Typhoon Kalmaegi strikes

Well, the Typhoon came and went with a whimper. I've seen stronger storms while riding a bike around Mankato. Apparently it was worse in the southern and western parts of the country, but in Taipei, it was pretty weak. Which is disappointing, because I had planned to take some good advice and get some pictures of my white ass mooning the dreadful hurricane. Instead me and Dookie stayed up all night drinking some absolutely horrible Taiwanese alcohol, known only by the two western symbols found on the bottle; "58".

I also had the inevitable first finger pointing by a child yesterday, while on the shuttle bus to go to the Hospital. (No, I wasn't hurt, it was just a mandatory screening so I can get my Visa.) The kid looked back, and then did a double take when he recognized through my black Versaces that I was a "Way Gwou Ren", otherwise translated as Foreigner.

Now, this is not an earth shattering occurrence. After living in Korea, I was used to kids constantly shouting and pointing, "Way Goo Kin" or "Hello" over and over again when they would see me or any other white face. A black face tends to get a less positive response.

Anyway, the thing that really got me thinking was when the mother of the kid actually scolded him for such rude behavior. After being desensitized by Korean parents who let their kids get away with anything, as long as it was not being done to a Korean person older than them, it was shocking to see this, to say the least.

Lastly, let me tell you a little bit about the hospitals here. Optimistically, we'll call it "efficient". I have never experienced a more assembly line approach to health care. In the time it took to take my blood and get my chest X-Rayed, I wouldn't have gotten past the opening chit chat with an American doctor. But of course, the American doctor might have actually found out how I was feeling. I will give the blood doctors some credit however. They were able to get the blood they needed in the first stab, something that usually takes at least three stabbings before hitting a good vein. Cheers.