Samuel (one) - Christmas

Samuel, an overweight man who lives alone in Hsindien, is suffering holiday depression this year. In the past, he'd always have some friends around to make an effort in celebrating the holidays are not very familiar to the locals. Cooking up a nice juicy turkey and making a creamy mash potato are his specialties. However, this Christmas, there is no one to carve it with.

Sitting at home with a Corona in his hand, staring blankly in front of HBO, tears uncontrollably running down on his pudgy cheeks, making stain marks on his maroon stripy polo. The Christmas tree still blinking its red and white lights in one corner with the cheap styrofoam decorations standing still, Santa Claus's cotton beard is falling off, like going back in time. Benjamin Button bullshit.

A text message arrived: "I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful and warm Christmas and New Year!!" That was from Christine, who just recently shacked up with an Australian FOB who doesn't know any better and working as a white slave 'teacher'.

He moves on to his computer, Facebook, Chat number: 1, away. Notifications 1: "Vote if your friend so-and-so is more popular than the rest of your friends". Slamming the last drink he says, "That's it!" Then he puts on his black felt jacket and slams the metal door behind.

He sees the Christmas tree and decorations everywhere: "It's almost like home, " he thought. The alley is getting darker as the night goes on. On the main street, he sees people wearing Santa hats and green and red, going to some party.

Then he stumbles to Heping and Roosevelt, "Ah...45, brings back some memories." So he walks upstairs and orders a beer. The place is heaving with students. A young girl brushes pass him to ask for a rum and coke. She says to Sam, "You here with friends?"

"Nah, just myself, and you?"

"I'm with friends you want to come to sit with us? It's Christmas, don't sit by yourself. Come!"

The girl got her drink and pulls Samuel by his elbow and slowly wades him through the crowd. It's a group of 20 year-old Taiwanese with two whities. Then the girl whispers, "What's your name? I forget to ask!! I'm Tammy."

"Samuel"

"Ok, this is Samuel everybody." After she introduced all the people at the table, they took a seat. A girl beside Tammy asks, "他誰阿?" (Who is he?)

"在吧台剛遇到的。" (Someone I met at the bar)

Tammy then turned to Samuel, "Hey, do you speak Chinese?"

"Yeah, I can hold a conversation."

"那我們說中文吧!你做甚麼的？"(Then let's speak Chinese, what do you for a living?)

"我教英文，但是也有在做一點編輯。" (I teach English, and a bit of editing here and there)

"挖！好厲害呦！中文說得不錯ㄟ！" (Wow! You're Chinese is good!)

Then the other Taiwanese joined in:

"你在台灣多久啦？" (How long have you been in Taiwan)

"快六年，其實我中文一直都不是太好，因為我的朋友大部分都是外國人。" (Almost 6 years. Actually, my Chinese is not so great since I've spent more time with westerners)

"ㄟ？聖誕節不是你們外國人最盛大的節日嗎？那你怎麼會一個人來這裡勒？" (I thought Christmas is one of the biggest holidays westerners celebrate, how come you're here alone?) Tammy asks.

Then Samuel goes silent for a second and says, "我也不知道。我想他們有其他的安排吧。你們勒？都是師大的學生嗎？同學嗎？" (I guess they all made plans already. What do you guys do? Students from the university nearby?)

"恩，我們都是美術系的，有些大二，有些大三。" (Yeah, we're in the arts department, second and third years)

Art students, Samuel has no idea what that is all about. Never in his life has he liked or understood any of those abstract, modern, contemporary pieces of 'arts' are. To him, media is more of his liking.

"你們看電影嗎？我聽說Avatar很好看。" (Have you seen Avatar? I've heard it's good)

"有阿！我們在開幕的第一天晚上就跑去看晚場的。吼！但是沒想到這麼久ㄟ，將近三個小時ㄟ！Oh my god...差一點在電影院尿遁！" (Yeah! We saw it the night it was out. Man, I didn't think it was THAT long, I almost peed my pants waiting for the washroom)

"拜託，我早就跟你說不要喝那麼多可樂！誰叫你。"(Oh please, I told you not to drink so much coke while we're watching!)

"我覺得還好我們早點去，你看在真是嚇死人的多！" (It's good that we saw it early, have you seen the lines these days? Insanity!)

Now, Samuel is a bit confused with the conversation, so he asked the two foreigners who also seem to be bewildered. "Oh, sorry, I'm Samuel, what are yours?"

The spiky-haired blonde jock answers, "I'm Steven, he's Derick."

"Hey, did you guys see Avatar?"

"Nah, too many people. Besides, we just got here, need to be a bit frugal, ya know."

"Oh, where are you guys from?"

"We're from Canada. He's from Vancouver and I'm from Calgery, what about you?"

"I'm from California"

"Oh yeah? Where in Cali?"

"Near LA, so you guys here to learn Chinese?"

The other shaggy-haired brunette says, "He is, not me though. Just tryin' to make some money. We've got some friends here from back home and they said Taiwan's a nice place to be so here we are. Your Chinese seems to be very good, been here for a while?"

"Yeah, about 6 years."

"ㄟ，Samuel, 你要不要再一杯阿？" (You want another one, Samuel?) One of the Taiwanese guys with Morrissey hair called 小白 asked

"好阿，幫我買一杯Carlsberg,　謝謝" (Sure, Carlsberg please)

"我們等一下要去Underworld,你要不要去？" (Hey, we're going to Underworld later, wanna come?)

"好阿，喝完這杯我們就去。" (Sure! After this drink)

Samuel feels a bit strange about hanging out with a bunch of 20-year-olds, but then again, this beats staying at home with his stuff and 5-year-old Christmas tree. Then he sees Tammy looking at him, "Cheers!" she smiles, he smiles back.