Rock Lobster

I am absolutely exhausted! Yesterday was an all day field trip around the north of the island. We had to leave at 7 am and I woke up at 6:30 because I had a late night the night before. Our first stop was Yeliu National Park. It was really beautiful. The area was created to protect all of the unique rock formations there. We hiked around (as usual for this trip) including out to an area that our tour guide said none of his groups ever go because it's too long and hot. It was on the leeward side so not only was it 37 degrees Celsius (98 Fahrenheit for those of you keeping track at home) and 85% humidity but there was no wind. The view was beautiful and with all of the stuff that I've been eating (can we say bakery?) I could definitely use the exercise. The water in the lagoon was such a perfect blue. After that we ate lunch in this town that is famous for its seafood. I forgot to take a picture but it was fantastic. We had snails, fried fish in this tangy red sauce, intestine (sounds gross but it's good) and some kind of shellfish that was really good too. After lunch, we rode the bus to the only lighthouse that is open to the public in Taiwan. It's called San Diego because the Spanish used to occupy the northern part of the island. Another very bumpy bus ride later, we arrived at the National Taiwan Art Center. It was sort of like a not very touristy section of Epcot. There was an old style scholar's farm house and a temple that we prayed at. Tony, our tour guide, was friends with one of the artisans that worked at the Center. He went to talk to him but when he saw Ashley he said he had to sculpt her. Everyone absolutely loves her here. She's going back to the Center to pick up her bust next week. Today, we did our own trip to this huge mall called the Living Mall. It's a giant sphere. I'll post a picture of it on WebShots. I bought a pair of Chucks but it is seriously hard to shoe shop here because they have so few things for my huge American feet. While I was shopping, I talked to some people. I still have a long way to go but I am gaining more and more confidence in my abilities. After all, I did get the highest score on the placement exam out of all the first years. Everybody met up again so we could get lunch/dinner together. I had nuo ro mian, beef noodle soup. It was delicious. A group of us really wanted to see Pirates and there was a movie theatre in the mall so we stood in line for a while but a lady came up to us and said that we would get into the 9 or 10 o'clock show at the earliest. That would get us back way past curfew so we decided that wasn't going to work and took the subway over to Westgate again. We shopped around more and tried to see Pirates at the theatre there but again no luck. I had to go pick up my laundry as soon as I got back so I'm going to take a nice long shower and get dressed in some freshly washed and folded clothes. Yippee!

Culture Club

We made paper umbrellas and played with puppets Tuesday. I can't believe that I'm getting credit for this! Yesterday we had a cooking class and that was so much fun. We made sweet and sour pork and a bunch of different vegetable dishes. I made tofu with green onion and shitake mushrooms. That was so good! I tried everything but there was this salty steamed egg custard that was really not my cup of tea. Later last night, we met up with our study buddies. Mine's name is Winnie. She is super cute!!! We went to Westgate in downtown Taipei. A bunch of people got noodles at this famous noodle stand but they were really hot and I was full from lunch so I didn't have any. Instead, I tried this drink from a bubble tea place. It's called ninmian duoduo. It's like a really thin yogurt mixed with lemonade. Now that I look at that description, it doesn't look that appetizing but it was perfect. It cooled me down and I'm so glad I asked Winnie to recommend something other than bubble tea. After that, we broke off into even smaller groups. Jessica, Chris, and I, all with our study buddies, just found a coffee shop to sit down in and just enjoy the AC. It was nice to just sit back and relax for a little bit. Now, I have to go get breakfast and then take my placement test. Wish me luck! P.S. I now have a Webshots account so you can look at my pictures here. http://community.webshots.com/album/559160595UcnMav?vhost=community

Already So Much But Not Close To Enough

Where do I start??? I have only been in Taiwan for 3 days and I have already experienced and learned so much. Classes haven't even started although we did have our orientation for the program today. It seems like we are always outside, always walking and always eating. I'm so glad that I have my Keens. I would have died without them. The first day I walked around with my roommates and the guys from across the hall for two hours. It turns out Taipei has a furniture/ appliance retail section of town. Office chairs, anyone? I did learn the word for bubble tea and have been making full use of it. It's kind of nice because it's a local thing but it also reminds me of home. Best of both worlds. Today, after orientation, we took a bus to the mountains on the north side of the Taipei basin. It was so beautiful. Words cannot do it justice and neither can the pictures that I took. We ate lunch at a restaurant in the village there. I highly recommend the wild boar if you ever go there. We met with Professor Smith's friend after lunch. He had a small pack of dogs around him that seemed to grow throughout the trip up the mountain. The view was absolutely spectacular. His house was in this secluded little nook that had a spa resort right down the road. After climbing a rather precarious set of steps, we reached the gate to his house. It was locked so he had to run up to get the key so he could open the gate. First of all, the house was set back so far that no one would go up there to commit any crime and second, what's the point of locking the gate when you can just go around and still get to the house. Did I mention he was slightly eccentric? The house was beautiful but the view put it to shame. We sat and ate bananas, dragonfruit and rose apples while drinking tea made from an herb that grew right there on the mountain. Afterwards, we joked around but a silence came over our group when we looked out onto the landscape and saw exactly what people mean when they call a mountain majestic. The lighting made it perfect. The sun was starting to set, defining every ridge and peak in the distance. I, unfortunately, was so exhausted on the bus ride back that I fell asleep and missed the view. Today has been amazing. Now, I'm going to take a cold shower to wake myself up. I still have a dinner to find!