Happy (Chinese) New Year!

It has been a great first four days of vacation, and almost every day has been full. Friday was mostly full of sleeping, but that was very good. Saturday I had to go to a short Rotary thing. It turns out that we have to model a countrie's clothes. So this was the 'learning how to walk down a runway' day. Two of the other exchange students actualy are models, so we had some experienced teachers. It was not very exciting or pleasesnt, but I survived. After that, everyone went to Chilies and ate massive bacon burgers. That was quite enjoyable. On Sunday, my Rotary club had a lantern painting thing. It was fun, and I got to paint my own lantern. I don't know if I'll get it, but I did get a few pictures. I am going to Taipei tomorow, so I won't have time to make a post. Thank you for all of your love and support!

Zai Jian!

Vacation!

It is the final countdown until winter vacation! Only two more days of school until three weeks of getting up after seven. I am not sure what exactly I am doing, but it should be fun! The last two days, and the next two days, everyone in school is taking the final tests for this semester. Since I don't have any tests, I help out in the kindergarten during morning classes, and recover/study after lunch. School gets out an hour early because of the tests, so I get to go home at 4 o'clock. School in Taiwan doesn't normally get out until 5, that took some getting used to. The kids in the classes I help out in are great. They don't speak any English, so I am forced to only speak and hear Chinese. Their very nice, and often a bit crazier then I would like. Yesterday during recess, I played with two boys. All of the teachers are girls, and not much for wrestling. On Saturday I went to a gym with my host parents, and I lifted some weights. Wrestling for a bit did not help out my sore arms. I don't think I will every be able to lift a water bottle again. Life has been good, and I really like my host family. The rally was interesting, and it was definatly from Placer. It was weird to have the camera on the different side of the gym. I love you all, and thank you for everything. I still haven't found my stamps, sorry.

Zai Jian!

Oops.

So I'm a few days late on the post, sorry. My new family is awsome. They are very nice, and very helpful. Every problem I have, they seem to have a solution. I only have one more week of school until a three week vacation. These will be the first vacation days of the school year. I have no clue what I will be doing, but I imagine lots of Rotary and family activities. i finaly watched the video from Liz, it was wonderful. I tried to e-mail Mr.Schroder, but it didn't work. Could someone tell him about the blog, I would like to keep in touch with him a little. I am having a wonderful time, and I can't belive how long I've been here. I got th e-mail about figuring out my return date the other day. I don't need to figure that out for a while, but I already told my Rotary club here in Taiwan. Thanks for all of your love and support. It means the world to me that you want to keep up to date on my happenings. I love you!

Zai Jian!

Also, I can't find my stamps, so it might be a bit before I get any mail sent out.

2011!

This last weekend was crazy. The New Year's party was in Taipei. All of the students crowded onto two buses in Taizhong, which is about an hour from my house. Then, we took the 3 hour drive to Taipei. We got to Taipei at around five in the evening. We went off in small groups around the city for a little bit, and then we came back for dinner. There was a McDonalds right by where we parked, so we all ate there. Then, we waited for six hours until midnight. This time was spent by most of the exchange students hanging out with some of the other exchange students from Taipei. It was fun, but a few of us less party going types went to a nerby mall that had a twenty four hour book store. I have already finished reading "The Lost Symbol". When it was finaly time for the fireworks, we crowded onto a gazebo in the middle of a pond and wathed the five minute long firworks display at Taipei 101. After the first thirty seconds, smoke had obscured the details of the fireworks, but it was still a spectacular show. Then, when I got back to Taizhong (at 4 the next morning and having not slept at all), it was time for the hour long drive home. I stayed at my first home stay for two nights before going to live with my second homestay. On Sunday, I went with my second homestay to a potary place in the mountans, then we went to a mushroom growin factory. There, we ate mushrooms. They tasted good at the time, but not so good an hour later when we exited the car for dinner. We went to an Italian resteraunt, but I couldn't eat anything. Just looking at the food made me feel like running to the bathroom, wich I ended up doing. I stayed home from school on Monday, but I went to school today. I am 100% now, so don't worry. I really like my new homestay, and the shower in my bathroom (that's right, MY bathroom) is amazing. I got my presents for the Latham's and Liz, thank you so much! Good job Shayna on the craftsmanship!

Zai Jian!