Mahjong, Dumplings, & Pottery

During my break from school for the Chinese New Year, I have engaged in three traditonal Taiwanese activities - Mahjong, dumpling making, and pottery.  I spent two days learning how to play the game of Chinese Mahjong. Many in Taiwan play this game over the break celebrating the Chinese New Year as well as throughout the year. Mahjong is is a game of  four people sitting at a table, and is a game of strategy, a bit of skill, and luck. Learning the game was difficult, but I  have the hang of it now. My fellow exchange students also engaged in this fun day with me. The next day, we had actual competitions. I don't have too much luck with this game and didn't win one game, but am glad I had a chance to learn it.  We all laughed alot while learning and playing Mahjong!

Dumpling making! Yes, it is about time that I learn how to make these.  I smell dumplings every day as I move around the city, and eat them at least once a week. I learned and made all different kinds of dumplings, and different ways to design them. The Taiwanese take their dumplings serious.  I was learning from a few host moms, who seemed like professional dumpling makers. I have not quite mastered the twisting and stuffing.  However, they looked good and tasted like a dumpling. I will surely cook a batch when I am back in the US!   

One day during break, all of the RYE students traveled to a little village outside of Taipei called Yinghe - which is known for it's pottery. We created and designed our own bowls and vases out of chunks of clay. We learned different techniques on the machines to create these pieces of art. It is a lot harder than it looks. We visited the famous pottery street in the village as well. The street is full of beautiful pottery that the Taiwanese enjoy having in their homes.

All of these activities were a fun way to spend time with my fellow RYE friends over the break and learn more about the culture.  Stay tuned for my next blog with more about how I spent my month long break! 

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 :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season with family and friends!

Christmas was especially different for me this year. As some of you may or may not know, the country of Taiwan does not celebrate Christmas. The holiday was actually forbidden years ago, under the last presidency. Many Taiwanese don't really understand the entire idea of Christmas, but really are in envy of the all the presents! This was a difficult thing to grasp! I tried to share with them a little bit of the history and also share with them some of the Christmas spirit. I gave candy canes, chocolate kisses, peppermint candys, and I even made my family's recipe of Coconut Joys for them! It was an interesting atmosphere.  I tried to make the best of this new holiday experience.

Over Christmas weekend, I had to spend my Saturday at "Saturday" school. Saturday school is something that the schools do when they want a holiday. In this case, it was for the extra day we got off on New Years Eve. I spent the rest of the weekend with exchange students on our ROTEX  getaway, which was nice. On Christmas Eve, I enjoyed a night at my friends house with seven of my closest RYE friends! Since we were  all from different countries, we each shared in some of our own holiday traditions, added some Taiwanese things in, and then created some of our own too. For all of us, we were surely missing some of the traditons and things that surround this time of the year. So, we tried to stay busy and keep each other laughing, which made for a nice night.

Christmas Day! Well to start off, it was a super sunny and hot day, and I wore flip flops! Not the white Christmas I have had for all my life. I had school on Christmas. Yes...school. Luckily, I had language class in the morning, so I was able to spend it with my RYE friends. I was given the afternoon off from my high school and went to lunch with some friends. In the afternoon, I spent the afternoon at home, opened  a few cards and boxes I received and really just took time to reflect on how I was feeling. Being away from my family on Christmas day and not being surrounded by the things that have been a part of my life, for my whole life, was new.  But, I couldn't do anything about it.  I embraced this time without it. I was able to SKYPE my family back in the states that evening which was a nice way to end this day! I really believe that Taiwan not having Christmas was a blessing for me.  I was strong, happy, and again took the time to do my best to enjoy it!

New Year Eve! I spent the evening at one of the biggest fireworks displays in the world at Taipei 101! The crowds were big, the little outdoor food market, the music, the weather, and the people surrounding me were all wonderful. I spent the night meeting exchange students from all over Taiwan.  We laughted smiled and enjoyed the atmosphere. I grabbed a great location to watch the fireworks. I totally felt like an Asian - I had two cameras and I was snapping away. Due to the crowds, I didn't arrive home until 4:00 a.m.. It was a really long and tiring night, but it was super cool to be at the fireworks display and ring in the New Year!

A unique holiday season in Taiwan to say the least! Happy 2013!

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!

3 Concerts in 3 Weeks!

These past three weeks I have rung in the holiday's by going to three Christmas concerts!

I attended my first concert at the National Concert Hall with my host mother and our neighbors. We listened to a French violinist play many classical songs. It was very interesting! Not my kind of music, but I take every opportunity to experience something new, and make the best of it. Sometimes I had to envision an orchestra behind him and then maybe Adele belting it out in front of him, but it was still good!

The second concert I attended was with my friend from Thanksgiving, Sister Mary Beth. We listened and watched many Taiwanese choirs, and famous performers.  We enjoyed Christmas tunes with some added Taiwanese twists! It was really nice to sing-a-long to the songs I knew in a great Christmas setting. Being with a great friend made the night even better! So thankful for Sister Mary Beth and her company on this night!

My third and last concert for the month of December was a fun one! I attended the National Concert Hall again, this time with five of my exchange student friends - France, Germany, and the U.S.. We watched a German and Cuban Percussion band called the Klazz Brothers. It was so much fun! There were five guys in the band, playing the piano, the bass, drums, and two Cuban men on the bongo's! Christmas meets Cuba - good classic Christmas songs with the cha cha cha of Cuban music. These men were fun and funny.  Being surrounded by a Taiwanese audience was all that more funny! Dancing and singing along to this great music was great and a unique way to try and get into the Christmas spirit.

I really enjoyed all three concerts and I am so happy I experienced them! Thank you to all who came along and included me these nights!

Coming of Age Ceremony!

An INCREDIBLE day! The Coming of Age Ceremony is a traditional ceremony that the Taiwanese take part in during their teenage years, symbolizing entering into adulthood and leaving childhood. On December 9th, District 3520 Rotary Youth Exchange students were given the opportunity to experience this full on! Pretty cool!

My day started at 8:45 a.m. at the Confucius Temple here in Taipei. We practiced our dances once in the morning and then we were able to take a tour of the beautiful temple and another one near by as well. Our tour guide was great and made understanding the beliefs and traditional values of Confucius and Taiwanese people very easy. The history dates so far back, and it goes deep, making it all a bit hard to grasp. However, being at Confucious' Temple, and reading his philosophies and principles first hand, along with the tour guide who was able to break it all down for us was incredible! I am now able to better understand and actually see his philosophies and principles in my host families and the other Taiwanese I have encountered. It was neat to make that connection.  I was able to look back on my time here in Taiwan and be able to say that I have talked about or experienced first hand various philosphies and principles actions with the people here in Taiwan!

After trekking through the rain with our umbrellas, we made it back to the ceremony location. We ate lunch and then began getting dressed in our traditional outfits. The girls wore red and the boys wore gold! The outfits made it all more real for all of the exchange students.  It felt cool to be fully engaged in the day!  Rotarian's, the US ambassador for Taiwan, and host families began to take their seats, and the ceremony began!

The Coming of Age Ceremony begins  by participants walking through the temple doors and washing our hands in a fountain made of banana leaves. Washing our hands symbolizes washing away childhood and having clean hands for entry into adulthood.  The RYE's were then seated and listen to remarks from the Rotarian's.  After the remarks, we begin to dance. For the past four Fridays, I have been spending my afternoons practicing traditional Chinese culture dances with the other RYE students. We practiced the Dragon dance, Weapons dance, and a famous Taiwanese hip-hop dance that our choreographer added some Gangnam Style to! The Dragon dance involved carrying the big dragon around and lifting people at certain times in the dance.  So, this dance was bested suited fot the the strong boys. The Weapon dance involves a lot of grunting noises.  I just couldn't pull this one off.  However, the traditional hip-hop dance, with a mix of Gangnam Style - was their pick for me! We shared the day with another Rotary District, so we had two more Fan dances from that District as well. The dances all went smoothly and it was both funny and so cool to see all the exchange students dancing a traditional dance in Taiwan after just four days of practice! One thing we exchange students seem to have in common -  we give it everything we have!  We roll with anything, and we love to smile and laugh!  This made the entire day even better!

When we finished with the performances, we began the actual Ceremony itself! We walk with our frame that includes our dreams, and our parents dreams for us. Then one by one, we slowly walk under a table and  pause while under the table, then,step out. Once this is completed, you move up to the stage where the girls hair is pinned by their parent and the boys are given their hat. Of course, we are in Taiwan, so there are thousands of pictures after!

The whole proccess was really unique.  I am so happy I was able to experience this ceremony! Thank you  fellow RYE students and District 3520 for making this such a memorable day!

Speech Competition

On December 1st, I participated in a Mandarin Chinese speech competition. I had signed up, not in hopes of winning, but rather to build my vocabulary, practice speaking Chinese, and continue in the Rotary way of becoming even better in future speaking engagements.

I was given a list of eight topics which I could choose from when I signed up, all having to do with Taiwan or Rotary International! My topic was "Why I chose to come to Taiwan for language study?" Writing my answer to this question came easy.  I am passionate about my desire to learn the Chinese language and it is one of the reasons I chose Taiwan for exchange!  However, translating this into Chinese, with the help of my teacher, and learning the pronounciation and meaning of each sentence, was incredibly difficult. There were a couple of times during my speech preparation that I questioned my desire to come Taiwan and learn this incredibly difficult language - which may not be the hardest language to learn, but quite possibly is one of THE hardest languages to learn in the world! Ha! The passion I have to learn and speak Chinese has paid off!

My speech went smoothly, although I was just a bit nervous! I was competing against foreigners from all over the world and also Rotary Youth Exchange students in Taiwan! I didn't place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.  However, the judges and audience members told me my pronunciation was impeccable and they thought my content was great. What an honor!  I won 600NTD for my effort. This will buy me a a couple days of MRT rides and a treat - which is nice!

I am so glad I entered this competition and cannot wait for the next competition so that I can see my improvement!