a touchy subject.

I have yet to see Where the Wild Things Are and I am pretty unhappy about the situation. The girls in my film class tell me they have looked and it MAY be coming to Taipei in November (good thing November is just around the corner... wow, really?).

Anyway, in the meantime, I have gotten myself well acquainted with the soundtrack-- this should not come as a surprise to my dedicated readers! Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), is responsible for the entire album, and knowing this I felt excited/hesitant at the same time. Especially knowing that the movie is considerably 'dark', I was wondering what Karen O, or any artist for that matter, would have to bring to the table for a 14 song movie soundtrack.

With all this being said, the songs are brilliant. The kids chanting along on almost every track is way too cute (put this on the list of things that make me well suited to be an elementary school teacher!). I am adding links for a couple of songs (no actual videos, so you can load it and just listen), but really, the entire album is so good. When listening to it the whole way through, you can grasp the general mood and direction of the film itself. And, for people like ME who have yet to see the film... I will take what I can get!

Track 2- 'All is Love' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Jy1F7XR9Y&feature=related
Track 4- 'Worried Shoes' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQMcA0Q4T6c
Track 5- 'Rumpus' (this one reminds me of the Go! Team) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Jy1F7XR9Y&feature=related

away we go.

I had to watch this movie twice to really appreciate it, and not because I didn't realize how well done it was the first time around but I can't say I have ever seen a movie like this one.

Uncomplicated; about two people, just trying to figure out where they belong and what they are going to do when they get there. Perhaps a bit reminiscent of Garden State, in the way that the characters just seem to be realizing that life is happening to them whether they like it or not. There's no so-called climax. The characters are seemingly normal and their lives are far from rivetting.

Overall, a really well executed film. Not to be challenged, in my opinion, for many reasons-- namely the people behind the film, Mendes and Eggers. Not to mention, the soundtrack, my "boyfriend"...

Simply put, just some darn good filmmaking.

facial hair and well written lyrics.

are only 2 of the many reasons why I adore this band. To say I am really looking forward to hearing their new album is a complete understatement.

Their new single is out on November 16th, in most parts of the world. Here is the video, too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY

two of the best.

an oldie, and a cover of an amazing band's song, by another amazing band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqo8sxQ5puA

holy f....

f.... foreigners galore! Apparently, who ever was having their birthday party downtown Hsinchu on Saturday, knows how to bring ALL of the foreign population together at once? It was sort of strange/refreshing to be amongst such an abundance of "similar folk". We took this opportunity, of feeling like we fit in, and managed to stay out until 3:30am (at one bar!).

I have about a thousand bug bites to show for the evening, as well as a new appreciation (sort of) for downing a bunch of water before bed, and even taking some bee pollen tablets!? Thanks Drew. Desiree, thank YOU for the cookie dough and welcoming us into your place at 4am!

It was a hilarious evening, to say the least. I am realizing that Texans and South Africans are just about everywhere in this city and that sometimes, you can meet really nice people outside of filthy bathrooms.

A picture from the evening. After I saved the life of one of my coworkers and tried to figure out (with these two fine, four-eyed ladies), who could have drugged the betel nuts that he had just consumed...

over and over...

I could listen to this song/watch this video all day long.
So bizarre. So good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ

lunch meeting, turned entire day trip...

Yesterday, I had one of my best experiences since being in Taiwan. A mother of one of my students had asked me last week if I could meet with her and her husband for "lunch" on Sunday. She said that her husband could speak better English and he really wanted to chat with me about a few things regarding their son. First of all, I am not sure if this sort of stuff would fly back home, as a teacher? Anyways, the fact that our school is so relaxed, I didn't even have to hesitate.

Initially (and especially on a morning after a late night at KTV), the idea of meeting with parents and one of my students on a Sunday wasn't ideal. Beth had, I guess, tried to warn me that this would not simply be a lunch date but rather an all day sort of deal. She claims this is the Asian way of doing things? Well, she was right! (sidenote: Beth was also invited to this meeting, as she teaches my students a couple of subjects-- the fun ones! and I am so glad she was there...)

As we were walking out of the apartment, Beth was annoyed that she had forgotten her camera. This took me by surprise because, a) she never has her camera with her, and b) I really was under the impression we were going out for lunch, and why would you need a camera for such a thing? I was soon to find out that lunch, doesn't really mean lunch in these parts.

We got picked up, in a BMW. My student greeted us from the back seat. We drove for 30 minutes or so, I felt car sick, gulped some water and was happy to get to our destination when we did, for more reasons than one! They had taken us to a place called Neiwan (in Hsinchu county) out in the mountains. Immediately, I knew that I was really going to regret not bringing my camera along! We decided we would eat first then go and check out the very well known market across the bridge. The food was great, everything was great. We were surrounded by mountains, everything was lovely.

Beth and I were excited to check out the rest of this traditional village. Much to our stomach's dismay (Beth's reasons different from mine!), we had to cross this pretty wobbly bridge in order to get to the market. Although I was definitely trying to spend as little time as possible on this bridge, it would have been ignorant not to acknowledge the surroundings. Under the bridge were mostly rocks, swimming dogs and lots of people, apparently having picnics! Fun. When the water is up a bit, people will tube in it! So neat... this place was also abundant with kid-friendly fun! Arcades, bumper cars, trampolines and a simulated earthquake machine! Only in Asia...

We walked... and walked, my student's parents now becoming more like tour guides! It was great to have them around and ask them questions about some of the interesting sights of the village. I feel like I learned quite a bit about local traditions from this excursion! We went into this bizarre animal museum? It may have been like Ripley's Believe it or Not-- it was strange. There were weird things like a 2- headed piglet, just sitting in the middle of a room, in a box filled with water... or something. A 4- month old, gigantic rabbit from Australia? A giant model of an elephant's 'junk', just hanging out of the wall? Simply put, some unusual stuff.

I should add, that whenever it was possible, Beth would give me a time update. As the day wore on, we realized that lunch was, in fact, turning into a 4, 5, 6,.... yes, 7 hour day trip! But what a day. We'll be going back for sure, this time with cameras and more money!

I debated writing about this trip at all because I knew I wouldn't be able to add pictures with the stories, but I couldn't resist after having such a great day and realizing, not for the first time, that Taiwan is going to be a really, really hard place to leave...

magma?

In a discussion today with my four students, we were brainstorming 'things on the Earth that are important to us'. Some responses were food, animals, shelter, water and electricity/oil (with a bit of prompting!). Of course, there had to be an answer that stood out in this discussion. The winner: magma.

Yes, one of my students figures that magma is really important to our well-being. I wasn't about to argue. That answer would have taken some serious thought!

music.

Regina Spektor was on SNL this past week-end. She's adorable, and I love her. Her new album is called 'Far' and it's pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Pete Yorn (fabulous), Scarlett Johansson (mediocre, as a singer?). Together, they actually sound really good! The album is called 'Breakup'. It's pretty cute/happy with lots of clapping!

Old news, but worth mentioning because of their overall awesome-ness; Fleet Foxes. As I was watching SNL, I was thinking about really great performances I had seen and remembered from the show. Fleet Foxes' self-titled album is one of the best albums out there. Get it, listen to it, love it!

my kind of field trip!

Today, the majority of HAS went on a field trip to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. If it wasn't enough to just be going to an Art Museum in itself, we were going to visit the Pixar: 20 Years of Animation Exhibit! To me, "Pixar" means some of the best: Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Ratatouille, Wall.E and Up! (yes, I actually enjoy these movies-- keep in mind, I teach Gr.2 and have a couple of pretty awesome little dudes at home whom I have to keep up with, and stay 'cool' for).

The exhibit was quite neat. It was laid out in a way that showed viewers how Pixar films are created-- from the very start (an idea) to the finished product (moving pictures with sound, essentially). In doing this, there could be no denying that the entire process of 3D animation truly is a form of artistic creation and expression. It was amazing to see all of the steps involved in making these films. After seeing this exhibit, I definitely have a greater appreciation for these "silly kid's movies"!

Overall, it was a really interesting and fun day (at times, exhausting!). I wish I could have taken more pictures, but alas, Art Museums can be stingy about that kind of stuff...

another week-end...

This first picture tells you how me and my wonderful housemates spent our Friday night. It may or may not have started with a race to the wine section in a 7-11? Perhaps it may take some explaining, but I'd actually like to leave this one up to all of you and your imaginations...

We finally got ourselves to Taipei for the day! I took a number of pictures, but this one stood out the most when it was all said and done. A condom claw game (it said you had to be 18 to "play"?). I wonder who is checking those ID's? Some things can only be seen in Asia... enough said.

sunday afternoon: my train of thought.

Simply put, this is the pop culture geek coming out in me. I guess I owe it to myself to enjoy pop culture since I paid a lot of money to have an "education" in the silly stuff!

Here goes my Sunday train of thought...

I am a sucker for celebrity gossip and I am not ashamed to admit it. I always justified this to my Dad by saying "I studied this stuff, I need to buy this magazine to analyze it!". Right. Today, I was reading that Michelle Williams is going to marry Spike Jonze. Once I heard Spike Jonze's name, I thought "Where the Wild Things Are!!!!!!". I remember hearing that Where the Wild Things Are was supposed to be coming out in October some time. I also remember being so, so, so excited about this and hoping that I'd remember to check when/if it would come to Taiwan while I was here. Well, it's October now and for some reason, today, I remembered all of this remembering that I had tried to remember. Ha. So, in case you're interested to know, this film is coming to Taiwan on October 16th-- the same date as in the US. Once this was determined and marked in my calendar, my mind then went on to think "oh, Dave Eggers. What a guy. He did the screenplay for this movie. He reminds me of Korea. And Korea reminds me of reading this really great book called The Road. Oh, wait! That book was also being made into a film! I should look into that. Yes! It comes out soon, too!".

The point of this whole post is to share with anyone who may be interested, three trailers from movies I KNOW I won't be missing. The third one, well, if you have read my previous ramblings you will know why I am thrilled about seeing it (brilliant!)

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsZXKLtDb-k
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY (read the book!)
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-cIjPOJdFM

poor little guys.

to market, to market...

This afternoon we ventured downtown Hsinchu to get some meat/veggies for our Moon Festival dinner. The market was a plenty with fresh fruit and vegetables, as well, it provided me with more than a few opportunities to take some 'interesting' photos. Here is one of my favourites. This was around the same time that a shrimp, or something like it, had jumped from its' bucket onto the ground in front of us. Ewwww. The lady noticed that this had happened (likely by my reaction?), smiled, and happily picked the creature off the dirty ground, and placed it back where it had presumably escaped from.

love, love, love!

I love Zooey Deschanel, a lot, and as I anxiously await for her film (500) Days of Summer to finish downloading, I am listening to the soundtrack for said film. Get this: Simon and Garfunkel, The Smiths, Black Lips, Feist, Doves AND Hall and Oates (to mention a few...)!

Even if this movie tried, it wouldn't be able to disappoint me. My number one "girl crush" and some of my favourites on the soundtrack? I am looking forward to writing a bit of a review once I have watched the film, but I can guarantee that I'll be gushing! I'm a sucker for romance, good music and adorable people, I guess you could say. So, all together...? Sign me up.