It's hard to believe that it's already been a month since I've left home. The time is going by much faster than I'd expected, and I've already experienced so much. So much in fact, that it would be difficult to even come close to sharing all of it with you. My thoughts are extremely scattered, but in the best way possible. I will attempt to share with you what comes to mind at the moment.
At the moment, there is a typhoon raging outside my window, which is definitely a new experience. The fact that everyone here is so calm about it is comforting though, as it aids me in being calm as well. The weather here is much warmer here than in Sudbury, and also unbelievably humid. It is not uncommon to perspire here. It is beginning to cool down though, which makes me ridiculously happy. I’ll be absolutely ecstatic when the temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius.
I have met many new friends here. Most of the exchange students have very strong, distinct, and very easily likable personalities. I believe I have already found a few friends for life. The relationships I have made with some of the locals have become very strong as well. It is fun to learn Chinese from them, and they seem to enjoy learning English from me. My host parents are very nice to me, and give me a considerable amount of freedom to explore. They always ask if I need anything and how I’m feeling, which is really very lovely. My host sister has been a great help in terms of communication and making me feel at home. The apartment I’m living in is absolutely gorgeous by Canadian and Taiwanese standards. I am very comfortable here.
At first I had trouble adjusting to the food, but now I enjoy almost all of it; rice, stinky tofu, bubble tea, fish, and the best fruit I’ve ever tasted. Mooncake has also become a recent favourite, as the moon festival is getting nearer.
School here is longer than school in Sudbury, and much more structured. It definitely makes me miss and appreciate the easy-going nature of Canadian high school. The innocence and maturity level of my classmates surprised me at first. I would say they act as well behaved, intelligent 8th graders, though they are in fact in the 11th grade. It’s very refreshing, but sometimes I feel slightly out of place…the language barrier does not help with that. Slowly I am breaking the language barrier though, and I’m also becoming closer with my classmates (I do have 10 hours a day to do so haha).
Scattered thoughts: I’m seriously addicted to bubble tea, just as one could be addicted to coffee or cigarettes. Asian school children are obsessed with English swears and see no problem with calling each other names that make me blush. Television here is so stereotypically Asian, it makes me tear up with laughter sometimes. The garbage trucks here make music just like the ice cream trucks in Canada…so whenever I hear the music I’m up and ready to run for ice cream, only to find smelly trash. It is common to drink warm or hot water here. In Taiwanese soap operas, there is a badly produced fight scene in each episode. Some things are impossible to eat gracefully with chopsticks.
I am enjoying myself more here than I ever thought possible. Though it is very hard to be away from my family and friends for so long, I am sure that this year will greatly benefit me. To those it may apply to: I love and miss you. I hope all is well with everyone.
For more photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=504281&id=604135633&l=86547b76b7
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=485835&id=604135633&l=d49725376a
