Chapter 2: the grind and the refined - Cultural institutions

There are all kinds of cultural institutions; some of them physical, others are created, maintained and destroyed in the relations between people. Over this weekend I have visited a few of the physical ones and was reminded of some of the transparent ones.

You may not think of 7-Eleven as an institution, least of all a cultural one, but it is one here. For one thing, this chain and other similar establishments, are more prevalent here than in my little piece of the USA. They are used like any other convenience shop but also have the added benefit of supplying office workers with quick lunches, cheap family outings and even serve as places to ship mail and packages to. 

A shrine on the way

I have also been to the Natural Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/index_eng.html), which made me wonder what kind of science is unnatural, and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (https://www.ntmofa.gov.tw/english/), that I highly recommend. In particular, it had two exhibitions that attracted me: one was titled "Finish and Unfinish",dealing with works of arts at different stages and about when you can actually call a work of art "finished" and why. The other was of painting by Hwang Chao-Mo, a local artist that has spent a lot of his life in Europe, and painted the vistas there, particularly around Belgium.
I also took my first selfie there, but the less that is discussed the better.

The entrance to the museum of art

The science museum

The rainforest pavilion of the botanical gardens, part of the science museum

I've encountered a few westerners during this trip, and they have always smiled, nodded or said hello. I don't know if this is an influence of the local friendliness and politeness or just seeing a supposedly more familiar face, but it does make me wonder. How similar are we? How different? I've come to realize that understanding, like learning, is an ongoing and changing process, and that "bottom lines" are temporary at best. Is that a paradox or an oxymoron? The world is a strange place, as it should be.

Chapter 2: the grind and the refined - The end of the week

I've had an uneasy night as a result of a late meal by McDonald's. I did not "love it", neither did my poor digestive system. I also had the usual wake up at 3am, made a mistake of reading an infuriating email from work, and unable to resist the temptation, also answered it. The next thing I knew it was four, and then five, and since it was almost six I might as well get out of bed. Needless to say I'm very tired, and somehow need to break this habit of waking up at ungodly hours.

I've been moved, again, to a new room at the hotel, this time to the 25th floor. I've decided to give it the weekend and if the net problems continue (or I get noisy neighbors again), I'll change hotels.

View from the new room

There's also been a change in the project I'm working on that gives us more time, so I hope it will also give me a chance to calm down and reduce my stress levels. I'm almost at the end of a week here but it feels like weeks already. I can't say how well I'm adjusted, but the food is a definite issue.
I've made plans to tour the City over the weekend, so it should be a nice change of pace.

Chapter 2: the grind and the rewind - Pearl Milk Tea

I've just received Pearl Milk Tea from my colleagues here. As far as I understand, it's tea with milk and yam (or something similar), served hot. I've just tasted it. It's a little like this place - a strange mixture of tastes, of old and new, west and east, spices and customs. I don't usually take milk in my tea, but this one's alright.

The tea

I was going to visit a factory near the Capital and spend the weekend there (at the Capital, not the factory), but plans have changed, so I will remain in this City. I checked around and there are a few things to see and do around.

The building where I work

View from my floor

Chapter 2: the grind and the refined - A dungeon on the 16th floor

OK, so it's not an actual dungeon, but it does remind me of certain cellar-like "apartments" one inevitably runs into while apartment hunting in the greater Tel Aviv area. I've arrived to this City yesterday, and this is where I'll do most of my work. The people are very friendly and kind, and the language barrier on both sides can be bridged in most cases.

Entering the City

This City has a different vibe than the Capital, or maybe it's just the small area I've been to so far. It's slower and a little warmer somehow, though it lacks the fancy and amazing MRT system.

I wrote a post two days ago that got redacted. I may publish it one day, but I hope I won't have to.
Initially I got a room in the 24th floor, but I ran into some serious net issues (which are a showstopper at this point as I need to work from the hotel as well), plus some very noisy neighbors, so I moved to the 16th floor, this "dungeon". The room literally stinks, but it's only until Friday morning. Then, it's back to the Capital for the weekend, and after that back here.

My little piece of a dungeon in the sky

But who knows what tomorrow brings

Update: I took an hour or so break at the hotel at noon. Insomnia is finally catching up with me and I'm very tired. I think I'll take a sleeping pill tonight, though it might leave me groggy in the morning.
While I'm slowly adjusting to being here (still), I can't help but also feel as though I'm constantly bombarded by smells, tastes and "otherness" of the place, with the undecipherable language always in the background. My digestive system is delicate at the best of times, and I wouldn't consider flying half way around the world, alone, to a strange place with strange food, insomnia and a heavy feeling of responsibility, the best of times.

Chapter 2: the grind and the refined - Adventures in the East, pt. 1

After a long flight of about 15 hours, I've landed at my destination in the East. It's warm and rainy and I am very tired. The sleeping pills failed me, and though I've managed to sleep through the first quarter to a third of the flight, the rest of it was spent with eyes closed, constantly nodding and hopelessly trying to find a comfortable position.

View from the hotel

The room at the hotel is small, but I've been told it's going to be upgraded to a larger room, so I expect to move out later. I'm trying to prepare for my first meeting tomorrow, but it's difficult to concentrate. I'll turn in early tonight, after I move to the new room. A shower wouldn't hurt either.

Update: I have moved to another room down the hall, and it is somewhat bigger and has a grander view of this part of the city. Ironically, I think some of the fatigue I'm feeling now is due to the sleeping pills still in my system, though the rather significant jet lag is a factor as well (12 hours difference...). It's definitely time for a shower. 

From the new room

Chapter 2: the grind and the refined - Going places

Exciting news: looks like I'll be going East in another week or so for a fun packed two weeks of work. I can't wait for the 15 and a half hours long flights*, unrecognizable sea food delicacies and working non-stop around the clock. Seriously though, this needs to be done and it will be an interesting and challenging experience. I've been there before, but this time I'm going to a new place with new people. It should be interesting.

* Sadly, I'm not likely to earn any frequent miles because these are different airlines. On the other hand, probably better food and service because, you know, different airlines.

Updates to come.

Chapter 2: the grind and the refind - Only slightly, really

I can feel my self going slightly mad with lack of sleep, or proper sleep (tonight it was the heat; I turned the A/C on and that helped, but my sleep was already disrupted). My memory is degrading, I'm having trouble focusing at times, constant dim headaches. But I'm still locked on the target. Still manically desperate to complete this project on time, when all tell-tale signs indicate that the deadline is going to go whoosh by without the project being completed. I try to do many things, and to my own judgmental eyes my efforts are shallow and in vain.

Perhaps this is a bit more dramatic than it is or ought to be. But what's life without a bit of drama?

And it's not all bad. The stillness at night brought me some crazy and interesting ideas...

Chapter 2: The grind and the refined - The heat is on

Actually, I should probably turn on the air conditioning. It's been very warm these past few days and the next week is also expected to be hot (32 degrees on Tuesday!). Given that, I went out shopping yesterday and came back with some spring/summer oriented clothes.

I thought about going to the City today, but my continuing insomnia means I'm tired, hazy and with a constant headache, so I opted to stay home. Yes, I tried Diablo 3 (get that smirk off of your face), and it does seem kinda fun (even with the poor laptop), but I have no time to dedicate to it beyond the Starter edition.

This afternoon I'm working from home, after being continually bombarded by emails. I'm using the dining area for work, and it's actually not so bad.

What you can't see is the sounds of music (not the musical) coming on Spotify

Chapter 2:the grind, 'cause let's face it, there's nothing else

Hi, my name is Oded and I'm a workaholic. I'm also exhausted. I got to the office at 6:30am for a call, which meant I had to get up at 4:30. I left the office just after 6:30pm, trusting my few remaining neurons to guide me home. 

Tomorrow I'll go easy on myself and get to work by 7:30am. 

I need some sleep. 

Chapter 2: the grind and the refind - Test Drive

How do you measure a test drive's success or failure? Is it enough that you got to your destination or do aspects like usability and long term practicality also factor in? Well, I managed to get to work in about an hour and ten minutes (compared to Google maps projected ~40 minutes), which is not too bad considering how out of shape I am and that I took a few wrong turns and resting points along the way.

The final stretch of the drive start along this river, which isn't bad at all

I was too tired to cycle back and I wanted to try the folding option on the bus, so I took a bus to Bergenfield and cycled the remaining mile and a half from there. I took two bus seats with the bike folded and it was quite awkward at times, but I got through. Some buses may have storage options as well.

The entrance to work - proof of concept?

I am tired and my back is killing me- it was a little bumpy on some parts of the road and there was strain involved. I think I'll use the bike for its versatility and as a getaway option when the local transit system fails me in the afternoon. That means taking the bike on the bus in the morning and using it as contingency on the critical long stretch back. It is cumbersome and awkward, but what part of my life isn't anyway?

Chapter 2: the grind and the rewind - Doomed, I tell you

So I finally bought a bicycle. It's not electric, and as a result significantly cheaper (though it turns out electric bikes Are legal in New Jersey). You might even say that they are solar (as they're powered by me and I eat other life forms that get their nourishment from the sun plus whatever is in those snacks in break-room; that stuff is certainly unnatural, some would say preternatural).

That helmet doesn't go in there, I think

They also have a distinct advantage of being light weight (almost like me) and fold-able, which means I can carry them on the bus (in theory) and deploy them in emergencies, like an escape pod. I do need to figure out exactly how to fully fold them, but I did manage to mostly fold them, which is a start. I intend to do a test drive tomorrow morning to the office, or as near as I can get, and try to divine their future that way - a useful vehicle or a post-modern environmental statue destined to reside in the living room.

Mostly folded

I tried to connect to work using the VPN as I have many, many bugs to open and firmwares to review, but, alas, I can't reach my destination or open any bugs. It looks like I'm doomed to spend this weekend as... a weekend.

Chapter 2: the grind and the refined - Fish and Babka

It's Friday at the end of a long week that included two 5am wake up calls and the pressure is mounting. At this point, if this was one of those cliche movies, I'd turn to alcohol or other drugs, but I simply don't have the time, energy or inclination for it. One of the projects I'm working on is being seen as very important to the company, which means I'll be extra fucked for every mistake and doubly ignored for every success.

There's so much to manage and drive in this project that there's barely any time for the actual testing. I can't say I feel comfortable with any of it, but with these crazy schedules and deadlines I don't see how I can avoid compromising on things. I'm already compromising my sleep and weekend, but what if it's not enough? What if someone else could do a better job? I seem to spend too much time and effort on small fires (that are certainly part of the big picture, but still), that I wonder what I'm missing.

Today's title is a reference to an incident from last night. I was trying to make baked potatoes in the microwave (as I was tired and didn't have patience for the stove). I put the potatoes in a plastic container and switched the microwave on. When I opened the door a few minutes earlier I've discovered a tribute to a modern art work of melting green plastic (and potatoes). Fortunately, I baked the fish in the oven and still had the babka from Zabar's, so I didn't starve. It still leaves the question of what's for supper tonight...