Jack Daniels is not my friend

Sorry I've been a deadbeat about updating lately--thanks to my own idiocy on Saturday night, I managed to still be somewhat hungover today, Wednesday, but I'm optimistic about my full recovery for tomorrow. On Saturday, I had an ueber-wholesome day at JiLung Beach and Miaokow Night Market with my Uncle Sean and his family. I hate a ton of local fare like tempura, shrimp dumplings, and mango icees. mmmmm

Anyway, after our family outing, things took a turn for the worse. My cousin Sean took me out to meet some of his friends from architecture school in the fashionable Da'An and 101 'hoods. In the course of 3 hours, I somehow forgot everything that I've ever learned about drinking--let's just say that Jack and I are no longer speaking, and that I also managed to throw up in front of my entire extended family at lunch the next day...including my grand-uncle, the former head of the Taiwan FBI. Yeah. Not my best moment.

Onward. I had a lovely night yesterday with my Uncle Gary (my dad's brother), my Aunt Irene (his wife), and my cousins Justine (who starts at Stanford under-grad in a couple weeks), Joann, Sean, and Ariel at the Shilin Night Market. Shilin is Taipei's most famous night market with blocks and blocks of food stands, clothing stores, shoe stores, and arcades. Shopping and eating at midnight! Sounds like my idea of fun. For those of you who are interested, I got a pair of black sandals for a whopping 300 NT--roughly 9 USD.

This morning, I went for an extended run on the KeeLung River, since it was a "nice" day (roughly 80 degrees and smoggy, with a slight breeze, instead of 95, smoggy and muggy). I also prepped for school and orientation on Friday by taking my second go-round on the Taipei Metro, which is pretty much the opposite of New York's Subway in every way: clean, air-conditioned, simple to navigate, and precise. Not to say that I don't love the complexity and er...aroma of the NYC Subway. Long post--I'll be writing again soon, and hopefully, there won't be any vomiting involved.