It is unbelievable how many friends I made in the first few weeks here. I have made friends through connections back home, searching for an apartment, school, and language exchanges. Name a country and I probably have made friends with someone from there. The list is never ending.
I met Alex through a bulletin board at school where he posted an “apartment for rent” ad. It is his apartment I currently reside in. It so happens that he took out a lease for a year and was only able to fulfill three months of it. Perfect for me since I will only be here for nine months (the remainder of his lease). In the couple weeks Alex remained in Taipei, he introduced me to many people. It was through him that I met Jeremy. In the week prior to class beginning the three of us would often grab a couple beers and go play pool. For one of their last nights in Taiwan we went out with a large group of people to eat dinner and go clubbing.
We first went to a restaurant that is known for its dumplings. After that we stopped at a couple small pubs to meet with more people and grab a beer. We then took a taxi to a Latin dace club called Barrio, where we paid an entrance fee of $500 NT (Approx. $15 US). This fee not only allowed entrance, but it was for all you can drink. They had a list of cocktails and beer that you could choose from so long as you kept your cup, and I need not remind you that there is no closing time Taiwan. This would also be the first time I got out on the dance floor and actually danced since I was at a wedding in Green Bay when I was a young child. Of course this was only after I had plenty of liquid courage in my system. The night did not end there, no sir! After several hours at the club we decided to go to yet another bar and meet even more people. Only after escorting a drunken friend I had just met home, and I was plenty drunk myself, was I able to return home. That was one hell of a night. On top of that I had one of my first language exchanges later that afternoon (with a minor hangover of course!).