So while Halloween isn't really celebrated in Taiwan, I still got to dress up last Saturday. Rotex held a Halloween party for us inbounds Saturday night. Lacking the will to spend my shrinking allowance on a Halloween costume, I used a make up kit my family sent me from the U.S. to douse myself in fake blood and become a zombie. The real fun though, was riding the MRT alllll the way across town, needless to say I got more stares than I usually do. The party itself was good, there was pizza(!), lots of good costumes and dancing.
Sunday my mom and I hung out and watched movies. We watched an American movie but one of the characters was a Chinese girl and she occasionally spoke in Chinese, and I could understand! Sort of, there were subtitles when she spoke Chinese but had they not been there I think I could have figured it out.
Monday was a typical day for me. University from 8-11, then off to my high school with only 3 classes left, which are music, art, and math. After school I went to my grandma's and ate a lot. I got to try a traditional wedding cake though! When people get married in Taiwan, the bride gives out cakes to her family and friends. The cake I tried was more traditional and it had a filling of pork and red bean which was really good, whereas three months ago to my American palate it would have tasted a bit odd.
Tuesday was a productive day. Last Friday I got my winter uniform, but not everything fit. So after swimming our counselor, Ms. Wu who is the go to for the exchange students here, took me and Oceannee to grab new uniforms that fit better. On the way back from picking up uniforms, we had the chance to crash the yearbook. I think that the yearbook at my school only has individual pictures of the graduating class, but being exchange students we got asked if we wanted to have our pictures taken. And so I will appear in the yearbook with my hair half-wet and in a messy bun, red faced from swimming. After pictures it was just a few minutes until class ended and lunch began. So Ms. Wu let the two of us go and buy lunch before the rush hit. We sucessfully bought our food and drink. Oceanee has a friend from a different class who asked if we could help in the short film her class is making. So during lunch the two of us were interviewed about our lives here and such.
Wednesday, Halloween! I brought my classmates some candy from the US, but that's about as festive as my day was. For my Home Ec. class though we in a way made costumes. We had an assignment in which our groups had to make an outfit out of newspaper for one of our group members. Thankfully I escaped being the model, as my group kind of made our outfit rather horse-like with hooves and a tail. Other groups were kinder to their models and somehow managed some impressive newspaper crafting feats, I'm talking about braided straps and newspaper rosettes. After school I had been invited to a lifeguard training class at my school . Please no one drown in a scenario which would involve me throwing you a rope. I cannot throw a rope to save anyone, but I'm fairly adept at swimming with a dummy and bringing them to safety.
Thursday we had yet another test in Chinese class, but I'm glad we get to move on to some new material. I went back to the high school a little bit earlier than usual. We've finally started practicing for the English Singing Competition, though I believe I missed the first practice. Whoops. But I wanted to find out what group I'm in and when we practice so I don't miss anything else. And I only see my classmates for lunch on Thursday, hence the earlier return time. But I learned I'm in a group with one of my friends and we practice on Friday (today)! I also somehow found myself in a tug o'war compeition with some of my class. We went and practiced during nap time and I believe our compeition is today.
So it's still early here and I have singing practice and tug o'war left so I'll update you later on how that goes.
-Abbie
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