World by Noelle

Starbucks in TPE, and other random things

Posted on April 7th, 2006 by tallgirl.
Categories: travel, taiwan.

So, today (just after midnight) we arrived back in Taipei. What was supposed to be a few hour drive turned into a MUCH longer drive, simply because it was a holiday and everyone was trying to get back to Taipei, I guess. Traffic was horrible.

I’m sitting in an internet cafe across from the Taipei YMCA, and it’s HOT. They’re playing either Taiwanese pop music, or old US pop music (I just heard an old N*SYNC song - hee hee hee!). The computer system is only Windows 98, so I cannot upload pictures at this time - I have lots, though!!

I have already visited a Starbucks here, and got a bear! And some other stuff for people who are interested. They even gave me a discount! (We’re not officially the same company, so it’s not necessary to do it - they were super nice, though.) I talked with a graduate of the University of Oregon in the store - how crazy is that?!? I go all the way to Taipei and meet a Pac-10 rival… how funny!

The last place we went was the Puli Christian Hospital, in Puli. They had an earthquake on 9/21/99 that was like 6.8. It was an extremely damaging one - it was close to the surface, and not in the water, like the one I experienced. The hospital was one of the few that survived through the quake - they had just finished the main wing, and were able to fix that building very quickly. The hospital is not affiliated with any specific denomination, which makes it possible for it to get money from anyone. The whole hospital was very clean and efficient-looking. It wasn’t as shiny as Bumrungrad, in BKK, but it was pretty nice. We met with the Superintendent of the hospital, who happened to be related to one of our group. I’m convinced that the whole trip was a reason for Jane to visit her family - but then again, the Christian community in Taiwan is pretty small. This allows for almost everyone to be related.

Along the route to Puli, from the East Coast, we drove the most famous highway in Taiwan - the East-West Highway. It is very narrow at times, but so spectacularly beautiful. I do have pictures, but like I said, I cannot post them now. I am going to have to do some sort of interpretation of the trip… I would like to combine Nica and Taiwan… we’ll see.

If anyone wants to sponsor a paid subscription to Flickr for me, I’d be game. That would allow me to upload more piccies… just a thought.

One of the things that I find most spectacular about Taiwanese Christians is how much the designation of Christian envelops their lives. Everything they do is with a faith mindset. It makes me want to be more like them - their faith is so strong. In LA, we can choose to be Christian or not - depending on who we are around. I find that, now, disturbing. For those of you who know me, I have long disregarded the “don’t talk religion or politics” phrase - I talk it all. And will continue to do so.

My time is up on this computer, and I need to go back across the street to get picked up to go to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan’s General Assembly office. I’ll be back later, and will update y’all more. I’m going to try to see what the SBUX wi-fi sitch is.

Right now, there is a Rolling Stones song on the radio! A “new” one? Is there such a thing? Also, whoever wants a bearista bear needs to let me know. They ARE indeed different here!

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