Pictures at last!

This weekend my jetlag began to wear off and I was able to get out to explore a bit more! On Friday the girls and I ventured to TESCO, this large half walmart-ish half giant grocery store. When I moved to Montreal I remember that some of the times I felt most like I was in another country was at a grocery store, with their lack of American variety, French labels and cheese curds near the checkout. Walking through the TESCO in Taiwan was like walking through another world! Firstly, there was the most bizarre dream-like elevator music. In the fruit and vegetable sections I recognized about half of all the produce laying out and tried to stay away from anything with spikes or in any neon color. There were a lot of subtle differences like squid nuggets next to chicken nuggets and fish balls instead of meat balls. Another thing I found interesting was that you have to pay for the plastic bags to put your groceries and all store purchases into.
On Saturday we decided to go to the Jianguo Flower and Jade Markets. The flowers were absolutely gorgeous, mostly different kinds of orchids, roses and water lillies. I couldn't resist buying an orchid for my room and am hoping I don't kill it before I can go back and get another one next weekend. The Jade Market was gigantic and had really beautiful pieces of jade, coral and other beaded jewelry. I resisted buying anything but promised myself I would go back when I know just enough Chinese to attempt to bargain instead of an English sucker paying too much (which is still pretty inexpensive!).
Saturday night I was determined to go out for my first time. Kathleen, Julia and I went to the local expat bar for a few drinks before heading to the pretty swanky Room 18 club for a night of dancing. We just may have stuck out like sore thumbs. For one, we were the only Western women in the entire place (never mind the Western guys who had about 4 Taiwanese girls on each arm!) , and second of all, it was was "Uniform night" so we were a tad over dressed wearing actual pants and shirts instead of strategically placed pom-poms. I'll admit the music was great but I can see how going out here will never feel too comfortable!
Finally, last night was best of all. Another teacher and her boyfriend decided to take us out for dinner. The place? The Jurassic-- a dinosaur and Native American themed restaurant. I had no idea that the two lived during the same period, but apparently they did! Naturally in accordance with the theme, the food was super spicy Chinese and there was a keyboard and vocal performance throughout the dinner straight out of the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch. It was really the most bizarre and unbelievable restaurant I have ever been to, so I snapped a few pictures to show the rest of you! I've also included some pics from the past week that I finally figured out how to upload. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Louise, Julia and the other Kathleen

Louise, me, Kathleen, Julia, Tara, Bonnie and Mike at the Jurassic

Please note the dino bone and neon headress backdrop for the musical performance.

Street between the Flower and Jade Markets.

National Palace Museum

Me in front of one of the side buildings of the Museum

Louise and I

Front view of the school I'll be teaching at in the Fall.

View from school balcony of Taipei 101, currently the tallest building in the world