A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed?
ummm I now have 2 names. Lost a couple of kilos. Moved to Taiwan. Lost some friends. Gained a new Family. Got a 2nd passport. Currently unemployed. Attending MTC/NTNU. Happier and not at the same time. (emphasis on the er)
but apparently I still throw up the peace sign hahaha
I saw it on Grace's page and I thought it'd be fun so I thieved it off her page =P It sure has been a challenge to do this everyday...
also using it as a break from all the homework and studying I've been doin... AND to get myself used to writing everyday, writing more openly, and not to fear the reaction I might get from some of the things I write. ♥ ♥ ♥
Okie doke folks... (and I've just now realized how much I say folks... my bad... and also how big of a fan I am of the dot dot dot hahha again, my bad ohhhh ohhhh and "seriously" too... add that to the list)
SOOOOOOooooo Taipei dodged Typhoon Fanapi... but there are 12 or so typhoons guaranteed in a year so I think we're going to have some more even though "typhoon season" is about to end. We'll see... I'll try and keep everyone updated like how I did for Fanapi if we get hit by any more typhoons.
I've just started my 3rd week at 國立台灣師範大學國語教學中心 (that's the long Chinese version of MTC of NTNU hahah and I'm happy to say the I can read the first 4, 7th, and the last 2 characters, yay me!)
I got my lesson 2 test back... 94... I was hoping for 100 cuz I studied really hard but I guess I'll just have to study more next time. We're moving really quick though lesson 3. I think 老師 is speeding things up... spending 3 days on vocab for lesson 1, then 2-3 days for lesson 2 and only a day for lesson 3 vocab. My 老師 teaches here in TW and also in Germany, she's published a book in German on how to teach Chinese. It's pretty awesome. Well any who.... that's school... but I've been seriously thinking and considering the masters programs here... esp for Teaching Mandarin as a second language or Translating and Interpretation. I think it'd be cool... much more interesting than teaching English (esp since I barely speak it properly hahhahahaha x a million)
I'm still working on getting past the obvious reasons why I came to Taiwan. However obvious they are they are not shallow... and maybe that's enough...
This past Wednesday was the Moon Festival. Careful with them Moon Cakes yall... it's like being on camera... that shiz adds 10lbs! Yup... found out how fattening they were after I ate 1.5 ginormous sized ones my Uncle gave me.
So the Moon Festival is the lightweight equivalence to our Thanksgiving... It's def a family holiday but instead of giving thanks to things in the present... you honor people of the past and of course the Gods. The actual festival falls on the night of a full moon in the 8th month (lunar calendar here folks)... on this night the face of the moon should present you with a view of the Lady of the Moon (and I think a rabbit too?)... google it... its kinda a sad story.
Most people BBQ out in the streets but I headed up to Badu to spend it with Ama. Four outta her six children were present =) and my cousins Soo Young, Stanley, Rita, Nio, and the two little ones (I don't know they're English names) were also there... I thought the twins would be there too but I think they're going to the next bi-bi...
ANNNNNYYYYY ways... I was sitting amongst my family listening to them fluidly switching between Taiwanese and Mandarin.... and feeling like it's always been like this... with me apart of this family. It made me happy just to sit and listen even though I can only understand 5% of what they say.... hahahah and less than 1% if they switch to Taiwanese. At that point I'm sure I had a big ol goofy grin on my face because I know... this is what I was missing... and now that I'm here I know I belong.
Well let me just correct myself... I don't think it was a part of me that was missing... I fully believe that people are complete entities in themselves... but maybe for me its an addition to who I am more so than filling an empty spot somewhere in me.
I smiled the whole car ride home listening to my Uncle explain Pomelo and Citron to my Aunt and talking over my cousins upcoming concerts. big. ol. goofy. grin.
ehhh... On a not so happy note... I've decided that when my rental contract is up in November I will def peace up out this biotch. I love the house and the neighborhood and even the street vendors right outside my door... But the house mate situation isn't getting any better...
The language barrier is the biggest and worst part of it but the age gap and cultural differences don't fall to far behind.
I think I decided to live here because of my Mom, my Uncle and my cousins... They really wanted me to live in this specific neighborhood and my mom said it would be a clean environment and if I had any questions about buses directions or whatever... I'd be able to ask my roommate who's Taiwanese... anyway I'm sure you get the point....
but I don't really know if anyone took into account how hard it is not just for me but for US to communicate... or just how much the cultural differences we're going to affect us. When I talked to my mom the only requirement I had was to live by myself so we made sure to sign a short rental agreement. I will start to look for a new place soon. So if anyone knows a place available in November holllllaaaaaa
2 chap-sticks receipts lip gloss digital tape recorder my business cards anywhere between 5-10 bobby pins (of various sizes) loose change wallet reusable bags Vaseline ahahah keys pocket dictionary toothbrush toothpick nail file iPod hair ties HI-CHEWS notebook a couples of pens Yo-Yo card cell camera and give or take: my travel mug a sandwich for lunch umbrella
believe it or not this was after i cleaned it out... and also one of my SMALLER bags =)
but could you at least pretend to care... care enough to show it?
in anything there is give and take... a meeting point half way in.. a two way street.... I give... I show up... and I'm in my god dammed lane in the wrong effin direction chasing after you...
f*ck it... over it.... however you do it... thanks for trying.... thanks for reading....
I already know exactly WHO is going to respond to this... and really don't worry about it... blame October.
There are only 3 things I would like to say to you:
I'm sorry. I'm sorry for every time I talked back to you. I'm sorry for always putting things off. I'm sorry for not taking the time to show you how to work the DVD player or the Dish or how to work a computer. I'm sorry if I ever made you worry about me. I'm sorry I'm not at home, that I left you with no one to take care of you. But most of all I'm sorry for every time I disappointed you.
Thank you. Thank you for raising me. Thank you for raising me well with a strong moral compass. Thank you always supporting me in all of my endeavors. Mom, thank you for giving me your smarts. Dad, thank you for giving me your heart. Thank you both for giving me the best parts of you.
and
I love and miss you more than I can say with words.
(hahah it became thingS you crave for... and of course what ELSE would Alicia crave for but FOOD from home... enjoy! and try not to drool on your keyboard folks!)
I miss EVERYTHING at Sushi House (Alameda, CA)
...mmm rasberry buttercreams, vanilla nut fudge, scotchmallows, dark walnuts... drool... (West Coast... the best coast, U.S.A)
...chicken salad, banh hoi, bum rieu.... ugh everything here is delicious... (Oakland [Chinatown], CA)
... faaawk I really REALLY miss my usual... 10" Philly with mushrooms and a side of CORN FRITTERS... hella bomb... the end (ALL OVER haha, but of course my fave is the one on Lakeshore where they already know my order)
...chiew chow ho fun, fried fish cake and iced coffee... smh I really want some (Oakland [Chinatown], CA)
...I think I miss my boys as much as I miss their food... =) (Alameda, CA)
...BEST hot chocolate you will EVER have... and their truffles are beyond mouthgasmic... seriously... no joke... (Santa Cruz [Pacific Ave.], CA)
...best tzatiki I've ever had in MY LIFE... WARNING: there's a lot of garlic in there and you're breath WILL be kickin like the FIFA world cup for like 3 days... (Santa Cruz [Mission St.], CA)
...spicy meat sauce lasagna and the chocolate mouse cake dessert... and on the weekends they'd have a pizza dough tossing show... amaaaazing I really miss my bestie =/ (Santa Cruz [Pacific Ave.], CA)
...corn beef n hash with sunny side up eggs, hash browns, wheat toast hold the butter, with a cup of coffee sitting across the booth from my dad... those breakfasts were the best... I really miss my dad =/ (Oakland [Lake Merritt], CA)
...for food: crab melt on white lightly toasted... for ice cream: petite sundae with coffee ice cream unless its Christmas time... then I get peppermint ice cream. (Oakland [Piedmont Ave.], CA)
...hash brown scattered, cheese eggs, cheddar grits, side of bacon, raisin toast, and if I have room, biscuits n gravy.... and if I don't have room it's okay cuz I'll just go back the next day... =) I really miss my sissy =/ (The SOUTH hahha, U.S.A)
I dedicate this bloggy to my bestie ;) I ♥ n miss you bunches Adriana... hugs to Carlos too!
Well that's an easy one!... I am me, and you are you and that makes us different, no?!
Actually I don't know what makes me different... I think I think some of the same things as other people, feel the same way about things the way others do, and I do things that are done by many... I can only answer that no two people are the same.
music is my religion... "some people pray... I just turn up the volume..."
I would also like to say that coffee makes me very happy as well... but I'm sure you already know what a cup of coffee looks like... and if you're at all interested; I like regular coffee not lattes, no frappes, no grande anything... just regular coffee with milk, no sugar.
Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future...
Ahhhhahahhahaha wow... that's laughable... Me? Get married? nope... not for me. I don't believe in marriage. Does that mean I'm going to be a spinster lady with a million and 1 cats?! Hell to the naw! (people, don't get offended, this is a PERSONAL opinion here) I don't believe you need a piece of paper or recognition by the government or a church to validate the commitment of a relationship [I interject on myself... to be married WOULD however get you some nice tax breaks ;)]. I know myself... and I can be totally committed to a person without having to be married to him.
As far as who I see myself being with? I don't really know... I know that if I have kids, I'd want them to be adopted. So I suppose that's who I'll be with in the future... whether there's a man in my life doesn't really matter...
(...and ummm if you're wondering, the answer is yes, I always give my opinions so assuredly.)
The only one that's ever really stuck was "Hunkachunk" haha as you can see by the picture of me when I was little why my dad gave me that nickname. I had those chubby sausage link limbs and my dad always said I was a "hunk of a chunk" which got shortened to Hunkachunk.
Other nicknames: Sugarloaf (again given to me by my Dad) When I understood what Hunkachunk meant i got mad so he started calling me Sugarloaf cause he said I was so sweet... but eventually it always came back to Hunkachunk
most others are just shortened versions of my name: Ally, LiLi or Leesh
Here's the PLAN Stan.... It looks like I'll be here in Taiwan for at least 2-3 years... depending, it may be longer. Who knows what the future holds?! I might just settle down here... at the moment I don't find that too likely. As long as my dad's around I think my heart will always want to go home to him.
The reason for the 2-3 year estimate is the fluency issue. The GOAL I suppose is to be as fluent as possible. They say it should take about 2-3 years for fluency and probably around 5 for literacy. And also to get my citizenship, but I think the language is actually going to be tougher to get.
My DREAM would be to win the lotto so I could buy my own private island and read books on the beach all day every day.
... but I don't play the lotto so I guess I'm shit outta luck.
heh, the problems with dreams are their own definition.
Someone you would like to trade places with for a day and why....
If I could... I would trade places with the Chilean miners. There rescue is going to take MONTHS =(... I think I could give up a day so that they cold have a little bit of sunshine, hug their families, have a real meal...
what?! whaaaaat?! you expect a celebridork? why would I ever want to be followed all day by shutter bugs and be hated/loved when people don't even know me. No thanks. celeb life aint for me.
actually.... I thought of one person it'd be fun to be... Betty F*ckin White!!!
Okay folks... as promised I will be updating here and on Facebook
FANAPI is headed our way. It's going to hit the island sometime tonight and the eye of the storm around 2 am on Sunday. Hualien and Yilan will get hit the worst. The entire island will be covered by the storm.
They are now predicting that it will pass over the middle of Taiwan. This would be ideal since the Typhoon will have to pass over the mountain range and that would weaken the storm a lot. Since it has not hit the island they have yet to confirm the trajectory but they are saying it will most likely pass through the middle. Let's hope so!
HEY... Shout out to the readers out in Kansas.... never been but its actually on my list of places to go.... why?.... I think the question should be why NOT?!
Hey.Hi.Hello... you, you and youuu Before I get to goneandsaidit bizzznasss. I just really wanna quickly talk about something... to be honest folks ... blogging has become my therapy... and I've never hid a post nor will I ever... cuz then what would be the point? So if you're not interested in my blah blah blah skip down to where I say GONE AND SAID IT!
So I know a bunch of folks get redirected here to Goneandsaidit.blogspot.com through either my personal or the Facebook fanpage. If this is how you get here then I'm sure you've noticed that they both kinda disappeared.
They disappeared because I disabled my personal page. They said I'd be able to access the fanpage... but they lied. =( I'm sorry about that.
I really needed a break from Facebook. I kept finding myself lingering and hoping that my friends would be on... but most of the time they weren't...
The funny and not so funny thing is that I apparently don't exist outside of Facebook haha. So it feels kinda terrible; like you've disappeared and no ones come to look for you...
Ya know, Facebook isn't that only way to get a hold of someone. Admittedly I acknowledge and understand that social networking is probably the most convenient and albeit fastest way to get to people. And it was for that reason (and also that all my friends and family are back in the states) why I had such a hard time on deciding to disable my account.
Since Facebook blew up I've seen others reliance on social networks; becoming addicted to the instant connection and the feeling of never being alone. I think people hate feeling alone and that is what empowers Facebook and the precise reason that makes social networks SO addictive BUT I firmly believe that that type of connection will never replace physical connection... however it sure seems that people are giving it a hell of a try.
I admit that I love the convenience and ease of it all too but I simply refuse to be shackled to it. I've heard that to live happily you need at least 5 hugs a day. I don't think hugging your computer would work. I mean you could but it wouldn't hug you back.
annnnnnyyyyways... enough of this... by the time you read this my FB account will be reactivated... I've come to the decision to do so because no matter how I talk at it the fact of the matter is... Facebook is the a way for people to connect... and my pages are the way people I know keep track of me (ahem even though they can come here and read about it.)
AND I'm also reactivating it NOW becauuuuuse... please don't freak out... (Rita, I'm talking to YOU here...) there is a hurricane (better known as a Typhoon to us Taiwanese folks) headed our way. It will hit us this weekend. I'll be posting updates here and on Facebook that is unless the typhoon has knocked out the power. I'll be okay folks... it is our typhoon season over here.
GONEandSAIDIT
If you are just joining me then WELCOME!... I'm sorry, I know I've been really focused on the 30-Day Challenge and with the Facebook pages disabled, the news for Gone and Said It has been ... ummm gone... hahahahha
lettseeee whats new???
I just finisehd my second week at MTC. Things in my class are moving SUPER fast. I've already learned so much in just 2 weeks... I'd show you but I have yet to learn how to type in Chinese.
I just got back my first test... I got a 98... yay me.
My family is amazing... but that's not really news =)
I was so happy I've gotten to meet and hang out with all my cousins. They're pretty damn awesome.
This Wednesday (9/22) is the Mid Autumn Moon Festival... SOOOO excited hahahaha.....
the WHOLE fam bam is going to head up to Badu to Ama's house to have a big ol dinner. =) yummo I can't wait... ommmm nom nom nom
I'm not worried at all about the typhoon that's headed this way... (so you shouldn't be either Rita) If it takes the path through the middle of Taiwan, Taipei will be A-Okay! if not... then it will hit us full force... but since it hasn't even gotten to the island yet, lets not worry about it, kay?
I don't think there's anything else to report... but I'm forgetful so if I missed something or you wanna know somethin in particular leave a comment... or email me at goneandsaidit@gmail.com ;)
ummmmm.... this pretty much sums up our ENTIRE relationship... hahahah x a million
my sister from another mister... literally, true story. ♥
Family pictures rarely happen... cuz its usually one of us taking the picture... so this was a treat!
And I do have WAY more family and photos than this... but it would take a whole page and I can just post picture after picture after picture after picture....
((Warning: The following letter will not sound like the Alicia you know. This letter is full of hurt feelings and if you do not wish to read it, please, by all means don't. There are much more fun and lighthearted posts below. Writing a letter filled with such seething bitterness leaves a bad taste in my mouth even now. I, for the most part, try to live my life in full light. What do I mean? Well, I don't enjoy things that follow you like shadows; fear, envy, uncertainty, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, disillusion, unproductive-ness, unrest, disapproval... so pretty much any and all un- and dis- words you can think of... It took me quite a long time to even learn how to be happy. Hell, it took a little bit of dying to find my happy. All those shadowy emotions just take up too much of my time and energy. But listen here folks, I am NOT delusional, I know I am not immune to those emotions or feelings or whatever you want to call them. I know that those shadows must have time in your heart. I simply acknowledge them, figure out why I'm feel that way, accept it, and move on... Happy is the most simple and complicated emotion ever.))
And so in the letter below I've shed a little light on the dark shadowy parts of my heart. If and ONLY if you're interested, then I suggest that you read on.
BlackMilk feat. Colin Munroe- Without You It's a fun song in general... somewhat applicable for this post... but from here on to the bottom of this post... please take it with a grain of salt.
Dear !@#$%^&*(),
Thank you. Yes, thank you. Thank you for proving my loss of faith in people is not incorrect. Thank you SO MUCH for not being there when I really really needed you. What reason could you possibly give to excuse your absence? Never mind. I don't want one. You think it was easy going through almost losing my Dad. My DAD. THE most important person in my life. Having to go to the ER, going to appointment after appointment after appointment, then having to sit in an oncologists office... and hear that your Dad has a tumor the size of a small melon... waiting for you to call me back was the LAST thing I needed. Do you get it? No? MY DAD has cancer....How about now??? where the fuck were YOU?!
Anyway, if we're really being honest here, the fault is my own. Yeah I said it, go back and reread it. It actually is all my fault cuz I KNOW BETTER haha.. I even know I know better than that. I know better than to have expectations of any kind when it comes to people who are not me.
So now, once again, I must thank you. You have made me stronger... and only furthered the reliance of my own independence.
Always, Alicia
P.S. Please stop telling people you'd be there for me if only I'd call... newsflash::: Ishouldn'thave to ask a 'friend' to be there for me... wooooops, there goes my expectations running away from me again.
(HAHAHAAHAHA bitter much???... real talk though!? I'm actually very sad to say that this letter applies to more than a couple of people...)
How you found out about blogger and why you made one...
My good friend Arthur had suggested blogger... and I'm glad he did.
I started this blog so that my family and friends back home in the states could read about my adventures here in Taiwan. This way they can keep tabs on what I'm doing... make sure I'm not starving... I'm going to school and doing my homework and all that shizzzz....
I would also like to dedicate this post and ALL the pictures taken (seen here and on facebook.com/goneandsaidit) to Arthur H. Love n miss you buddy! andBTW Happy early Birthday!
okay, okay, I know I cheated with this... but I had already made it prior and I really do ♥ ALL these folks x a million... for reals and not for fake ;)
because she's special... Adriana gets her own picture.... yeah, try not to be jeals
Bands/Artists Timbaland OneRepublic Dr. Dre Justin Timberlake Chris Brown & Kanye West (for the most part) Songs Stay Crunchy * Ronald Jenkees Corona & Lime * Schwayze Closer, First love * Goapele Hot Pants * James Brown 有沒有 * 韋禮安 Burnin' Up * Jonas Brothers (and the drum cover by Cobus Potgieter) Naturally * Selena Gomez I Put A Spell On You * Screamin' Jay Hawkins Just The Way You Are * Bruno Mars In the Mood * Glenn Miller
Songs I Will Always Love You * Dolly Parton Who Said It'll Be Alright * Stay Cool You Can Let Go * Crystal Shawanda Angel * Sarah McLaughlin Sober * Kelly Clarkson Up To The Mountain * Party Griffin Turn Back the Hands of Time * R. Kelly I'm Sorry * Brenda Lee I Dare You to Move * Switchfoot
Songs/Artists Spoken Word *Adriel Luis Katt Williams Moulin Rouge Soundtrack He's A Tramp * Peggy Lee (Lady & the Tramp movie sndtrk) Tarzan Boy * Baltimore (Beverly Hills Ninja movie sndtrk) Ford Mustang * Serge Gainsbourg Brigitte Bardot Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 * Franz Lizt
Artists Sean Paul Dr. Dre The Federation Linkin Park Songs Empty Walls * Serj Tankian Turn It Up * Stereos Sink Into Me * Taking Back Sunday The Middle, Sweetness * Jimmy Eat World Burn It To the Ground * Nickelback Closer To the Edge * 30 Seconds to Mars
When I'm mad I listen to music to make me feel better... so I'm never mad for long... but if you must have SOMEone... I do listen to a couple till I feel better... Bands/Artists TRAPT Nickelback Linkin Park Eminem Kanye West
I WAS going to say Make Friends... but I'm done talking about it... feeling bad about it... I'm so over the fact that I've no friends here [yet]... hahhaha x a million Yesterday I had and a mild epiphany... PING! I am so incredibly lucky to be here. I need to take advantage of my situation... and so my goal is to throw myself into my studies and do what I set out to do.
(Um for clarification: It's not that I didn't already know how lucky I am to be here but I think after writing the last post... and then letting that marinate for oh about 8 hours, I've realized, hot DAMN I'm lucky!!!)
A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you... ((WARNING: time for Alicia to get deep... and thoughtful... and meaningful.... hahahha oh shiiiet)
For those of you who don't know... I lost my brother in a car accident back in '99. Although it is not a picture of him above, it was he, who showed me the importance of time.
Time is not something you can ever get back; there is no rehearsal for life, no second take, no do overs, you've got one shot.
Often times people (myself included) forget how limited our time is here and unfortunately sometimes our time is cut short. I always have to remind myself to never waste my time. I can't sit by while I have things I need to be doing, people I want to see, or experiences I want to have. I don't have to save the world everyday or even be that productive... I merely have to appreciate every second of my life for what it is... a gift.
The next time you spend a nice afternoon with someone, thank them and it doesn't have to be out loud (at least this is what I do, quietly in my heart, hoping that they might receive the message). For the people who know me well... you know how I feel about time.I think that spending any amount of time on someone is the best gift you can give... period.
I thank everyone who has taken the time to keep up with my life... whether it be here on Blogger, Facebook, Skype, phone, even the passing thoughts you might have of me. I sincerely thank you.
New York to see my sister ♥ This is actually a picture of The Dakota shot from just inside Central Park... the reason I love this hotel so much is because it was in one of my favorite books, Time and Again. Global
I spent 5 weeks doing community service. Our group worked in a tiny village called Agua Fria but we all lived in Penonome. (Cocle, Panama)
I ♥ Canada... its abso-freakin-lutely GORGEOUS. I've been to both east and west coasts and I love it all. I can't wait to go back!
and seriously.. if you didn't know by NOW... this is my current location, beautiful Taiwan!
