Why You Were Lucky You Didn't Come Visit Us in Taiwan?

On a slow weekend I want to share with you 10 reasons you made a good choice to not visit us in Taiwan.

10. I walked outside Saturday (today is Monday morning) only to see a truck marked Animal Control Department. Wrongly assuming they were after the stray dogs or monkeys, I soon found out they were spreading white poison all around each dorm to keep out the ants. Appropriate response in this humid climate, but animal control! (See picture above.)

9. Killed another cockroach in our villa. Found out they come in from the drain on the floor in our bathroom. Why is there a drain on the floor? Because there is no curtain surrounding the tub where I shower and water naturally gets on the floor. (See picture with drain to left of bath tub.)

8. Because ants as well as small moths get into our villa, despite my best efforts, they are followed by lizards and spiders who want to dine. The lizards, et al, come into the villa through the slightly opened window in each room. Why is there a slightly opened window in each room? Because each room needs an air conditioner to deal with the heat and humidity and the retrofit construction just put the drain hose of each air conditioner out the window. Logical?

7. Anyway, I thought I should co-exist with the lizards and spiders as a natural solution to ants and moth problem. That is, until I found out that the lizards are so well fed they leave small deposits that I have to clean up. Part of Sunday was spent with a broom trying to scare the bejeesus out of the lizards so they would exit where they came from. (See pictures with my duct tape solution which only partially works.)

6. For health reasons, according to the Taiwanese, hot meals should be eaten only with hot drinks. I don't like coffee and tolerate tea, so I go thirsty eating out in the student cafeteria.

5. Contrary to rumors, I actually work here which I did most of Saturday and Sunday. Finished a consulting report and corrected student papers. Correcting student papers takes much longer here because the English writing skills of my international students need Betty's editing expertise. (See pictures of my typical filing system and I have recommended that the University open a writing center.)

4. Now that Betty is back in Maine (well actually she is flying today to be with Mom in California for two weeks while Mom is recuperating), I cook and you want to miss that.

3. The waves now suck at this time of year. In fact, Saturday I decided to go to the campus beach with no lifeguard in search of waves larger than six inches. The search reminded me of when I was a teenager in Southern California looking for the best surfing beaches. Just like then you had to be innovative to get to a beach that was not populated by a bunch of tourists. So down I go 201 steps, walk along a six foot wall by the beach looking for an opening, finding one by going under the fence where it crosses the gray water drainage ditch, only to see three wedding parties taking pictures on my private beach. How these beautiful young women got there without ruining their wedding and brides maid's dresses, I'll never know. The waves still sucked and I had to climb back up those 201 steps to get home.

2. The weather is getting sifling. I am playing tennis at 6:00 in the morning and it is still 86 degrees with 90% humidity.

1. The steps!

So now are you glad you didn't come and missed this wonderful experience!