A Quick Update

It's been over a week now since I've written on my blog because I have been so busy, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm doing great and everything is going great. I am on my 4th week of classes and have 2 more weeks left to go. It's gone so fast!

Here's me on my last day of calligraphy class. I look like I'm doing a lot better than I actually am.

Last day of my Globalization course with my friend Sarah. Plus, the view outside of my Chinese classroom. Wow.

Over the weekend, I went to Hualien which is on the east coast of Taiwan. It was gorgeous. We went cycling and "beachin". We also went to Taroko Gorge National Park with the most beautiful mountains and trails. It was breathtaking.

We encountered a typhoon this week. Nothing too crazy. Just lots of rain and wind, but classes did get cancelled. My group of friends also celebrated a 20th birthday with our friend Lisanne. Tomorrow, I am headed off with my friend Yara to Kaohsiung for the weekend to see my uncle (mom's older brother), aunt, and cousins. We have our train tickets booked. I can't wait to see them!

Oh right, and I got my first sunburn. What is this?!? OUCH.

Anyway, love you guys! See everyone soon!

Deep Thoughts and the Past Weekend

I decided to spend this summer in Taiwan after finding out that the Italy study program I wanted would take several complicated hurdles...but honestly, things couldn't have worked out any better. 

I can say with absolute certainty that this trip is everything I needed and wanted it to be. I'm getting the chance to really be independent and get to know myself better. I feel like I'm still me but just a better version of me. I'm more relaxed, spontaneous, and adventurous. I've gained this new passion to travel and learn, and it just makes me so excited; I don't even know how to contain it! 

Something that I knew before but have truly gotten to understand is that risking your happiness for security is the greatest risk of all. If you don't love what you're doing or who you're with, it'll never be worth it, no matter the amount of wealth, pride, or convenience.

I don't know, but I suppose I just want to be sure that even if I'm scared to go a completely different route in my life, I will have the strength to do so. I will have the strength to choose happiness above all else. Success and wealth are often defined for us, but I think when we love what we do, success and wealth will simply follow and on our own terms as well. 

So yeah, I don't know where I'll end up after college. Maybe I'll start teaching right away, maybe I won't. Maybe I'll even travel and teach. Maybe I'll fall in love. Maybe? Haha. Whatever it is, if it's as beautiful as my journey so far, I'm not scared at all. I'm all smiles.

Deep thoughts over. Oh wait, and love your family! I love mine to pieces. They truly make a home a home.

Now, pictures of the last few days!

Trip to the Taipei Zoo

Hiking Up Elephant Mountain

Cycling in Bali

Boating in Tamsui

A Little Bit of Everything (Pictures!)

My first 14 days in Taiwan (in pictures):

*Note: I "stole" some pictures from my friends because I haven't taken as many pictures as they have. Also, you can enlarge the pictures by clicking on them (except a few of them do not work...I'm not sure why)!

The amount of food I have eaten is craaaazy. Night markets are super fun! Everyone here loves to go there to hang out, shop, and eat.

I've also visited lots of new places and tried new things.

Taipei 101 is the highest building in Taiwan. Below is a picture of me with some friends and a view of the city at the top.

The Taipei Gondola is an air lift up a beautiful mountain where there are temples and tea houses. The floor of the gondola was glass! I'm conquering my fear of heights a little at a time.




I also visited a glass museum where I saw the most beautifully crafted glass. There was also a stunning glass temple nearby.

Over the weekend, I spent some time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They mean the world to me.

...and tonight, I started the first of my two calligraphy classes.

No, I did not write that. Haha, but my instructor did, and that is my name in Chinese. I love it.

I can't believe I am already 1/3 through my summer study program! The picture to the left is of my college campus. Doesn't it just make you want to go to classes? I don't know how I'm ever going to say goodbye to my new friends and this place I call my first home. Perhaps, it will simply be a "see you later". 

I'm in Love

I arrived to Taiwan on Friday night. All of my flights went super smoothly, and I only ended up with a 10 minute delay on my last flight. I also didn't get lost. Thank goodness! I met some really great people at the airport and on the plane, and although I don't think I will ever see them again, there was something special about forming a friendship in that 10 minutes or that 13 hours that will last forever.

My uncle and my baby cousin

I saw my uncle right after I grabbed my luggage and headed toward the exit. I was ecstatic to see him. He drove me back to his house, and there, I spent Friday and Saturday night. I was pretty tired Saturday, so I stayed in and played with my cousins. One is 6, and the other is 10 months old. They are both so incredibly adorable. 

I was dropped off at my dorm on Sunday afternoon, and I would finally be by myself for the first time since arriving. My uncle showed me how to get to my campus and even the stores around, and then he left, so I could settle in. Surprisingly, I felt fine...maybe a bit lonely, since I did not know anyone at all yet, but I was fine.

At the night market with friends

The first thing Monday morning was orientation and in the afternoon we had our Chinese placement test. I finally met some classmates, and we went out for dinner that Monday night. There are around 65 people in the summer program, and they are from all over the world. I have friends now from countries like the Netherlands, South Korea, Finland, and the UK. It has been so much fun getting to know them! I have "Sustainability in Taiwan and East Asia" from 9 AM to 12 PM, and my Chinese class from 1 PM to 4 PM. So, for these last few days, I have just been going to classes and hanging out with friends (and eating yummy food, of course)! It's been perfect, and well, I'm in love with Taiwan.

Off to ride the Taipei Gondola (which is just an air lift) around some temples! Oh boy, heights!

Hope all is well! :)