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.

-Pics For That Last Post-

School, Yang Shan (Yang Mountain)

School, A Group Of Girls Who Wanted A Pic With Me From The MRT

School, School

School, School. Random Swing Set In The Middle Of A Busy Intersection


School, School. Random Swing Set

After School, RYE Meeting

Ximen Ding, Me In Korean Clothes, Random Pic Of Me

Julia (friend), The Ocean

Me On Yang Shan, Mega Spork, Taipei Mainstation

Yang Shan, Mountain Town, Taipei 101

对不起！

First Off: I Am So Sorry.

I haven't updated in forever. You know what what I'm gonna say next, "I've been busy!" Blah blah blah.

But I shally make it up to you via... [drum roll, please!]... pretty pictures!!!

Haha. Yeah....

Whats been happening lately?

1) I started school

2) I met all the exchange students in district 3520

3) I've eaten more delicious and strange foods [including many times of animal blood...]

4) Learned to play Mahjhong

5) Made lots of awesome friends!

6) Experienced the emotional pain fo "acid rain" (you know my love of rain...)

7) Talked about going to Singapore (tho at this point its very doubtful i'll actually go)

8) Mastered the MRT

9) Accidently called the president of this Rotary Club a pervert [that one was funny]

10) Felt like a rock star and a complete idiot within the same hour

11) Managed to catch the attention of the guy working at 85 [totally an accident and pretty funny]

12) Got into a small tif with my cell phone

AND

13) Came up with a super cool song name due to a few experiences.

Now, Those pretty pictures i promised will be in the entry after (above) this.. its much easier.

Trekk Through The Ages

Ok, so many of you have been asking for an update. So here it is!!

Wed. i went to taipei for the day with my cousin. It was pretty awesome. There was the big store that I would love to show you a picture of, but its not appropiate for all ages. (Think Mofo).
But it was great! We went to the museum there and it was GORGEOUS. Karopi (my cousin's nickname) is a great tour guide.

I went past my school and I can't wait to start. Even though I'd be lying if i said i wasn't nervous. But that's what makes it fun.
I do believe i walked more that day than the all of the preview year combined. haha. Like I said earlier, if i walk away with anything, it will be with amazing legs.
My chinese is coming along I think, and I went to my first Rotary Meeting yesterday. It went very well. And they were all so kind!

Tonight my family and I are going to VIP to chill. Bowling, Swimming, Singing. The works.
Time to study some more.
Thanks for reading!
Phoenix.

Children Really Are The Best Teachers.

So...
Today I went to cram school with home ma and home pa.
I started with two hours of intense chinese study. It was mega tiring. But very rewarding.
I have a work book and a writing book for me to practice in.

Three of the student there, Tracy, Cherry, and Sophie, ended up helping me with my lessons. They would sit and correct my pronounciation over and over again. It was wonderful. And very cute. They are Eleven, Twelve, and Ten years old. Children really are great teachers.

Then the four of us went to the book store for two hours.
We talked and they helped me with my zhong wen.

When we got back to school, mama had me introduce myself to her seventh grade class.
its was all really sweet.

Now i am home. And may run down to 7eleven soon.
I'll add more pictures later.

zai jian.

First Day Pictures!!!!!

BaiBai

Temple

Being Blessed

Mama and Wo at Temple

Outside Our Building
My Street

Ghost BaiBai

Tamshui Welcom Sign

My Didi (little brother)

Bedroom

Bedroom

Bedroom View

Living Room with my Baba

Living Room View

Yi Dian Dian!!

So I've just finished my first day. And everythign has been Amazing so far.





Lets start with my arrival:

August fourteenth I woke up at three (in the morning, mind you) and headed to the airport. A nice man named Clarence helped us to the gate, where i boarded the first of three air crafts I'd be riding to arrive in Taiwan.

Summing up the flights: Long.

Luckily enough, the seat next to me was usually empty, meaning i could sleep relatively comfortably.



Once I arrived in Taiwan, the only thing I could think about was being able to locate my family.

As I walked out of baggage claim and onto Taiwan land, there stood my mama and baba holding a bright red banner saying "Welcome Phoenix." At the airport I ate my first meal in Taiwan: A giant bowl of Seafood Mian, It was delicious. It contained fish cakes, clams, these chewy things I'm still not sure what they were and much, much more. Tasty!

Then we started the fifty minute drive home. Outside my car window I saw mountains, the Danshei River, and billions of flashing lights. I came home, met my didi (younger brother), went to seven eleven with my home ma to get a towel and what not, got a tour of the vip section of the building, took a shower, unpacked, spent some time with the familia, and hit the sack (sleeping like a log).





And then... I woke up.

I found out that this month is the month dedicated to the ghosts. we baibai-ed in front of the building with the rest of the residents (i swear its over 1000 people) to the spirits. That includes offering food and other gifts to them to keep our house safe and at peace. Then we all went shopping. We shopped, and i found out that their escalators are flat ramps instead of stairs. Neat, right? Anyway, after shopping and eating lunch we went to the temple and prayed to the gods.
a priest (?) even blessed me. After that, Andy (my didi) and I walked through the night market to his English cram school. The teacher there is going to me my second host mom and is one of my home ma's best friends. The class was very nervous but after a while everything was great and I helped out with some of the English. Laoshi (teacher) said that she would try and arrange another class of hers to work with me on Zhong Wen (Chinese). Once class was over, we walked over to the restaurant to meet my parents, home ma's sister and her family, and laoshi's with her family. We ate a wonderful meal and I talked to my a yi's (aunt's) son and daughter most of the time. Some time next week her son is going to show me around Taipei. Finally, we went home on a mo to chi (motorbike). That brings me to now: Freshly showered and letting you know about my day.

Thank you so much for reading.
Pictures will be in my next blog.

aiai,
Phoenix.

Land Ho! Ni Dong Ma?

Alright everyone.
I've made it to my final destination: Damshei, Tawain!!

Its beautiful here.
and the food is great.

I'l give you a better run through once i am not so busy, I promise.

Zai Jian.
Feng Huang.

Its Electrifying! -zapzap-

Sorry for the wait.
Life has gotten pretty hectic recently.


Anywhoo. Thursday, the 31st of July, I was officially Blazered. Josh Coleman presented me with my blazer at the Paris Rotary's weekly meeting. Then i got to gracefully stand and say a few words.
I should most definitely work on that some more. I'm not used to speaking to crowds as myself.



Sunday is my "Bon Voyage" party thing. Get to say goodbye to everyone. Also, I think I am going to be stopping by the high school Tuesday to drop off some things to the counselor, Ms. Arnold, and a few teachers.

Other than that, Its just a count down until i leave now. Less than seven whole days.
I think I'm ready to go. Ready to see something new. Something different.

It overwhelms me with a sense of... of a future. That is the only way i know how to describe it. There is a collage of emotions flowing throw my veins: excitement, anxiety, and sheer happiness to name a few. Its a beautiful feeling. I've written a lot about it recently.


Wish me luck.

Seven Days.
Phoenix.