i wish i could tell you all of the cool things that happened today. i'm not sure how enthralling this blog is going to be. but i'll keep truckin' until it becomes apparent that i have nothing to say. today isn't that day yet though.
things i CAN tell you:
made it to work on time!
i nearly bit the dust on the metro. that thing makes sudden and forceful stops. i ended up grabbing onto a girls shoulder and then faking my best light texan accent to say 'ohmygoodness i am so so-ray'. ok this is a lie. but i did apologize enough that it was painfully obvious i was not from around here.
decided to wear stockings. this was a back and forth issue among other interns. i decided to be on the safe/mildly uncomfortable side.
fun wiki fact: the wooden staircase railings in the executive office building were replaced with brass ones during the taft presidency because president taft was too hefty for the wood.
other exciting news: i finally met my future roommates and saw the apartment. it's decorated kind of tribal african-y. deep reds and oranges, lots of plants. it's up on the top floor so we get a nice breeze and my roommates are lovely. the guy, ruda, and i have been talking through email a ton in the last month so it was nice to actually meet him. he's awesome. did city year through americorps. he's friendly, outgoing, nice. we went to dinner and chatted up this guy scott, who made our sandwiches at potbelly. i told scott we're going to be besties by the end of december. i think he's excited.
i don't know if it's because this was my method for practicing chinese in taiwan, but i literally can't help but talk to strangers now. i stopped to talk to a woman on my way down the escalator in the metro because she was holding some birthday balloons. talked to people in the grocery store. no one is safe! then they always ask where i'm from. people commented on my lack of texas accent. the re-education begins. i think maybe i should just be a 'real texas' ambassador.
ok nirav and i are making mojitos. until tomorrow. i think the sugar in my tea made me wired.
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My interpretation of your Chatty Cathy experience (the social equivalent of a Shirley Temple for pubescent girls in the early 60's)is that because you've mastered reaching out to strangers in a foreign tongue, striking up a conversation with an English speaking, U.S. citizen, is now a piece of cake. Many a double nickel would give their eye teeth for your casual gift of gab.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit that I would!!!!
Great first day, Meg! Keep 'em coming. You'll find lots to tell us about!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about all your adventures!
ReplyDeletei think i'm feeling a bit of culture shock going from hearing about your adventures in taiwan to your adventures in dc.
ReplyDeleteand yes, gift of gab with strangers is about one of the 3 top skills anybody needs to have to succeed in life.
Next time when a stranger asks you where you are from, tell them you are from Taiwan. If they don't believe you, start speaking mandarin.
ReplyDeletethat would be kind of a funny trick. i'll try it next time ;)
ReplyDeleteYour response does not surprise me. It is exactly the light-hearted answer I would expect from you. We need more of this type of light-hearted touch in cross-cultural exchanges. You make a fine “Texas” ambassador. As a matter of fact, have you ever thought that you would also make a fine “Taiwan” ambassador. You may not know it, but you are a bridge between the cultures of the East and West, or to be more precise, between US and Taiwan, the two countries I cherish the most.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your friend, Jimmie-the one you left behind in Taiwan, may need a few suggestions and encouraging words from you, the lychee-loving Texan. Read her blog calling for help.
i think i have been kind of a cheerleader for taiwan since i've gotten back to the US. so many people know very little about taiwan but they're very eager to listen and learn more. it may have a little bit to do with me not being able to stop myself from telling them lots of details about taiwan.. but they do seem receptive.
ReplyDeletei'll go check out jimmie. the first couple of months can be really hard. i remember freaking out more than once and just wanting to go home. i think she'll stick it out though. she's tough.
Hey, I would like to rally behind anon. last post about you being a cheerleader/ambassador for Taiwan. You would rock as an ambassador. Perhaps that's a natural path that you will follow. Go gettum' Tex!
ReplyDeleteMegan, I never feel comfortable posting messages under “Anonymous”. Last night, I had my Google account sorted out before posting a message on Jimmie’s blog. (I never knew I already had a Google account. Google kept telling me the user name was taken. It was my own account.) From now on, I will use my Google account here as well. Just for your information, I was the one who posted the last two “Anonymous” messages. I noticed that you responded to Jimmie’s blog fairly quickly after reading my post. That is very nice of you.
ReplyDelete