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The Taiwan Diaries
Volume 9
(05.01.03)
Well here it is Volume 9. Not many more left, so enjoy the last few...
Temperature Trouble
So SARS is starting to get a little more serious. They closed a whole hospital in Taipei. But down here in Kaohsiung we still only have about 12 cases which is no biggie. People aren't that freaked...or so I thought. I went to the bank the other day and before they would let me walk inside they took my temperature. Well, most of you don't know, but my body temperature is always a bit below normal. I'm never 98.6. In fact 98.6 is low grade fever for me. Well they took my temperature and it said 97.7 (FYI-I'm converting from Celsius for you). They were so confused. They couldn't figure out why I was lower
than normal. They were jabbering on in Chinese and I finally asked if I could just go it. They looked at me and shrugged. I'm afraid that I've now convinced them that not only do Westerners have different color hair and skin but we also have different temperatures.
Current Events
Okay I learned today that it is very important to keep up with world news. You never know when you will have to small talk with someone about it! I was on the phone with some hospital guy in LA trying to solve my Christmas car accident stuff. We had finished the business and he was asking me how I like living in Taiwan. I said pretty good. He said it must be good now that the economy is picking up. I said okay in a slightly confused manner. Then he said well you would think that now with the Khmer Rouge out of power the government and economy would be improving. Now I know why it is a good idea to read the newspaper. If you are reading this and you have no idea why this is
funny...maybe you need to beef up on your world news..or at least world news from the early '90s.
My Top 5 Favorite Homework Errors
Obviously when you do homework you make mistakes. Here are a few of my favorites and some just funny answers.
5. Studying past tense: "What did you do on Sunday?"
Typical Answer: I played computer games on Sunday.
Funny Answer: I pulled my brother into the toilet on Sunday.
--Michael, age 10
4. Studying past tense: "What did you do in the Double Ten Parade?"
Typical Answer: I played the drums in the Double Ten Parade.
Funny Answer: A gun hit my head and I fell in the street in the Double Ten parade.
--Fenny, age 10
3. "What do you eat for dinner?"
Typical Answer: I eat pork and noodles.
Funny Answer: Oh gross, fish and vegetables. Mom says I eat every bite.
--Sam, age 8
2. When studying verb + ing: "What are you doing?"
Typical Answer: I'm doing my homework.
Funny Answer: I'm doing the dog.
--Jessie, age 13
and my #1 Favorite Homework Error.....
1. Describe your favorite shirt. (seriously this is his answer...verbatim!)
I wear shit to school everyday. I don't like those shits very much because they are white and bored. When I come home from school I put on a different one. My favorite shit is big and green. It is very old. I have had it for many years. My mom wants for me to throw it to the trash but I like to wear it. Maybe someday it will smell very terrible and when my mom cleans it she will throw it to the trash.
--Josh, age 14
Priceless, huh! We xerox them and put them on the wall in the storage closet!
Factoid
Did you know that so far this year more people have died in Hong Kong from ping pong accidents than from SARS? Well, that is the rumor going around with the foreigners. Supposedly it was in the newspaper but I never saw it.
A Long Time Coming
I finally finished my website! I know you probably forgot about it already. But I did finish it. Now you can't laugh at my webpage skills or rather lack there of. Enjoy the pictures! www.killen.org/Shellie
I'd love to hear from some of you...about babies and engagements and moving and stuff. I like to hear about those things! Until next month...