Just some random pictures today as I’m still trying to get stuff organized and upload all these weird little treats that I’ve discovered throughout Taiwan before the New Year hits.
Let’s start off with a dog we discovered in Kaohsiung’s Liuhe Nightmarket.
Now, some people might look at this picture and cry “Animal abuse.” Actually, that was my first instinct. However, after thinking about it, I’ve decided that this dog has had a pretty good life. He’s got a place to stay, all the food/scraps he can eat, and he gets plenty of attention. If that dog dies tomorrow, he’s dying pretty happy, probably.
Next up is a set of hooks. Where I saw them, I don’t remember, but they are pretty creative.
No, I didn’t buy them, but I wish I had.
Here’s a picture of a truck whose driver is apparently a huge Transformers fan. Beware! He’s a decepticon!
Finally, here are some pills that Mrs. Expat’s father (he’s a doctor) gave me.
What could be ailing me you might ask? Am I seriously ill? Do I need hospital treatment? No on all accounts. These five pills are the recommended medicine for the common cold. That’s right. The common cold, for which there is no cure, takes at least five pills in Taiwan. The common cold, which normally passes within a matter of days, takes at least five pills in Taiwan. The common cold, which – at least for me – hinders neither my work nor other facets of my life (besides having to carry tissues with me), takes at least five pills in Taiwan.
And this is one of the things that I just can not stand about Taiwan. For all it’s awesomeness and beauty, I can not understand students telling me that they missed class because they felt “uncomfortable” and had to go to the hospital. I can not understand why a student will miss class because they woke up and their arm was sore and their parents made them stay at home. I can understand why a student will miss class on a test day because they woke up and they sneezed once, so they required a doctor’s check-up.
I don’t want to get off on a rant here, so I won’t. Perhaps another time I’ll talk about NHI (National Health Insurance) and the frail mentality of 98% of the Taiwanese people when it comes to sickness.
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