現在已經是五月了！It's Already May!
好久不見！It’s hard to believe it’s been well over a month since I last posted. Needless to say, I’ve been busy! Here’s an update on what I’ve been up to over the last month.
The last weekend of March was full of activity! I went to the school fair at my host sister’s high school. I had the chance to hear my sister's band perform, they were really great! I had an awesome time hanging out with my host sister, seeing some of her classmates I already knew, and meeting more of her friends!
School Fair
Then, I rode the MRT out to the harbor and took a bus up the mountain to meet up with my host dad. He was volunteering at a banquet for members of the Taiwan BMW Club. There were some super cool cars and motorcycles on display and the food was delicious!
The Car Party
Over the last few days of March, I celebrated Holy Week. On Holy Thursday, Katie and I watched Prince of Egypt in the Wenzao library, a family tradition for me in America. Then I went to Mass. I was able to stay afterwards for adoration, it was the first time I’ve been able to go to adoration in Taiwan so I was especially grateful! On Good Friday, I participated in Stations of the Cross at Wenzao. Then, I was able to spend a good portion of time in the chapel. In the evening, I went to Our Lady of Fatima for the Good Friday service. On Holy Saturday, we had class in the morning. After class, I met Katie’s family who came from America during Spring Break. We showed them around Wenzao and then went to a mall near Katie’s house. That evening, I went to the Easter Vigil at St. Dominic’s. I hadn’t been to Mass there in a while so I enjoyed seeing my friends at this parish again. After the Vigil, I stopped into a Seven to treat myself to some celebratory M&Ms and ramen!
On Easter Sunday, I went over to the convent for brunch. The food was delicious! The best part was the apple pie from America and the gelato from Italy! I had a chance to meet a priest from Australia. I also discovered one of the sisters is the great aunt of Nathan Adrian, the Olympic swimmer! After brunch, I met up with Kripa, Brandon, Kate, and Alisa at the art museum to see the new exhibits. I especially enjoyed the exhibit about new technology for the elderly.
The Art Mueseum
The next week, we were off for Spring Break. On Monday, I got a haircut for 3 dollars. I also took myself out for lunch, I ordered way more food than I could eat but it was delicious!
My Lunch
On Tuesday, I went to an all-you-can-eat buffet with Katie and her American family. The best part certainly was the tubs of Haagen Dazs ice cream! On Monday, I had the chance to give a presentation introducing the concept of coding to a classroom of first graders, including Jenny’s son, Ryan. I really enjoyed introducing my high school robotics team and coding to the students. Afterwards, I interviewed the teacher as part of my final project (more on that to come!).
Coding Presentation
In the evening, I went out for American food with Kripa, Jenny, and Jenny’s kids. We had deep dish pepperoni pizza, nachos (with guac!), mac and cheese, and wings. In other words, all the foods I’ve missed! It was hands down the best American food I have had in Taiwan!
I also went to Fengshan to see the Dadong wetlands park. Sadly, the park was closed for construction, I’m hoping to find time to go back to see it this month. Instead, I walked along the river, stopped in at a church in the area, and went to a park to read (I’m in the middle of The Swiss Family Robinson).
Fengshan District
That Thursday was Tomb Sweeping Day. My host family and I went to Pingtung to my host dad’s brother’s house. We then went to the tomb of my host sister’s great-great grandparents to 拜拜. The best translation I have for that word is to pray, but it’s a specifically Taoist term (Christians use 祈禱 instead). We then went to the temple where the ashes of my host sister’s grandparents and great grandparents are. In the afternoon, we made traditional 春捲, a Taiwanese burrito traditionally eaten during this holiday. Having the chance to celebrate this holiday with a Taiwanese family was a very special experience.
春捲
That weekend, I gave a presentation at a event for perspective host families about the differences between the summer and academic year programs. I then went to watch my host brother compete in a tennis tournament.
I also went to Decathalon, a sporting goods store, with my host dad and my host sister. I bought a ton of stuff! As we were walking to the car, my host dad asked how in the world I was going to manage to get all my stuff back home. He makes a very good point! We then went to Subway. This was the third time I’ve gone to Subway in Taiwan, but the first time salami and pepperoni have been available. My sandwich was so good!
Katie also came over for to dye Easter eggs, eat chocolate, and make mac and cheese to celebrate Easter. She brought a kit with her from America. After decorating the eggs, my host siblings, Katie, and I had a very competitive Easter egg hunt. My host parents came home from the grocery store in the middle of the competition. They were very confused about why we were madly going through the family room trying to find eggs!
Easter Egg Hung
During the week of April 9th - 13th, I went to the dentist for a cleaning! The dentist was a friend of my host dad’s friend so he cleaned my teeth free of charge! I also went over to Kate’s house to read a picture book to her sisters as part of an assignment for my picture books class.
That weekend, we took a trip to 臺東, Taidong, a city on the eastern coast of Taiwan. We went to see a famous lake, had lunch, made a traditional back massage tool, went biking through rice fields, and visited a night market.
The First Day in Taidong
That evening, I met up with Jenny and Kripa at a super cute café they had found near our hotel. I had an awesome cinnamon roll as well as an ice cream smoothie.
Wow! Cafe
The next day, we went biking along the coast line at a beautiful park. I then went back to the café with Jenny, Kripa, and Katie for lunch.
My Lunch
In the afternoon, we went to an incredible museum about a prehistoric civilization (circa 5,000AD to 1,000AD) in Taiwan. I loved seeing the artifacts, recreations of their living spaces, and reading about the civilization.
The Prehistory Museum
During the week of April 16th, I went to see Peter Rabbit (比得兔) with my tutor from last semester, Hueyin. We saw the movie in Chinese! I was able to follow the storyline, even though there was a lot of slang I didn’t understand. We also went out for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants where we ate spicy wontons, shrimp dumplings, chocolate bread, beef spring rolls, and a dessert that is like a Taiwanese funnel cake. The food was absolutely delicious (besides the shrimp dumplings).
Movies with Hueyin!
That week, I had lunch with Hueyin at my favorite Thai restaurant near school. Every time I go, I get the coconut chicken rice. I finally took a picture of it this time.
Thai Food!
I also went out for lunch with Hueyin, Tyler, and Katie at a fried chicken restaurant near school. The chicken was incredibly good and we way over ordered so we were all stuffed!
Fried Chicken
That weekend, I went to the Jade Market with my host dad and host sister. The back section had a very Rummage Sale like feeling. The front part was much more expensive. I bought some jewelry, and had some necklaces custom made! I went back on Sunday with Katie, and my host sister. In the evening, my host sister and I went to Mass together (and then went out for bubble tea afterwards!).
Jade Market
The following week was filled with classes and homework. Katie and I met up at a café near my house to work on our final projects.
My Coffee
On Friday, I went to my favorite coffee shop near Wenzao and ordered an awesome lemon-peppermint smoothie!
My Smoothie
Then, I met up with Katie and Kripa at my all-time favorite Taiwanese restaurant! The best part is probably the all-you-can-eat caramel popcorn! I ordered chicken, steak, and noodles. The plates come out hot and you cook your own egg on the side. The food was absolutely delicious!
The Popcorn Steak Restaurant
I went to Taroko Mall for the first time with my host family that weekend. There was a basketball game going on in the middle of the mall. A DJ would choose music to match what was going on during the game (for example: up-beat song when someone scores, the Imperial Death March when a team steals the ball). It was a very Taiwanese mix of sports and entertainment!
Taroko Mall
That Saturday, my host sister and I decided to make cookies. You can watch the process in my latest vlog! We made a total of just under 100 cookies. They are delicious!
Making Cookies
Last weekend, I also had the chance to go to a presentation about tutoring students who struggle in school through the organization I volunteer weekly with. I was very excited that I could follow the entire presentation!
This week, I went to see the new Avengers movie with Hueyin! We first went out for soup dumplings (so good!) and then got tea. After the movie (which was incredible), we went out for pre-dinner dessert at a night market. Then, we went to a sushi restaurant where we ate salmon, tofu with peanut butter sauce, caviar (which we ordered on accident thinking it was something else), dried fish bread, and fried oysters. Then we got ice cream for post-dinner dessert!
Avengers with Hueyin
That's a summary of what I did in April! In other news, I’ve been working on my final project a lot the past month. I’m comparing grade school math education in Taiwan and the US. I’ve done a lot of research, translated and compared the government math standards of both countries, and compared survey results of teachers in both countries. I’ve finished my written paper! I’m really looking forward to presenting my research in two weeks! Thank you to everyone back home who helped pass along my survey!
I entered a calligraphy competition at Wenzao and received an honorable mention! I copied out a poem by a Taiwanese poet about homesickness.
My Entry
Finally, I was named the State Department’s American Student Abroad of the Month for March!
These last few weeks are going to be packed with school work, visiting the last few places on my bucket list, and trips to Tainan, Taichung, and Taipei. I hope I can take advantage of every second I have left on this beautiful island!