Sad to leave Eastern Taiwan..

Our three-day excursion in Eastern Taiwan has sadly come an end. I am from an area that greatly depends on the farming industry, which is very open and uninhabited. This is a distinct feature of Eastern Taiwan, so I can really appreciate rural areas that have many farmlands. The crops that are grown there are very interesting as well. Previously, I’ve never seen a pineapple plant or rice patty in person. Our tour guide told me that most of the crops are planted and harvested completely by hand. Which tells me that the work ethic of the Taiwanese people is something to be admired, because farmers in the United States mainly depend on machinery with GPS, air conditioning, and many more comforts that they go without. We also visited an Aborigine tribe that lives in the hills of Eastern Taiwan. They had a choreographed routine that which included singing and dancing. It was a great experience to be there and witness their culture. They relied on making money from their performances to keep the tribe together. If they cannot raise any money from their singing and souvenirs, then they will be forced to move to the city to find a job and support them. The tour guide also arranged a meal for us to eat while visiting the Aborigines’. The food was prepared by them, and included many delicious plates like fish, harvest rolls, rice, steamed cabbage, and much more. I probably enjoyed this food the most out of all that we’ve eaten so far in Taiwan. But honestly, I’m ready to start eating some sushi in Japan. Taiwanese food is somewhat limited in selection, and the food that I enjoy eating limits it even more. I’m excited for out “free day” tomorrow. I plan to meet with some of the students from Tamkang University and go to the zoo. From what I hear, it’s the biggest zoo in all of Asia. Wish me luck!!!

Beautiful Scenery

Today was the second day of our Eastern Taiwan excursion. It has been mind blowing so far, and the landscape is breathtaking. Being born and raised in Michigan, I rarely get a chance to visit any mountainous areas. And the mountains that are here dwarf anything that I’ve seen before. Taroka Park has been the most immaculate landscape that I’ve seen, and I doubt that I will ever see any landforms that can compare. The way that the limestone and marble reflected the sunshine that cut through the park was very picturesque. And so far, I’ve been very pleased with the guided tour that Mike has given us. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of the Taiwanese people, not to mention very friendly. We also had a great time white water rafting. The rapids weren’t quite what I expected them to be, but none the less- it was still great. I don’t think that I’ve laughed so much in one day in my whole life. It was also fun to go scavenger hunting for Dr. Peng’s camera in the river when he dropped it in the water. The teamwork of rafting was interesting. I really learned a lot about my classmates, and how each of them handle pressure situations that include both following and giving directions.

GREAT TIME!!

We’ve been here four days, and I already feel like the trip has more than paid for itself. The guest speakers that have spoken for us were very insightful and knowledgeable in their field. They all had detailed information about the current economy of Taiwan, and how it affects the entire world. Which is interesting because the country has an exceptionally large export business, but still maintains its long lasting values and is relatively small in land mass. I learned that Taiwan has nearly mastered the complicated process of manufacturing and distributing their high tech products. But undoubtedly, my favorite experience so far was visiting Tamkang University. The students and faculty are extremely friendly, and want to make the most out of every conversation. They are fun-loving, energetic people, from which American society could learn a great deal from. The class we “sat-in” was the best part. The groups of students that I worked with were much more interested in talking to an American, rather than participating in the group discussions. They told me that they would be traveling to Minnesota and wanted to know all the information I could give them about the states. They also enjoyed giving us a tour of the campus on Tamkang.

Pre Departure Jitters

I've shown up to the pre departure meetings, practiced some basic language skills, bought a new bathing suit (if needed), and I still feel nervous for this trip. I've completed all the requirements, and packed all my belongings for the trip. It is strange, how many times that I've actually ran over in my mind the possibility that I forgot something. I can be so forgetful sometimes, and I want to make sure that I am fully prepared to enjoy this experience to the fullest, and have a great time. I'm so excited I can barely contain myself, and the worst part is that I'll need to contain myself for more than 15 hours on an airplane!

Japan & Taiwan, Here we come!!