strangers in Taiwan
7/11/11
10:57
Page 28
‘Do not worry. They just try to get better applications than other schools.’ ‘I really don’t think I can get this job.’ ‘Yes, you can get it.’ ‘What makes you so sure? I don’t have that much experience or those qualifications… And I have about as much parenting skills as… as...’ Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of anyone or anything with as little potential parenting skills as I had. ‘That’s true,’ Anita said, without even waiting for me to try and finish. ‘But don’t panic too much, you have some of experience and some of qualifications. I think we will be ok.’ Never ever decide a celebration is called for, but then get so incredibly drunk that you decide to order some kind of food that you wouldn’t usually eat if your life depended on it. It was my second weekend in Taiwan and I was feeling slightly heroic after securing the Junior High School job with a completely pulled-out-of-my-arse demo lesson. So when Anita suggested we venture out and meet her sister and two nieces for some local Taiwanese food in town, I readily agreed. ‘Here’s to everyone,’ I said as I hoisted up a virtually empty bottle of Taiwan beer and drank. ‘Everyone,’ Anita echoed, and her sister did the same. The two nieces – seven and nine years old – ignored us, squabbling over the last few pieces of something that had once been a duck, but now looked more like John Hurt after that thing exploded out of his chest. ‘Baby,’ Anita said, having adopted this as my name the moment I landed on Taiwanese soil, ‘you want to try some special food?’ Her sister seemed to understand what this meant and looked like she might be about to pee herself with excitement. I thought 28