One Week

It's been just over a week since I've touched down in Taiwan. After over 20 hours in the air I was exhausted. So far I've seen everything from Taipei 101, Shihlin Night Market, Cheng Kai Shek Memorial, to four people on a motor scooter, a woman picking up trash and a man defecating on a sewer. Without a doubt Taipei is a beautiful city with a river running through the middle and mountains surrounding it. I have a wonderful host family including two younger host sisters who have the English names of Ivy and Ann. Ivy is on an exchange herself in France and taught me Chinese since her English was stupendous. I owe her a million thank yous or should I say xie xie. Chinese is by no means an easy language but I'll learn. My host mother is like an Italian Grandmother and always wants me to eat, and my host father is a master of chop-sticks. This is an art I have yet to master. The food has grown on me and includes a considerable amount of rice and cooked vegetables. Fish, Soup, and dumplings are also popular. I've had my fill of traditional food and some "famous food" including stinky tofu, night market fried chicken, tofu pudding, and pearl milk tea which includes tapioca balls. I've already had my host district meeting, and they are quite generous. Saturday was my district orientation and regardless of a mandarin exam, Mc Donalds, and hot Rotary blazers it was a blast. Meeting Rotary Exchange Students from around the world is an amazing experience and it never fails to amaze. I met a student from South Africa who knows eight languages. The purpose of this blog is to inform and update those who are curious about my exchange or wondering what I'm up to. This will allow me to inform a large audience at once, so I don't spend hours doing it. That's all folks. Zaijian for now.