Man Man Zou

Typhoon Haitang is well on her way towards Taiwan, and is expected to pass by Yuanlin around noon, Monday.

If this is the case, then schools will close and teachers will have the day off! Deadbeat teachers like myself already have their fingers crossed for a long weekend.

I’m ready for a change in weather anyway. Not that it’s been too hot, I just want some variation- haven’t had anything exciting since the plumb rain days a few months ago. Also, I’ve skipped out on the last two summers in Taiwan by traveling or going home, so this is my first Asia summer. I’m sure I’ll be cursing it in no time, but for now, I’m looking forward to something other than furnace heat.

Unfortunately this means that there will be landslides, due to uncontrolled deforestation and a crapload of soil-eroding betelnut trees growing all over the place. It’s not a good thing for people in rural areas- roads are often washed away and there are usually several deaths as the result each typhoon in Taiwan.

While taking a little scooter ride around the outskirts of town yesterday, I noticed many more farmers out in the fields than usual. They should harvest whatever is ready now, otherwise it could be destroyed in the rain.

For urban folks like myself, a typhoon usually just means some wind, and lots and lots of rain.

July 18 update: yup, looks like we have the day off!
Haitang