Virgo Sun Pisces Moon

Guess what?

What?

There’s another Nicole. Another Taiwanese Nicole, who lives on the Gold Coast.

There is?

Yes! I just found out yesterday. Actually I may have known this fact earlier but forgot but was reminded of it yesterday.

(Laughing) do you care to elaborate?

The dog groomer.

Ooh, the dog groomer, she is the other Taiwanese Nicole?

NO. She’s not. Look at her Instagram, that is not the name. The dog groomer — I thought was Taiwanese — because my Taiwanese friend suggested it. Somehow in the conversation, I just assumed, it’s a Taiwanese small business, so I wrote about it like that earlier. When I actually got there yesterday, the groomer was a Mainlander. She spoke Mainland Mandarin. And I was a little confused — she was very nice, by the way — but I was confused. And I asked her if she knew the friend, who recommended her.

At first, she didn’t recognise the name of the friend. And we just went on to talk about the dog and his grooming requirements. When I went to pick him up, she said, “Ah! Your friend knows my partner. My partner is Taiwanese, her name is also NICOLE! And she knows your friend!”

I was delighted to find this out!

On the Gold Coast — and I’m NOT even making this up! This isn’t a fictitious narrative like some people might assume with all my stories; it’s real, it’s facts — THERE’S AN ASIAN COUPLE — One is Taiwanese, named Nicole, and the other is from Mainland China — (dog groomer’s name) — but they are there! They exist! They could be walking, hand in hand, around town, all the time. Just as they are. They could be talking to other people, wherever they are, on the Gold Coast, just as they are. People don’t fucking know. Who the hell they are, what are their real back stories? Nobody’s really gonna care that much. They are them. And they exist.

DO YOU GET WHAT I AM SAYING?!!?!?!?!? (LOL)

Maybe… what hair does the dog groomer have? How tall is she?

I can’t remember the height exactly. Average Asian lady. With long, black hair. Normal build, I guess? She’s a normal looking Asian lady. Does that make sense?!!?!

(Laughing)

Do you even speak Mandarin these days? Are you able to put on a Mainlander’s English accent?

I don’t think I need to. I can just do a Korean-English accent, most people aren’t going to know the difference.

(LOLOLOLOLOLOL)

Do they speak to each other in English?

No, silly. They’re from CHINA and TAIWAN. They’re gonna speak MANDARIN together. (LOL)

Oh? So you spoke Mandarin to the dog groomer yesterday?

Yes. (Nodding) We can communicate. It’s pretty straightforward between Chinese and Taiwanese in that way. We’re gonna understand each other. It’s not… that much… “tension” like people would expect.

The only “awkward” moment was when we were gonna keep in touch as friends.

Do you have WeChat? I can add you on WeChat!

No… sorry… (I deleted my WeChat since I didn’t need it for work anymore with a previous employer)… I don’t have WeChat. Do you have LINE? (Since she has a Taiwanese girlfriend, why wouldn’t she have LINE?!)

No… sorry… I don’t have LINE…

Oh…

Oh well. Just text me on normal phone number!

Yes! I will! Especially if I need help with the dog.

That was the main point of this conversation. LOL…..

I didn’t know you deleted WeChat.

I deleted WeChat… a long, long, time ago, when I stopped working for one of my previous employers… I didn’t need to keep in touch with any of those clients.

Do you know much about, if they are out in public together as a couple, do they speak much Mandarin together or they might use some English?

I think, maybe a mix of both? Like many mixed culture friends… it’s often a bit of both.

(Nodding) (Smiling) Interesting… how do you think you met them originally? In your vague memories…?

I think I originally met THIS couple from a friends’ picnic or barbeque or something. And the mutual Taiwanese friend was definitely there. I remember that fact in the memory very clearly. But I kind of forgot I met them. I don’t think she was a dog groomer at that time. I distinctly remember there was another “Taiwanese Nicole” that I met, though. I remember thinking, “Huh… there is another Taiwanese Nicole in this town!”

And is she any good? Is the new friend a good dog groomer? Would you recommend them?

YES!!! I’m so relieved. Booking with her again in 4 ~ 6 weeks.

Instagram is not as “flashy” or nice as the Instagram of the other groomers that I used to go to — but she’s doing a good job, just from her home. It’s a small business in Australia. The service is GOOD. The dogs are HAPPY.

Oh my gosh, my dog was SO RELAXED with her. Like he’s never been THAT RELAXED with a groomer. I was impressed. “He’s not normally… like this? Oh my gosh, you’re just picking him up like a little baby! He normally doesn’t let anyone but me do that!!!”

Seriously, she’s good!

And the cut, the final cut and everything, I was fine with it. I’m not fussy about those things, I just need him groomed because he’s a long-haired dog and if we don’t groom him then his POO sticks to his BUTT!

(Laughing) Nice! (Happy) (Smiles)

I was seriously so relieved too because she can help with things like administering eye drops or ear medications. She’s willing to do that. She’s SO NICE. And my dog is RELAXED with her. He’s not reactive like with other people. Even some dog sitters in the past, he’s been triggered.

So she’s REALLY NICE!!! I’m so happy.

I’m happy that you’re happy! (Smiles)

(Smiles)

I think the dog is nice to her because he thinks, she looks like you — she’s an Asian lady. So the dog is being nice.

(BURST OUT LAUGHING) You might be right about that!!!

What does the other Taiwanese Nicole look like?

I don’t remember… but vaguely… I think she had… short black hair, like a boy…

(Bursts out laughing)

Right?!?!!?!? (LOL)

Is she TALLER?! Is she taller than her girlfriend?!

I can’t remember. I’d have to meet up with them again as friends, and it’d be nice to catch up anyway along with the mutual friend who recommended the grooming service. I can’t remember all the details about their height or appearances. Just some funny coincidences and generalisations.