T-shirts | Taiwaneers

Its the Simple Things

Michael's Posts, Our Taipei Life, University 4 Responses »

May 172009

Big & exciting news people: In PE class a few weeks ago we all had to take a test. There were several parts to this test:
1. Do as many sit-ups as you can in a minute
2. Do a flat-footed long-jump from a stand-still
3. Reach forward as far as you can sitting on your bottom with your legs out-stretched in front of you
4. Measure your heart-rate after 1 minute of stairs with 1 minute to rest
The results were written on a little paper with my name on it along with my age, weight, height, and BMI, calculated from height and weight. Everyone’s results were then fed into a computer program which calculated the bottom fifty-percent of my class and the top fifty-percent in terms of “physical fitness.” Those in the bottom will have to take a third year of physical education but I won’t BECAUSE I’M IN THE TOP HALF AND WILL BE DONE WITH PE IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS!!!!!! It truly is the simple things in life.

Everyone here in Taiwan boils their water (we do too) or has a water filtration machine. I always assumed it was because the water was not safe. However, this week in Environmental Dynamics class I learned that this is done because of historical habit and for better taste due to the water’s high chlorination. We’ve been living in Taiwan for over twenty months now and I just learned its safe to drink the tap water.

Its been a while since I posted about the cab-driver who pee’d on the side of the road outside our apartment while traffic zoomed by so how about a little culture shock for all of you. I just learned it is a common practice at Taiwanese weddings (not Chinese so this is common in the south of Taiwan but not here in Taipei) to hire strippers as entertainment for weddings. Not the night-before party or anything like that but for the actual wedding party dinner. CULTURE SHOCK!

And finally the Nonsense Shirts Store is still a blast. 2 months after opening we’ve had our first, non-friend (as in stranger to us) customer, schwing! Additionally with the help of friends here I’ve expanded the business to also include custom t-shirt printing service and bulk ordering of our own products.

Chinese, Prayer, Culture

Christianity, Michael's Posts, Our Taipei Life 1 Response »

Mar 302009

A huge step was taken last night in my Chinese abilities. I got out Emily’s beginner texbook from last year and, with a little help from my beautiful bride, taught myself how to write 我 (pronounced “wo”) which means I/me. Until now I have focused solely on listening and speaking and basically only knew how to write my Chinese name, 鄭明哲. Reading & writing Chinese has always seemed daunting to me but last night was incredibly fun. I think I’ll incorporate it into my studies from now on.

One weird thing that I’ve noticed lately is that whenever I read, listen, or even think about Scripture my mind wanders and its hard for me to concentrate. A part of me thinks its because I have too many things on my mind and need to properly decelerate. Another part of me feels like its an attack on my relationship with God from a third party. I can’t really tell but the mere fact that I think it might be an attack is strange because I don’t normally think of these things as being very spiritual warfare-esqe when they happen to me. For those of you who feel inclined please pray that I can focus on the Holy Scriptures.

For the past year and a half I’ve had classes every day with the same group of 43 students. As you can imagine our friendships have been deepening. Another prayer request would be that God uses these relationships for my classmates and I to ‘sharpen each other’ and ‘draw (each other) closer to Him.’

Today four of my classmates and I gave a culture presentation on the United States for one of our classes. Teachers love having us do these things even when the class has nothing to do with culture. I guess I can’t blame them though as many of them only teach one or two classes in the International College (IC). We’re used to being in a very diverse classroom every day but for them its still a novelty. Anyways I presented on the South. I used a very hammed-up southern accent and taught them how to say “ya’ll” and about grits, sweet tea, southern-style BBQ, and how the confederate flag is a symbol not only of racism but also of states’ rights. It was really fun and you’ve got to love fluff assignments.

A Kid with a New Toy

Michael's Posts No Responses »

Mar 242009

As our regulars will have noticed we have a new feature up on the menu. Ladies & Genleman…drum roll please…I give you the Nonsense Shirts Store!!! Its official, we’ve launched our first internet-based business selling t-shirts that don’t make any sense.

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time now. I’ve always thought the nonsense shirts here in Asia, also known as engrish shirts, were hilarious and I own several myself. I’ve used them on various occasions as gifts to friends and family. Needless to say I think they are spectacular and most of the time people agree with me….except for my Asian friends here in Taiwan who just consider them plain old shirts with bits of English on them.

My very first nonsense shirt was one I bought back in 2001 on my first trip to Taiwan with IBLP’s Children Institute Team! It had one of those stick people going through an exit door (you know the sort of drawing style that is used on bathroom signs and exit signs) with text that said “Reality From Escape”.

Since discovering engrish shirts its always been my dream to spread the merriment and earn a little bank while I’m at it. And its finally reality. Within 48 hours of the store’s launch we’ve had one person try and buy one only to discover a gliche and another person actually make a purchase right after the gliche was fixed. Several other people have been saying to look for their order soon!

I’m like a kid with a new toy. I can’t focus. I just keep on checking my email, and facebook, and Nonsense Shirts Store, and everything else looking for something new to feast my eyes on and think how great it is that Emily and I are now entrepreneurs!!!! I’m seriously out-of-control. I just got done bouncing around our apartment telling Emily how great this is as she tried to calm me down so she could do her homework.

My mind is working feverishly trying to figure out new ways to bring shipping (a huge portion of the cost) down and new ways to get the word out and blah blah blah. I catch myself thinking of all the work I’m creating for myself going to the post office all the time and sending emails and dealing with paypal and then I think: “yeah! Isn’t it great I’m creating all this work for myself!!!” God is so good to me to give me this idea and then give me nice people who are generous enough to think the idea’s good enough to fork over some of their hard-earned money.

I’m so grateful to my dad for establishing in me an entrepreneurial spirit early in life. He helped me start my own business when I was really young setting me up with a snack honor-box at his place of work. He’d take me to Sam’s Club, get me stocked up on candy-bars and salty-snacks and get me down to the office on a regular basis to re-stock and count the dough. He even taught me about keeping records and monitoring shrinkage. Thanks dad for all your training and love!

There you have it! A few days ago there was no such thing as the Nonsense Shirts Store and now it not only exists, it has customers!!!