On the Road Again

The weather in Taipei has cleared up and today it was actually hot. It felt wonderful, and recently life has taken some more turns. A little less than a week ago I found myself changing families again. I knew it was coming yet I didn't want it to happen. I had grown into a great relationship with my second host family. Memories of my time spent at the  何's house are many and none of them spoiled. 

In between the hectic school weeks and travels I would often sit at home with my host mother and just read and talk to her. At breakfast we would start with coffee, as the day moved on we would change our drinks to different cups of tea, each new beverage brought about a new conversation and in the silent spaces the words in our books would keep us company. Towards the end of my stay I realized I hadn't learned how to cook a single dish my host mom prepared and this devastated me because, she is the best cook I know. I'm not exaggerating, she could cook and I loved it all. So towards the end of my stay she taught me how to cook green veggies, tofu, and some pork dishes. I should have learned more and I find it hard to believe that I now prefer my lettuce cooked and my pork with an inch of fat surrounding it.

My host father would wake me up everyday and so kindly make me breakfast. To start it was odd, and I was really uncomfortable because I think the last time somebody made me breakfast on a regular basis was when I was in the third grade. On the sunny weekends he would take me out to the country side for bike rides, letting me blow of some steam while taking in the more scenic side of Taiwan at the same time. For my bike trip, he was the one who made sure my bike was in order and the one who lent me biking shorts. 

After packing all my belongings we took some family pictures outside by the blooming cherry blossom trees. My new host family is nice and my living quarters are great too. My new host parents are busy people and put in a lot of work. I usually share my dinners with my new host grandmother who loves to watch me eat, and reminds me that the food here is better than it is in America. There's no fooling her either, when I caught a cold this weekend she wanted me to take medicine. I generally put of taking medicine but she insisted and she knew I was going to try and skirt out of it. 

I would like to thank the  何 family for all that they have done for me. They didn't just house me and feed me, they took me in as their own and gave me a family. I hope one day I can give them as much as they gave me. Thank you  何 family. 

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