My Time In Taidong

So, for chinese New year, I spent two weeks in Taidong with another family there. It was absolutely amazing.
The weather was splendid. It rained only one day I was there.
My family lent me a bike, so i could go virtually anywhere in the city I wanted at any given time (within curfew of course!).My family was very nice, at mostly vegetarian, and even gave me one of their old phones when dropped mine in the ocean feeding the invisible fish.7 exhcange students were invited to stay in taiwan over Chinese NewYears, and while we were there, we were taught how to make noodles, got to see some of the mountains and flowers, spent a good bit of time at the beach, and even got treated to (my first) visit to a Hot Spring.
It was definitely a great trip, although the actual Chinese New Years wasnt a big event for the family i was staying with.
Even so, this trip really refreshed my love for Taiwan.
The winter season was starting to get to me in Taipei, with the cold rain every day and monotony at school.
I was able to refresh myself, get some vitamin C, and relax.

I hope to be fortunate enough to see Taidong again, and perhaps see the Green Island, which is great for snorkling and wildlife. ^^

As Opposed to Christmas.

Christmas eve....
A Wednsday, so we had all day culture class.
They (meaning the University Staff) put on a mini-chinese opera for us. They also made us lunch.
The afternoon we had caligraphy class, where we made our own stamps. I will admit that my "nube" didn't look superb, but it was a lot of fun.

As most of you know, Christmas is not a big holiday in Taiwan. So, as a kind of "Ode to Home" a group of about 13 of us YEP exchangees (Lara, Carlos, Memito, Jesús, Me, Constantin, Ayaka, Shane, Leo, Freya, Coline, and Thomas) ate a big Christmas dinner together.



Then, on Christmas, I had chinese class in the morning, and regular school in the afternoon. A few of my taiwanese classmates invited me and my friend, Mau, to hang out with them in Danshui. I can honestly say that so far has been my best experience with Taipei students. We walked around by the river and set off fireworks.
I regrettably didnt take any pictures, but it was bunches of funn.

大家好久不見!

Wow. Its been a lot time, has it not?
I don't really have an excuse... Well, I do, but I wont Waste your time and my space.

God, where to begin.

I'll start with the weekend of the 15th.
Friday was Jani's twentieth birthday, so some of us had a party at a Holiday KTV with him. It was my first time to KTV and it was really fun!
Satuday we had practice for the "Coming of Age" Ceremony we had Sunday. With another district here in Taipei. They were really nice. Afterwards i went to the night market near LongShan Station with some Mexicans and one Equadorian i met. There I tried... SNAKES BLOOD!
It was pretty tasty if i do say so myself. Kind of tasted like watered down fruit juice... hahaha.

Not only did i drink snake's blood, but i watched the man kill, hang, and slit the snake open, draining its blood into a cup for us. It was... loco.

Sunday we had our Coming of Age ceremony. I and some of the other exchange students from our district performed TaiChi. They even gave me free pants. 哈哈.



The following weekend, of the 22nd, We had our Country Fair!
Saturday, after we set up our America booth, I went to a German Bakery and ate dinner. It was slightly expensive, but so delicious.
The next day, Sunday, we had our fair, and i must say i feel we "sold America" quite adequately.


Now, its the 28th, and I just got home from a performance at NTU. Tomorrow I have a wedding to go to. My first Taiwanese Wedding!


Anecdote of the Evening:
Today we went to get Thomas from his school. Before we left he decided to buy some of those Bread Bites, and as we turned toward the vendor, one of his schoolmates, which we did not know, approached me. She looked at me, held out her hand, and handed me a NTD (in visual approximately a penny), and turned around. She didn't explain anything, just left. It was such a strange happening!

一,二,三... GO!

So, today I will just write you a little message in Chinese to show you just a little of what i have learned. (don't worry, I can speak a lot more than just this)



你好。我叫鳳凰。我愛台灣和陽明高中。我的家在淡水。淡水很好看。在台灣，我的媽媽ˋ我的爸爸都是老師。對不起，我要去學中文。哈哈哈。881!


謝謝!
~Phoenix.

So This One Time, I Got In This PhotoBooth...

Once again its update time!
Yes, I know you all are overjoyed. haha.

Last Tuesday I and some other exchange students were invited to join a club at the university where we study Chinese. It was the drama club, so of course i had a blast, being the theatre kid I am. I and some others plan on going next week as well.

At culture class we learned how to play with diabolos. I really really want to buy one. I think when Freya, Mariana, Coline, Katrin, and I go to guting Sunday we are going to try and find some for sell.



My "Obviously I'm A Foreigner" Story:
So... Coline spent the night with me last night.
After school, we took the MRT (and car hopped. haha) to Danshui and went to my mom's cram school to drop of our book bags.
then, we walked back to the MRT and walked around the river. We played those claw games (where you try and grap something out of a machines and each one three kawaii thingies. Then we saw a boat, and my mom had mentioned us maybe going across the river to BaLi. So, we did.

Once we were there we just walked along the beach until we found a coffee shop. We drank something and chilled there for a little bit, until we figured we needed to head back home since i had to be home at 11.
We walked back to the boat dock and waited for a few minutes, and then figured we'd try and figure out when the next boat was scheduled to arrive. Well, as you may be expecting, the boats had stopped running, leaving us stranded in BaLi.
luckily, the people we asked were kind enough to help us find our way back to danshui, and even walked us to the bus stop and waited with us. One Mrt and two buses later, I arrive home, twenty minutes late. Luckily enough I had my phone and could tell my parents and they didnt get upset with me.

Haha.
But all in all, I had fun. And wouldnt trade it for anything.

See you later!
Phoenix.

As I Try To Update More...

Oh Look! Another update so soon!
yeah... Anyways,
Today I had to perform shou yu, which is sign language, for the first time. Obviously I was nervous, but it was just for other people in the club, so it was fun.
I must say that I am very satisfied with my club choice. The people are very friendly and pretty crazy sometimes, so we get along! And dang some of those boys can dance. I love playing around with them.

You know, I was kind of worried at first about making friends and being about to connect with my classmates. Luckily, that hasn't been a problem. I have been very lucky with my school. I wish i could express to you how.... comfortable i am here. Aside from the random celebrity moments.

On an exchange students note, chinese class is going pretty well, and I have learned to say random phrases in a few languages.



That is all.
Yes, this is a really short post, but I don't have a lot of time. Sorry!


Oh, and about the last post:
I ate lunch (not dinner, like I wrote) with my grandma, aunt, uncle, and dad. I'm sorry for not explaining that.

Byebye!
Phoenix.

So This One Time, I Got Stuck In The Elevator Door...

Alrighty, time for an update!
As you all ready know, I've started Chinese school, and that is going pretty well.

I have also learned how to say random phrases in France from Coline, the French exchange student at YangMing, and a few Spanish colloquialisms from Carlos, an exchange student from Mexico.
Most of the exchangees are pretty stellar, so classes are pretty ok.

So this weekend I had a whole lot to do.
Friday) After school, Coline, Xiao Ting, Dai Dai, and A Foo went to the Shilin Night Market. It was super cool. We ate a whole lot.
Saturday) I went over to another of my School Mate's house here in Danshui. Before we met up I bought this really awesome tree t-shirt for 100 yuen. We all went to her house and played Uno (somehow i kept winning.) Then we went downstairs to the rec center where we played in hide and seek in the little kids play area. On our way back up to her apartment I was the last one out of the elevator, and it shut on me. My whole body. It was really shocking. Shock! Then we went back down to have a belated moon festival celebration. I and Coline had to dance onstage because we're foreign. It was pretty swell.
Sunday) I woke up, went to dinner with my baba, mama, gugu, gujan, and nainai. Then met up with Julia and her friend in Taipei. We went shopping (they needed school supplies and i bought a pencil bag). Then we went back to her house, ate dinner, did our work, and eventually slept. I was the last one to leave in the morning, and her mom gave me a key to her house. Like permanently. Because Julia's baba is also my Rotary Councilor and I can just stay over there anytime I want to. Yay!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was my weekend.
Aside from that, not too too much has happened.

I don't think I'll ever get completely used to the stares and giggles every time I smile and wave at someone. I got more pictures with random people today. Very cool.
I'll add pics one i have time to add the one by one (or five to five... lawl).


Thanks for the relative devotion you guys have for me!
I Love Yooooooou.

Phoenix.