The first thing I noticed about the traffic is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of rules. Or if there are, not a lot of people are following them. As we were driving down the highway, somebody turned on their turn signal to indicate that they were going to merge into the exact place we were at whether we liked it or not. Amazingly, Sam didn't seem to get upset at all. He didn't swear at the driver or even seem to be affected.
Everywhere I go, there seems to be this same type of thing going on. People on the road are just nuts and they don't seem to have any care for the people that they nearly run over, cut off, or piss off. The entire city of Taipei appears to be a prime candidate for American Road Rage. I don't dare drive in it myself because I'd have a brain hemorrhage before I could make it to the local McDonalds (which I won't go to anyway).
This morning Sam got breakfast for us. We had xiao long bao (mini steamed buns filled with meat and vegatables). It was the best xiao long bao that I've ever had. Nai-Shi didn't have any. The says that those aren't very good and that there are better places to get them. I think that if that's true then I will be a very happy man.
I got to meet Dad and the grandparents today. Anita was surprised to find out that her father speaks English. It was slow but very good. He was a friendly man and very hospitable. Like any concerned father, he asked me questions concerning his daughter. I think he wanted to be sure that I am serious about a relationship with Anita.
I said hello and shook hands with Anita's uncles. They are friendly but quiet. Anita says they are a little bit shy. Maybe we can spend more time around each other later.
I was really taken aback by Anita's grandmother. She is a kind and caring woman. When I look into her eyes, I can see what a caring grandmother she is. At 82, her skin is smoother and more beautiful than any American woman half her age. I hope that Anita will look as good as her as she gets older.
In the evening we came back for Dinner and I got to see Anita's mother again. We originally met last summer (about 8 months ago) and spend a week touring Washington. We talked for a little while. I think she's learning more English. She is improving her English faster than I can improve my Mandarin.
In the evening we went to a mini-night market. I was too tired to be able to concentrate. So I bought a shirt and went back home.
Oh yeah - I got to meet my first Elevator Girl today. These are woman who work in the elevator of department stores (I'm sure they exists other places too but I didn't see them elsewere). Their entire job is to take you to the floor of your choice (just tell them what department or floor you want).
In the book, "Dave Barry Does Japan", he descibes these elevator girls as the most friendly, cheery people you will ever come across. They actually seem thrilled that you would choose their elevator instead of "some other form of vertical transportation." He goes on to say that they seem to be totally oblivious to the fact that they are working in "a real armpit of a job". That being said, the girl I saw did not look happy. She mumbled each floor as she got to it. Checked her watch every 15 seconds or so, and was probably secretly praying that a natural disaster would happen just so her job would get interesting.
P.S. The food is still really good and the weather is still really hot!