Helmets required
Wear your helmet. It was, and still is good advice, but now I wonder when I should take it off. Part of me feels safer with it on, even while walking down the street. Traffic laws are more like suggestions here. Left at a light – illegal. Instead, an illegal u-turn will suffice; that is of course after swerving through oncoming traffic.
In the land where scooters rule, where do pedestrians fit in the mix. It’s confusing to know, not to mention who actually has the right of way. I’ve heard life will be easy once you understand the organized chaos. Right now, its a mix of sheer terror and baffled amusement.
Entire families pile onto 50cc scooters and barrel down the streets. The parents have their helmets, but not the children. Often, you find the kids sitting in the lap of a parent or in a high chair strapped to the back. The puzzled look I give these people are promptly returned back at me.
Random people come and speak with me throughout the days, I guess to practice their English. It’s pretty obvious that I don’t fit the mold. I’m enjoying speaking to those eager enough to talk and hoping that when I attempt Chinese they will be as patient with me in return.
Food is still a challenge as I am refusing to settle into the Big Mac, deep dish pizza and KFC chicken bucket diet. As appealing as it is knowing what I’ll be eating, that’s part of being here. I recently discovered a vegetarian restaurant around the corner which is good.
It’s good to know that there is always the night market, where you can find some of the weirdest food I’ve ever seen. Stinky (fermented) tofu, tea eggs, an insane assortment of kabobs (some I don’t think I’ll ever find myself attempting), squid on a stick, Taiwanese crepes (could be fun), shaved ice with all sorts of goodies (beans, fruit, fish, etc.), and live snakes, just to make sure they’re fresh. We might be splitting a snake next time at the market. Oh, and they have normal corn, which is sweet!
I’ll keep you posted on the transition. I can’t wait to actually get into the groove of living in this place. It seems like a blast, I’m just trying to figure it out right now.