Updates

Today is Sunday and I really planned to spend the day working on Super Pro Designer to finish my economy report any time soon. (Those of you out there who know Super Pro Designer: We suffer together! *smile*) But of course I got stuck and I don't know how to go on... So now I have time to write another blog entry.

I have some more pictures of the house I'm living in:



Last week I met Julius and his wife Pan Pei. They are friends of my parents and both lived for some time in Germany, so they speak pretty good German. They are also both working at CCU, so we're living pretty close. They took me to a restaurant in Minshong to eat Hot Pot. That's a much better version of the fondue we have in Germany. You get a bowl of soup on a small hotplate and a big plate of raw vegetable and meats. Then you just put whatever you like into your soup and boil it. It's absolutely delicious and also fun to eat because you have something to do except putting food in your mouth.



Just yesterday I met Pan Pei again and we cooked dinner together. It was really fun and I can proudly say that I learned how to cook sweet and sour rips and some delicious fish dish (which I still remembered to be gorgeous from my previous visits to Taiwan). We also made some chinese salad containing cucumbers and bean sprouts with a delicious soya - sesame dressing and some dish of steamed eggs with chinese mushrooms. So many thanks to Pan Pei for introducing me to Chinese cooking. It's actually not that difficult but I think that I couldn't figure out the steps on my own.

Last week on Wednesday Tery (my housemate) took me to a place nearby where you can have coffee and sit outside. (it's only opened in the evening) It's a lovely place, the atmosphere there is just great. She introduced me to some of her friends and we had a great time this evening. I'm meeting so many people here, it's really cool.
So in the next picture from left to right you can see: me, Tery, Catherine, Emma, Tina, Sophia and Michelle.



And finally a short work update: I now harvested my cells and can start the preparation for the micro array tomorrow. I hope nothing goes wrong!

First week over

I've been here for about a week now and I don't miss Germany at all, only the people I left there. I still feel the same about Taiwan as I did as a child: I love it here.

I startet my work on Monday and already got my cells. The first time I have my "own" cells, it's really cool. They are growing slowly but steadily.
I went out with some of my labmates to a pub. Sometimes it's a little hard for me because they always speak Chinese, but I think they are getting used to English a bit, they are not so shy anymore. I actually have a lot of fun talking to everybody at the lab!
So, here you see a few of my labmates: And guess who drank the big bottle of beer. ;) By the way, it tastes similar to some American brands...


Tonight I went to the Night Market in ChiaYi with 2 of my housemates. We had so much fun, I already know I will miss Night Markets when I'm back home...
First we went to eat Sushi (ah so delicious and much cheaper than at home) and then we took a stroll through the market tasting some different kinds of food. I even came across a very small kind of snail, about 1cm long. I stopped to look at them and the guy who sold them offered one to me. So I tried it and it tasted quite good. But I have to say I only found out that it was a snail later on. I also tried a piece of chicken kidney. The sauce was really good, but it was a bit hard to chew.

So here you can see my housemates, on the left Tery and on the right Viola. Thanks again for taking me out tonight, I loved it so much. (When can we go again???) :D
In the back you can see Mongolian Barbeque, similar to the one we have in Germany, but with more choices. Next time I come to the Night Market, I have to try this!




Oh, and not to forget the bad things: We had two earthquakes today. I "missed" one of it, that means I probably was on the bike that moment and didn't notice it, but the second was during our sushi dinner. It was not very strong, but still it's strange and you never know if it's getting stronger or if it stops.