Hey again, so I'm kind of bored at the moment. I just basically spent the day at home, except for church, because my host parents don't really like me staying out too long. Which is weird, they had no problem with this 2 weekends ago.
So my life this week: I don't know if I mentioned this in my last post, but I realied the source of all my frustration in Taiwan: public transportation. Before, this wasn't a problem, but now that I'm at my last host family, things are more complicated. And it's only because of one thing! The community bus. This bus comes to JingAn MRT station every hour at 20 minutes past the hour. This is annoying because if I miss it, I have to wait another hour for it to come again. Which happens quite frequently, but I'm downloading more apps for my iTouch to keep me busy. Actually, I have a story to tell, which I promise is true, or in Jamie Kelly's words, 'as true as it needs to be.'
Yesterday was the culmination of the Chinese classes. We had a speech competition that we had all been preparing for since February, or whenever the new semester started, which I guess was in January! So a long time, I had worked on mine (finding out who you are) for a few months now and had my Chinese teacher and my teachers at school go over it several times and practiced it a lot! I know there were other people who were taking this seriously because it counts as our final exam.
So imagine what a blow it was to everyone when 1st and 2nd prizes were awarded to the Australians, who have been here since February and weren't even in our Chinese classes. I mean, everyone else has been learning Chinese all year, and they've only been here a few months. A lot of exchange students think the Rotarians here are prejudiced and prefer people with blonde hair and blue eyes. Which seems really mean, but it's hard to deny. 1st and 2nd prizes along with the 2 runners up all had blonde hair, and I think most of them had blue eyes, I'm not sure. A lot of people have learned that if you wear short skirts and low cut tops, your odds are better at winning, which is also sad, but true. It sucks that things are this way, but that's the way it is here. I did my best, and dressed modestly, and that's all that matters.
After the contest, I went to the bus stop to get the bus to JingAn, but it took forever! I figured once I got on the bus, it would be half an hour tops until I got to my stop, then I would have to run to make my community bus. But we hit every possible red light! Then, at 5:13, I realized I missed my stop, and the bus was stopped anyway, so I asked the driver if he could let me off, and this always works, as long as you speak Chinese, even for Taiwanese people, but he just shook his head! It took all my self-control not to punch him in the face or scream. He let me off 2 blocks from where I wanted to go, and by then it was 5:17, so I decided that even if I could fly, I wouldn't make my bus, so I walked and ended up having to wait another hour for my bus. I hate that I'm becoming a slave to this bus!
On the more positive side, sort of, last Friday night was the St Peter's Formal, which I missed. But I did manage to talk to my friends on the phone at 8:00am on Saturday! It was so good to hear their voices, but I'm afraid it's made me a little homesick! But it definitely made my day and now I can survive the community bus because in just over a month, I'll be back in Peterborough where I never take the bus and my friends haven't forgotten me and have their G2s and can drive me around! Haha, but for now, I have to enjoy this last part of my time in Taiwan! It feels like Summer, and it rains at least once a day. I'm getting a little sick of carrying my umbrella with me everywhere.
Well, that's it for now. I'm exhausted, and it's only 8:00! Now to find something else to do...
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Weekends
Hey again!
So as some of you may know, this past weekend was my 2nd host cousin's wedding. It was the first wedding for her generation in her family, so it was a pretty big deal! She mentioned it the last time I visited with my 2nd host family in JiaYi (south Taiwan) and said that she wanted me to come.
Now, the first time I went to JiaYi, in February, I met her boyfriend. The second time, April, they were engaged and now they're married. I actually like him a lot. He thinks I'm so weird though!
We arrived on Friday night. Then one of the uncles, who likes to tease me!, started asking me when I was going to get married and I said I had no idea, so he decided I would get married when I'm 26. Then he offered to come and make stinky tofu at my wedding.
We had to get up early the next morning to help set up. It was only 8:00 and it was already so hot! And the wedding was outside! My host cousin wanted me to help her with her hair and makeup along with the other cousins and aunts. It's really hard to curl someone else's eyelashes without actually poking their eyes out. She only had one dress, unlike the traditional 3 dresses that most Taiwanese brides have.
After this, I went outside to help set up then more people started arriving. They are always shocked when they see foreigners in JiaYi. It's as if they're silently saying, 'what are you doing HERE? You should be in TaiChung or Taipei!' After a while, they told me to go inside and wait with the bride and groom because it's air conditioned inside. We ended up playing Uno until lunch was served, then I had to go back outside and eat hot food. It's so weird how Taiwanese people always complain about how hot or cold it is, but yet, when it's hot out, they eat fried chicken and soup and stuff and when it's cold, they eat shaved ice with fruit and DouHua (Most amazing thing ever! Tufu, jellied fruit and peanuts!! Iced, of course). So the food was really hot. But they served ice cream for desert, which was nice.
Shortly after this, and more visiting with the family, the uncle decided I'm going to get married when I'm 20. I made the mistake of giving him my business card the last time I visited, and he reminded me of this, so now he knows where I live. Oh well, at least I'll smell him coming if he brings stinky tofu.
This was my last visit to JiaYi. Everyone said they would miss me, I'll miss them too! But I'm just upset because when my 2nd host family dropped me off at my 3rd host family, my new host mom snatched me away so quickly that I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye! Hopefully I'll see them in USA, or even better, Canada next year!
Today was school, the 2nd last day of Chinese classes and tomorrow me and Julie are making cookies and crepes because the rest of the school has exams!! I'm so excited!!
So as some of you may know, this past weekend was my 2nd host cousin's wedding. It was the first wedding for her generation in her family, so it was a pretty big deal! She mentioned it the last time I visited with my 2nd host family in JiaYi (south Taiwan) and said that she wanted me to come.
Now, the first time I went to JiaYi, in February, I met her boyfriend. The second time, April, they were engaged and now they're married. I actually like him a lot. He thinks I'm so weird though!
We arrived on Friday night. Then one of the uncles, who likes to tease me!, started asking me when I was going to get married and I said I had no idea, so he decided I would get married when I'm 26. Then he offered to come and make stinky tofu at my wedding.
We had to get up early the next morning to help set up. It was only 8:00 and it was already so hot! And the wedding was outside! My host cousin wanted me to help her with her hair and makeup along with the other cousins and aunts. It's really hard to curl someone else's eyelashes without actually poking their eyes out. She only had one dress, unlike the traditional 3 dresses that most Taiwanese brides have.
After this, I went outside to help set up then more people started arriving. They are always shocked when they see foreigners in JiaYi. It's as if they're silently saying, 'what are you doing HERE? You should be in TaiChung or Taipei!' After a while, they told me to go inside and wait with the bride and groom because it's air conditioned inside. We ended up playing Uno until lunch was served, then I had to go back outside and eat hot food. It's so weird how Taiwanese people always complain about how hot or cold it is, but yet, when it's hot out, they eat fried chicken and soup and stuff and when it's cold, they eat shaved ice with fruit and DouHua (Most amazing thing ever! Tufu, jellied fruit and peanuts!! Iced, of course). So the food was really hot. But they served ice cream for desert, which was nice.
Shortly after this, and more visiting with the family, the uncle decided I'm going to get married when I'm 20. I made the mistake of giving him my business card the last time I visited, and he reminded me of this, so now he knows where I live. Oh well, at least I'll smell him coming if he brings stinky tofu.
This was my last visit to JiaYi. Everyone said they would miss me, I'll miss them too! But I'm just upset because when my 2nd host family dropped me off at my 3rd host family, my new host mom snatched me away so quickly that I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye! Hopefully I'll see them in USA, or even better, Canada next year!
Today was school, the 2nd last day of Chinese classes and tomorrow me and Julie are making cookies and crepes because the rest of the school has exams!! I'm so excited!!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
How to Bake Cookies When You're Surrounded by Taiwanese Teenagers
Step 1- The first step to making any cookies is to mix the ingredients. In most Taiwanese high school, the students will have to do this by hand. They will start, but get tired after approx. 8 seconds and ask if you would like to try. Once you, the foreigner and obvious reason why they even agreed to bake in the first place, start stirring, they will think this is cute and start taking pictures with their cell phones, then take turns posing around you and taking more pictures. The best way to endure this is to let them take one or two pictures then say, 'Hao le.' which means, okay, that's enough. You may have to say this a few times to get them to stop.
Step 2- Because the students know they are making cookies, they will bring a variety of different things to try to sneak in to the mix. This could include anything from chocolate cereal to almonds to fructose syrup (I wish I was kidding). The inportant thing in this case is to always keep your eye on the mixing bowl, which shouldn't be too hard because the Taiwanese people will be too busy taking pictures anyway.
Step 3- Pictures are a big part of Taiwanese culture. So don't be surprised if during the whole time you are baking, they have their cell phone pointed at themselves and are constantly checking their reflections in pocket mirrors. But you do have to be on the look-out for their combs, which they carry with them everywhere. About once ever half hour, every Taiwanese student, both male and female, get the urge to comb their hair out. When you see the comb appear, you must politely remind them to go outside and do it, otherwise they will get hair in the cookie dough. But they don't always listen. You will occasionally see tumbleweeds of hair rolling across the floor.
Step 4- When it is time to roll the cookies into balls, you can choose 1 from out of 2 tasks. You can either roll the dough into balls, or you can press them onto the cookie sheet. I'm sure you or I could do any of these tasks quickly and efficiently. So you really have to choose which task you want to assign the Taiwanese. If you decide to roll then they will spend about 5 minutes on each ball to arrange it into a cute shape. If you decide to press then they will spend five minutes on every ball to make sure they are all exactly the same size. It's up to you.
So if you ever feel the desire to bake cookies with Taiwanese people, you'd better set aside a rather large portion of your day as this could take a very long time.
Based on a true story.
Step 2- Because the students know they are making cookies, they will bring a variety of different things to try to sneak in to the mix. This could include anything from chocolate cereal to almonds to fructose syrup (I wish I was kidding). The inportant thing in this case is to always keep your eye on the mixing bowl, which shouldn't be too hard because the Taiwanese people will be too busy taking pictures anyway.
Step 3- Pictures are a big part of Taiwanese culture. So don't be surprised if during the whole time you are baking, they have their cell phone pointed at themselves and are constantly checking their reflections in pocket mirrors. But you do have to be on the look-out for their combs, which they carry with them everywhere. About once ever half hour, every Taiwanese student, both male and female, get the urge to comb their hair out. When you see the comb appear, you must politely remind them to go outside and do it, otherwise they will get hair in the cookie dough. But they don't always listen. You will occasionally see tumbleweeds of hair rolling across the floor.
Step 4- When it is time to roll the cookies into balls, you can choose 1 from out of 2 tasks. You can either roll the dough into balls, or you can press them onto the cookie sheet. I'm sure you or I could do any of these tasks quickly and efficiently. So you really have to choose which task you want to assign the Taiwanese. If you decide to roll then they will spend about 5 minutes on each ball to arrange it into a cute shape. If you decide to press then they will spend five minutes on every ball to make sure they are all exactly the same size. It's up to you.
So if you ever feel the desire to bake cookies with Taiwanese people, you'd better set aside a rather large portion of your day as this could take a very long time.
Based on a true story.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Earthquakes and Landslides
Well, I have officially switched to my last host family. They are so sweet! I have 2 younger host sisters, one is 16, she's going to Hungary next year, and one is 15. The dad is super nice and always asks for certain words in English and the mom has offered to teach me to cook Taiwanese food if I'll teach her to cook Canadian food. My room is so big! It's got foam on the floor, so it's really comfortable and a big window so I can see all of Taipei outside. I now live on a mountain, it's really beautiful, but a little inconvenient because the bus down the mountain only comes once an hour, so I'm eaither really early to school, or really late.
On Sunday, there was an earthquake, which is no big deal, I'm pretty used to earthquakes, they're really fun! But there was another one yesterday which was big enough that a mountain actually moved, I didn't see the before and after pictures on the news, but my friends were telling me about it. And it also triggered a landslide that lasted 52 hours and they believe that 4 people have been buried underneath. I saw people digging through it on the news. It covered a highway, so now there's lots of traffic.
Other than that, I'm okay. It's a cold and rainy day, ah! I miss hearing Dad say that! It's cold and rainy here pretty often. Tomorrow it's supposed to be warm and rainy and the inbounds are going to the zoo for culture class. It's weird. On Monday, the morning was cold, the it warmed up around noon, like warm enough that I thought I was going to melt then a few hours later, it got really cold again. The weather here is stupid, why can't it just stay the same?
Anyway, that's all I have to say for now! Still don't know my address, I keep forgetting to ask, sorry!
On Sunday, there was an earthquake, which is no big deal, I'm pretty used to earthquakes, they're really fun! But there was another one yesterday which was big enough that a mountain actually moved, I didn't see the before and after pictures on the news, but my friends were telling me about it. And it also triggered a landslide that lasted 52 hours and they believe that 4 people have been buried underneath. I saw people digging through it on the news. It covered a highway, so now there's lots of traffic.
Other than that, I'm okay. It's a cold and rainy day, ah! I miss hearing Dad say that! It's cold and rainy here pretty often. Tomorrow it's supposed to be warm and rainy and the inbounds are going to the zoo for culture class. It's weird. On Monday, the morning was cold, the it warmed up around noon, like warm enough that I thought I was going to melt then a few hours later, it got really cold again. The weather here is stupid, why can't it just stay the same?
Anyway, that's all I have to say for now! Still don't know my address, I keep forgetting to ask, sorry!
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Sky is Falling!!
Hey, I just have to tell you about this! So I was reading Holes today in school, and you know how Stanley ends up at Camp Green Lake because some shoes fell from the sky and he got blamed for stealing them? Well, walking back to the appartment from the bus stop, almost home from school and all of a sudden, this sandal lands right in front of me. I looked up and the other one was falling towards me, so I moved and it didn't hit me. I had to laugh. It was someone from the same building as me. But the sad thing is that this isn't uncommon here. I remember on some my first few weeks here how I'd be waiting at the bus stop with other people and they'd be eating or drinking something and when they were finished, they'd just throw their garbage on the gound! It's discusting! Just this morning when I was waiting for the bus there was a girl there drinking milk and eventually she decided she'd had enough and poured the rest of the carton out then threw the empty carton on the ground! These people are like animals, it's sad how I'm getting used to this. I've never done anything like this, either in Canada or Taiwan, I know better than that.
This is why we aren't allowed to eat or drink on the subway, because people will just throw their garbage on the floor. Betel nut is also really gross. It's basically this red gunk that people chew and store in their cheeks when they're not chewing it, then when they're done, they just spit it out on the sidewalk. It's amazing how much of this people can fit into their mouths. I've seen people spit their entire load out and it truly is discusting. This is why you'll see red smears all over the sidewalks and roads here. You're also not allowed to chew betel nut on the subway because it's discusting enough when you're not on the subway. It also stains people's teeth red, so you can always tell who's been at it.
I thought, Taiwan being an advanced country, that they'd have a little more manners than this. I can't wait to get back to human civilization in Canada!!
This is why we aren't allowed to eat or drink on the subway, because people will just throw their garbage on the floor. Betel nut is also really gross. It's basically this red gunk that people chew and store in their cheeks when they're not chewing it, then when they're done, they just spit it out on the sidewalk. It's amazing how much of this people can fit into their mouths. I've seen people spit their entire load out and it truly is discusting. This is why you'll see red smears all over the sidewalks and roads here. You're also not allowed to chew betel nut on the subway because it's discusting enough when you're not on the subway. It also stains people's teeth red, so you can always tell who's been at it.
I thought, Taiwan being an advanced country, that they'd have a little more manners than this. I can't wait to get back to human civilization in Canada!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Biking in Danshui
Since Taekwondo is over (see movies on YouTube! 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-CIFyS0IW4 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyV-ZknR9jY) we only have a few more culture classes left before the semester is officially over, even though no one actually leaves until June. So today we went to Danshui, or a few MRT stops away from it, rented some bikes and rode to Danshui.
It was so much fun! We should have been doing this a long time ago. I mean, pedalling down narrow street, trying to avoid the scooters and the lanterns hanging above us. It was so beautiful! Then we got to the ocean and for the majority of the ride, we were riding parallel to the ocean and had a nice breeze to cool us down. Most people got sunburned, but it was worth it! I'm not as bad as some people, but I still used quite a bit of aloe vera when I got back. Now I'm so tired!
One of the Rotarians owns a restaurant in Danshui, so we ate lunch there. He's so nice! He keeps telling us to go to his restaurant and he'll give us free food, and he doesn't lie! I think everyone ate for free and people were saying that they've been there before and have eaten for free. I wish all Taiwanese Rotarians were like this. But I only have 2 months left to survive. Tomorrow is my 8 month anniversary! Ahh! It's all going to quickly! I still have quite a few gifts to buy, so if you have any suggestions, email me: jazz_bond123@hotmail.com
See you in approx. 2 months!
It was so much fun! We should have been doing this a long time ago. I mean, pedalling down narrow street, trying to avoid the scooters and the lanterns hanging above us. It was so beautiful! Then we got to the ocean and for the majority of the ride, we were riding parallel to the ocean and had a nice breeze to cool us down. Most people got sunburned, but it was worth it! I'm not as bad as some people, but I still used quite a bit of aloe vera when I got back. Now I'm so tired!
One of the Rotarians owns a restaurant in Danshui, so we ate lunch there. He's so nice! He keeps telling us to go to his restaurant and he'll give us free food, and he doesn't lie! I think everyone ate for free and people were saying that they've been there before and have eaten for free. I wish all Taiwanese Rotarians were like this. But I only have 2 months left to survive. Tomorrow is my 8 month anniversary! Ahh! It's all going to quickly! I still have quite a few gifts to buy, so if you have any suggestions, email me: jazz_bond123@hotmail.com
See you in approx. 2 months!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
3480 District Conference
This weekend was the district conference for my host Rotary district, 3480. The exchange students had to be there the entire time, which was a bit of a waste. We had to be at the Taipei Grand Hotel at 9:00 on Saturday morning, so I, once again, did not get the chance to sleep in. We had to set up another country fair, so Joe, the guy in charge of the inbounds, told us to bring everything we brought from our countries to give away, so I filled my backpack with stuff and when I got there realized that we had 2 tables that were supposed to be enough for every country represented here. Once we had set up, we sat around for 3 hours until lunch, then the outbounds arrived and we talked with them for a bit. There's one boy, out of 40, going to Canada, and he's going to my sponser district! I'm so excited!
After that, we waited around some more until 6:00 when we changed into our Taekwondo uniforms and warmed up for our presentation. Again, another miscalculation by Rotary, there was already a band on the stage, so we didn't have enough room to do the routine we had planned, so we had to change it around a bit. Long story short, the person holding the wood I was supposed to break accidently broke it before I had the chance. One of the French boys fell when he swung his leg forward to kick his piece of wood and another French girl broke her wood with her head. I didn't take a video because something is wrong with my camera at the moment, but I'm waiting for someone else to, so many people took videos! After the demonstration, we all had to pose in the fighting pose and wait for people to finish taking pictures, then the district governor and his wife came onto the stage and they took some more pictures! My legs were sore after that.
For the Kung-Fu, all the exchange students did that. Only the people who were willing to put the time and effort into Taekwondo did the first performance. There wasn't enough room on the stage for all the exchange students, so people ended up falling over and it didn't go well. But, of course, the district governor and his wife came up afterwards to take more pictures.
After Kung-Fu, the people who did Taekwondo had to change back into our uniforms (they have our chinese names on the from and say Taiwan in Chinese and English on the back!) and pose for more pictures with our coach and in groups. Then we could go home.
This morning, I actually ended up skyping my parents and sister and cat before going to the second part. Actually, no, that's a lie, after I skyped my family, my host dad took notice o my coughing and dragged me to the doctor's office where I got mediation for a cold. I told him that a cold is no big deal, every Canadian gets at least one cold per winter, but he was freaking out!Justgive me kleenex, and I'm pretty sure I'll make it. On the plus side, I got weighed and realized I lost 5 kilos since December!
District conference wasn't so bad, we didn't have to be there until 1:30 and I went with my host sister this time. Then we just had to listen to rotarians talk for about 2 hours, clean up and then it was over.
My host family took me out for dinner because I switch to my 3rd and final host family on Saturday. I gave them their gifts and they gave me money to buy clothes, because apparently, I don't buy enough Taiwanese clothes! Then they signed my memory book. I'm going to miss this family. A lot. Then we watched the National Geographic channel and now I think I'm going to take a shower. The bathroom is free, which is rare!
Stay in touch, I'll let you know my new address as soon as I do!
After that, we waited around some more until 6:00 when we changed into our Taekwondo uniforms and warmed up for our presentation. Again, another miscalculation by Rotary, there was already a band on the stage, so we didn't have enough room to do the routine we had planned, so we had to change it around a bit. Long story short, the person holding the wood I was supposed to break accidently broke it before I had the chance. One of the French boys fell when he swung his leg forward to kick his piece of wood and another French girl broke her wood with her head. I didn't take a video because something is wrong with my camera at the moment, but I'm waiting for someone else to, so many people took videos! After the demonstration, we all had to pose in the fighting pose and wait for people to finish taking pictures, then the district governor and his wife came onto the stage and they took some more pictures! My legs were sore after that.
For the Kung-Fu, all the exchange students did that. Only the people who were willing to put the time and effort into Taekwondo did the first performance. There wasn't enough room on the stage for all the exchange students, so people ended up falling over and it didn't go well. But, of course, the district governor and his wife came up afterwards to take more pictures.
After Kung-Fu, the people who did Taekwondo had to change back into our uniforms (they have our chinese names on the from and say Taiwan in Chinese and English on the back!) and pose for more pictures with our coach and in groups. Then we could go home.
This morning, I actually ended up skyping my parents and sister and cat before going to the second part. Actually, no, that's a lie, after I skyped my family, my host dad took notice o my coughing and dragged me to the doctor's office where I got mediation for a cold. I told him that a cold is no big deal, every Canadian gets at least one cold per winter, but he was freaking out!Justgive me kleenex, and I'm pretty sure I'll make it. On the plus side, I got weighed and realized I lost 5 kilos since December!
District conference wasn't so bad, we didn't have to be there until 1:30 and I went with my host sister this time. Then we just had to listen to rotarians talk for about 2 hours, clean up and then it was over.
My host family took me out for dinner because I switch to my 3rd and final host family on Saturday. I gave them their gifts and they gave me money to buy clothes, because apparently, I don't buy enough Taiwanese clothes! Then they signed my memory book. I'm going to miss this family. A lot. Then we watched the National Geographic channel and now I think I'm going to take a shower. The bathroom is free, which is rare!
Stay in touch, I'll let you know my new address as soon as I do!
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