EarthQuake Preparation 101

First, please take a moment and remember the Tsunamis that occurred in Southeast Asia two years ago.  “The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, was an undersea earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC (07:58:53 local time) December 26, 2004 with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis that spread throughout the Indian Ocean, killing large numbers of people and inundating coastal communities across South and Southeast Asia, including parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. Although initial estimates have put the worldwide death toll at over 275,000 with thousands of others missing, recent analysis compiled lists a total of 229,866 people lost, including 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing.^[1] The figure excludes 400 to 600 people who are believed to have perished in Myanmar which is more than that government’s official figure of only 61 dead.^[2] The catastrophe is one of the deadliest disasters in modern history.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

 

On Monday I experienced an earthquake for the first time, this time in Taiwan.  It was a 6.7 earthquake that occurred in the South of Taiwan (http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/26/news/web.1226taiwanCND.php), but we also felt it in BanCiao.  I was at my aunt’s so it didn’t feel it as much as if I had been at my grandma’s because she lives on a higher floor.  Apparently they get earthquakes at least once every couple of months.  So…about earthquake preparation:

1.      Don’t hide under your desks (as we were taught when I was in the first grade)…especially if your desk is made of glass.

0.      Stand close to a thick foundational column.  You have a better chance next to one of these columns because it is less likely for the ceiling to fall onto your head.

If you turn on the T.V. and watch the reporting on the earthquake you can see the lights of the T.V. station shake…not to say anything about state of mass media or anything…

Exercise 101

Sunday night we went to this area where there are a bunch of stores open at night.  It was like a night market, except the stores are there more permanently, not just set up for the night.  So this 19 year old stops us and asks where we’re from, if we’re in high school.  He talks us into going in to check out “California Fitness” because he said that’s how they get commission.  This is what I learned:

1.      Don’t agree to go into a fitness store unless you want to be told you are size “super” i.e. LARGE.  (They did a BMI and apparently I am close to being obese…almost in the highest level of fatty fat)

0.      Exercise is good to prevent pimples

1.      Even at an established exercise store you can bargain.  We kept saying that we weren’t interested and the guy kept lowering the price.  

 p.s. Don’t worry, I am not super concerned about my weight now.  Still going to eat everything in sight… This is my aunt.  She took me to a dessert buffet.  You can order food and then eat tons of different desserts…

Bicycle 101

So the city that my grandma lives, BanQiao, has a population of 542000 (random guy’s blog http://taiwanfeed.com/node/1404), which if it were transplanted to the United States, would make it that nation’s 26th largest city in 2000 (http://trb.mtc.ca.gov/urban/commute/Cities_300K_totpop.pdf).  Imagine even 10% of those people were on their motorcycles, cars, or bikes.  The streets are busy here folks, busy.  So today we went to Mass in the morning and talked with one of the priests at the Catholic High School.  He’s an advocate for bicycling everywhere and I think that I will probably be biking at least some of the time.  Below is his advice and mine. 

1.      Always stay on the right hand side of the motorcycle lane           

0.      Cars and motorcycles do not exist, they are only a figment of your imagination.  Only acknowledge them as slow moving roadblocks

1.  Don’t get too happy.  If you get too excited because you’re biking and it’s a beautiful day out, you might not see the motorcycle or kid that appears in front of you.  Always be aware of your surroundings.

 crossing the street on foot…lots of cars and motorcycles.