ROTEX Weekend in Pinglin!

December 22nd and 23rd, surely a memorable weekend spent with my fellow exchange student friends in Pinglin!

We had all attended school already that day, as a pre-make up day for the upcoming New Years Day. We loaded up on the bus around 6:00p.m.and headed about an hour away from Taipei to a little mountain village called Pinglin. We arrived to our location at around 7:30 p.m. and immediately began a quick set up in our rooms. We had three huge, separate rooms that we could put our sleeping bags down on. Yes...sleeping bags...that was a two weeks struggle to find someone who had one in Taiwan! After set up, we headed to a big pavilion and we ate dinner. Food and exchange students...two things that mix way too well with each other. Homemade dumplings, salads, and as usual, the Taiwanese like to throw in an old Western standby,  we had some pizza too. Ha! Once dinner was finished, there was a group meeting and then it was off to our rooms for a quick change into the fluorescent clothing we were asked to bring  for our dance party! The colors were bright and the dance party was fun! We all danced together.  We also danced by nation and song and laughed a lot.

When the dance party finally came to an end, we began our next activity. In groups, we engaged in a famous Taiwanese tradition of lantern flying. Everyone wrote our wishes, thoughts, and beliefs, all over the lanterns. Then around 12:00 a.m., we lit them and they flew into the sky which was very cool! It was an extremely long day for all of us since we had school all day to begin with. So, we headed to our rooms. Despite our long days, nobody slept. We were up all night talking and playing cards!  Just as you might expect it would go, when you have fifty students together for sleepover!

In the morning, there were a lot of yawns. However, the extremely cold air and rainy day that we were given seemed to wake us all up. We ate our breakfast and then had our gift exchange! We had a Secret Santa and all exchanged little gifts. Many studentsv gave gifts from their home countries.  It was really unique for us all. Then, we began the morning games! We competed in a few fun games with each other and shared many memories. A great morning of team building morning for sure.

Barbecue time was next! It felt so nice to sit by the warm fire and somewhat warm up, and to eat all the delicious food. We sat around the little grills and barbecued like the Taiwanese do. All different meats, tofu, some veggies, and Taiwanese soup too. It was really cool!

It all came to an end way too soon!  We watched a fun video presentation of our time together and remembered all the great times we had with each other during this once in a lifetime weekend.  All the exchange students then engaged in a little activity and each of us received a little gift. It was SO special!

Overall, this weekend spent with my exchange student friends was so much fun! It was nice to support one another and share with each other this very unique holiday weekend. I know we will all remember this weekend for a long time to come and will cherish the amazing moments we had together. From the moment we met each other at the station that Saturday, until the we shared our last hug. I know I did!  I am so lucky to know and have my fellow exchange students with me during this year! Thank you ROTEX for planning this special the weekend!