Damn Buses! (Caution: This post has VERY BAD words in it)

2009.04.28 Where in the World is D Today?

Thankful that he made it across the street.
(I warn you again; As indicated in the title parts of this has very adult language.)


I know I have mentioned the somewhat daring adventure that is traffic in Taiwan. But after almost getting hit by a BUS, Again! I really am just thankful for making to KFC without having to live my very own version of Frogger. (If you’re old enough you just laughed, if not, trust me, that was a very funny joke.)



I need to throw props out to Jane. Thanks Jane. She is all of 5 feet tall (in pumps) but has a heart as large as Africa. Jane pulled me out of the way of a bus coming up behind me on Saturday. (It was a stealth bus!) But those other Fuckers saw me in the crosswalk and didn’t even slow down a little. One even ran a red light while making a left hand turn. Not a motor bike, or an automobile mind you; A BIG ASS BUS! (Ok, Darryl. Stop. Breathe. Good air in, bad air out.)



One day not too long ago when jumping out of the way for a car that was making a right hand turn and just about ran me down. I thought to myself. Am I fucking invisible? People just run straight through stop signs. Then I made this shocking revelations; with the exception of major intersections with traffic lights, there are NO stop signs in Jhongli. People who just about run me over aren’t being especially rude, there is nothing there to Tell Them to stop and be courteous. There aren’t even yield signs at intersection. And as far as the speed limit is concerned, there is none. Or at least there is none posted. It’s the dang wild west when it comes to traffic.

This will likely be my thoughts on the traffic here, I think I’ve pretty well exhausted this topic unless I figure out a way to do a video. Trust me when I say seeing is believing.

Can you Freebase Coffee?

2009.04.29 11:31 PM

Where in the World is D Today?

Somewhere between Giving the Benefit of the Doubt and "Ignorance is Bliss".

I just got home from the gym. I open the door and "POW!", there it is. Whatever IT is?

Now I know that my roommate is a HUGE coffee fan. He grinds his own beans, blah, blah, blah. So I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I've been around a few dope-fiends in my life. And I have to tell you coffee wasn't the first thing that popped into my mind. You be the judge. Yeah, that's a coffee thingy, Right?

Random Pics

Where in the World is D?

Trying to figure if I should say what I REALLY Think?

I've been in one of those deep thinking modes lately. Believe it or not I hate it when I do that. Because when it comes down to it, what I think doesn't really matter. The world keeps doing whatever it's going to do without my input. So the question to be answered is can I be OK with the world and everybody in it doing their thing with my input. Again it doesn't really matter if I'm OK with it. It only matters to my own mental health. So in that I will make whatever peace I can with the world and those in it as it is.

Here's some pictures of my adventures over the past month.

EARTHQUAKE!!!!, sort of...

Where in the World is D Today?

Wondering if I should be Thankful or Curious.

Interesting facts about Taiwan that I didn't know before.

1) Typhoons are good! Yes, a Typhoon is roughly the equivilent of a Hurricane. But Taiwan is an Island surrounded by salt water. I can't explain how it works. But the bottom line is typhoons fill the fresh water supply. No Typhoons = No water. Thus, Typhoons are good. Oh, there are no snow days, DUH!, but there are Typhoon Days.

2) Earthquakes are normal. Apparently little ones happen semi-frequently. Last Friday there was an Earthquake here in Jhongli,AND I MISSED IT! This is why I'm not sure if I should be "Thankful" or not. I am very curious as to what it actually feels like. I don't need to feel it in a Summer Block Buster, End of the World As We Know It sort of way. But I think the sensation would be quite interesting. I'll keep you posted.

3) There's staying out all night. And then there's leaving the night club and being shocked to discover the sun had come up. I did listen to the good Angel most of the night and was still able to go to the gym that afternoon, I am proud to say. But I will also say I'm not built for that type of thing. It will likely be my first and last time. (Am I getting old or growing up? Not sure which. I suspect just old.)

That's all for now.

Peace

Fun with Stereotypes Part Deux!

So if Black people can dance, what is the other thing we do well..... Play basketball. DUH!! Again, I wish I had pictures. (For Myself, just not for this silly blog.)

Today was probably one of my funnest days here at Jhongli Elementary School. I came into school like any other day. It's Wednesday so I'm prepared to teach my two English classes about weather and having a brief conversation about the weather. About 5 minutes into it an annoucement is made. (of course it was in Chinese) In Short, it was about classes coming out to watch the student basketball team play some faculty members. And of course the students want to go. I knock out a few vocab words and we're off to the playground. I come out after the kids and get a lot of Teacher Darryl! Teacher Darryl! arms waving wildly. "Come sit with us!" A group of my 6th grad boys are calling me over. So how cool is that!? Well of course I go sit with them.

After the first quarter, Ken one of the nicest guys in Taiwan and works at the school for his military service, invites me into the game. I'm like "no way?!" The kids are "Way!" (but in Chinese) I know the stereotype and this one is impossible to live up to. Unless of course the goal is only 8 feet high.

My first shot. A 3 pointer. NOTHING BUT THE BOTTOM OF THE NET! I'm thinking not bad given I haven't played in over a year and I'm not wearing my glasses. I played so-so by U.S. standards, and let us not forget we playing against 6th graders. The Principal even gets in on the act.

After the first half. Will gets invited into the games. He is the Star of the Show. He was super laid back, but the kids LOVE Will. And then my boy Will sets me up perfectly. I am hanging back at the other end, he get the rebound, passes to me, SLAM DUNK!!! Hang on the rim!!! And the crowd goes wild!!!!!! Say it with me, AWESOME!! I found out after that everytime I got the ball the kids were cheering Dunk, Dunk, Dunk! But it was in Chinese, so I had no clue. So when it happened they were already pumped up.

This was again a time to just live in the moment. Screw the stereotypes and the potential ramifications. No one was hurt, everybody had a good times, especially me. My stock went up about 1000 % with the kids. Those are all good things. I wish there were pictures. A good time was had by all and that's special, especially when it happens at school.

Peace

Having fun with Stereotypes

Where in the World is D Today?

Lovin the skin he's in!

Have you heard the one about the black guy who gets invited to the Hip-Hop exercise class in Taiwan?! I wish I had pictures! I had just finished a Body Combat class and was pretty tired when this seriously buff Taiwanese guy comes up to me full of energy. He talking but I'm not receiving. He's making gestures and I'm like, "HUH?!" Then Grace a nice lady with pretty good English, and a rockin' bod for a 50 something woman, explains they REALLY REALLY want me to stay for this class. In my fatigued state I mindlessly say, "Why?!" I don't know how you say "DUH!" in Chinese, but the look on her face spoke volumes. And then she suggested I only stayed for the 20 minute warm up. OK, Fine. But you know what everyone was expecting.

And then it happened, every bad dance move from the 90's got put into this warm-up; yes, the Cabbage Patch, Roger Rabbit, and the personal favorite The Running Man were all present and accounted for. And ALL Eyes were on me. They were trying to be cool about it, which I appreciate, but they wanted to "see how it was done", So I pretended I was back in the club and gave them the best I had. Quite honestly, I was not spectacular by any means, but good enough to live up to any stereotype about Black people and hip hop dancing. It was hard to leave the class. Several people wanted me to stay. One guy even tried to block my way. I almost went to another stereotype about Black people when that happened, but I know he meant no harm. He just wanted to include me in the class and be with them. And THAT Ladies and Gentlemen is a very cool feeling.

It is nice to be wanted. And if you don't think about all the possible ramifications or intentions and just let things happen, Life can be pretty darn fun.

Peace

False Advertising on Pandas!!

Where in the World is D Today?

Coming back to reality.

I went to the Taipei Zoo on Sunday. I was shocked, verily I say, Dismayed! Panda's are VERY cute, but didn't do one single solitary Kung Fu move! :) I'll say again for emphasis, they were amazingly Cute. Sorry the pics are a little blurry. The line was about as long as the Great Wall. Thus, stopping to take a GOOD picture was NOT possible. But I will tell you that the Panda's definitely get the VIP treatment. They get Air Conditioning!! I was joking about this in my own way only to discover that there IS some serious disagree in the Bear community. Why don't the Black Bears get AC?! That's NOT me turning this into some type of bear race thing. That, apparently, is a real argument. I have to admit the Black Bear did look really hot. So did the other animals. I don't know if things are on the edge of animal anarchy, but it would probably be best for the Panda's to keep their hook-up on the low, lest they get shanked by one the other animals. The hippo's did look a little shady!

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

Cute Pig Tails

Where in the World is D Today?

Appreciating Taiwan's Natural Beauty.

Nobody ROCKS the pigtails like little Taiwanese girls!

Some Quit Thoughts AND PICTURES!

2009.02.13 19:50

Where in the World is D Today?

Just Chillin'.

The gym was closed today so this is the perfect time to catch up on stuff I haven't put on the blog because it wasn't monumental. But I know even the most pedestrian event to me can be really fun for someone else. So let me catch you up on ..... stuff.

I was out and about with my camera on Saturday and who did I see?!... That Crazy Taiwanese Dog (TCTD). Today he was on the sidewalk chillin'...., licking his butt (as Always).....
I think this dog needs a name, something other than TCTD. If you have any suggestion please leave one in the comments.


so Hey! why not get a picture?!






















Also on Saturday (April 11) I stopped by Starbucks to have lunch with Shaq and Pie. I hadn't seen them in several days. After lunch, which was yummy, we were studying at Starbucks, of course, and I put up a few posts for the blog. Shaq had to go, but Cindy came in shorty after. I noticed her new hairdo and thought it was pretty. It turns out that Cindy, Pie and I all had new hair cuts. Cindy will ALWAYS be the prettiest one!

WTF!!!!!!

2009.04.13 14:30

Where in the World is D Today?

Shaking his head in utter Shock!

Have you ever had one of those moments when you see something that just makes you stop in your tracks in utter amazement. Sometimes your response is, "Whoah, that was cool." or "Hmmmm, that's odd. What's that doing here." This morning I was walking along, down a path I'd never been before on a trip to take a special picture for Greta, I saw this ...... this thing.... and was utterly shocked! I wasn't even a whole block from my apartment. I thought I knew my area well enough. I'm not sure what to say about the picture at the bottom of this post. What difference would any righteous indignation make? None really... But I will offer a few balanced words.

Anybody who says the Civil War wasn't about Slavery is writing a bit of revisionist history.

The United States of America with it's broad freedoms is the only place on where the losing side would still be allowed to fly its flag. That's good. (broad freedoms) And Bad. (flying the losing flag.)

That's really all I have to say specifically about this symbol. But I do have questions. There is a story to be told here; questions to be answered. First of all, how did it get HERE?! Is the owner an American citizen? Is it a Taiwanese person who just thought it was cool? Or Maybe a Taiwanese person who has some odd connection or attraction with this? I don't know and I don't want to know. Remember my post Knock, Knock?? Do I Really want to know. In my case ignorance is bliss. I'm ain't knocking on the devils door!I don't want nor do I need to know. Ignorance on their part is.... well.... well just tragic.

Peace

Everybody Needs A Good mentor

2009.11.04 17:18



Where in the World is D Today?

Keeping a level head.


2009.04.11 16:39

My Job has all types of personalities. Some of which I find very taxing on my nerves. It's way at every job right. Still we need some one to help us along the path. My helper and Mentor at work is Will.

Will is a gentle 6'3" with a Chinese guy with a R & B, NBA soul.



He helped me laugh with just a smile when one of my co-workers was referring to Taiwanese as "these people". The lefty liberal in me wanted to snatch her baldhead. (That's a phrase I grew up with in KC) But Will has been telling me to just ignore them and let stuff go. So when this happened, I looked down at him and he gave me smile that let me know it was ok and I just cracked up.



Will is a critical cog in my new job and Taiwanese growth machine.

PEACE!

My Routine - Chillin' with Pie and Shaq at Starbucks

2009.04.11 13.00PM

Where in the World is D Today?

Letting the Sunshine In?

I haven't done a very good job of keeping up on my blog, except for some of the crappy stuff that happens. Sooooo.... I'm going to keep it light for a little while, lest you think that I am hating my life here. Because the opposite is more true. I like my life here.

Things have really settled into a routine-ness (Yes, I know that's not a real word.) that is quite mundane. Here's my basic day. I get up, take a shower, get dressed, go in the kitchen, take a deep sigh to relax because my roommate seems to enjoy having trash in the apartment. I eat breakfast and walk to work. I smile and say "Ni Hao!" to three different street side shop clerks on my way. I get to school, turn on the computer have a seat and check to see if I have good email. The answer is usually nope.

I then proceed to find "a happy place" in my head. (Some of the people I work with are just soooooo.... hmmmm....... The nicest word I can find is dumb. I then proceed to teach some of the most fabulous children around. Then I walk home, more smiling and waving. Ni Hao! Get home, change and off to the gym or Starbucks. "Hello Darryl!" Usually one, then the other. Get some dinner, go home Starbucks is my Cheers. It's the place where everyone knows my name.That's Sunny and Winnie in the picture.


[A quick aside here, yes I know everything in my blog is one aside after and another on. Deal with it! :) Anyway, I walked into Starbucks last Sunday after going to the gym to see if Shaq, Pie and Cindy were there. The place was packed and as I come in, as if rehearsed, the whole staff says very enthusiastically "HELLO DARRYL!" Everyone looks up! I just smiled and waved at everybody. It was the funniest thing I had seen in a week. I love this Place.] So I worked, eat, go home, Sigh another big sigh when I go to the kitchen for water. Then to my room for the rest of the night.

There's nothing exotic to my life. My life plays out just like everybody else in the world. There's some sleep, some smiles, some frustration, some working, some playing and back to sleep. The only difference, I live in a country where they speak Chinese. The rest would look like any other place in the. And I like that.

That sameness of routine and hopes and desires binds us all together. And after a week where North Korea attempted launching another missile with only Lord knows for what purpose, I smile and rest in the comfortableness of routine.

Forget the phrase "Ugly American"

2009.04.08 23:44PM

Where in the World is D Today?

Trying to find a way to say, "I am fed up with stupid, arrogant white people" and NOT sound like a Racist Wanker.

I am not going to attempt to try and preface what is about to follow with any type of semantic prophylactic to justify my statement about. It is what it is. (Sorry Greta, I know you hate that phrase.) I will make a quote from the movie The Barbershop though, "Is this the Barbah shop?! If we cain't talk straight in the Barbahshop, where can we say it?!" This is my Barbah shop! (If you're Taiwanese, ask me to explain it later. It will make more sense in person.)

There have been three places where I can answer the question, "How was your day?" with the following statement, "Mannnnn,(insert a heavy sigh) these people." Those three places are my house, the Barbershop and Church. What is in the sigh is experiential. You would have had to live through some of the indignities that comes with being Black in a world where white folk are running everything. That was my life growing up in the U.S.A. during the 60's, 70's, etc. I am just old enough to remember some pretty things in America. But having said that, I have a WONDERFUL life. This is not a rant on oppression from previous generations. No, this is a rant about moving to another country, Taiwan. I can not say enough how much I love Taiwan and it's people. I have made wonderful and what I am sure will be lifelong friendships.

What I'm talking about is living in Taiwan and still getting treated like I'm invisible and meaningless by white people. How Crazy is that?! (Actually, if you think it through to its logical conclusion, if there is a group of people who are convinced that they are superior in their home country, they are likely to think they are superior everywhere in the world.) It dawned on me last night as I walked down the street and tried to give a friendly smile, a gentle gesture to say, "Hello fellow traveler, I hope you're having a find day and that you are safe and well so far from home." and in return being completely ignored or dismissed is quite annoying. To have someone look right at you at completely ignore you or to make eye contact and then have them look away is an interesting social occurrence. I'm afraid I've seen that look before. This isn't something I've imagined. I've seen it my whole life at various points in one form or another. And I have to say, I really do not understand that mind set.

I also made the mistake early on in my experience here in assuming that if I saw a non-Taiwanese face, it was American. That's not true. Western looking do NOT = the U.S. So forget the phrase Ugly American. It's Ugly Westerner.

(Warning: Here comes the "making nice" part.) Having said all of that, have I had wonderful relationships with white people. Of course! And though it is cliched, My Best friends in the U.S. are white. (Boy! This is a really complicated blog entry. Bear with me, I'm almost done.) If you know anything about me and my life at all or if you've kept up or read now any of this blog, you know you could call me many things, but racist ain't one of them.

Remember I mentioned taking a walk last night, well as I walked I met for the FIRST TIME in my nine weeks here, White Westerners who initiated contact with me and were friendly and gracious. It was two young men that were Mormons, RLDS, (I'll explain that one later too.) So, I know there are some westerners here who are not snotty. Score 2 for the Latter Day Saints. Your stock just went up considerably with me!

So...... to close, if you're a westerner here in Taiwan and you happen to see a Black guy desperately trying to make a connection through facial expressions, give a brotha a head nod for pete's sake!

(I know all of that was a meandering ti raid, thanks for hanging in there with me while I got that bad ju ju out of my head. I promise to write something lighter next time.)

Peace!

Man Law

2009.04.07 10:30 PM

Where in the World is D Today?

Averting my eyes.

I joined the group Man Law on Facebook maybe about a year ago. I think the idea got started with the Miller Lite commercials featuring Burt Reynolds, Jerome Bettis and some other noteable and not so noteable men debating rules such as, What is the proper waiting period for a guy to date his best friends Ex-girlfriend. The come to an agreement and this old wrinkly guy writes it in the Man Law book.

On Facebook you can add your own laws. I have neither the patients or the desire to add anything to the Facebook site. And why should I when I just want to tell you, not the entire Facebook world. So here goes. Besides, I only have one law. Maybe there will be others later but this one is pressing. Here goes...

When standing in the locker room, you may only answer the phone if it is your Wife or your Kid. You have 24 second shot clock to explain that you just came out of the shower or just undressed to take a shower and thus are completely naked. After the time has expired you MUST either get off the phone or put a dang towel on! Option two is preferred.

I know that I am in a different world, but I personally can not think of anything so important that I need to stand around nekkid in a room with other men around and talk on the phone. By all means answer the phone if it's your wife or child. That is what good men ought to do. (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt sense I don't speak enough Chinese to know for sure.) But make it quick, OK?! And put a dang towel on!!

By the Way, my condolences to the women of Taiwan.

Peace

Stuff Gone Bye-Bye

2009.04.07 10:21PM

Where in the World is D Today?

Coping with letting go of some stuff.

There are some things that I’ve come to the conclusion that I am going to have to give up. Some I give up begrudgingly, some have required a real shift in thinking. You can decide for yourself which is which.

Sports – I’ve always liked sports. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s my whole life… But dang, I sure do miss Sports Center! I miss being able to go to a local bar and watching March Madness. This would have been a great year with Mizzou returning to prominence. I’m not a HUGE baseball fans, with the exception of the Boston Red Soxs, but Opening Day of Baseball Season is a big deal. I’ve tuned in to the marathon coverage on ESPN for at least 4 years now. It’s a rite of spring. L Lord help me when the NFL season starts!

Tempting fate - I have come to conclusion that I have to consider “splitting the pole” a silly superstition I will have to get over. (OK, that IS a big deal for me!) But it’s a concept that is difficult for people in the U.S. to understand, I didn’t even try to explain it in Taiwan. I still cringe and look over my shoulder every time it happens. And it happens a lot, like every time I walk anywhere, with anybody.

Cereal - Cereal should be its own food group. There are no two ways about it. But in Taiwan cereal comes in the intsy-weensy little boxes that I finish in a day and a half. So it's either give it up or stock up like the end of the world is at hand. People here think I'm odd as it is, (come to think of it, so do people in the U.S. hmmm...) Anyway, why add fuel to the fire.

My fear of Traffic - I am slowly, but surely, coming to grips that Taiwanese drive scooters, and cars, like Freddie Kruger on crack. More on that later. I have a rant in
me that needs to be let out before I can completely put my fear to rest. But in the meantime, I am not going to freak out when I see a scooter coming dead at me. He or she is probably just going to a parking space, ON THE SIDEWALK! It's a normal thing. I just need to breathe through it.

Until next time...

Peace