I can't get no sleep...

So I've been up since about 4:30 this morning completely unable to sleep. During the day because it's so hot I'm constantly carrying a gigantic water bottle around in hopes that I don't pass out . So naturally I can't sleep through the night without several washroom interruptions. However, although I have yet to see one, I've heard maannyy horror stories about the cockroaches in Taipei. Apparently they are 3 inches long, can fly, have red bellies and like dark places. So I can't just hop out of bed and run to the washroom. I have to turn on the light, inspect my room, slowly open the door, pop my head out first, scan the hallway, tiptoe to the washroom, check underneath the sink etc. The whole process takes about 10minutes for which I must be completely alert and cautious. There is no chance of me falling back to sleep immediately! As I was lying there trying however, I heard the strangest and scariest moaning noise coming from the alley behind my room. It kept getting louder and louder and finally I recognized one of the noises as a rabid cat fighting some unknown but equally as angry creature. It made me a little regretful that I didn't speak up when the roommates asked me if a friend's cat can stay with us for the month of August... I can handle the culture shock in Taipei, but the "wildlife" shock I do not know.

Yesterday was my first full day here! Once again it was hazy out which was disappointing but I am told quite better than sunny days when it gets considerably hotter. In the afternoon we all went to lunch and then stopped by the school we will be teaching at in September. Oh my goodness.. the school is insane! Apparently it's the most prestigious private school in Taipei (how they hired a 1st time non-teacher is beyond me) and from the looks of it I would believe it. I took a few pictures of the school but this super slow and old laptop in the dorm won't recognize digital cameras made after the year 1999. I didn't know digital cameras even existed that long ago! I may be able to upload some on one of the other girl's computers and transfer them on to here sometime soon hopefully.

My favorite part of yesterday was going to dinner with my roommate Louise. The other girls seem to prefer to eat Western food most of the time, so we decided to set out and find some local and cheap place in the neighborhood. We ended up just down the block and selected a place based on the crowd which usually means less risk of getting sick from the food! Of course neither of us could read a word on the menu and had to pick from the limited pictures of each page. We took our chances and ended up with some sort of fried fish on top of a sweet onion rice, miso soup, sweet brown sugar beef maki, tea, and 2 veerry large Taiwanese beers.. all for 205NT! That's a little over $6USD for the both of us! We made a pact to try to be as adventurous as possible and try as many of these little places as we can.

Anyways I am off to get ready for my day. I have my health check at the hospital and then plan on getting lost in the city for a couple hours since I think I see the sun peaking out!