As most of you know, I'm going to USC this August. Ok, now on to the good stuff.....
I have found that I have picked up at least one Taiwanese habit. That is grunting. When people talk in Taiwan, sometimes they don't even use words. They just grunt. This is particularly true when you want to express affirmation. Instead of saying "Yes", "Yup", "Right", or "Correct", you just grunt. Anyone who speaks Chinese knows what I mean. You just say "em", without opening your mouth. I have found that I do this a lot. "Do you want some fruit?" "em." "Did you go out today?" "em." "Is your mouth full and no matter what I say you won't be able to reply?" "em." I think it'll be weird when I go back to the US. People will think I'm mute.
Taipei's buses are so funny. First of all, when you get on, you need to make sure you manuever yourself into a good, safe, stable spot. If you don't know why, after the bus starts moving, you'll find out. The drivers apparently are given commission by the bus company for how many people they can make fall over or fall out of their seats while they are driving. This is not posted anywhere, but it is very evident by the way they drive. What makes it more fun is when the bus is crowded and all the moving back and forth conveniently pushes you into someone's armpit. Ah, good times, good times.
The other thing about Taipei buses are when people want to get off. All the buses have a system where you push a button or strip to signal to the driver that you want to get off at the next stop. When one person hits it, a light turns on (usually all the buttons light up) and a bell rings. Apparently, these signals are just for decoration and your musical enjoyment because no one pays any attention to them. I will stand there and watch 5 or 6 people try to hit the button AGAIN after someone has already hit it. And they'll be confused as to why nothing happens. Ok, enough of making fun of other people.
I went to the zoo last week. They have some awesome signs. I'll let you peruse them at your leisure. Most of them are self explanatory. But just in case, I'll add some comments.
Um, I don't really have anything to say about these.....we just kinda passed them when we went to the Taipei Computex show.
Yes, I'd like an order of buffalwings. And can I get those witgarlibutter? Thanks.
Ok, this is the first picture from the zoo. You know how you're not supposed to climb on the fences they put up? "Hey, you! No Striding!!!" Yeah, I kept repeating that all day.
You guys who aren't in Taiwan don't know this, but dinosaurs are not extinct. Taiwan has them. And they even have them in their zoos. You need to watch out for them when you go visit. They are dangerous animals.
I don't even know what to say about this. Why when they are trying to translate into English, they have to choose some obscure word that no one even uses? Hubbub is a real word by the way, look it up. I had to, I thought it was just something people said.
You guys thought Taiwan discriminated against people with disabilities? Well, this sign proves it. They go out of their way to make sure those of us who aren't disabled get special treatment. Are you disability-free? Then you are allowed to use this special slope. Either that, or it means this slope is free of disabled people. Either way, they are so mean here.
If you can't read Chinese, and I'm guessing most of you who read this can't, then you don't know what this means. But it's a sign of what happens when you get a snake bite. Look at the pictures. Carefully. Remember this is for little kids. The first one says after you get bitten, it'll hurt. The second one says your mouth will start bleeding, (notice all the blood coming out of his mouth) and your fingers will burn. The third one says you'll start getting dizzy and start to shake. The last one is the best. You'll get a fever, and you'll start to throw up. Notice he is still strong enough to stand and hold his hand in a thumbs up pose.
Sorry this is so blurry. If you can't read Chinese, get someone who can. This is the funniest thing I've ever heard. Literal translation is "I'm as nervous as a fart." It means something like you are as nervous as if you let out a fart. You guys all need to come to Taiwan and learn Chinese.
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