Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
From Ode - May 18
We are now upon the beginning of our third week in Taiwan.
Today, after our classes, we went to see Taiwan's formal President Chiang Kai-Shek's Memorial Hall at Freedom Square.
The site reminds me a lot of our Lincoln Memorial. While there, we had the chance to admire his statue and see the changing of the guards that stand on both sides of the president's memorial statue.
It was an interesting performance. After the performance, we browsed the museum located below the statue. It was pretty amazing site, and I made sure to get souvenirs. As we visited all these places, I found myself more and more impressed. There is a great deal of attractions in Taiwan. I never figured that there would be so many attractions on such a relatively small island. I wonder where we'll be next. Maybe we might end up at the mountains lol.
Till next time...
Today, after our classes, we went to see Taiwan's formal President Chiang Kai-Shek's Memorial Hall at Freedom Square.
The site reminds me a lot of our Lincoln Memorial. While there, we had the chance to admire his statue and see the changing of the guards that stand on both sides of the president's memorial statue.
It was an interesting performance. After the performance, we browsed the museum located below the statue. It was pretty amazing site, and I made sure to get souvenirs. As we visited all these places, I found myself more and more impressed. There is a great deal of attractions in Taiwan. I never figured that there would be so many attractions on such a relatively small island. I wonder where we'll be next. Maybe we might end up at the mountains lol.
Till next time...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
From Courtney - May 14
Today in class, we went over Lesson 3 in our workbooks. Zhang Laoshi (Teacher Zhang) helped us work on our listening skills.
This is a big help to me because when I first started learning Chinese I was very tone deaf. Now that I have better listening skills I can pick up on the tones much better. My vocabulary has increased tremendously and it is beneficial to me when I decide to begin a conversation with a Taiwanese student from the university. The more I study the tones and vocabulary, the easier it is for me to make sentences using proper Chinese word order. I know if I try harder and harder I will become better and better during my stay here, even if it is for just one month.
This is a big help to me because when I first started learning Chinese I was very tone deaf. Now that I have better listening skills I can pick up on the tones much better. My vocabulary has increased tremendously and it is beneficial to me when I decide to begin a conversation with a Taiwanese student from the university. The more I study the tones and vocabulary, the easier it is for me to make sentences using proper Chinese word order. I know if I try harder and harder I will become better and better during my stay here, even if it is for just one month.
From Courtney - May 6
Wednesday May 6, 2009Today was the day of the German Festival.
There were many forms of entertainment such as various shopping booths, music, dancing, and plenty of food.
I really enjoyed the musical selections.
Even a few of my classmates participated in a performance on stage while the rest of us cheered them on and took lots of pictures. I have really been enjoying my stay here in Taiwan.
I feel very safe and comfortable in this kind of environment. I
f I am able to I want to come back to Taiwan for another summer to study at Fu Jen University. I wouldn't even mind staying here a full year t go to school. I love it here just that much!
There were many forms of entertainment such as various shopping booths, music, dancing, and plenty of food.
I really enjoyed the musical selections.
Even a few of my classmates participated in a performance on stage while the rest of us cheered them on and took lots of pictures. I have really been enjoying my stay here in Taiwan.
I feel very safe and comfortable in this kind of environment. I
f I am able to I want to come back to Taiwan for another summer to study at Fu Jen University. I wouldn't even mind staying here a full year t go to school. I love it here just that much!
From Ode - May 14
Today was a good day. Time seems to be going by fast.
We are already at our second Sunday marking a little over a week of being here.
I must say that I needed this weekend. I finally got to rest up a little yesterday.
There is so much to do and learn here that we are constantly on the move with our studies and adventures. Today I went to one of many night markets that can be found in Taiwan, which generally open around six o'clock in the evening. My friend Desiree and I went to do a little shopping and looking around. I bought me a few pairs of pants, a couple of shirts, and a nice hat to top it off. Finding my size was definitely a hassle lol.
Mostly all of the sizes here were too small, but I finally found my size which is a 5XL in pants, 2XL in casual shirts, and a 4XL in formal long sleeve shirts. I can't say I had the same luck in the shoe departments. The highest size sold in Taiwan is like two or 3 sizes too small lol. Well it's time for me to call it a night. I'm exhausted.
We are already at our second Sunday marking a little over a week of being here.
I must say that I needed this weekend. I finally got to rest up a little yesterday.
There is so much to do and learn here that we are constantly on the move with our studies and adventures. Today I went to one of many night markets that can be found in Taiwan, which generally open around six o'clock in the evening. My friend Desiree and I went to do a little shopping and looking around. I bought me a few pairs of pants, a couple of shirts, and a nice hat to top it off. Finding my size was definitely a hassle lol.
Mostly all of the sizes here were too small, but I finally found my size which is a 5XL in pants, 2XL in casual shirts, and a 4XL in formal long sleeve shirts. I can't say I had the same luck in the shoe departments. The highest size sold in Taiwan is like two or 3 sizes too small lol. Well it's time for me to call it a night. I'm exhausted.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
From William - May 7
Thursday began as a usual class day, awake at 6:30am, language study from 8am to 12pm.
After class John and Zhang Laoshi (teacher) met us at the hotel to go into the city to get cell phones and go shopping.
After a short bus ride to the Taipei Main Station we had lunch there before walking down to the " Youth Travel in Taiwan Taipei " office to receive cell phones.
Unfortunately, only two students out of our group brought any ID with them except a passport, so we were only able to obtain 2 of the 4 cell phones they had available for us.
We then took a short bus ride over to the Xi Men shopping district to spend a few hours before returning home. There we split into 3 groups; Ode and Derrick went to go see the new X-Men movie (I heard excellent reviews from them.), Desiree and Courtney went shopping with Zhang Laoshi, while Chris, Jonathan, and myself did a little shopping with John.
It was a mostly uneventful evening there, though I did buy a new hat. Once X-Men was over, we all met up outside the theater to ride the bus home.
After class John and Zhang Laoshi (teacher) met us at the hotel to go into the city to get cell phones and go shopping.
After a short bus ride to the Taipei Main Station we had lunch there before walking down to the " Youth Travel in Taiwan Taipei " office to receive cell phones.
Unfortunately, only two students out of our group brought any ID with them except a passport, so we were only able to obtain 2 of the 4 cell phones they had available for us.
We then took a short bus ride over to the Xi Men shopping district to spend a few hours before returning home. There we split into 3 groups; Ode and Derrick went to go see the new X-Men movie (I heard excellent reviews from them.), Desiree and Courtney went shopping with Zhang Laoshi, while Chris, Jonathan, and myself did a little shopping with John.
It was a mostly uneventful evening there, though I did buy a new hat. Once X-Men was over, we all met up outside the theater to ride the bus home.
From Desiree - May 7
| THE SHOPPING HERE IS GREAT!!!! THE FOOD IS AWESOME!!!!! THE CULTURE IS TERRIFIC!!!!!! I have no complaints at all. This is a great opportunity for my classmates and me. I don't regret coming and I think everyone should get a chance to see something outside of their everyday norms for themselves. So far, nobody has got sick, or hurt (knock on wood!). NO JET LAG!!!!!!lol A lot of us are already preparing for our next visit for a semester at Fu Jen University. WO AI TAIPE (I love Taipe)!I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^_^ P.s. THE CLASSES HERE ARE INTENSE BUT THE TEACHERS MAKE SURE YOU LEARN YOUR STUFF. IF YOU KNOW MEI CHI ON A PERSONAL LEVEL THEN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THIS WHEN I SAY ALL LAO SHI(S) (Teachers) HERE CARE!!!!!!^_^ ZAI JIAN (Goodbye)! |
From Ode - May 7
Today marks the second day of class and the forth day of what is turning out to be a very enlightening experience.
I seem to have woken up at four o'clock again for classes that don't start till eight o'clock lol. I guess that's a result of excitement! or maybe jet lag.
Anyway, we are continuing to study, explore and interact in the culture here. Classes are starting off well. We are practically soaring through the lessons and improving our Mandarin.
Everywhere we step is literally another lesson. We are constantly being challenged with new obstacles in which I'm really beginning to grasp my potential. Plus I tend to eat a lot over here. Actually we all are. T
he food is sooooo cheap lol, and fresh.
We are already starting on chapter 2 today, learning about shopping and how to ask unit prices as well and a little bit of bargaining. We also had our first study session and quiz today, and of course everyone did well on it. Well that's all I got for now. Till next time.
I seem to have woken up at four o'clock again for classes that don't start till eight o'clock lol. I guess that's a result of excitement! or maybe jet lag.
Anyway, we are continuing to study, explore and interact in the culture here. Classes are starting off well. We are practically soaring through the lessons and improving our Mandarin.
Everywhere we step is literally another lesson. We are constantly being challenged with new obstacles in which I'm really beginning to grasp my potential. Plus I tend to eat a lot over here. Actually we all are. T
he food is sooooo cheap lol, and fresh.
We are already starting on chapter 2 today, learning about shopping and how to ask unit prices as well and a little bit of bargaining. We also had our first study session and quiz today, and of course everyone did well on it. Well that's all I got for now. Till next time.
From Christopher - May 1
|
From Jonathan - May 4
| Today was a very exciting day in our Taiwan experience. It was the first day of class. We were introduced to all of the people that we will have contact with as it relates to our educational experience. Everyone was very welcoming and nice which made me feel much more relaxed. Our teachers were willing to answer any questions we had about Taiwan and its people. I discovered that most of the people here, including our teachers, are just as interested in our way of life in America as we are in theirs. They also spoke Mandarin Chinese the majority of the class even though they were fluent in English. This allowed me to enhance my listening skills, and after one day my listening has improved dramatically but it still takes time to understand people sometimes because each region has its own dialect just like in America. Matter of fact, Taiwan has its own language although Mandarin Chinese is its official language. I am enjoying my experience tremendously and can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store. |
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