Provoke Films

It's been a bit of an action packed day, and finally after two weeks I have managed to get some running in tonight! In the meantime I got an email from Laurence to say he is coming over for September and maybe for a whole month, which should be awesome as I have not seen him for now over a year. I plan to show him an amazing time so he end up staying and working here, then at least I have one of my buddies here.

As Laurence use to work for UEFA until about a month ago with the job title of international jet setter to record and watch football matches been played around Europe while staying in five star hotels, which is a cool job to get after you have graduated! But now he is on a much needed brake as I think it had been a tense 2 years for him but his real dream though is to become a film director.

I have also been researching film studio's for him in Taipei he can go to visit while I am working, amazingly I was on the bus and been in a traffic jam I got chatting to the westerner next to me, turns out he is one of the editors for Provoke Films, who are a small set up but doing well, they are currently filming the adverts for the Kaohsiung World Games and he said Laurence could hang out on set with him, which should allow for some good networking.

Frustrated & Homesick

The mental effort which has been required for this week has really taken it out of me. I have found it very tough and very stressful. This evening I had to come back and have 2 beers just to level my nerves, and I never drink mid week unless it's socially.

Working in Asian management is really tough and not for the faint hearted, not that I know how Korean, Chinese or Japanese management is. But Taiwanese management is a mixture of culture, tradition and business which makes the working process tough!

I have also been tucking into comfort junk food and I have let my running slip this week partly because of the rain, but next week I want to make the effort to hit the track with my Asics as they still smell fresh.

I also think the fact that I have not been home now for 14 months is beginning to have it's effects on me. I need to get back for a two week break or at least one week to see my family, the only thing which cheered me up was the fact that Laurence said he might pop over in September which would be wonderful.

Asics & 老師

I have been meaning to get fit again and start doing exercise I also think it's a great way to get rid of stress. I did want to get into mountain biking, but I guess for now buying a pair of trainers is sightly more in my budget at the moment.

George recommend that I get Asics as there about 30% cheaper here than in Europe. I had also researched running shoes when I was state side and the shops assistant told me that Asics were one of the best brand to buy into and thanks to AmTran I had a few SOGO vouchers burning a whole in my pocket to buy them with.

After visiting the shop and been told I was underpronate, from the 3D scan they did of my feet, which was pretty cool. They said I should go for the Gel-Kinsei 2, I did try other trainers but the Kinsei were the most comfortable one's, so I got them.

I have to say they are the most uglyious trainers I have every bought, my metallic gold strips are actually blue I think that's because it's the Asian model.

I also meet my new Chinese teacher we worked out my lesson plan and what I wanted to learn, I have two hours per week every Tuesday.