Double 10th

Any short work week is a good work week, and by that logic, it follows that this was a good work week.  Why might that be? Every year, on October 10th, the Taiwanese celebrate the National Day of the Republic of China, more often referred to as "Double 10th Day" or simply "10-10".  Last year to celebrate 10-10, a group of friends and I took a scooter trip through the mountains of Taichung, and this year, while in a different county, a similar event occurred.  On an 'earthquake-themed' day, we went to Nantou county to explore some of the reminders of the 921 earthquake.  The 921 earthquake occurred in September of 1999, and, with a magnitude of 7.3 (on the Richter scale), it was the second most deadly earthquake in Taiwan's history.  The epicenter of the earthquake occurred along the Chenglongpu fault line and caused some sections of the fault to raise up to 7 meters which created new mountains and caused many landslides.  The origin of the earthquake is signposted, and if you go there you can see the jagged edges and of the affected fault line, as well as the remains of a house that (supposedly, though my source is the internet, so it might not be trustworthy) has (collapsed and) moved approximately 100 meters away from it's original location.

The epicenter of the 921 earthquake.

Slightly further down the mountain from this point is another house which was affected by the earthquake, only, unlike the previous image, this house, while now unlivable, is still in tact.  When the ground began to shake and break around, this well-built house moved with it and earned itself the title of the "slanted/sloped house".  Something very strange happened to this house after the earthquake, most likely due to its located near the epicenter of the earthquake, the brick walls became magnetized, which gives people a slightly disorienting and dizzy feeling when they step inside.  The magnetization of the house can be proven by pressing any 5NT or 10NT coin against the front wall of the house and watching them stick.

Nantou County's slanted house.

I'm relatively certain it is school-related pressure associated with our upcoming showcase, but I have had a terrible bout of insomnia this week.  I have always been a 'night owl' so staying up late is something I am used to doing, but I don't appreciate the feeling of not being able to sleep when I want to, and unfortunately, I keep doing things that don't help the situation.  For example, last night I stayed out until 7:30am celebrating my friend's birthday in Taichung.  The thing to consider, when attending any nighttime event out of Changhua, is the fact that after midnight the trains won't run again until 6am, and a taxi home will cost between 400-600NT (from the main cities I find myself in at night).  So, there comes a time in every out-of-city festivity, where you weigh your options and decide whether you are going home early, taking a taxi in the middle of the night, or catching the first train in the morning.  This weekend, option number 3 was the victor.  And here I find myself again, well past the hour of midnight (though thankfully, I'm in my apartment tonight), and awake yet again.

Today's cultural thought is about public transportation.  As you may know, western people tend to speak in a louder voice than Asian people.  This is not an issue of respect, or attention-seeking behavior, or in any real way a reflection on either cultures, it is just statement.  As such, many foreigners living in Taiwan have found themselves in a situation of being told to 'quiet down' while on public transport (buses and trains primarily).  I could easily argue the legitimacy of both parties actions in these situations.  On one hand, I can understand being on a bus or train for an extended period of time, and just wanting to relax, but being unable to because of unfamiliar noises.  On the other hand, if we pay the same amount as anyone else to sit on a train, then we have as much of a right to talk as any other person on the train.  Obviously the solution is that foreigners need to watch their volume when in quieter environments, but the frustrating juxtaposition are the environments which should be silent but Taiwanese people choose to talk during them.  For example, I was doing a parent presentation last week with my beginner class.  It was the first time these parents observed their students in my classroom environment, and one of the dad's phones rang - and he answered it! Right there, in my classroom, while I am teaching, he began talking on his cell phone.  I can't say that his actions were right or wrong, he obviously felt it was an acceptable action, and equally, those of us who speak on the train, and those who complain about the speakers all feel their actions are acceptable as well.  As someone living abroad, however, if our actions aren't viewed as acceptable, it really is our job to change them.  After all, most of us are only guests here, and will move-on eventually.