the "vacation" begins

Sorry, but you guys won't see me online much at all (let alone anywhere near primetime) as I'm booked up for the next 7 days. Don't know if I'll find much time to blog either.

Yesterday, I went to school. Kenta wasn't there for me to give the homework to. Nor, in fact, were any of the other exchangees. Well that they weren't.

There was no class, or anything. People just cleaned out desks and wiped up the board and stuff... so I mostly just studied and wrote in my journal--I'm now on volume three but I don't write as much as I am studying more often these days. We had an assembly where awards for exams were given out (I believe) & then the administration lectured us about being safe on the break. Because of course, any time you leave the walls & gates of your school or the metal doors & walls of your home you are entering a world of extreme danger (Sarcastro strikes again!).

Afterwards one of the school's embedded military officers kept the 1st-years just waiting, because we were "talking too much." And he yelled at us. I was not too pleased, as I came to school to be educated, not do chores & be berated. By the time I got home I'd spent around 2 hours in transit for 3 hours of non-educational school... much better than the Rotary ratio, but w/e.

The rest of the day was spent on MSN mostly, I think. I also read some Maclean's and ate chocolate. Mmm....

Today, I went to school for the 1st day of choir practise. I don't even get a "weekend" to sleep in or anything.

As I walked onto the school grounds I heard ever-so-faintly the strains of a distinctive Japanese traditional instrument in a unique style. "Only one person in Taiwan plays like that!" I thought, and soon I found Kenta, following my ears. I told him about the new essay and gave him his other homework. Turns out he's going all hardcore, practising from 9:00-4:00 for I don't know how many days.

The practise was all right, we started a nice new boys' song & stuff. Had a good lunch at the old curry place of cheapness. I also learned some good words, which went straight to flashcards, so I can start studying them into memory right away.

Moving towards the bus stop afterwards, I had a sudden flash of inspiration. Why not speak with the Zhangs immediately? I needed to talk to them about when I can leave for Canada so I can make an informed decision booking the flight home. I'd also like to know what everybody's opinions are on that... do you guys want me to come to your grad, Wellington grade 12s? Is that meaningful to you? How much of the summer is needed, everyone, to party & are there times you couldn't make a home-coming bash that I should avoid? I want to spend most of the summer in Canada, but don't want to miss out on a few opportune moments in Taiwan free from school.

I headed over there & started talking with Mrs. Zhang. Man she is easy to talk to, not using a bunch of words I don't get & the likes. I learned some new stuff, & basically she told me any time was good (as Mr. Zhang also chimed in). I went into Claire's room to talk to her and discovered Etienne there as well. We all decided (at other-Kevin's prompting) to go rent a DVD. So we did, the DVD being Pirates of the Caribbean, which we'd all seen (I was cheering for Mulan 2 :p).

After eating a long, filling dinner of goodness, we settled down to watch the movie. Phone calls between various members of our party had been going back & forth with Scott but he had other things to do and could not make it to the start of the movie. Thus, we watched the movie (can I say it in any less dull of a way without stealing "Awesome Squad" writing style?)... subsequently I went to the MRT station.

There I ran into Scott & Jack (he lives down-island). They were talking to some Chinese chick so I joined in and we all gave her our cards. But then the subway to Nanshijiao was pulling into the station, so I hit the jets and got on just in time. Sitting in the train flashing through my cards, I realized I *definitely* hadn't taken the time to beep through and had in fact crashed the turnstile. So when I arrived I had to make the guy enter it onto my card by computer. No hassles.

Tomorrow I need to be up bright and early for choir, but in the meantime post a comment... and check out my keyboard layout at the bottom of the page (scroll all the way down or just press the 'end' key while reading this). Rock on [20 minutes] K out