Long overdue update

Due to internet problems at my apartment, I haven't been able to access the internet unless I run over to Starbucks or KFC and use their WiFi system. The problem was fixed recently but I've just been too busy to sit down and type. That, or when I sit down to type, I get a mental block. I'll try to keep the updates coming more frequently in the future.

My apartment: I like it here. The building is nice, area is convenient and my neighbors don't seem to bother me too much. Except for the sewage leak two weeks ago there haven't been any major problems yet. The two typhoons that hit Taiwan didn't do much more than blow a lot of wind and rain. The one lightning strike that was nearby flashed out my window and the thunder left my ears ringing, but no major damage.

As for the sewage spill... Even though we have a new building, with new pipes, it is connected to the old waste lines that the city built 50 years ago. As such, there is a problem with the size of the pipes and how easy they can get clogged. The issue happened on the 2nd floor and caused the 1st floor toilet to overflow on one of the hottest days of the year. That was a horrible horrible stench that is burned into my sinuses forever.

The neighborhood: It's very convenient. I have the MRT station less than 10 minutes away by foot and right next to it is a bus stop that goes to my school. I can get from my apartment to school by bus in about 15 minutes without traffic. The odd thing about my block is that the restaurants are all soup and noodle places. It has been pretty hot lately, and everything close by is really hot food. It will be nice in the winter, but I don't want to eat hot pot when its 90 outside. I also don't want to eat beef noodles in a soup broth, boiled vegetables in a Korean broth, shaved noodles in a beef/pork/chicken broth, etc etc etc. The nice thing is that by the MRT (subway) station is Ximending. It's a very trendy area with lots of restaurants, food stalls and (illegal) street vendors. Whenever the police come, the street vendors go running, but they serve cheap snacks that are tasty.

School: NTNU's Mandarin Training Center hasn't lived up to what I expected it to be. We have currently have 8 students (the max), at one point had 10 students in our class, and all of their literature says that 5-6 students is average size for the intensive classes. The difference between their regular and intensive classes are two students and one extra hour of class a day. That is, there are 10 students in a normal class and they only meet for 2 hours a day instead of 3.

I'm also disappointed in MTC's teaching methodology. It's focused mostly on writing. We also have to do a lot of homework outside of class. My issue with that is that writing is my weakest area. I haven't written characters for three years now. I always use computers to do my homework, and as such have practically forgotten how to write. My classmates are 2 americans, a Chinese-Indonesian guy, 2 Japanese guys, a Japanese girl and a 16 year old Mongolian girl. I joke that the Japanese girl is a walking character dictionary. She always knows how to write whatever character we are studying.

I don't care much for writing characters. It wastes a lot of time and I'm poor at it. I don't have years in which to dedicate myself to writing a single character hundreds of times until it is correct. I want to work on speaking and recognizing characters. To me, being able to communicate with other people in Chinese is why I'm here. Squiggly lines don't interest me. If it isn't clear, I'm very unhappy with my current school situation. Of our tests and everything else we do, 20% is speaking, 20% is reading recognition and the last 60% is writing. This is opposite of what I want for myself and is making me less and less happy as time goes on. I keep scoring poorly on the tests because I write the characters wrong. Its frustrating always asking the teacher for more time while my Japanese classmates have finished their tests and are napping while waiting for us to finish. Even though I have a scholarship from NTNU, I can't see myself staying there in the future if the situation doesn't improve.

On that note, in about two weeks I'm planning my first trip out of the country. I'm planning on going to Macau! It will be fun to get another stamp in my passport and allow me to relax a bit. The promo rate I found is pretty fantastic. 250 US for round trip airfare tickets and either 2 days 1 night at a 4/5 star hotel or 3 days 2 nights at a 3 star hotel. I'm excited and need to book the ticket on Monday.