So, I've been getting emails from Kathy, and I think she's reached the end of her cultural sensitivity. Something about the six month point, but she's started to be tempted to hit Taiwanese women over the head with her umbrella (only if provoked). I'm just glad I'm here, everyone is SO polite. I'll be 10 steps behind someone, and they will wait, holding the door open for me to go through. And it's not just one well-mannered person, it's happened three times today!
And last night, I went for a swim after class, then to the library for 2 hours of research before it closed at 9. Then I walked to the Oxford Theatre, which is a movie theatre that was built in 1937. I went to see the last night of Ladies in Lavender, which was recommended by multiple family members. It was a lovely film, on it's own merit, but made even better by the fancy old theatre, and the fact that Freddie Jones was in it. Freddie Jones lived in Charlbury, the villiage we lived in near Oxford. We would pass his old house every day we walked in to classes. And for the Valentine's Day party, he came in his cordorys and turtleneck to read poems to us. His performance was incredible, I remember his deep rolling voice vividly. So I so enjoyed seeing him play the crazy old fisherman in the movie.
1 comment:
Yes, I have reached the limit. I was thinking of a class I took in unversity about "Bi-culturalism" and what a joke that seems like now! You know how sometimes you arrive at a door at the same time as someone, on opposite sides? Well, usually at home, whoever is on the pull side would open it and let the other through, right? Well Taiwan seems very me-first: you have to make your own way. Unless you push your way through and shove others aside, you'll never make it. Yesterday at McDonalds a man held the door open for me and I was shocked- the first time in 6 months that has happened!
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