Nantou and YangMing San

This past Saturday I traveled to a place called Nantou! Nantou is right in the middle of Taiwan - about three hours from Taipei. Taipei Tung Ho Rotary Club, my host club, was heading there because they were meeting another Rotary club from farther south in Taiwan. The other Rotary club was bringing children with mild cases of mental illness and their families along to spend a day full of fun with us!

My day started off early at Zhongxiao Fuxing Station - where I was meeting the other Rotarian's on our large tour bus. From the moment I arrived at the airport in Taipei the first night and everyday since, I see these huge tour busses. They are all over. The busses are big, double decker, equipped with TV/microphone, have air conditioning on full blast, and are big enough to have a bathroom, but they don't! Ha! I have been on a bus or two before, but I could not have been more excited to see a part of Taiwan in this way, that day. To add to that, I also received my sun-yellow T-Shirt with hearts on it before we departed, to match all the other Rotarian's that day. :)

We made it to Nantou just in time for lunch with the other club! We ate a delicious lunch together at a museum which is a replica of an old/famous market in this area of Taiwan. After lunch we all explored the museum and then hopped back on the tour bus. The next stop was a traditional Taiwanese paper making factory. This factory makes the special paper that is used for writing calligraphy. It is not rice paper, but rather a more heavy, scroll type of paper. The process is old fashioned, long, and tedious. We were all able to give it a try and make our own special artwork on the paper. It is one of those processes that looks so easy, but is just so difficult at times. It took me awhile to get mine just right, but I did it! The other children finished theirs as well.  To to see their excitement when they showed "the American", was an awesome way to finish of my day with them. My host club and I then got back on the bus and headed to dinner in the near by city of Taichung! I am telling you, the people of Taiwan have not yet left me hungry once. Ha! Taichung is the the second largest city in Taiwan.

On the bus ride home, my host club engaged in Taiwan's tradition of karaoke! Yes, Karaoke! Everyone loves it here! I  don't think I have ever done karaoke besides singing in my shower or out loud just to annoy someone. The Rotarian's gave me this huge book of songs, turned it to the English songs page, and asked me if I would sing a song! The English songs that they have are all the slow, classics. Songs that I know, but not the upbeat songs that just allow you to let loose and have fun! I picked the closest things to it though!

The first song I sung was Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond! So, I was off pitch and missing words here and there.  I just kept imagining myself at a Red Sox game... in the bottom of the 8th inning... along with all the other tone deaf fans, just having a good time! That song, followed by a duet of Imagine by John Lennon with a Rotarian.  They all just loved my voice so much, that I sang a little John Denver's, Take Me Home Country Road! It was a great way to finish of the long and adventurous day in Taiwan!

 On Sunday, I headed to Yang-Ming San for another hike! This time I went with all of the inbound exchange students who are in Taiwan for the 2012-2013 year, as well as some students who had traveled from Taiwan as exchange students to other countries in the last year or so! It was another rainy day, however I got to see the mountain on a new trail which was beautiful. We hiked, played games, had a picnic, and tried to use Chinese as a "happy medium" when the language barrier became to difficult.  This was fun and funny - we laughed alot!

 


One of the coolest things about Rotary, and just one of the many reasons I am so grateful to be a part of the organization, is the fact that I can be called an exchange student and I can accept all of the challenges and excitement that comes with the honor. When we exchange students come together, you really would think we are like family. Some are like the in-laws you just never want to see and some are the ones you love to talk to and can't wait to see. Some of us have absolutely nothing in common, and some of us have a lot in common.  However, we are sharing this huge time in our lives with each other and experiencing our new homes everyday. The connections that we have together because of the one really simple but big common thread, are ENDLESS!  I am so happy and thankful to have Rotary in my life!

A great weekend! Looks like Vail got some snow up high this past week! As always, thanks for reading my blogs and sharing this experience with me! More soon!

Anna