Winter 2012

We went on a tour that lasted all day. We visited a museum that looked like a temple, an ancient Confucius school, the mayor’s office, and to an all boy’s school that had wonderful museum rooms inside.

I thought the museums and the school were incredibly beautiful. I had never seen such intricate structures before. Seeing the history of Taiwan and all of the beautiful artwork that Taiwanese people have created was such an uplifting experience.

Arriving in Tainan was so much fun! During the weekend, my host and her family took me to a choir practice, Anping Fort, Ten Drum Village, the National Taiwanese Museum, to eat hot pot, and to eat sushi. The first day that we arrived at school, we met everyone else’s exchange student. They told all about their weekend adventures.

LOOONGGG school day. I like PE, art, and cooking, but the rest of them were really boring, English was very easy here, I think they need better teacher for English. A lot classes were so boring that I almost fell asleep, the teachers were talking so fast in some classes too. But a lot of the classes, the students had to take tests, so I either hung out in the library, or took a nap in the class.

Dorms are shared with 6 people in a room, there are bunk beds, desks, fans/A.C, and a garbage can, all the bathrooms and showers are seperated from the rooms. There is a cafeteria in the basement, they are little tables with little chairs, and once you get your food, you are free to go back up to your room if you want. There is a cold and hot water fountain, and of course, there is a front desk at the front. The girls rooms are upstairs while the boys rooms are downstairs.

One of the most prominent things that I discovered about Taiwan was the nature. In America, especially Chicago, the trees are very common and due to our drastic climate, we usually don’t see beautiful plants. However, every tree and flower is a sight to see. This is a picture of the oldest tree in Taiwan!

When we went to the Confucius school, they told us that people come to touch the statue of Confucius’ hands for good luck. Also, there was a picture of 鄭成功 . I learned that people make a wish to a portrait of him and then bow three times so the wish will come true because the man did such amazing things for the Taiwanese people.

I am so sad that I am leaving Tainan today. I have had so much fun exploring this city and all of the traditional Taiwanese culture they have. While I know I will have a lot of fun in Taiwan’s capital of Taipei, I will miss all the courteous, phenomenal people I have come to know here.

De Guang