I guess I’m getting better – two weeks for this update (rather than a month!) It turns out that my summer isn’t as relaxing as I thought it would be, but it’s still good :) I think I’m almost as busy as I was last semester, but with a lot less stress. So far, the summer has been filled with LOTS of traveling, working, and hanging out with friends. Last weekend I went to Hualien with Daniel, a friend from Sweden, who went back home this past week. Next weekend, I’m going to Tainan (台南) the oldest city in Taiwan, to visit another friend, and the last weekend in July will find me in Penghu, an island that I visited in April. It’s so cool that I’ve been able to meet friends all over the island, and have been able to visit and explore with “native guides”.
Saturday afternoon, I went to Hukou, a town in Hsinchu county, to visit the teachers who were getting ready for camp this summer. It was weird to be back to the school they’re at, and not be super busy working on stuff. Although camp was a TON of work, I met friends that I still keep in touch with. Hopefully, I’ll get to visit them a few more times before camp ends this summer, but we’ll see.
Last night, I got a message from a friend who was in Taipei for the week (she’s usually in Kaosiung, 6 hours away)….sooo, since I had the day off, we hung out in Taipei, went to the National Palace Museum, and just talked and had fun.
I think I’m going native…when I was in Taipei today, I stopped at a bookstore and got a bilingual Bible. I figure if the colonists used the Good Book to learn how to read, so can I! Chinese has definitely been one of the biggest tasks I’ve ever set myself to do, but it’s coming along, slowly… All I can do is learn one word at a time.
I was thinking about it last night….how very DIFFERENT it is here from in the States. When I was in school (from 5th grade through college), I really didn’t have too many friends. There were some people I hung out with, but I really didn’t feel like a part of anything. Since I’ve gotten to Taiwan, I have more friends than I know what to do with! My weekends are full – visiting different places, and hanging out with tons of people – who are all super different from each other, and super awesome! I’m not sure what the difference is, but something has happened!
I’ve included a few pictures from the Taroko Gorge in Hualien, a truly incredible place. Pictures just don’t to justice to the true size of this thing – 2 huge cliffs that come straight down, with a tiny road in between. Crazy roads with hairpin turns and super long tunnels without ventilation (interesting experience while on a scooter)…
Have fun and keep God first…
