Apart from everyday business emails and messages to foreign friends, it has been quite a while since I did any serious English writing regardless of they being personal thoughts, news articles or tedious school reports.

So for old time's sake here it goes.

Those who know me well enough should know I, many years ago, used to be a politics reporter for a small English newspaper, Taiwan News, where most of my stories started with "President Chen Shui-bian announced today blah blah blah...." As much as I disliked politics (still do), I have to say I enjoyed the three years working against deadlines with fellow reporters and editors. We were all young, vigorous and to a certain degree adventurous. I guess when you are a single early twentysomething with pitiful bank account balance, you don't have much to lose anyway.

I'm glad to say several of these coworkers remain good friends of mine with whom I can share a good laugh when the good old days are brought up. Last night a particular incident came to mind which still made me roll my eyes after all these years.

It was the day after Chen Shui-bian's big inauguration in May 2000. Having attended and covered the event the previous day, I was sitting on the bus on my way to work admiring the "masterpiece" appeared on the front page of the day's paper with my name under the huge headline. Suddenly this middle-aged woman sitting next to me started talking.

"Good for you. If you want to learn English you should try to read English newspapers like this," she said, apparently mistaking me for some college student.

(Oh is that so?!)

"Yes yes indeed," I said politely, wishing this would shut her up.

"So where are you studying? You know English is very important you'd better learn it well for your own good."

She wouldn't shut up, and obviously couldn't take my lack of response for a hint. If I remember correctly she mentioned she is an English teacher herself and went on lecturing me about the importance of the great language.

Believe me I'd tried not to spill out the truth to embarrass her but the woman really got on my nerves with her neverending questions. Just give me a little piece of quiet for crying out loud!

"You know (woman)," finally my patience ran out and I pointed to her, "I WROTE THIS ARTICLE."

""OH, really?!" She tried to sound as calm as she could but her face gave her away. "So you are a reporter for this newspaper? That's ... excellent!"

The nosy English teacher sat pretty much in silence after that until she stood up and got off the bus. I couldn't help but rolled my eyes and let out a long sigh as soon as she's gone.

Just when I finally got some peace I looked up and guess what? My stop was in sight.