Uniform!

I finally got my uniform today! Now I can send in some pics next time. Here is my school schedule:

-Monday: Math for 2 hours, Multimedia Design for 2 hours, Self study for 1 hour, Handicrafts for 2 hours, P.E. for 1 hour.

-Tuesday: Help in Kindergarten for 1 hour, Sewing for 3 hours, Chinese for 2 hours, P.E. for 1 hour, Self Study for 1 hour.

-Wednesday: Cooking for 4 hours, Class gathering, school gathering, and then club. I don't know what I club I will join yet.

-Thursday: help in Kindergarten for 1 hour, Crocheting for 2 hours, Self Study for 1 hour, Clothing Design 2 hours, Chinese for 1 hour, Piano for 1 hour.

-Friday: Activity Design for 4 hours, Piano 2 hours, Children's crafts for 1 hour, Self study for 1 hour.

I am very happy with my schedule, and I think it is going to work very well. I am having a lot of fun, and studying plenty. The weather is still insane, and I hope it will clear up soon. Cooking class is my favorite, along with sewing and fashion design, and the moon cakes turned out delicious. Moon cakes are a traditional pastry during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The ones we made were stuffed with green bean paste and some other ingredients that I don't know what they were. I have cooking again tomorrow, and I have no clue what we are making, though my Chinese teacher suspects we will make a different type of moon cake. The Mid-Autumn Festival is this weekend, so that should be fun.

Here are the answers to the new questions:

I call my host mom 'Jenny' or 'A yi' which means aunt. I call my host dad uncle or Jin.

I do live in an apartment, but it is huge. It is 4 stories tall, and each floor is a good size.

I think about 400 SCRATCH THAT 1,200 STUDENTS IN MY SCHOOL students in my school, but I am not sure.

Their are 3 types of high schools. Schools for people that want to major in history and language, and those that want to major in math and science. Vocational high schools are also very common.

People get to choose what school they go to.

I am about 120 miles from Taipei, and 30 from Taichung.

Thank you for all of your support. I feel the love and prayers all the way over here. They have kept me going strong when I am weak. I love you all!

Zai Jian

Monsoon!

We have had at least 3 monsoons in the last week. The weather has been insane, monsoons aside. It is always hot and humid. It can be sunny in the morning, and raining the whole ocean down by lunch. I started riding a bike to school this week. It is relatively flat, so it is a quick, simple ride. This week, I also started my schedule. My only academic classes are my Chinese, and one math class on Mon. Tomorrow, I have cooking all morning, and I heard we will be making moon cakes. My classes are going well, and I am having a lot of fun. I do not have a uniform yet, but I promise, their will be pictures as soon as I do. Here are some answers to the questions I have received:

I am in math class with the first years. I am not sure what level it technically is.

I am not sure if hibiscuses are naturally occurring in Taiwan.

I am not taking any science classes, but because my school is home ec. and bossiness, I don't think their are any.

I have no clue about the constellations. I live in the middle of the city, so their are a lot of lights all of the time. Plus, I am exhausted by the end of the day, and I fall asleep fast.

I don't think I will ever get to meet my host brothers. One is in Brazil for a year, and the other is in New Zealand.

My Host mom and dad are very helpful and supportive.

Thank you everyone for being so helpful and kind. Love you all,

Zai Jian!

School and vacation

Today was my second day at school. I have not gotten a uniform yet, but I promise, there will be pictures as soon as I do. My school is great, and everyone is very nice. I got to make my schedual today, and it is mainly electives and chinese. My only realy academic class is math. My host family is very nice. My host mom speaks some english, and is very helpful. My host father speaks no english, but is very nice. Last weekend, I went with my host family and the local Rotary to the Peiking creek resort and spa in the mountains. The girl in the picture is Jessica, her parents are in Rotary too. Thank you all for being so supportive.

Zai Jian

The Round Forrest

I finally made it. My bags are unpacked, and it is only 10:30. I am glad to finally be here, and excited for the days ahead. Sorry I didn't post on Tuesday, I kind of lost a day during the flight. I met some of the other exchange students at the San Francisco air port, and we traveled together until we went with our host families.

Zai Jian!

Flights

It's weird that the countdown has changed from weeks to days. I have gotten my 'ethnic costume' together, and it isn't half bad. All the final paperwork is being sent in, and all final arrangements being made. I don't start packing my suitcase for a few more days, but my room has been in the cleaning/packing process for a while now. One odd thing is that school at Placer starts tomorrow, and I don't have to go; not sure how my teachers are going to react. I'm a little nervous, but I am much more excited.

Zai Jian!

Almost there!

I am excited to leave, but a little sad. I am going to miss everyone, and everything. Especially English for a while. I have almost everything I need. It appears the only thing I am lacking is an 'ethic costume'. That took me by surprise. What type of ethnic costume am I supposed to wear? The only thing my mom and I came up with is western wear. I don't know. We will figure it out. I really appreciate all the support I am getting. Thanks for staying beside me!

Zai Jian!

3 weeks...again?

Yes, it is true. It has come to my attention that I have 3, not 2, weeks left. I will be getting my final departure date soon. Whenever I leave, it will be 2 flights. A short flight from Sacramento to San Francisco, and then I have my 10 hour flight from San Francisco to Taipei. I am itching to go, but their is often another hoop to jump through before I do. Everything seems to work out in the end, so their will be a new beginning. I have been asked a few questions in the last week. Here are your answers: Zai Jian means goodbye, and I do not have a planed big going away party. Rotary suggested I don't do anything big when I leave or get home.

Zai Jian!

Jenn