Taiwan AC Sick Days

Oh boy, the time of year I dread in Taiwan. Winter and spring are over. Although there never seems to be an actual winter as I know winter to be. Personally there is no winter. It is just an extended fall that somehow seeps into spring. Today is surely summer. It is just getting to damn hot. My body likes the gradual build up to the heat, but this year it went from a nice day to a blistering day. Because of this blistering day and days to follow - air conditioners will be running at full blast. This full on assault of AC is what makes one sick I believe. Your system (body) just goes into shock. You get this lingering headache and sometime nausea from the bombardment of hot to cold/cold to hot. There is not softening between unless you run a fan a few days to get used to the heat. But a fan will do you no justice. The airflow hitting you will cause the same feeling a sickness the AC does. So, the AC is what it is.

My son, I and a few co-workers are all sick. Not sick enough to call off, but sick enough to cause your body to drag and ache. The colds are starting to. I am now sniffling and my son has been sniffling for two days. Most people want to wipe his nose as soon as little water is showing. He hates it. I normally wait until he has some build up this way it does not bother him so much. Plus he has that cute drippy-nose kid look.

The heat is on in Taiwan and those blasted AC headaches are on the rise.

Hilary Hahn Violin Recital with Natalie Zhu Taipei, Taiwan Show Review

A friend of a friend invited my wife and I to attend the Hilary Hahn concert at the National Concert Hall located at CKS Memorial Hall. Do to me being busy and not having a schedule of events my wife and I had no idea who we were going to see. Surprises are the best. Needless to say The Cure, Tom Waits, Ani DiFranco nor a reunion of Depeche Mode was not on the bill.

We arrived just within two minutes of the attendants locking the doors (fire hazard?) to the theater. So at this point I still have no idea who we are going to see. However, a piano was in the middle of the stage and I knew it was a violin concert, so I still had no idea who was playing. Two women walk out one westerner and one Chinese. Still no idea. Westerner has the violin and the Chinese lady sits at the piano.

Now my little review will be of two unknowns artists. The violinist had little or no passion to her playing. She was a child prodigy or a person used to playing with an orchestra. She seemed to be playing her part and not “playing” the music. She had no highs or low points to her songs. It was like listening to a dull movie soundtrack without the movie. As I looked around 4 people are snoozing (and we paid NT$1,000 for this?). This is not a good sign. However, the pianist kept me focused. She was good. Seemed she was playing with heart, but the songs fin the first act were not giving her justice.

Intermission – about time.. . . . oh boy another hour of this. I wish I came to see the pianist show at least I know there would be a solo. So, off to see why so many people are here and to see just who we are listening to. As it turns out we are here to see Hilary Hahn and Natalie Zhu. This does not help me, but Hilary is selling lots of merchandise, I wanted a Deutsche Grammophon T-shirt or cool shirt with Hilary on it. Her poster was pretty cool. She has this dark gothic look about her. She may be a vampire. Great photos. Wish she had a shirt. Anyway, I still have no idea who either person is. I guess I’m a bit of a bone head on my classical music.

Second half of the show…. I sit down fidgeting and playing with my wife’s hand. When suddenly out of nowhere Natalie just busts out a song that has passion and she is just jammin’. Hilary comes in and pushes it a bit much, but her style has changed a bit. This is sounding good. There is movement, there is feeling, the music can make you think of different events in your life. Two great songs. Loved it. Then back to boring no river taking me anywhere music. Hilary has the stage, but just did not seem to have here heart into it. She at times looked even bored when she did not have a part to play and Natalie was strutting her stuff.

They did two encores. And both were played with very well. After the show she did a signing and Hilary does have fans. A good 150—200 were lined up. Glad to see the enthusiasm of her fans. However I think the night went to Natalie Zhu.

Hilary Hahn & Natalie Zhu websites. Plus Hilary's photographer Kasskara (could not find the site, but just fantastic artist shots or fotos as some may say. Could not find it in Dutch sites either).

Taiwan Blogs and Current Things

To tell you the truth: as I dig deeper into this blog world the smaller I feel. There is just so much out there and most of you are just superb writers. After updating my blog and site with other Taipei blog sites I began to wonder if I really have anything of interest to say. I seem to live this pretty simple life and I am no experience journal writer. I just started to do this to keep myself busy on down times. Must admit setting up Blogger to accept email posting is a bit of a blessing.

Check out the Taiwan blogs I listed. These are just great sites. They will give you great insight to life in Taiwan. Some of them have been around for a few years, so there is plenty to read. I now know I need to check out The Living Room from 3q2u.

Feel bad for Anarchy in Taiwan getting banned from Roxy Clubs. Maybe amends can be healed and they can play at Roxy Stage..? it has been some time. Anyway, from my readings it does not seem that Roxy99 would be your hang out.

Jasper’s one year old B-day party is this Friday at this school and Saturday at our house. We will have a few friends over and cake. Jasper will be happy to show off in his usual way, but now with the added bonus of standing on his own to boast.

I now need to find time to start working on my wife’s school website. Boy, not sure when time for that will be. The school is a “bushyban” (not correct spelling, but that is what it sounds like in Chinese). An after school learning center for English and other studies called Curious Monkey in NeiHu.

Adventures on Rt. 5 and traveling to YiLan

Yesterday evening 7:00pm I got in the Mazda minivan with Mrs. Wang (the driver), her mother and aunt along with my wife, Esther, and my son, Jasper. The trip was to drop off Mrs. Wang's mother and aunt off at a temple in YiLan and for my wife to speak to the temple gods.

The neat thing was I got to ride on the unfinished Route 5 in Taiwan between Sijhih and PingLin (some 43km from YiLan yet). This road requires particular access to drive on it since it is yet complete. Now this was exciting for two reasons. (1) It was just a great feeling to be on a road by yourself in Taiwan. There were no lights and only a mountains and the terrain to see. This feeling of driving on an empty road was pure delight. (2) Now as this road (Rt.5) is opened to others you will experience a drive thru a mountain. I don’t know which mountain it is, but it takes 1 ½ to 2 minutes to drive thru the tunnel at 70km/h. This tunnel twists and turns and seems never to end. It was truly amazing. I just do not want to be in it if there is an earthquake or an accident. You literally will be trapped. Don’t know if I could handle it.

So we get off this barren Route 5 and still need to drive to YiLan. I have taken the long way to YiLan which is like driving on any freeway. It follows the ocean from the north down. However, from Route 5 you take the mountain road Route (or Road) Number 9. This is a pure two lane mountain road with huge drop-offs and twists and turns you can only experience on a rollercoaster.

I’ve driven on these roads before and all the swaying can make the passengers sick or at least light headed. Now on this day Mrs. Wang was (as I am told) driving carefully. Well, the speedometer never went below 45km/h and hovered normally around 70km/h. I must say this was a totally new way to experience mountain driving. In a car there is some places you can stabalize yourself, but in a minivan you pretty much are on your own with three of you in the bench seat. Of course if you have been in Taiwan or live in mountain road you know all the passing that takes place and the driving towards in coming traffic – this was expected. But at the speed we were at we were being tossed around like pinball’s in the back seat. My one year old son was sleeping and clung to my wife like a monkey. It was very amusing. Here is this little child sleeping and the adults slipping to the right and left while he just somehow literally clung to my wife’s clothing with white knuckles. I didn’t think the trip there or home bothered him while he slept. But at 3:00am he woke up screaming for one hour. Guess the tossing around may have bothered him.

So, once Rt. 5 opens check it out and the cool mountain tunnels. If you are new to Taiwan hire a taxi to drive the mountain roads at breakneck speeds to experience true daredevil driving (raining and nighttimes make for a better experiences).

By the way we received good news from the spirit channeler at the temple. Guess I should write about that as many westerners don’t get to experience spirits taking over people. . . . . another time.

Top Ohio Schools

I am originally from Ohio and still have a residence there. So when I saw the Newsweek article: "The Complete List of the 1,000 Top US Schools" I wanted to see where the Ohio schools ranked nationally (well 1,036 with the ties). Here is what I found:

Ohio Rank | School | Location | Newsweek Rank | [2003 Ranking]
1) Wyoming - Wyoming - #55 [#13 in 2003]
2) Indian Hill - Cincinnati - #65 [#32 in 2003]
3) Chagrin Falls - Chagrin Falls - #95 [#71 in 2003]
4) Solon - Solon - #145 [#135 in 2003]
5) Orange - Pepper Pike - #170 [#257 in 2003]
6) Shaker Heights - Shaker Heights - #186 [#255 in 2003]
7) Beachwood - Beachwood - #227 [#144 in 2003]
8) Madeira - Cincinnati - #273
9) Ottawa Hills - Ottawa Hills - #294 [#478 in 2003]
10) Oakwood - Dayton - #400
11) Bay - Bay Village - #440 [#579 in 2003]
12) Sycamore - Cincinnati - #529 [#357 in 2003]
13) Perry - Perry - #598 [#262 in 2003]
14) Upper Arlington - Upper Arlington - #682 [#740 in 2003]
15) Hudson - Hudson - #700 [#700 in 2003]
16) Columbus Alternative - Columbus - #704
17) Bexley - Bexley - #731
18) Aurora - Aurora - #743 [#369 in 2003]
19) Jackson - Massillon - #846
20) Centerville - Centerville - #853 [#682 in 2003]
21) Westlake - Westlake - #857
22) Firestone - Akron - #872 [#439 in 2003]
23) Anderson - Cincinnati - #987
24) Centennial - Columbus - #1024

These ratings are for public schools only, so my alma mater did not make it on this list (Walsh Jesuit). But I think Ohio did very well. I am happy that public school are only listed. I think if private schools were included the list would not be indicative of the countries school systems.

Big jump for Toledo's Ottawa Hills and for Orange in Pepper Pike. Just good to see that Ohio schools are on the list. Guess now it is time for more improvement. Like to see 30 or more schools on this list in 2005.

I'm not sure which state had the most school listings. Maybe in the magazine they have more info. I got this info from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7761678/site/newsweek/