Angel From Taiwan

Traveling in Shangrila –Cambodia

2007-09-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

One thing that I miss so much is that I traveled to few countries before coming to Canada, it is full of meaningful memories and life lessons for me.

A few hours flight from Taiwan to Vietnam, and transfer to Cambodia. When we landed, the airport was far away from contemporary lifestyle. The roof was made of banana leaves, lots of ceiling fans spinning to circulate the unbearable heat. We know it is the sign of development of tourism. The pace is way much slower than Thailand but relaxing and more enjoyable.

Visiting temples is the main agenda for tourists. Most of the temples are over centuries old, Angkor Wot is the latest one and is being maintain perfectly among others. Going there for the sunrise and being surrounded by ancient and historical stone palaces made our trip remarkable.

Boat Houses living style is for the people who are fish men, they move around with the high tide and low tide season of the river. There’re grocery store, hard ware store, school, restaurant, gas station all on this river.
(What you see from this picture is while we were being toured on the river, kids they commute on their boats to school. From hanging on the end of the commercial boat, saves them energy from rowing.)

These kids were playing next to a temple with the flowers in their hands. They reminds me my non technology childhood but full with happiness.

The greatest thing of traveling is that it brings you out of your familiar comfort zone and living style, rooted cultural, ordinary thought to a whole new vision. This trip let me realize that how lucky I am to be born in a no war time and wealthy country, to treasure the resources that I can reach and have in my material life style. Spiritually, it teaches me to be a humble person from the selfishness, be more appreciated and respect at how people’s experience changes their lives.

Global Warming Alert

2007-09-30T13:25:00.000-05:00

We’ve been hearing about this crisis from the news, weather forecast, radio and newspaper, TV etc. for a long time. The first time I heard about this was from my geography teacher when I was 15. Today, 10 years later, the earth cries out loudly again.

You must be going to ask what made me so enthusiastic to write about this topic. After watching the movie “ An Inconvenient Truth”, I was shocked into awareness by the consequences that Global Warming will bring, the huge impact on the mother earth, the next generations and us.

You must be made aware of this phenomenon so you can help to fight against Global Warming, we all need to do our part. To find out more, please check www.climatecrisis.net and try to watch the movie “ An Inconvenient Truth”.

Please share your idea and feedback with me.

My first Waitress Job in Canada

2007-09-10T12:48:00.000-05:00

I was lucky to find this Job in town while I was about to give up and going back to Taiwan. Fortunately, this job helps us survived our most difficult time. I would never think that I would work in the restaurant again. But, the chance to apply my English language skill and with lots of Asian Immigrants/students, this first job made me feel partly at home. There are people from HongKong, Mainland China, Japan and Taiwan. Well, I call this place "little Asia" in my town with lots of white people.

This sushi bar is the "trading post", where lots of sushi and sashimi come from. Where the customers can sit down and social with the chef, I love the interaction here. Customers are highly interested in the co-workers who work in the restaurant, because most of us are from other country. They're interested in hearing the stories from each waitress and exchange their Asian experience while they traveled overseas.

I appreciate what I'd learned from this place, but I'm glad that my life being moved onto another place. I just started my training at one westerner run restaurant,a waitress job again!? I'm sure it will be better than first one, and I enjoy it so far.

A Messenger

2007-08-12T14:09:00.000-05:00

One day afternoon, just started the dinner shift, it was totally empty. Half-hour later, two customer sat down by the Sushi bar. They were eating and chatting with sushi chef as other customers normal do. The customers were looking at me once a while,

“Would you like some more drink, sir?” I asked.
“We’re fine, thanks.” they said.
After a little while, they looked at me again.
“How’s everything? Would you like to order something else?” I asked.
“No, everything is great, than you.”
I started to chat with my co-worker.
They started to look at me, again! (Is it just because there wasn’t any body else walk into the restaurant, so they feel weird. Or, they thought I’m Japanese, try to observe what Japanese like.)
I walk forward to them and try to put away their dishes.
“ Would you like some coffee or dessert?”
“We’re still waiting for more food coming.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“It’s okay. (In Mandarin) one young guy said.
Wow, this guy surprised me and we started to chat with him and his father.

After chatting, I just met a person who is teaching in the Kaoshung and familiar lot of area that are getting fading in my memory. Lots of things that I forgot, he reminds me a lot through the conversation. The convent and efficiency life style, economic scooter transportation, interesting English teaching job, easy travel country, cheap food, late-night entertainment and air pollution (this is the least that makes me miss).

Lots of memory and emotion coming up, lots of the scenes plays like movie in my mind. It’s been almost tow years in Canada, look back the life in these two years, and we’ve been through a lot. In the beginning, uncertainty, excitement, to struggling, frustrated, cultural shock, waiting for work permit, till now, fighting for the job opportunity.

It’s so hard to find a job in Canada, the life expense is expensive, and the tax rule strikes me the most, less population less opportunity and higher tax. No wonder why Canadian people all come to Taiwan or Asia, if I were Canadian, I’ll definitely do exactly the same thing “ escape from my country”.

What do I enjoy Canada so far? Life style, fresh air, clear wide sky, less pollution, friendly people, close to nature, less traffic, less pressure. Job opportunity, hardly open for people who are immigrant without Canadian education and professional skill and background.

One more year to gamble, if not thing really progress. I think it’s time to go back.

I'm back!

2007-08-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

After a long resting, I gotta get my self warm up again for this abenden blog. I try to move forward further for my life in Canada. Too fast to stop and smell the flower and enjoy the sunshine. No way! I must treasure the sunshine in this short summer. I'm back.

Toronto Day Trip

2007-05-13T23:25:00.000-05:00

Leaving Cambridge for Toronto is one of the most exciting thing. The quiet life is good enough, sometimes need some busy city life excitment to bring me back to the way the I used to familiar with. Woke up early, took but at 7:45am, it's so great that there's direct bus to Toronto. That benefits people who don't know how to drive yet!

One of the wonderful things traveling Toronto is this Day Pass for all the public transit. Bus, city car & subway, all you can ride in one day only CDN$8! What a blessing!

This is City Car goes around the city. The cool thing is we actually took it in under-road tunnel, and the the car goes out of it to the road. This kind of seen used to show on one of the movies, it made me feel like in the movie and old English style.

We went down to a "Second Hand Street", there're tons of secondhand clothing stores, you can try on and explore lots of new stuff. This store sells lot of "boots", very heavy cow boy atmosphere. Don't I look like a "Mexican Cow Boy"!

The flavor of Chinese Food is unforgetable. This "Dinsum" place serves fresh-made dishes let us mouthwatering all the time. The satisfaction is not enough to describe.

I'm so happy to have these girls with me spending a day together and have fun. The Karayoki is one of the entertament that we accustomed to. Cheers and sing out lound for girls' Day Trip!

Valentine's Day

2007-03-26T16:05:00.000-05:00

This is the best Valentie's gift that I have ever had from Eric. I can't believe he baked a cake, especially it is "heart shaped". We didn't go out spend lots of money on this day, this simple but meaningful gift that was mad by his hand. It moved me so much.

Second Canadian Christmas

2007-03-16T11:08:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite holidays in Canada is Christmas, people really put lot of energy into it. Decorate their houses from inside to outside, just reminds me we put red pepers on our doors in Taiwan. Seems some holidas have some similiar ways to relate. Jean always decorate the house perfectly for Christmas or Holliween, she is a holiday lady who was on the newspaper once!

This library is one of my favorite spot to spend my leisure time. Especially, you can hear people play piano once every week, the harmony sound from the piano perfectly suits its cosey envirement. I read more than I used to be, cause the time allows me here more to do things and enjoy some moments for myslef. The facilities in it is awsome, there are tons of books, magazines, newspapers etc. You can even borrow CD, VCD, VCR home. There're tow options for internets, desktop or wireless. It is also a gallary, there are different topics going on once a while. Adults and children even can join different events and art, photography classes. They also have movie night here which popcorns and coke are included.

The most exciting part of Christmas is opening gift on Christmas Day! I was so spoiled, lots of gifts that I need and want. It's also nice to see familys' facial expressions full of surprising and happiness while they're opening gifts. We mad waffles for breakfast from a waffel machine which is one of my gifts, what a wonderful morning, feels like being a kid again.

Christmas is one of must be "scene" of christmas, brighten up the whole house with pleasent feeling.

Looks so homy, it's nice to have a fine dinner with family after being working hard whole year long.

One time, we drove passed this house, it's lights and dedicated decorate amazed us, people are being carried away a little to much.

Second Winter In Canada

2006-12-07T15:49:00.000-05:00

The biginning of December, flaky snow came down from a piece of white sky. Walking down to the bus station to work, so many feelings mixing up in my mind and heart, What a beautiful season I have ever had! This winter, fell less cold because I'm well prepared for the cold, but also it's not as chilly as last year. It' hasn't snow as much as last year, hoping it'll be soon by Christmas!

25th Birthday

2006-12-07T15:46:00.000-05:00

Time flew by without notice. My 23rd year was working hard for making money to live in this Western country that I'd been dreaming for a long time and traveled around Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore. My 24Th year was a big another turning poing in my life.

Ad jesting new life in a new culture and society that completely worlds different from the other half of earth. 24Th year, is suffering and blessing. Suffered for homesick, no friends, financially crisis, not able to work, not able to attend ESL class. Blessed by, starting up my own small business experience, luckily finding a job at a restaurant, steady income, having friends. Another big blessing is living in this friendly and Cleon country, it's my big dream came true that I would never believed.

My 25Th birthday just passed. I feel a little bit nervous about be 30 in 5 years. Wow~ the number just so powerful to a woman. Years ago, always looking forward to being 18 and able to work. When 18, then looking forward to feel be real adult in 20. When 20 just graduate from school, looking for jobs, tried to fit into the out side of school circle. Teaching is the best job and experience that I appreciate in Taiwan. Without it well-paid income, I wouldn't be able to do traveling.

Cheers, 25!

Taiwanese Fried

2006-12-07T15:44:00.000-05:00

I love being around with people. After being here one year, I met these friends at restaurant. So lucky that be able to know some body from Taiwan and hang up together and share some similiar Taiwan experience in our lives.

Dollar Store

2006-12-07T15:43:00.000-05:00

This is the Dollar Store which locate everwhere in Ontario, don't really know if it locate in other provences. Everybody loves this store, because you can find everything you can think of in here. Except fresh vegetable, dairy food. Only CDA$1 (= NT$30),you can get cookie, candy, toys, pans, towels, kitchenware, hardware, stationary supplies etc. What a wonderful place! There's one thing, everything is mad in China! Which is not common to see in Taiwan.

Fall in love with cats

2006-12-07T15:38:00.000-05:00

This is one thing that I would never believe myself love cats before coming here. People take dogs as pets more than cats. There are many super specious sayings, Like cats are evil etc. Even my grandfather used to have quit a few cats, but all I remember is they had lots of fleas that made me so itchy.

Remember the first time the younger cat "Normy" came to our bed and made noises. That freaked me out in the middle of the night. I thought he's going to scratch my face or whatever. After figured out that just because he loves the touch of the comfy blanket, felt so sorry for accused him having "evil" intention. I guess our relationship started from one time he sat in front of rice cooker from beginning to the end while the rice is cooking, curiosity kills cat, not at all.

The older cat "Satan" has been in this house for over 15 years, that's 105 human years. (Eric used to make fun at me about converting animals age into human age.) Satan has been staying up stairs with us ( me & Eric have out own space in up stairs) for quite a while after half year figured out he is a gentle and loves to be cuddled. Sometimes he sleeps on the chair, uses his paws to draw my attention while I sit on the sofa watching TV , reading or on the computer. The sweetest thing is, when I get up in the early morning,he will specially wake up and come to me with his sleepy face. For petting, no. Another attention time, getting tuna for breakfast. But, not anymore.

Their independence; able to leave the house and play all day and still knowing to come back home, don't need to be showered, don't need to take them go for a walk and don't have to worry about their "toilet time". They will be my first option on my pet-wish list. My family in Taiwan must be very surprised at my "new pets". Another old image in my mind has been completely flipped over after coming to Canada.

Weddings

2006-12-04T14:44:00.000-05:00

If you ask me what do I enjoy the life here. I definitely say " Attending a Wedding"!

I'd attended two wedding in a year. Both of them gave me remarkable impression in my life. Especially, they are the authentic western style, ceremony in the church, banquet in the romantic and official dining room. It's like all the Asian girls fairy tails come true lively in from of me.

Westerners are party animals. From afternoon attending the wedding ceremony, rest an hour or two between dinner and then party, dance and social all the way till 12 o'clock in the morning. So, energetic!

I enjoyed the second " Newfoundland style" wedding more than the first one, just because I'm more used to the culture and especially lighten up at the dancing time. More dare to wiggle and move my body. The Newfoundland music is fund, I was dancing on my toes with the beat, completely forgot myself till the small crowd cheered around me. Ha, probable I'm the only Asian face to be easily draw people's attention.

Well, whens next wedding that I can go to?
Wedding Photo Albums:
Newfounland Wedding
Canadian Wedding

Bus Station

2006-12-04T14:35:00.000-05:00

This is the bus stop where I usually take the bus to work. This outside booth, with glasses, is a very considerate design for various weather, such as sun, rain and especially for snow!! It's a nice, quiet and clean terminal. Usually, I ride my bike down here and put it infront of the bus where there's a holder specially designed for bikers. It's very convent and I quite enjoy it, even heavn't get driver's licence yet. What a bless!

We do not accept Cash.

2006-11-15T16:58:00.000-05:00

People don't carry cash as much here. Especially, I really can see this kind of seen a lot in the restaurant. Coming back after giving the bills to the customers, there are 90% of chances, will be creditcards or debt cards showing up. How do they manage their debts every months? I questioned myself "no wonder people having bigh debts here", cause they're spending money without seeing real money floats out from ther pockets.

My way of comsuming is old-fashioned for here.

One day morning, I was in the hight spirit going to YMCA register menbership. After being asking few basic question for building up computer file.
The lady asked "Will you pay by check or credit card?"
I was carrying $115 "Can I pay cash?"
Lady " No, we only accept check or credit card# for monthly monthly membership."
I replied " I only have cash with me, can I just pay cast now and give you check latter?"
Lady " No, the computer wouldn't funtion without one of these payment."
I replied " Um, people don't really use cash as much here."
Lady " Not any more." , and looked at me like a " cave man".

After this conversation, I was so embrassed, and suddenly feel myself like a "morden cave man", don't know how to use plastic money as local people here. But the lay let me join the Arboics class without charging me on that day.

the cost of being a visitor

2006-09-12T13:46:00.000-05:00

really wonna go to school take some courses to sharpen my english language skill on toefl and writing, also make some friends. but, unfortunately the lady from the school phoned, there's no found from goverment so that there will be charge 5 times more than regular fee. oh my god, it's like living in the jail without prement residence card. so many difficulties, it's like invisible cuff. what a long way to go to wait for the paper.

Charm of exotic face

2006-08-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

Seening so many Asian faces showing on the TV, newspaper and other kinds of media. It's kind of odd to me. People love asian faces here! According to some Canadian people, they say asian people's face is cute, different,famine and sexy. Um, sound like how the advertisement work in Taiwan? Well,This is the charm of multicultural!

My goodness!

2006-06-07T13:10:00.000-05:00

Suddenly,I can't believe and recounted my fingers several time to double make sure. It's been almost 9 months sincer I arrived this cold country. Time flys by, seasons change, I'v adjusted mind and physically so much by the cultural shock.

So many things that grow up with make me think of and miss.Miss once a week guzheng (chinese zither)class after teaching, driving around the city with my second hand scooter, hang up with friends and family at night market till very late night,hot pot with lots of veggie and ingredient, streetside stalls, warm weather.You won't realize how much you have and how precious things are that being taken in granted.

For the sake of protecting people each county, each has its own strict rules to prevent from some cases. But, there are too many restrictions here made me so made and unhappy. I feel lost about my self-value in this weastern country. It's a bigh challenge to live here and not being accepted in certain ways in this socity.

So many times asked myself,if I knew there would be so much diffictlties and trouble in the reality in this country, I'm 100% sure that won't coming here till I get offical status.

So many people complain how terriable Taiwan is, neither did I. But, point of view in my world has changed. Taiwan is a small island but beautiful and well developed in it's own way. So glad that couple days before, just saw a ad of Taiwan on TV that declaiming to the world there is a wonder country that's small but brooming gradually. Go!Go!Taiwan.

GuZheng-Chinese zither

Asian Ricecooker VS. Western Cat

2006-04-14T11:09:00.000-05:00

Wherever I'd traveled, whatever local cousin had been tasted. There's no better food than that chewy and warm rice that I'd been fed up with. So glad to be able to buy rice cookers here, not only stuffed my hungry stomach but also satisfied my homesick of Taiwan.

This is the picture with a one year old cat which Eric's parent own, he's been fascinated by the Asian rice cooker at the first time and had been sitting infront of it till it finished cooking, what a curious western cat.

Goodbye Winter!

2006-04-03T08:40:00.001-05:00

When I arrived Canada last year, the weather was just turning into Fall but feels like Winter to me, so you can imagine what's it like in the snowy winter with wind chill. Winter really freezes me off! Oh, my! From November to March, totally 5 months long, that was the longest winter that I ever had in my life ( if I count in October, that would be half year). In Taiwan winter isn't start until December and then finish in the middle of March, then Spring arrives. How nice, isn't it?

Even that, Spring finally is here in this cold north-American country! They say spring is beautiful here, lots of color, green leaves grow on the trees, flowers broom on the ground. I'm really looking forward to the beautiful scene come alive and say goodbye to my gray and white Canadian winter! Cheers, my friends!

Where're the gasoline workers?

2006-04-03T08:40:00.000-05:00

I Found bosses in Canada are quit economical. How so? I was surprised by people here fill out their own cars but not through the gasoline workers. And the way to pay the bill is by credit card on the gasoline machine or walk into the convenient store in the gas station. Um.... people are quite honest. I'm not sure is they caught people just drove away and not paying?

Maybe there are too many people in Taiwan so bosses are kindly providing lots of jobs to young age people. Both country build the gas station in the same way, three aisles with 2 gasoline machines. But, in Taiwan, there's each people stand by each machine and fill out the gas for your no matter you drive a car or scooter and you pay the bill right after they show your receipt. The receipt is like national lottery, if you are lucky to hit all numbers on that, you may win TWD$2,000,000 which is USD$57,143. Unfortunately, the biggest price I won is only TWD$200 which is $6. Anyway, it's better than nothing.

Back to the topic. Also in Taiwan they set up a car wash station where there are people help you locate your car and push the bottoms on the machine, after that they make sure you care is completely dry and polish it a little bit for you. Economical Canada, completely automatically by machine, not no much labor service.

It's interesting to see in some ways are not so labor intense, but maybe because of that machines are really replacing job opportunities from human.

Overeating in the Restaurant

2006-02-22T17:24:00.000-05:00

I found the food here is quit tricky. Some of them don't seem that big, but very filling after you swallow half of the meal. Some of them are really "huge", just like 2 or 3 meals being served in one plate, for example, breakfast, 2 pieces of toast, french fries, 2 eggs, ham or bacan plus tea or coffee. I'v been pack my meal out every since I go to ther restaurant.

Where did the subtitle go?

2006-01-12T11:45:00.000-05:00

There's no subtitle under the screen?! I tried to check each channel to see if it's possible to find my "English helper", eventually, I gave up. Even the non-English channels, French, Spanish and Chinese. How was I supposed to understand what people said one the show? This is my another culture shock.

Whatever I was am English teacher in Taiwan, but inside and outside of the class, we don't talk that fast and with non native-English accent to students and friends. Another thing is, there is subtitle on the screen for each channel, thiere is mandarin texes under the Taiwanese, Chinese, CNN, HBO, DISCOVERY ..Etc channels. Especially, I relied on the mandarin subtitle a lot when watched foreign channels, that really helps but also being spoiled. One Canadian friend joked about that we actually " read TV" not really " watch TV', that hilariously make sense. Cause Taiwanese has been grown up in this habit.

But now, I'm getting there. From guessing what people say on the TV to understanding 90% after three months. Wow, I'm very impressed how much my listening has been improved. I'm very happy about that and enjoy people's facial expression on the show more. Do you have subtitle in you country? Did you have the same problem as me before?

No Name brand

2005-12-31T18:57:00.000-05:00

When I realize that the soy sauce doesn't have a brand name, that makes me feel weird. But this is common for every grocery stores. You'll find no name cheese, canned food, instant noodle, juce, tissue paper, chocolate powder, ham...etc, what ever that you could think of. It saves people more money and you can get more quantity and same quility, surprice! No people would doubts or hestates about buying "NN"(no name) products.

People buy small brand names products, but would never buy "NN" brand in Taiwan. They are worried the origin and manufacturing procedure of the stuff they buy would be not under well quility coutrol. The major concern is you might get sick.

I appreciate and happy the"NN" brand. Cause they are save products and doesn't make big difference. Do you have "NN" products in your country?

Authentic Christmas

2005-12-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is my firt time had real Christmas. Got together with family, had nice turkey at dinner. Unwrapped gifts on boxing day and had joyfuly time. There's snow cover every where excepts it didn't snow on Christmas day. But, it's a typical and nice holiday to share in the end of the year. In Taiwan, Christmas is like a big commercial season for businessmen. Even some taiwanese don't know why we have Christmas. Especially, you can see a big banners hang on syas "Christmas dinner with your lover" which I didn't see at where I live. All the resturants with this holiday promontion are sure to be packed with lots of lovers. But funny is, this is a special day which you share time with your family, same as Chinese New Year. I guess, the bueinessmen just borrow this western culture to let people have something to do.

Tax culture

2005-12-19T20:23:00.000-05:00

I know paying tax is paying government to manage the country well and providing better living environment to people who live in the country. But, it's very different to Taiwan. I think in Taiwan, the tax is included in the price, so you pay what it label on the product, there's no extra fee for your purchase. In Canada, you have to pay extra 7% GST ( Good and serves Tax) and 8 % PST (provincial Sale Tax), so you pay 15% extra on your each purchase.

It's kind of odd in the bigging, my mind mentally tells me that I'm no paying what it prices on the label, there's extra fee that I have to figure out for myself. If something costs $10, then I have to do extra math, 10x0.15=1.5; 10+1.5=$11.5. Sometimes, this tax paying effects my decition, cause the more I buy the more tax I pay for. Interestingly, in Taiwan people are used to buying meal boxes for they lunch or dinner which cost CAN$2, so I'll count how many lunch boxes that I can afford by tax.

About me

2005-09-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

My Name: Angel
Hometown: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Nationality: Taiwanese
Major language: Chinese
I'm from tripical Asia country. I'm going to a weastern country that I've never been to, Canada. Through this website, I'll record my life experence in weastern environment, share with you.