An article in yesterday's Taipei Times explaining the group I traveled with to Ilan. And in today's New York Times, an article covering the latest issue in Taiwan.

I've decided I'm really not a cat-person. My flatmate and I have been house-sitting her friend's cat for the past week, and I am looking forward to when that cat's owner takes her back tonight. Unlike most cats, this cat isn't aloof and standoffish. She literally rubs me the wrong way. Unlike dogs, who are affectionate in a very cute and appealing manner, this cat manages to be constantly underfoot. I've nearly tripped several times, as has my flatmate. And, this cat has managed to soil every cushion on the couch. This morning I saw that she had thrown up in the living room and balcony, always a good sight to see while eating breakfast.

To top it all off, due to a confluence of factors, I was woken up three times last night by calls -- all of which would not have happened if not for the presence of that cat. This makes for a very sleepy and grouchy Berta at work today. I'm turning off my phone tonight before I go to sleep.

I went to the Chilin Cultural and Educational Center in Ilan yesterday as part of a tour group consisting mostly of foreign nationals who played instrumental roles in Taiwan's democratization. At the Center is the Taiwan Democratic Movement Museum. As Jen and I had worked on the english text of the guide to the Museum, we served as volunteer guides through the museum. What was ironic was that although I'm familiar with the topic, yesterday's trip was also my first visit to the museum, and many of the tour group members spoke better Taiwanese and could read more Chinese characters than me. Most of these visitors had been Presbyterian missionaries to Taiwan.

I always find spending time with Lin Yi-hsiung and his wife quietly inspiring, and yesterday was no different. What made yesterday extra special was that I really was able to get a sense of the excitement, trepidation, and sorrow that some of these people went through as they remained steadfast to their beliefs of social justic, democracy, peace, hope, and love while living under an authoritarian regime.

Brenda told me the music that was playing at the most fun place (besides salsa) is funk and blues.

Boy, am I glad that Sunrise is having a sale. I bought a wonderfully heavy and warm wool comforter on Sunday, perfect for the now damp and chilly winter weather. Very cheap! The department store was swarming with people hunting for bargains though. Ugh. As Maria wrote, "even top class department stores look like night markets."

I went to the most fun place Saturday night, the Saturday Latin Lounge at G-Down. Finally, a funky, beautiful space that plays mostly salsa, a little merengue, and what may be funk, old school hip hop, and jazz (I can never classify music, but I know I like it), a place where the people are focused on dancing and not other unsavory missions. Kudos to all the Salsa Taipei folks who are hard at work arranging these events!

I feel like a computer that has had too many programs going on at once and so finally crashed. Today. Woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and worked from home so as not to become a vector of infection for my colleagues. I was worried that the folks at Din Tai Fung might not let me pass through their shiny sterilized doorway to get some chicken soup for lunch, but thankfully they weren't taking temperatures.

After all the hustle and bustle of the past three weeks, I spent a very chill weekend, starting off with my first tai chi class ever on Friday evening, spending quality time catching up with Angela while playing with the babies at the nursery on Saturday, and hanging out with friends on Sunday. I also finally saw Shrek and Kissing Jessica Stein at home Saturday night. Kissing Jessica Stein may become one of my favorite movies: its funny and charming, and I identify with Jessica�s desire to meet someone who is both funny and articulate.