from internal sources like waste products from cell metabolism. A very acid environment is harmful for the cells and cause them to age and be destroyed. Antioxidants can be found naturally in food from for example pecan nuts, blueberry and plum. However water accesses the cells more easily compared to antioxidants in solid form because water does not need to breakdown before it gets into the blood circulation.

I can go on forever since I think this is very interesting and highly related to my engineering studies in technical biology. The ionized water involves biology at cell and molecular level, health, lifestyle and also some technique (how do they produce the ionized water?). It is already known that free radicals may be the cause of cancer and antioxidants protect the cells from free radicals attack. This might be the subject of my examination thesis (it's only one and a half year left till I have to decide what the thesis will discuss).

I've tried one bottle before, it tastes like normal water but is more expensive.

Morning Market

I woke up early on Saturday and headed out to have some breakfast. After that I went to the food market that is in an alley at Shida market. I love strolling around at these markets, and sense the local citizens everyday life.The vendors try to sell out their stuff in a more or less loudly way and (mostly) women go there to buy the vegetables and meat needed to cook the meals of the day. I bought some roasted chestnuts, fruits and rice cake home.

Steamed cakes made of rice flour with different fillings like taro, red beans and peanut.

Dried mini fishes.

Taiwanese blood pudding, often included in soups.

Fishballs, tofu balls, crab balls, shrimp balls, flour balls... so many kinds of them!

Vegetables from the front ockra, leeks, melon and some salad.

Roaster mini chestnuts, these are about half of the size of "normal" chestnuts that also can be found in Sweden. It's so good, nothing else is needed when eating this.

Chinese medicinal herbs.

Grilled chicken. Note that the heads are still there.

I think this is long egg plants, but I'm not sure. The color is so cool, purple in varying nuances with a metallic polish .

Visit Taipei World Design Expo

Yesterday I went to the Design Expo at Taipei World Trade Center. The main theme was Design creativity and the three sub themes were Taiwan designers, International Designer Students and Young Designer's workshop.

There items were made of all kinds of material, from titanium to plastic and digital animation. Many things focused on the environment for example a Japanese design student came up with a paper bowl that can be used about 50 times since it consist of many layers (like the rollers one use to remove dust from the clothes

The camera with some kind of sensor pictured me when I stood in front of it.

Comfy chair?!

I like the name of the bicycle- Citybug!

Beautiful lanterns with Chinese zodiac prints.

I like this monter, neat yet dramatic.

Nolleskylt

This was a few weeks ago. Just had to snap a picture when I saw a bunch of teens outside the MRT station in Gongguan, all of them wearing signs with their names on, just like "nolleskyltar" on LiU's inspark. I asked a guy for permission to take a photo and he seemed to think I was weird so it was a little bit awkward... haha.

Memorizing...

... my first presentation in Chinese! That's what I try to do. The presentation is tomorrow and we're supposed to not look at our text (but it's ok to glance once in a while and I'll use powerpoint). I seldom learn by heart even if I do a presentation in Swedish... haha. Luckily, the topic is "My hometown" so I at least know what I talk about (even though the only food I could come up with was kebabpizza). No, it's not that bad. I think it'll be fun, I like oral presentations. This presentation is a part of the midterm exam.

In the end of this term we'll have another presentation and that one will be video recorded, put on DVD and be available at the school's library. And of course, we'll get one copy to bring home too. I'll watch it every day and every night... or not (I hate to hear my own voice, it's so different from what I think it sounds like).

Drowning is not far from a "Långsamt farväl"...

Just out of nowhere, it just popped up in my head that the melody are so alike in "Drowning" by Backstreet boys (oh, so many intermediary-school-disco-flashbacks!) and the Swedish song "Långsamt farväl" (in english: lingering farewell). Well, one can say the message is the same in both songs as well.

This evening I'll do my homework and listen to dear Backstreet Boys and remember the golden 90s. It's crazy that I still now their lyrics by heart. It's something special to grow up in the 90s- in the somewhere between the small world and the World Wide Web. To be a part of the generation with Spice Girls belly shirts and tamagotchi. and later change from dolls to computer. From CD to MP3. And begin to eat the tasty thing with the funny name Tacos. All along to the Harry Potter books. I wonder, how does this environment shape us as individuals?

Definitely...

...sure, that's what I am now. As I mentioned before, I've been thinking about staying here for another term. But last night's super-mega-long-skype-session with my family helped me decide that I won't stay here longer than what I planned to. The fact that deep in my heart I know that I want to go home, plus a hundred of other reasons made the decision relatively simple. I really look forward to see my family and friends, cook and bake, celebrate christmas and sleep in a normal bed (Taiwanese beds are sooo hard). Ever since I moved out from my childhood home I've appreciated to go homehome more and more but this time I think is a tremendous escalation. However, now I'll just enjoy the rest of the time here and do my best to learn as much Chinese as possible.

From Taipei with love!

Sunday Walk

Yesterday was lovely day with sunshine and blue sky. I went to my favourite place in Taipei, Daan Forest Park, and took a walk. There were quite many people there but still it was a chill atmosphere. I stayed a while by the pond. Some birds were on the shore and in the water swum big fishes that were red and white coloured. When I took a closer look at the water I saw lots of turtles that stuck their nose from the water (my camera is not good enough so one cannot see them). There were trees in the middle of the pond and some birds sat on the branches. This reminds my of Stadsparken in my hometown Jonkoping where often visited when I was a little child (but even now when I grew older I do go there from times to times). There is a pond in Stadsparken too and it is a must to feed the ducks and mallard with bread crumbles when I pay a visit.

The big pond the Daan Forest Park.

The white things in the picture are birds. They looked like cranes (oh, I wished my ornitological skills were better).

Birds, fishes and turtles living in harmony.

Mai Kai&Passion Fruit

For lunch today I had sticky rice with peanut and pork wrapped in lotus leaves. In Cantonese it's called" mai kai", I cannot find the Chinese name for it. My grandma does this sometimes but this one I had was slightly different from my grandma's. When I was 12 something my grandma taught me how to wrap it because you have to use a special technique otherwise the filling will pop out.

I bought a pack of passion fruit (produced in Taiwan) a few days ago. I've heard that passion fruit tastes best when they look like shrunken but these ones were fresh and spherical and taste absolutely delicious. I had one for dessert, mums!

Super straight

No, this entry won't discuss different people's preferences. It's my hair. I went to get a hair cut this afternoon. The hairdresser was not very talkative. Basically, the only thing he said to me was "you have very straight hair". Thank you for the information Mr. as if I did not know that. I cannot believe some people straighten their hair everyday with tools. I guess you want whatever you don't have.

Anyways, I just said I wanted the same style but shorter so I'm ok with the outcome. Seems like I never manage to save out to long hair. As soon as it reaches the shoulders I need to do something about my hair.

Before. I kinda liked my "long" hair but it sometimes felt so messy and I needed a change.

After. I was afraid that he would give me a "hellugg" (whole fringe, straight fringe?) which most part of all Taiwanese girls have. Luckily, he understood my description.

I Did Not Know...

... that happiness is to go to IKEA. That's what I felt today, just to see the flags outside the store and then enter and see all the familiar items. I went there with four others from Sweden and all of us had "köttbullar med potatismos och lingonsylt". I even had a "kanelbulle". Awesome. Afterwards, I bought some chocolate and "knäckebröd" (I'm glad I could resist to buy every single thing in there like pepparkakor, glögg, blåbärssoppa, O'boy, Ballerina, Chips and so on.).

The entrance.

Swedish Meatballs. I had the smallest portion, though I cannot recall I've never eaten so many meatballs at the same time before.

Note the Swedish flag stuck into the "potatismos". Haha.

Knäckebröd, mums!

Not Only Vocabulary

Yesterday in class we read a story an old good man and a robber. The old man got an introduction letter which the robber wanted so the old man was force to rip a part of it to give it to the robber. They walked to this place where the letter was meant to. The old man handed over his piece of letter and could enter this wonderful place and the robber tried to but could not enter.

And then we get a piece of paper and a description to cut out something. The result was like following.

I find this funny and... very unexpected thing to do in a Chinese class. However, our teacher is great and I cannot praise her enough for her excellent way of teaching with a glimpse in her eyes.

Trip To IKEA!

Tomorrow, I'll go to IKEA. Finally. I want to have a Swedish lunch and buy some sweets. I really look forward to that!

Despite that I miss some Swedish things and my family, I lately have considered to stay here for one more term, that is till the end of February. I feel like I have a nice flow in learning Chinese now and I don't want to easily forget everything. Also, I don't have any plans after new year so it's a great way to spend my time. I know that once I'm back in Sweden I won't study more Chinese, or at least not in such a good environment so this is my chance. On the other hand, my mind is set in that I'll go home the first of December, I have already bought flight ticket and I want to celebrate Christmas with my family. We'll see, I haven't decided anything yet.

TBBT evening

Today I finished the my assignment about my hometown (I'm quite content with myself that I manage to avoid procrastination). After that I went for dinner and had vegetarian buffet at Shida night market and egg tart as dessert. Now'll enjoy one or two episodes of The Big Bang Theory. What a perfect evening.

In The Elevator...

Few things are so awkward as being packed in a tiny elevator with a bunch of people you don't know (or even worse to be in th elevator and while having a conversation where everybody can hear you). Everybody holds there breath and have trouble to find a spot to look at without feeling uncomfortable or make other feel uncomfortable. The seconds seem to be teen times longer than normal and the elevator stops at least three times before you reach the right floor, get off and can get some air again.

Monday

The weekend felt so short, I wished that we had one more day off. Anyways, today I had class as usual. In the afternoon I sat with my first assignment where we are suppose to write an A4 page and then have a presentation about our hometown. It's a part of our mid-term to see how much we have learnt. Four months ago I would never imagine that I will stand in front of a class and have a presentation in Chinese (without looking at the text) but now I actually feel it's not impossible.

I'm not really sure what I'll do after new year. I stand between to get a job or to study English in Brighton. I made an application to the English course today (the deadline is today) so we'll see what the future brings.

Btw, I still have hairspray in my hair from the photosession (which was eight days ago) although I washed it over and over. It's horrible, I need a haircut soon,I don't even remember the last time I had a haircut. (And I'm sorry, I sound like a fjortis).

I went to a with L and S to a Korean place for dinner.

Kim chi hot pot at the Korean place.

Maokong Gondola

Today we (me, L and S), made a field trip to Maokong Gondola. We went there quite early which was smart because later there was so much people queueing to the cable car cabins. The view was fantastic and to the last station it was 299.3 metres above sea level and 4.033 km. Cool. At the Maokong Station we walked around the tea plant fields and visited Sanxuan Temple and Zhangshan Temple. In the temples we lightened inscenses and also took a life prediction stick. Then we had some lunch before we headed back home. But before we went home I tried to make my own sugar cotton in a DIY machine. It was not that easy to get a fluffy one , however, it was so much fun. To sum up, we had a great day at Maokong Gondola.

The cable cabins. There were two kinds of cabins, the regular ones and the special ones with crystal bottom where you can see right through. We went did not want to wait so we took the regular cabin.

It felt almost like riding a roller coaster as there where ups and downs (and sometimes quite speedy as well).

With Syaorie and Linda, both from Sweden (and LiU). And me holding the sugar cotton stick.

The life prediction sticks. This was the first time ever. One should ask a question or make a wish (for example, about career, fortune or) and then take a stick. There is a number on the stick with corresponding number in the mini drawers with certain notes which tells what "will" happen. I haven't figured out what my paper says but I'm curious (although I don't believe in this stuff).

One of the many tea fields in Maokong.

The DIY sugar cotton machine. I hold the bag of sugar, ready to pour it in the center.

The second I put 50 NT in the machine the machine started to play a melody and cotton come out. I think... I didn't have the optimal technique.

So it turned out like this! Small and compact, a good example of how it should NOT be . Haha.

Sushi Train!

I don't really like eating raw fish but I still wanna try out sushi. So I went with L and S to a japanese restaurant with sushi train. I found it unproportional amusing see the plates of different sushi dishes pass by the table and to pick the plates I wanted. Haha.

I failed to use the chopsticks and the nicely done rice ball with shrimp fell apart.

This was the only one with raw fish and also egg, crabfish, shredded pork, tofu and cucumber.

Cashewnuts in tofu basket.

Sticky rice cake with red bean filling for dessert.

Taiwanese Tacos...

...and other crazy things. Today is Friday and I thought some tacos would be nice to have (it's a typical dish to eat on Fridays in Sweden). And I didn't know if I should laugh or cry or do both at the same time when I got this:

I'm gonna have so much svennebanan-tacos-with-proper-tortilla when I'm back in Sweden.

Lychee tea with bubbles and fen tiao (starch strings).

Fried sweet potato. Delicious!!!

And the following thing is kind of mysterious. I had never seen it before so I just had to try it.

The shape of this nut is very special with horns and deep purple color.

The nut itself is white and a little crispy.

It took a while to google the English name. According to this blog it's called Trapa Bicornis, Ram Horn Nut or Ling Jiao and is harvested during autumn. The nuts were served boiled. It doesn't taste that much but the texture is almost like chestnut. The nut grows by water and is used both as food and in Chinese medicine.