Festivals

With a Group of Exchange Friends to Visit CKS's old house

Sakura (Cherry Blossom) The Beautiful Blossom of Spring

Burning Money For the Gods

My Host Families Name In the Temple

During Chinese New Year I went with my host family to a small little city in below Taichaung.  Probably the best part about Chinese New Year, well at least for the teenagers, is the "hong bao,"  or red envelopes.  The envelopes contain money, and we receive these envelopes because of the story that monsters come out at the night to eat children, but the red color will protect us from the ghosts and monsters that come out on this night.
       My family also took me out to the family temple to which they had donated money.  They were very proud that there name was written in the temple.  I really enjoy visiting the temples it is one of my favorite things about Taiwan.  I just moved host families, but I am very happy I was able to have such a cultural experience during Chinese New Year full of food, money, and temples.

The Ocean in Taidong After Feeding Fish

Festival In Taidong

The Foreigner Participant

Dressed to Save and Protect Ourselves from the Fireworks

Rotary brought our entire district to Taidong for the Han Dan festival.  It is really the most shocking thing I have ever experienced.  In order to create believers a man must bare his body to be hit by many fireworks.  It is extremely loud and usually there are quite a few foreigners who participate.  I found it unbelievable, and even just to stand and watch we had to protect our mouths, eyes, ears and body from the immense noise and the possibility of a firework hitting us.  It was quite a culture shock, but I am really glad I was able to see it first hand.  At the end of our trip to Taidong we went on a hike and saw this beautiful waterfall that I just had to show all of you.

The End of a Hike in Taidong's Forrest

My Lovely Friend at Yuanshan's Lantern Festival

Sending Of Lanterns in the Ping-xi Festival on my Birthday :)

For my birthday I went with a lot of exchange students to the Ping-xi Lantern Fesitval.  It was so beautiful to see so many dreams and wishes floating into the night sky.  I feel so lucky that it happened on my birthday.  I had actually been looking forward to the festival ever since I found out I would be in Taiwan.  We participated in the festival by sending out our own lanterns with our dreams, and lighting them up to the heavens.  Wow I just love Taiwan.

Thanks again for reading I couldn't cover everything because it has been so long since I posted, but I hope you all enjoyed. ( You should google some more pictures from the festivals to see a more dynamic view, they are awesome :) )

Fun Over Break

Best Noodles Ever

Learning Mahjong

The Beach!!!!

Biking Through the Streets of Taipei

Some Unhealthy Treats with my French Buddy In Gonguan

Last Day of Chinese Class 謝謝老師

Line for the most famous Bubble Tea Shop in Gonguan

I have winter break for three weeks and I plan to make the most of it.  I have had a blast so far from barbecues with my classmates to trips to the beach with swimming. Swimming, not something I expected for winter break hahaha.  My favorite thing to do in the streets of Taipei is ride bicycles I really love it.  It is so freeing and invigorating.  I am just having the best time of my life.

Holidays

So the holidays went by quickly, and I am trying to catch up with everything.  Thanks to one of my exchange, student, friend's, host mother I was able to finally reach the south of Taiwan. (Sorry for the run-on. :p)  But thanks to this being an island in winter months it was still a little rainy. 沒問題（No Problem)  I was still able to visit historic monuments of Tainan, and in the end it worked out pretty well.

The holidays in Taiwan blew away my expectations.  Christmas wasn't really typical, but with the infusion of cultures that span across the globe, a.k.a exchange students, it was memorable. So, I would like to thank all of my exchange student "buddies" for their humor and cheerful spirits.  New Years was also very memorable, due to the fact I was able to be a live spectator of the Taipei 101 arrangement.  It was very beautiful, and I didn't expect the fireworks to shoot so closely next to the crowd of people surrounding it.

Well love around the world! Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. :)

Just in case you were wondering what the "standard" toilet is in Taiwan.  Well, It is a squatty potty. YEEAAAH!! JK.   I can almost bet you were distracted by this picture while reading my blog up above. Am I right?

River boat tour Kaohsiung City

Night Market Games

Eternal Fortress in Tainan

Up the stairs of the Anping Fort

Eternal Fortress "Vase Door" with a French girl to the right

My View of Taipei 101 on New Years

My December Adventures

Although I live in a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas in a full cultural way, I have had plenty of events to keep me busy these past December days.  I have had the opportunity to visit temples, participate in culturally enriching experiences, try new bizarre foods,  and even sing and dance in English with a class of Chinese speakers.  So needless to say I have been a little busy.

Rotary "Coming of Age Ceremony Dance"

Rotary had us do a little song and dance for them as we came to the age of adulthood.   I can't say that I am honestly there yet but I have had some discoveries of my own living in Taiwan at 16.

English Song and Dance Class Victory

My awesome class 206 won the victory in the English song and dance competition.  There are so sweet I am so proud of them all. I will always remember singing "Good Time" and "Summer Paradise" with my Taiwanese friends.

Lights in the Temple

Starbucks at the 32 floor of Taipei 101 :)
I was able to sip on a green tea Frappuccino in Taipei 101.

Taipei 101 Mall with My French Girls

Snake Soup

MMM Dinner

Longshan Temple Night Market Random Bystander

Longshan is a tourist night market full of bizarre and interesting foods, while I visited I even had a chance to taste snake soup.  This is not the place to go if you have a weak stomach or aversion to amphibians and reptiles.

Best tour Guide EVER at Confucius Temple
I learned a lot from this fellow. He had retired, and was giving tours of the temple with a great sense of enthusiasm and passion for this cultural temple.
Thanks Harrison Lee

So as you can see I have had lots of adventures. Ohh! The wonders of Taiwan.

Progression In Chinese

你好，
情看
I have found that recently Chinese has started to click a little bit more, although it is a very difficult language. The Rotary in my district just held a Chinese speech competition.  Through the help of my host family I was able to place top three. I received second place, which I am very pleased with.  My host parents were pretty happy and it was great to see their reactions to the other exchange students and my own progress thus far.  I think that after three months I can finally understand the basics. It is super cool, and so I would like to give a special thanks to Rotary, for really giving me the opportunity of a lifetime.

謝謝

The Places of Nothern Taiwan

My school's birthday with my lovely classmates I am sure you can pin-point the blonde haired foreigner.

Fresh Food 

A meal for 4 and One MeiMei

Most Delicious Shrimp Ever, Yes those are Chopsticks :)

Keelung Harbor

Gondolas

My Brazilian Buddy and I Rope High in the Gondola

Sun Moon Lake from Overhead in the Gondola Ride

The Makers of Honey Very Popular in Taiwan due to the Health Benefits of Honey

The Gorgeous Sun Moon Lake Shore Side

Some Exquisite Tea Cups :)

Trip to see the Traditional Chinese Pottery and Art

Host Parents and the Big Attention Drawing Buddha Head 

Children Learning the Chinese Pottery Traiditions

Street Vendor, Where all the Yummy Taiwanese treats are Bought.

Beitou Hot Springs On A Rainy Day
A little different from the springs that Yellowstone has to offer. Don't worry that is not where we bath ourselves that is outside. The pool is separate. I have to say it is a little stinky, but the levels of heat are quite a challenge, and If given the chance I suggest you to try.

Most Recent Trip Exchange Students to Taipei National Art Museum. <3

Due to the lack of frequent posts I must apologize. But I hope these pics filled you in on the newest and latests. :) There has been so much in the past few months it is almost impossible to scribe I am so thankful to have a camera to document it. Thank you technology and Parents.