The bike trip around Taiwan was worth every sore muscle. The feeling of accomplishment was incredible, and of course Rotary knows how to put on a show. This past Thursday I was invited to a dinner to celebrate our trip. With fine food and plenty of talking everyone who completed the journey was awarded a certificate and a dvd from the trip. Biking around Taiwan could not have been at a better time. The day after I finished I was able to celebrate my birthday. To celebrate my fellow exchange student friends and I went out for lunch. Instead of our usual dumplings or rice we headed over to a nice Italian restaurant. No birthday would be complete without the birthday song so my friends made sure nothing was missing. The end result was choruses of happy birthday in Korean, French, Spanish, English, Portuguese and Japanese. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
Christmas was coming but without it's usual commercialized flair. It was nice in a way. There was no extra holiday pressure or goods being pushed, but there were some decorations. I spotted some Christmas trees around and even found one in front of the Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hall. Soon enough Christmas eve had arrived, and our Chinese class celebrated by making dumplings, instead of sugar cookies. Despite being miles away from their homes most everyone was in high spirits. For many exchange students the midnight mass was a must, and we ended up making it work. My close friend from Mexico ended up playing Joseph and at age seventeen and is now known as Joseph throughout the church community. After mass our destination was the Rotary Exchange Student Christmas party. After we piled one too many people into a taxi our driver turns around with a big gapping smile and asks for our destination. His mouth was rotted and stained a dark orange from the ever popular betel nut. After showing us a picture of his daughter, running a red light, and answering his phone (which was set to Lady Gaga) the taxi driver managed to get us to our destination. Eager to get to the party and away from our much to friendly driver we paid the fare and scurried away. The party was out on the mountainside in a resort. Luckily the church goers were just in time to catch a few last dances before the party was officially over. Soon enough we were sent to our rooms to sleep and of course nobody did. Eventually our "chaperons" gave in and changed the mantra from "Get in your rooms and sleep" to "Just be quiet". After our sleepless Christmas eve we were greeted with a traditional Chinese breakfast. Some peanuts, shredded dried meat, dough rolls, and spinach were set out in little dishes on the table. Although I was away from home and away from my family I wasn't sad or dragging my feet. I wouldn't consider it a bad Christmas at all and more than anything it made me appreciate my family and all of the exchange students here in Taiwan even more. New Years eve was celebrated in a similar fashion. The fireworks at Taipei 101 were especially spectacular and the best I've seen in my life. Since it is the hundredth anniversary of the Republic Of China there was special care put into the presentation. Although I must admit the firework in the shape of a dragon that wrapped itself around 101 was slightly disappointing. The real holidays for Taiwan do not start until two weeks. Chinese New Year starts in February and its the year of the rabbit so bunny merchandise is everywhere. All the while my Mandarin improves whether its in the classroom, practicing with my host family or using it our and about Taipei. My writing has improved tremendously and I am sure all of my teachers from the United States would think I'm lying if I told them people here think my Chinese characters look beautiful. In fact though I truly have come to appreciate the beauty in Chinese language which still tends to be a pain in the rear.
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