Things I have learned from Rinchen Tso

Rinchen Tso is my sometimes-roommate, since I rent the flat from her father. She says she is 15, which means she is 14, because Tibs have a wonky way of calculating age. Every 10 days she comes home from boarding school (which is all of five minutes away) and stays for 5 days. In our time together, I have learned many things:

• Mold on food is an indicator of several things, chief among them that I am not eating enough, and none of which have any bearing on the future edibility of said foodstuffs.
   
• Taiwan has yet to produce a soap opera that is NOT worth watching repeatedly. The goings on are happily translated by Rinchen Tso as we watch: "She is love him very much. He is her brother, but not really, and not love her." Fortunately, the plotlines run pretty standard: A mashup of "Taming of the Shrew" and "Romeo and Juliet," with just a dash of "The Fast and the Furious" thrown in.
   
• Dish soap is for rich Americans and special occasions. 

• Yogurt, while delicious, is not a meal. Oatmeal is for infants, if consumed at all. Hence, the only appropriate breakfast involves a hearty fry of mutton, potatoes and peppers - preferably partaken of before 8 a.m. If the foreigner has not risen by that time, it is clearly a mistake, and should be rectified by bringing her a hefty portion in bed. 

• A knock on the door absolutely must be answered. Even if we know it is not someone we want to talk to. Even if we are still in our pajamas, and we can clearly hear that it is our students at the door. Even if we know it is the monk from upstairs, and we absolutely do not want to tutor his nephew anymore.
   
• "Maybe" is a word with broad applications, but very rarely means maybe. (Actually, this is a lesson I have learned repeatedly, from many people, with sometimes unfortunate consequences). Most often, it means "definitely." As in: "Did you do your homework, Duke?" "Maybe not, teacher." The exception to this is when discussing schedules. As in: "When does the holiday start?" "Maybe Tuesday." "So I can buy my train tickets, then?" "... Maybe not." (Ooops, here again, we've slipped into "definitely" territory).