Thank you, Cotillion

Saturday night's NTU prom was an experience I don't feel I'll ever be able to adequately describe. A middle school atmosphere + ballroom dancing + random 80s pop songs + eccentric performances made it a hilariously awkward night, although I'd say much more fun than the "Singing in the Rain" SJA prom debacle of '06.

My years of Cotillion training finally came in handy, and I guess being able to whip out the waltz in Taiwan made all those years of forced hand holding with clumsy middle school boys worth the humiliation. We brought the party, starting a train throughout the auditorium that attracted probably half of the attendees to get on board and being called up to the stage to lead the Taiwanese bunny hop. Who knew standing out could be so much fun?

Sunday was the Dragon Boat festival, and after an ill-fated trip to Danshui we traveled to the river to watch the grandiose boats racing one another. It was a scene straight out of Ben Hur, with buff men in tight outfits pounding their oars into the water. Damn they moved fast.

The ladies took pictures with a dragon boat team (yeaaa) and we walked throughout the food stalls. I had a corn dog, which was very similar to the ones I had in my high school cafeteria (and loved) but with a little more spice. Really good.

A spontaneous storm hit as we were walking thoughout the festival and made me feel as though I were back in Louisiana. Years of enduring extreme humidity and fickle weather have prepared me for this experience. I relish the evening time, when the hot day cools into night, but still with enough warmth to preclude the necessity of long sleeves or pants.

I had a piece of white toast with jam this morning, the first actual bread I've eaten on this trip. I don't miss it at all and find myself craving meat instead. The food continues to be an experience. When two guys in our group ordered rice pudding last night they were brought chunks of pigs' blood. Mmmmm.

The fascinating task of finding a Taiwanese distributor for wooden windows and doors calls, so I must alight (what Subway signs here say in reference to leaving the train). It's gonna be a long day, and I hope I'm sufficiently caffinated.