Taiwan - Hello and Goodbye

I arrived a week ago, jet lagged, excited, but also confused and unsure of what to expect. I had high expectations, maybe too high, but after an adjustment period, it's been great. I want to stay longer!

I'll admit, it's been difficult not being able to speak the language very well, but it's motivated me to learn it even more.

I have taken over 500 pictures, so all of you who said, "take lots of pictures," have no fear. I will post the good ones once I sift through them at home. Maybe I'll release them in short waves as I have time. I don't miss working at all, but it will definitely be nice to see my friends at home again.

I get on the plane in 7 hours. It will be a 40 hour Tuesday for me. This jet lag is going to kill me. Totally worth it.

Sunday Afternoon in Room 17062

I'm right here, working in the lab.

Working weekends is not fun cause tomorrow is Monday and everyone will ask,

"So Eric, how was your weekend?" and I have to respond, "I worked all weekend. How was your weekend?" and they will probably feel a little awkward because they had an awesome weekend but they don't want to tell me about it cause it'd be like rubbing their happy weekend in my face.

Am I bitter? Nah. It's only the Colts season opener today. !!!

Work-Alcoholic?

Hey you,

Yeah, you. The friend I haven't spoken to in ages. I want to let you know that it's my fault. With these rather ridiculous hours I've been working, I haven't been the best at keeping in touch. I apologize. I pray that I won't be working like this much longer.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE my team, but these extended evening sessions in the lab are getting old.

Here is an interesting observation I made to Emily, one of my coworkers, yesterday. It went something like this:

"It's funny how much time we spend working with the names of people we don't even know. And through our work we are inherently forced to hate them."

Either inclined or forced, you can only imagine how many times one of us has yelled, "I hate [complete stranger's name]!!!"

"If I ever saw [insert annoying stranger's name here] on the street, I'd smack a bitch." - Emily

A quick explanation: I go through a lot of other people's data at work. Depending on who the person is, my team is required to jump through certain "hoops." We're at the point where we hate jumping through hoops. We prefer walking. Walking in any direction we please. Preferably with a bottle of booze in our hand. If we get tired, we'd enjoy sleeping. But no. "Hoops" and "loop-dee-loops" we do, late into the wee morning hours.

But, I digress. I love my job and I still manage to go out and party...hard.

Good night, friend. I'll catch up with you soon.