by Jonny | Jun 19, 2012 | Updates
It seems life has slowed down and I’m now experiencing life at a pace which I’m not enjoying. I guess, my life is somewhat robotic in the sense that I do the same thing everyday. At least, when I was in the ‘building websites’ business, at least, I was doing something different. Instead I’m at a job which I’m not enjoying, and I can’t make heads or tails of whether or not I’m going crazy.
The first issue that I’ve encountered is a communication problem, I can figure what I have to do, but everyone obviously speaks Mandarin and my Mandarin is not exactly that good. I can understand some of it, but when it comes to absorbing it as anything useful; that’s where I fail. Essentially, I can understand the basics and that’s about it. I can understand what they want me to do, but when it comes to the question of “How?” they can’t answer me in good enough English.
I had no problems before they moved me to another department. I went from working for my job’s General Motors department to working for the BMW department. I thought, great, it’s a change from the same stuff I’ve been doing everyday for 2 months. Instead, it is the same in someways while also being totally different in other ways. It is unnecessarily complex. Why do I say that? Well, General Motors created a machine to make the task of coding other system’s machines to work with it. With BMW you need a separate computer to connect to the hardware, however the display is all on this other computer; which makes things ten times complex, it need not be this way. Plus, on top of learning how to run a new system, my bosses want me to type in Chinese words that I can’t even read. I can read some of it, but all I have is the English translation, but that isn’t good enough seeing as Google translate is just not accurate enough when it comes to translation. (It could be perfected, but I understand why it would be hard to translate 1,000’s of Chinese characters.
Whatever the case, I’ll be really starting in the BMW department tomorrow. I hope all goes well.
by Jonny | Jan 22, 2012 | Updates
Yesterday was Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year, as my Taiwanese friends would want me to say; as they consider themselves Taiwanese as opposed to Chinese. (Although I guess I think the same way, even though on my Taiwanese passport it says “Republic of China R.O.C”)
I had a great time with my family and an American bloke, we all ate some traditional Chinese food which my mother cooked up. It was delicious as usual, and I had no complaints. I also received some red envelopes. It is traditional to give those who are not married red envelopes and since I’m not married I received a few; which usually contain money.
It’s funny… when I finished my mid-term examination last Friday my teacher gave everyone a red envelope containing $1NT. Which is worth less than a penny in terms of British money, but it is the thought that counts, no? 😀
by Jonny | Oct 28, 2011 | Updates
Okay so a couple weeks ago I went to the local Taichung registration office. The guy that was taking care of my situation entered all the information that was required and gave me a few dates on when I would have to join the military. I chose the furthest option which would mean I would have to join the military next year (2012) in March. That was all cool and settled. However what happened after was that they phoned my parents place saying I would have to join anywhere in the next few weeks or possibly next month.
This has got me stressed as I at least wanted to do one more term of Chinese before I join the military. Otherwise I’ve heard stories from friends and even my cousin suggesting I’d be made fun of due to my lack or inability of Mandarin.
It really annoys me that a man can tell you everything and everything that man has said is total and utter bullshit. This guy is supposed to be an official. Sure people make mistakes and you can forgive them for that. However this is a very big mistake which involves my life.
So perhaps I’ll be in the military this year, sooner than expected, according to what this guy has been saying to my mother. It is bloody annoying to find out at first, you won’t have to join for around 6 months, then find out you have to join either within the coming weeks or months this year.
An awesome birthday present! Thanks Taichung Council!! (xie xie)
by Jonny | Oct 23, 2011 | Updates
For some reason I cannot sleep. Well I know the reason as I slept most of yesterday in the afternoon which is why I'm having trouble sleeping and which is why I am still awake at 5 am in the morning here. So I figure I won't go to sleep and I'll stay and go on the internet for a few hours until I have to leave for Chinese class.
I've effectively blockaded myself from being able to go on Facebook as per this post. I also feel kind of bad for not going to Nantou with my friends to the Tea Festival, but I don't think that will be much of an issue. – In fact it will be a great talking point. Even though I hardly did anything while they were having fun, though I can ask them how it was there.
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