What an absolutely crazy first week! Talk about hitting the ground running; we did that and more. The first 3 days were a meeting-a-thon and I was flung straight back into decision making mode, a role I enjoy at work to a certain extent, but avoid like the plague at other times, I’m sure Cassy will attest to that. We had every bit of information possible thrown at us and I’m sure the heads of the 42 brand new teachers were spinning. They seem a great bunch, with a generous sprinkling of Aussies/Kiwis as well, which is always encouraging. They are impossibly young and hideously well qualified: if you don’t have at least one master’s and another special skill, it seems you won’t get in here these days.
First day of kiddies was supposed to be Thursday, but we sent home with dire warnings of the approach of Typhoon Raninem on Wed afternoon. Sure enough, the phone tree and the internet informed us at 6am Thursday that school had been called off.
A great crew of established and new surfers had braved the building Typhoon swell at the Pillbox on Wed arvo, and a special sight it was; 9 foreigners out together on a windswept tiny beach on the northern tip. I’ve been unceremoniously upstaged as the “best” surfer by Dan, a new teacher from NZ who had previously done the long board circuit in NZ. Ah well, my moment in the sun couldn’t last forever!
Thursday afternoon looked like an opportune time to investigate whether the typhoon had whipped up some decent swell. Ross and I went to investigate only to be met by some of the best waves I have ever seen, Taiwan or anywhere else. The wind was howling offshore, the waves were holding, hollowing out and peeling off Jinshan Point at a consistent 8 feet plus! The only trouble was the regular 10-12 foot clean up set and the ferocious inner banks, which looked like making a paddle out very very difficult. After weighing up our options, we, of course, decided to go in. Our plan was to ride the re-forms just past the second inner bank, which were a solid 4-6 foot and clean. We got ready and made our way down to the beach to the collective horror of the huge swell of lookers on the coast road and car park, as not another surfing soul was in sight. After about 10 minutes of getting an absolute hammering, we were on the verge of getting out the back when I noticed two uniformed men onshore waving frantically for us to get out. I called to Ross and we reluctantly made our way in to the coast guard/military men who seemed very angry. Much to our surprise and horror, a TV news cameraman was also there. They indicated that we shouldn’t be going out as the beach was closed and hung around till we packed the car and drove away. Much to our dismay, several teachers informed me that I was mugging insanely for the camera on the local news and saying “We’re very sorry, it’s too big” before they showed the pounding surf behind us and some unidentifiable commentary, I imagine lambasting the insane foreign devils for their ridiculous acts of foolhardiness!
After that excitement, we were disappointed to see the surf back to two foot and onshore for Friday afternoon and even smaller on Saturday when Cass and I along with Ross and Ains met Carl and family at the beach for a lazy few hours. The water is so warm it’s like swimming in a bowl of soup and hardly refreshes at all. Sunday proved to be unbearably hot, so apart from dragging ourselves out for a quick sandwich at the coffee shop round the corner, we stayed in with Virg ‘n Mary in the air conditioning and re-hung a few pictures, did some filing and generally got our apartment back in order after the break.
The other great excitement for us is that not only has a branch of Pizza Hut opened on Chung Shan Nth Rd just around the corner, but also an Indian restaurant has opened on our very own Ker Qiang Rd! They only opened last night and we were the first customers through the door, hoping to get a takeaway menu, but they are not printed yet. After we take the garbage tonight we are going there for tea, but it looks great, is reasonably priced and has an extensive and familiar menu. We’ll wait and see.
Well, we’re well and truly back at it; Newcastle feels a million miles and light years away from us already; the next big event is the poor kitties both getting de-sexed on Friday………..I feel for them!
