Leaving Taiwan was in some ways a great thing, yet in others terrible. I made many great friends at the Taipei Ward – Bishop Weddle and his family, Bros. Frost, Sevey, Linton, Pendleton & their families. the ladies and gentlemen of the single adults. Jean-Francois & Vivian Morin and the Sheffers in particular. Love those guys. Except when Jamison Sheffer brings up football…dude doesn’t know what he is talking about. I will also miss the senior missionary couples who took me under their wing, in particular the Funks and the Browns. All great people, far too many to name here. <3 I also got to spend more time with my meimei (little sister), Masako, as she arrived in Taiwan in February for work. I loved spending time with her.
I met a lot of wonderful people and yet it feels like a great waste as well. I spent so much time being ill that I was not able to accomplish the purpose of my time in that beautiful country. I was too sick to study or work, so I saw my savings draining away to the point that I knew I had to go back to work. I did not get to spend time visiting the island and getting to know the people as I wanted. I spent most of my time lying in bed, hoping that my illness would pass. I have weak lungs and Taipei’s combination of wet & cold winters conspired to bring me low. I became ill around the beginning of December, with what I thought was the flu, something that should have dissipated after a week or two. Unfortunately, it proved more tenacious and stayed with me for over five months. Like a idiot, I avoided going to the doctor (medical care is cheaper in Asia) because I don’t like going to the doctor. It flared up repeatedly and still to this day lays me low.
Yes, leaving Taiwan has caused me to fill emotionally split. I have not felt such homesickness before, except for my first time abroad. Without my work or studies to occupy my time, I came near to climbing the walls of my tiny bedroom. Yet, I enjoyed the little moments spent with friends or teaching a class at church. I am split, true, but am really happy to go home.
Kith, Kin, Strangers and everyone else. Merry Christmas. As I do every year when the holidays come around, I ask that you put aside the conspicuous consumption of consumerism and remember the reason for the season.
My first week of school was one of frustration and anxiety. The frustration was due to the registering process. I spent a great deal of time in great many queues. I have no doubt that my school, Beijing Language and Culture University, endeavored to streamline the process with helpers directing hallway traffic and answering questions. Large placards detailed every paper and other items needed for each line. I am just that guy. You know that guy – the one who seems incapable of standing in line. No because I am incapable of reading the instructions, just incapable of following them.
I cannot really express how disappointed I was with the football game on Saturday. As many commentators online noted, the Tigers have not seen any progression from last year. The quarterback situation remains tenuous and a reliance on one or two running backs, no matter how good, is unsustainable. In addition, our defense seems to have seriously digressed with the loss of last year’s play makers to the NFL. I have long been steadfast in my support for Les Miles, countering arguments of his faults with his many advantages. Reluctantly, I am joining the bandwagon to see my beloved Tigers go in a new direction. I now believe that this should be his last year at LSU.
At 2:30 (Beijing Time), I saw on the news that Britain had voted to leave the European Union. With a victory at about 51.7%, the British people decided their own fate, through their own electoral process. The majority was not persuaded by threats from European apparatchiks nor promises of doom from their own government, led by David Cameron. Since he risked his position on the Remain vote, it looks like he may be out.