A Broad Reference

Mom was super worried about me and so booked me into a rather fancy
5 star hotel for my first 4 nites here. Hardly starving student style.
(Thanks Mom!) It's called the Grand Hotel and it was built by Chiang
Kai Shek to host foreign dignitaries. It looks like a temple perched
up on the hill overlooking the city. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's so large I can't actually fit it in my frame. I had my first miscommunication
experience en route from the airport- I took the airbus to the
Grand Hyatt rather than the Grand hotel. Apparently a frequent enough
problem that the bus people were able to get me to the right place
eventually. Have already used the nifty translator tool loaned to me
to get my way out of that pickle (thanks Doreen!)

The hotel has a free shuttle that runs frequently down the hill to
the local subway line, so it's relatively easy to get around.
I've bought myself an "EZpass" which is a magnetic transit card that
allows one to ride the MRT and buses by just swiping the card rather than using
tokens. Have ridden almost the extent of the north-south (Red/Green line) in
search of schools and housing.

Some are cheap but grotty- yuk /
expensive and grotty-no thanks / clean, cheap and far away- well maybe..
BUT just found a place (hopefully- they're talking about it
tonite) but they are pretty easy going so... It's right near language school and the 2
universities where I hope to land a job. I've decided to just get a
room in a apartment month to month rather
than renting my own space so that i have at least a couple of people
to hang out with. in the short run at least i can move
out of the hotel that I've been staying at. 4 nights here is
essentially the same cost as 1 months rent for the room. which i think is the
going rate in the area.
but since they haven't confirmed yet I'll spend the day looking at other places.
I will concentrate on getting a phone on Monday so it's easier to get
hold of me but will be available on skype also.

The weather has been damp raining drizzle and cold 51 degrees C brr but is
still better than the flooding in San Francisco Bay Area, so I reckon I'm doing ok. I had planned on bring
my scarves with me, but at the last minute decided it was too hot for
scarves (aberrant 83 degC btw), of course now I very much regret not
bringing it, since it would have been perfect for the chill which is the norm this
time of year.

Here's my school Taipei Language Institute on Roosevelt Rd.

I've signed up for individual classes for the first month as a way to
jump start my learning, and will move into group classes next month
when the semester starts. School starts Monday and I already have homework!
I've been invited down to Kaohsiung to visit for the weekend.
I'm actually meeting up with a friend from San Diego/Bay Area which
will be nice. It's almost new year so am looking forward to experiencing the traditional Taiwanese version of the holidays.

Unlike the states, all the shops will be closed for 4 days coz
everyone here celebrates the holiday. Apparently one has to plan
in advance in order to not run out.

anyway must go get ready for bed since i'm trying to get back onto a
proper schedule.

ps if you have any friends, relatives or contacts who wouldn't
mind being bothered by me, I'd love to meet some locals just to help
me find my way around. thx