Freak out time

Well I would say that I definatly had my first breakdown yesterday. It was a long, long, long day of watching classes and meeting new people. First of all it was frantic trying to get to the train station in Taipei, we almost missed the train. I was literally throwing a 40 pound suitcase into the train and jumped on it as it started to move...not an easy task. I said my final goodbye to a couple who got dropped off in Ilan. Then I was alone...completely. I got off the train and Emily was there to pick me up. I thought we would spend all day looking for an apartment, getting a cell phone...that kind of stuff. Instead we went straight to the school and I started observing. I was bursting with thousands of questions, but knew I needed to hold off. Everyone told us MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION. If not you're screwed, it will take awhile for them to a warm up. First of all, there is no Head English teacher at my branch. The head Chinese teacher takes care of all the NST's...the foreigners. So when I say ALL the NST's, I'm talking about me and 2 other people. Yes there is a total of 3 foreign teachers at my school. The one guy is married and with a child. The other guy is from South Africa, and is very nice but seems very jaded. He has done nothing but warn me about everyone.

So anyway, finally the day is over and I still have not seen a single apartment. So Johan (South African guy) asks me if I want to get sushi, so I went with him. We talked for a bit and he told me about Lou Dong, and how everyone will try to screw me out of money...hours...etc. He told me that there is no way I'll even get 2o hours a week because the enrollment here is so low. So at this point, I'm in definatly starting to feel very uneasy. I didn't know this guy at all, he's telling me not to trust anyone. Then he takes me to his apartment, a TINY TINY apt that looks like the size of Em's bedroom (at home). It fits about a bed...that's it. It smells like smoke and dirty clothes. Then he says, "So what do u think?" I was polite and told it was nice, then he says "well then it's yours..I'm looking for a new one." WHAT?! I practically yelled that..no joke. I almost burst into tears, but managed to choke back. He then proceeded to tell me the landlord was coming..blah blah blah. I told him straight up, that I was not living there. I know I sounded snobby...whatever. I just couldn't do it....it was a hole in the wall.

So anyway, the landlord showed us another apartment that night and it was the same except it was a two bedroom..much bigger but seriously down this dark alley and the apartment was just creepy....so I left with no apartment. So I BEGGED the landlord to ask his friends for anything else! He spoke a little English, so I kept saying..."Please ask friends". Luckily I had Julies cell number and told him to call that if he found anything...just a tidge more...lit? So I called Julie and asked if I could stay with her in Ilan for the night. Emily drove me alllll the way over there. So I cried to Julie for about 2 hours and told I wasn't sure if I could do this. It just was all overwhelming. i had not home, no phone, no transportation....it was just a very scary feeling. We tried to find apts online..nothing. I kept reading Lou Dong is a booming city with scarce apts. Johan told me all night, that 2 bedroom place I should take because places are so hard to find. So we both agreed I need to wake up the next day and make as good as I can with what I have. So I did just that. I cried twice in the morning, but pulled myself together. Jack (the landlord) ended up calling Julies phone, and said he found an apartment...but his friend only rents to girls. So after me and Jules grabbed some lunch, Emily picked me up and we met Jack and his friend. I walked into it, and knew it was the one. It's on the 8th floor and has a great view! It's a small flat, but the bedroom is sanctioned off a little. It has a bed..TV...dresser..a little couch. It is comfortable. So anway today was 100 times better. I'm still a little unsure about my hours, but tomorrow I will try and figure that out. One day at a time right?