just a little reflection...

Not writing to describe some great trip we went on or wonderful place we saw, I was just looking through my journal, back at the beginning before we left, and noticing how much things have changed in these past couple months.
It's funny to think that the place I'm in now was what I was desperately longing for a while ago--being in Taiwan for a couple months, knowing the ropes, feeling less scared and more calm. And it does feel good. I find myself sitting on the MRT, looking around and suddenly noticing, "Wow, everyone's speaking Chinese."
I didn't even know what the MRT was three months ago, and now I'm overhearing Chinese phone conversations, understanding a word here and there. I know a few characters, know how to ride the bus (which is scary), know how to pay. I know how to order a coffee (pretty much), and don't feel embarrassed for not knowing the Chinese and having to gesture and draw pictures. It usually makes for a good laugh anyway. I have new favorite foods that I know I wouldn't have liked if I tried them in the States. The staring, which used to always make me feel self-conscious and like a complete outsider, doesn't bother me as much. It's not as scary to try something new, since I have to try something new every day just to get by.
Of course, these are things I'm thinking when I'm having a good day. When I'm having a bad day, well, that's different. That's more like, "Of course my MRT card isn't scanning. Why would it when there's a line of ten people waiting behind me? What are you staring at? Why do you have to stare for so long? Can't I order something that doesn't have pork in it? And why do my students have to scream every thing they say?"
But at the end of the day, it's these little annoyances that I love.
Teaching English in Taiwan is a unique experience, and what fun would it be if it were easy? It's also a lot of fun to gripe about the the peculiarities of Taiwan life with fellow waiguoren (foreigners). For example, there have been many conversations about this mysterious, psychic ability people in front of you have for knowing exactly where you want to go, and walking (very slowly) at a perfect angle so as to thwart you from getting around on either side. This can go on for five minutes before you find an opening somewhere to escape through; usually between two closely parked scooters.
It feels good to be learning so much every day. And not learning by reading about something or listening to someone talk about something, but by actively doing. Learning things that are actually important in my life right now, like where the ATM is, how to say 'sorry,' never buying starfruit juice again (you'd think it would be good, wouldn't you?), and more English grammar than I ever knew existed/can handle.
So my advice to someone feeling rather stagnant: pick up and move to a foreign country, or just try something new today.