This is not the first time I've made this kind of mistake. I've got some kind of numerical dyslexia or something. If somebody reads a set of numbers to me, my mind simply don't understand them. I have to have them read to me really slowly, one by one, and I have to take a second to actually visualize them in order to understand them. I suspect it's because I'm trilingual. Could that be?
Anyways. I have now sorted myself out for accomodation. It's not bad at all, sure it's much more expensive than Beijing for instance, but I do get daily cleaning and breakfast, as well as a minibar refilled everyday with complimentary juice and water. And I'm in the Old Town Center, which is as much of a city center Taipei can muster. there's a starbucks about 5 minutes walk away, which I intend to use as a home office and there's a restaurant/bar across the road that looks increadibly charming. Not to mention the overandunance of strange alleys everywhere leading god knows where. I think I'll do really well here.
And this is going to be great for my chinese. I've called around all morning to hunt for the best monthly hotel rate, and quite often the receptions haven't spoken any English. While I can nicely express myself, I'm rubbish at understanding what's spoken back to me. But I understand enough to understand whether they've got rooms and how much they are after long-stay discount.
It's been such good practice for me that I'm thinking i might just keep calling, even now that I've sorted my accomodation and paid for the whole month. Just to keep practicing, call all the hotels and book different combinations of nights and rooms, ask for group discounts etc. Maybe even make a proper reservation but then cancelling in the last minute. I think I'll take it even further. I can go into all the seven-elevens in the neighbourhood and ask for things I know they don't have, like paracetamol and pre-paid phone cards. They are amazingly friendly here, and their seven-eleven staff is particularly poor at english, so this way I'll get to practice taking directions. I think I could also go to travel agents and book flights and hotels to different parts of the world, again cancelling in the last minute. Property agents. Who needs to pay expensive fees for private tuition. Taipei is my teacher!
Below is a pic of my new home- inside and outside! Small, but at least the toilet is a separate room!
