5 Month Update!

Hello Family and Friends! I hope the year of 2013 is off to a great start for everyone. I cannot believe we are over half way through January now...this month has flown by! Today, January 19th marks five months in Taiwan, my half way point in my exchange year! WOW! I wanted to take this blog and share with you an update on me and my life in Taiwan.

These past five months, I have lived in four different host family homes. Without getting into details, I have had some unfortunate challenges with my first three families. There was a time that was very difficult for me mentally, physically, and emotionally. I gave it my all every day, which wasn't easy. I tried to find laughter, and smile each day. I felt in the end, there would be something positive in this whole experience.  My team of Rotarian's and my family back in the states were my rocks. I appreciate you all so much!  I have moved on and found happier, more exciting places in Taiwan! Throughout this time, I learned a heap about myself, Rotary, and two cultures. I have chosen to look at this as just "bumps" in my personal road to success on my exchange here in Taiwan.  Yes, at times these "bumps" felt like I was trying to climb Mt. Everest.  I made it over the bumps and to the top of Mt. Everest, eyes open wide and learning about the culture in Taiwan and more about myself than I ever thought possible. In hindsight, I believe these obstacles were not obstacles at all.  Rather the map to my success.  I walk proud knowing what I have accomplished in the past 5 months!

Taipei is a small, yet highly populated city.  I have taken advantage of it's size! I have explored so many areas, found favorite places. I know this place like the back of my hand! I have found Taiwanese foods that I thorougly enjoy - like really fresh fruit and vegetables, sweet potatoes, bao zi, red bean soup, taro, egg pancakes, Taiwanese ice cream, tea, beef noodle soup, and others. Eating is good! Exploring restaurants is a daily activity for my friends and I.  The transportation system here is awesome and it's how I get around the city daily. By 6:30 a.m. every morning, I am walking, taking a bus, then the MRT (Taipei's subway), taking another bus, walking some more.  When the weather is nice, I like to throw a bike into the mix! It is a really easy system and it has been a great part of my life here in Taipei.  Overall, I enjoy my commutes. I learn more and more about the people of Taiwan daily - their traditions, beliefs, characteristics and qualities. The coolest thing is I get to marvel at two cultures (US & Taiwan) every day- all the great things and the not so good things of both cultures. It is unique and thrilling!

Mandarin Chinese. An incredible language...and an incredibly difficult language to learn! Since October, I have been attending Chinese class at a language university here in Taiwan three mornings a week. This class has been wonderful and my Chinese has improved greatly. I am writing, reading, and speaking the language every day! I LOVE it! As of now, my ability to speak and understand is somewhere between 500-550 words and I can read and write 350 characters. I look back now on my first month here in Taiwan, all the headaches, frustrations, and the irritability I had with this truly foreign language being around me all day and not understanding it. It was very difficult. However today, and for the past couple of months I am actually craving the language. I try and speak with my classmates, teachers, people on the MRT, dogs...no I am just kidding. Ha! The hardest part of the language for me is the grammar. My class will always remember me yelling out  "And this is why Google Translate never works." Formulating sentences takes a lot and doesn't compare to English at all. I am so tired after class.  Learning this language takes my full focus! Every morning when I go to class and work towards improving my Chinese I feel good. It is a really great feeling to walk into Chinese class in the morning, instantly open my book, challenge myself throughout the class, walk out of the class and just wait for the moment when I can use my new knowledge! I have a final this week and then I will be moving on to the next level! Yay!

Along with my university classes, I am still attending my vocational high school. School is very interesting and a bit hard to always rap my head around. However, I have been doing it every week day since September 5 and it has become a large part of my life. I have created relationships with fellow classmates. I speak to them during P.E. class, and English class. Otherwise, they are spending their time studying. School starts around 7:30 a.m. and ends at 4:00p.m. everyday. Also I'm still spending two days a week at the farm for my horticulture department. I have been learning how to make flower arrangements which has been fun! My teachers also enjoy taking me on walks around the farm when it is nice, and showing me the flowers and letting me smell my favorite fruit trees and herb plants.

As of yesterday, I am officially on my first school break in Taiwan! Feels great. I will have a month break for the Chinese New Year. I am so excited for this time and have been really looking forward to it! I am hoping to travel down South in Taiwan, see some sun, and visit another area of Taiwan. This break is my time to really explore Taiwan, get out of the city.  I will engulf myself in what is has to offer. :)

From the last two weeks in November, throughout the entire month of December, and most of  January, it has been raining.  Raining hard, non-stop, everyday! I think we have had maybe six full days of sunshine in the last month. To be being honest, I really don't enjoy Taiwan rain. It is not like a rainy day in Colorado,  where everything smells good, everything becomes really green, and maybe it will be topped off by a great rainbow. Actually quite the opposite. When it rains in Taipei, all the dirt in the city is seen. It brings out all the terrible smells in the city. The rain experience in Taipei is just not super fun. But, it is a part of my daily life,  from morning until night and just like everything, I embrace it, full on. I have my great colorful rain boots, my bright umbrella, and my two rain jackets.  These items, combined with my smile, seem to make others smile and brighten spirits during these gloomy days!

Exchange students! I have a world of friends and it is so cool. Referring to all my friends by their country name is something most don't have the opportunity to do. I learn new phrases and words from all of their languages daily, along with Chinese. So many laughs! I also have a few Taiwanese friends here too. I have created relationships with a great Rotarian's and have created even more friendships with others outside of Rotary. I have written about people like Sister Mary Beth and the others Sisters. Meeting people and getting to know people is a really, really great thing and I love it!

A few years ago, my dad and I were watching the ESPY's together - at the point where they show the Top Ten moments of the ESPY's. I remember watching the video that contained the cool sport clips, the funny speeches, etc.  Then a clip came on and my dad looked over at me and said "Anz this is a good one!". It was Jimmy Valvano's ten minute speech that my dad and I watched together that night. This speech has forever implanted some important words into my life.  I have referred back to this speech many times, especially these past five months here in Taiwan!  First, he said that you should spend each day in some laughter, and thought.   Everyday, I cherish the moments that I am laughing and smiling no matter where I am or who I am with. It really feels good! I also spend a large collection of my time in thought. Thinking helps, most of the time! I find when you think about something, you are learning. He also said that you should have your emotions brought to tears, whether it be happiness or sadness. Crying is a great form of therapy and I have had many days here full of sad, powerful tears.  But also with nice, happy tears! As Jimmy said, "Now, that's a full day!" The second point he had is that you should have a dream and be able to work to keep it alive with enthusiasm, despite problems. I have a dream about where I want to be at the end of my exchange year. Throughout these past months I have had some pretty major bumps to get over and mountains to climb. I believe my enthusiasm and determination to succeed here in Taiwan, has pushed me forward into great places! I am keeping my dream alive!  The last thing Jimmy V said was that you should always know where you started, where you are, and where you are going to be. Five months ago I started this incredible adventure of lifetime back in beautiful Vail, Colorado with my amazing family. I left behind everything I ever knew and traveled across the really big ocean to Taiwan. I am here, living in an entirely new culture, speaking a new language, I have met many new friends, and I am a changed girl.  Time goes by so fast, before I know it, I will be back in Colorado with a new set of challenges.  I hear that something called "reverse culture shock" might be among these challenges!

Rotary D5470 have been incredible over the course of my exchange! Their support, kindness, and overall enthusiasm for exchange is moving. I continue to gain more and more respect for the volunteer Rotarian's back in Colorado who have put so much time and effort into this incredible program. I am proud to be apart of this program and represent a great District,  5470 Rotary back in Colorado. Thank you so very much for the experience you have helped give me and for your goodness!

I would like to take this time to say thank you to my parents Jana and Steve and my brother Zach! I am so blessed to have the most selfless and supportive three best friends. I miss them everyday but you know what they say - distance does make the heart grow fonder. I am so proud of my family! Love you!

Thank you for reading my blogs and supporting my journey! More soon!

Anna :)