To the North We Go!

BUSY...so you might as well call me a BEE! I love being busy, I really do! Being busy in my new culture has given me the oppurtunity to learn, grow, challenge myself, reach within myself, experience new sets of emotions, and truly experience the Taiwanese culture full on!

This past weekend another large typhoon came into Taiwan! My first week here, when two typhoons came in, I was so scared and worried everyday. But now, it is just apart of my daily life and I embrace them full on! Seriously! Even though the original plans for the weekend were cancelled because of the typhoon, I didn't let it stop me! I woke up early as always, pulled out my colorful umbrella, put my raincoat on, and headed to the gym. Not many people go out here when a typhoon hits.  Just in case Saturday was different, I decided that wearing my pink workout outfit and then having my loud umbrella would be a little much. I stuck with all black and let the other daring pedestrians who I encountered have their full focus in the hard rain and wind! Ha! I needed a little laugh and thought some of you might get a little kick from that one!

When I got home from the gym, my host mom and I headed to the bakery to pick up my host grandma and her friend. The four of us girls were heading up to my host grandma's mountain house for lunch. My host grandma is a great cook. Sadly, the fish was not thawed out enough to be able to be cooked but I still had great traditional Taiwanese food! Her home up in the mountains is very quiet and quaint. It is only about an hour to 45 minutes from Taipei but it feels like a new world. I especially enjoy the feeling of getting out of the city! City life, all day everyday here in Taipei has its ups and downs just like any place. It felt so nice to just feel calm and collected up there. After I finished a tour of the house, see some family history and take in the beautiful rain forest surrouding us, my host mom and I headed home.

I had about an hour at home to pack my overnight bag for our road trip that evening! Saturday evening, my host parents and I would be heading up North to a place called Yilan with four other families. Road trips are great! It is a great time to get to know people, practice a language, listen/watch Taylor Swift live in concert with the young girls in the car, or even watch the Yankees play Tampa Bay Rays game (LIVE) on the screen (Yep! These minivans were equipped.  They do not mess around!), eat lots of food, and again see Taiwan in a new and beautiful way.

We arrived to Yilan around 7:00 p.m. - perfect time to eat dinner at a night market! Everybody has talked to me about the night markets here in Taipei! I had so many ideas and expectations leading up to my first time and I have to say it was pretty great. They are really crowded with people, and there are many unique smells in the air coming from the food! I was hungry which was a good thing because my host parents make me try everything and they make sure I am never hungry. I wanted them to do their thing and show me the best foods.  All week I had been craving corn on the cob, so I went to the first stand I saw with it! This corn was SO good, and so traditional Taiwan. My host parents were surprised that I liked it - it is fried and has a really spicy sauce on it - but I loved it! I also tried a traditional Taiwanese vegetable pie thing that I still cannot pronounce.   The fried chicken (a chicken foot!), which all the kids were very happy I tried - then washed it all down with some watermelon juice. It was a great first experience at a night market!

 After the night market, we jumped back into the minivans and caravaned up to the bed and breakfest which we would be staying at for the night! When we arrived, we unloaded, checked everything out, and then rode bikes around the near by park. The parents ate some more food, and then we celebrated two of the little girls birthdays to finish the night off! I was surely ready for my bed after the day.

On Sunday my host parents and I rode our bikes around the park! We were on the side of a river and surrounded by mountains which was very pretty. After breakfest and morning tea with the other families, we headed out to a Taiwan whiskey, coffee, and tea factory. We toured the factory and I got to taste some unique teas! I had to leave everyone early because I had to be back in Taipei for some meetings with Rotarians.  The weekend was very exciting and I am grateful I got to see a small part of Northern Taiwan!

A little side note! It is Wednesday the 19th here in Taiwan. Today offically marks one month being here in my new country and one month being away from my home country and family! I am very grateful for all of the experiences I have had in just this last month but I am even more proud of myself for learning and growing through some of my challenging times here! Although I still have a long road ahead of me, I am excited for the adventures, challenges, and triumphs that I will be able to go through while on it! I know I have a team of supporters back there in Colorado and elsewhere in the world - I appreciate you and thank you! To my family, to write in words how much you mean to me and how much I love you is simply too hard. I love you!

Anna