Quake

Well, Hualien is supposedly the earthquake capital of Taiwan. On average, more earthquakes hit here than any other city. This is because we are on the Pacific Ocean, on the rim of the Pacific Ocean Plate. So this week, we had two earthquakes, on Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. The best part was that everyone just looked up from their books, shrugged, and went back to work. The teacher paused, held onto the desk, and started immediately after it had finished. He didn't even break a stride in his lecture. That was on Thursday. Friday's was just after class had finished and people screamed then. But then again, it was a much stronger quake and lasted about 20 seconds. Nothing fell off the shelves or anything.

My teacher says that people from Hualien don't even view earthquakes as out of the ordinary. As opposed to me. I wasn't freaking out, per say, but I was slightly nervous.

Is there something along the lines as earthquake insurance? (Or how about act-of-god insurance?)

It's Been Awhile

Well, sorry about the lack of updates. In my defense, I've been busy. I went away on a week-long trip, went to Taipei, got sick, fell down some stairs, and made up a speech.

Today I have to give said speech while wearing qi pa (pronounced chee pah) or traditional Chinese clothing. Even my HOST mother said it's uncomfortable. So there. (And it's turquoise. It must be destroyed!) No, really, I look fine. But I am irked that I had to sit around a beauty salon for two hours while they made up my mom, hair, make-up, the whole-shebang. Me? Not even ten minutes fluffing my hair out so it resembles Alice from Dilbert. I'll get you pictures.

And since I fell down those stairs, I don't have to dance the stupid dance. It's a silver lining, I suppose.