Rainy Days

Tonight is the first night in a long time that I only had a little bit of homework. So I finally get to post the events of the last little while. A few minor things to catch everyone up to speed on, got my Visa renewed it was really quick and easy actually, but for those coming next semester remember to have some change on you to make copies of your visa and stuff when you get there. I lost the cellphone I bought here the weekend we went to the zoo and I haven’t been able to get a new one. The store chain says I can’t buy another through them, I would have to talk to the main branch to try and get a new one…. So word to the wise do not put your cellphone in a jacket pocket not even for a second. Always put in your bag or a closed pocket.

4 weeks left until I leave… which means I need to start working on finals soon. A 5-10 minute presentation in Chinese about my experience in Taiwan, I am so terrified for that. It will mean translating from English I simply don’t know enough about the grammar to do it straight in Chinese sadly…  and then getting some people to correct it and then read it. It will be a multiple day process. The second part is a 5 to 10 minute Dialogue with Kaitlyn, things are going to get busy fast and I am trying to keep an open mind and there’s a five page literature paper but that’s not that big a deal in comparison.

So on to happier things…

Last weekend I went to Taoyuan with a group of staff from Public Affairs, some students as well as the other exchange students. Blake and Kaitlyn weren’t with for this trip, unfortunately.  It rained all day, but it wasn’t so bad. We all had umbrellas and it kept the heat off. It definitely added atmosphere. I took SO many pictures. Taoyuan is really beautiful. So many waterfalls and nice views of the mountains!

There was a western style building that was a like a sheep farm where you could go see and feed and pet the sheep (the sheep were all inside do the weather though). We sat inside and took pictures and chatted while there.

Our tour guide’s English name was Fish, which cracked me up because she made me think of the character Xiao yu’er (Little Fish) from this one Hong Kong Drama. She spoke very quickly in Chinese while on the bus, but told me some very interesting things about the Japanese culture that exists within Taiwanese culture. Super fascinating!



We had a traditional lunch for the area. A lot of time when you eat fish in Taiwan, the head is still attached, because then you can see that its really fresh and to the Taiwanese (like anyone else) that’s very important.

All the rain and scenery reminded me of a Miyazaki film, much more than Jiufen actually. Because of the rain there wasn’t a lot of people and it was pretty quiet most of the places we went. Winding mountain roads, green hills and farms.

Below are some other pictures from the trip,the night view.




Last I will leave you with another song. Sadly no English translation in the video. I have the lyrics, its one the many songs we're learning in Chinese class I like this one in particular. Its sounds famaliar and I'm not sure why...

Dui Mian De Nu Hai Kan Guo Lai (Hey girl Across the way, Look over here!)- Richie Ren