TYPHOON!!!!!!!!

The typhoon is starting... the wind gusts are REALLY crazy, it looks like it's raining horizontally!!! I was just out on the dorm porch (there is a big overhang) looking watching the weather... but apparently it's not THAT bad yet (although I am slightly terrified), people are still venturing out to 7-11 to stock up on food. The poor little dog that always sleeps on our dorm porch is just hanging out there, maybe by the end of the day he will come inside.

Crazy Weather!

So many typhoons! This weekend there is supposed to be a very severe typhoon coming, tomorrow is supposed to be the worst. My cousin said that if the typhoon directly hits Taiwan, it might be the second worst typhoon Taiwan has seen in decades... I hope it is not... although parts of Taipei are already flooded. The weather here is crazy... although none of the locals seem to think anything of it. Also, yesterday while my cousin and I were eating dinner, he suddenly said, "Oh, I think there's an earthquake!" Although, I couldn't feel anything. Strange weather they have here...

Today my CIEE group is going to a Confucius temple to see a very special ceremony. My program director, Christie, said that it is supposed to be extremely special because President Ma will be attending... how cool! Maybe I can catch a glimpse of him... Also, Christie said that there are some interesting religious musical procedures that go on, so I hope to document some of it to let you guys see. Today is also the day of the 2008 Taipei Gay Parade, and I really wish I could have attended ,but there is just not enough time.

Several of our CIEE members and our Taiwanese roommates went out last week for KTVing... it really is so much fun! Now I can see why it is so popular here, people are not shy when it comes to singing, no matter what quality their voices are (although, I feel that Taiwanese overall are better singers than us Americans... perhaps because they have had much more practice??) So, my first KTV-fest ended up turning into a giant party because there were so many people. Finally, during a Taiwanese pop song called "Bad Boy," all of our CIEE ambassadors just went totally wild and blasted their hearts out. It was SOOO much fun, I wish that we had this same hobby back in the states. I'll post the video so you guys can see how excited everyone got!

Well, we are about to leave for the temple soon, so I'll have to stop here. Also, one last thing, we are signing up for school clubs and I am very excited that they have a guitar club and also a Gu-Tzin club (a traditional Chinese instrument), which, if I am able to attend, will do so. And so will become part of my musical journey here in Taiwan. Ok, I'm off to the temple, I'll update again soon! ^^

-Tina

PS. Also, my address here in Taiwan (in case anyone wants to send me mail... hint hint... lol! Just kidding ^^)

Tina Chen
CIEE Taipei
Room 340202, Ji Tao Lou
National Chengchi University No. 64, Section 2, Zhi Nan Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan 116

加油! 加油!

Hello all! Sorry it has been so long since I have last updated. It has been a crazy few weeks, but I am finally feeling like I am settling into the pace of life here, especially since Taipei is like the New York of Taiwan -- fast, efficient, and never sleeps. After a week of trying out different level language classes we are finally in our appropriate places, and I must say that as much time as it takes me to write a 600-word essay in Chinese, I am grateful for every minute I put into it because I know it will mean one more step in this long process of learning Chinese. Also, all three of my roommates finally moved in, and their classes began yesterday. My room has a very interesting situation -- we are all Taiwanese by blood, but we all grew up in different countries. One of my roommates lives here in Taiwan, one grew up in Korea, one in Paraguay, and me, from the States. Although, all three of them speak and read fluently and are attending normal classes so at times I find myself slightly frustrated that I still struggle with the language, but then I remind myself that I am lucky to be here and just need to, as they say, "add more oil!" (加油: (jia you) literally means, "add oil;" a phrase that means, "good luck," or "Go! Go!")

My aunt (my dad's younger sister), who lives in America with her husband, also visited Taiwan for two weeks, so I also spent a lot of time with them while they were here. Together, we visited my grandparents (who also live in Taipei) and my other uncles, and also made a weekend trip to Tainan to visit some beautiful historic sites. It has been great seeing my aunt in Taiwan, since I have never been here with her before. Also, it has been great seeing so much family! Someday I will have to post my family tree so that I can better explain my extensive, complicated relative situation...

I am overall still doing very well here, and very happy with everything. My roommates, new classmates, and teachers are all amazing! I think that this weekend (this will be the second weekend I will have spent actually staying here at ChengDa instead of traveling to another city...) I will probably spend hanging out with my roommates, I hope to get to know them better. And also, next weekend I think I will be visiting my uncle and aunt (my dad's brother) in Taoyuan because I have never been to their house before and I have not seen my cousins since I was in 3rd grade!!!!!! Also, I am signing up for a speech contest that will be held in mid-October. It is a 5-6 minute speech on several different choices of topics. I am already nervous -- this is my first Chinese speech!!!

I hope everyone is doing well, I know school starts soon. Enjoy the last few days of summer vacation before it's time to hit the books again! ^^