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Storms, viruses, and Taiwanese language
I've been back a few weeks now, and the weather is finally starting to get cooler. That means a bunch of low-pressure cold fronts (read: wind and rain) which, while giving a brief respite to the sweltering heat of the sun, also means that, well, it's getting cooler.I moved out of Mr. Zhang's apartment and am now occupying a friend's house while he is out of the country. My friend, JR, also lent me his bicycle, and I've started to bike to school and back, which gives me some exercise. This has caused me to get sunburns (and then tans) on my arms and neck (a real farmer's tan), so on Monday I started applying suncream in those areas, as well as my face, before going to school.

Back to square one
I arrived last Monday, tired and trying hard to beat the jet-lag, to a still hot Taipei. In a way, the change was welcome, as Paris was already getting cold and windy when I left.Now I'm staying (temporarily) in a friend's place, trying to find a job and apartment. It's just like I'm starting over again, except I already know the basics.

The end of summer... and the end of my first year in Taiwan
The walls are bare, and only a few cardboard boxes remain in the room I have rented for almost exactly one year. August 20, 2009 marked my one year anniversary in Taiwan. I'll be going back to Paris for a few weeks to recoup and meet up with family and friends before coming back for another year. I'm really looking forward to that.The next year promises to be very different as I will be working (probably as an English teacher) as well as continuing my studies. But for now, I'm on vacation!