Wow so it's been awhile and I apologize. I don't want this post becoming an unbearably long block of text so I'll just quickly write about what I've been up to for the last week and a half.
Monday (the 3rd) I went into Ximending with my friend Poya, who is a classmate at my school and she went on an exchange to Canada last year. She's been so helpful and I love spending time with her! We went to a tailor shop recommended by my other classmates so I could get measured/fitted for a pair of winter pants that would be okay to wear under the uniform guidelines. After finding the shop walking through some sketchy alleys I got measured in under 10 minutes and was told to come back next week to pick them up. We then went to have sushi for dinner. It was a chain that they have here and the sushi comes around on a little conveyor belt and you just pick what you want. Each plate is $30 NTD (about $1 USD).
On Tuesday, unbkownst to me, my class had started practicing for the english singing competition in a nearby MRT/train station. So after school we all loaded up on a bus and headed over there. This has become a daily thing now.
Wednesday I had my Rotary meeting which means I get to leave during lunch. I feel so lucky to have been placed with my club, everyone's so friendly and relaxed. After the meeting I went home and had the rest of the day off from school.
Thursday I went into Ximending (again) but this time for another American's birthday. We went and had dinner, which ended up actually being ice cream. After that we just wandered around and watched some of the street performers and popped into some of the shops.
Friday was more practice. We dance and sing and dance and sing and dance and sing. You get the idea.
Saturday and Sunday were spent...at practice. I spent 8 hours practicing on Saturday and 6 on Sunday, and I got there later/left eariler than some people. Even though I'm spending pretty much all of my free time going to practice, I'm having a lot of fun. It's also been super helpful for my Chinese because I'm listening to it for hours on end, save for the actual english songs. I'm at a point where I can now ususally say at the very mimimum, half of what I want to say in Chinese.
Monday I went into Ximending to go and pick up the pants with Poya, and even though we were only there a week ago we still had difficulty finding it. Oh well. After I picked up my pants we headed out to dinner again, this time Italian food the first I've had since I've been here. While waiting for seats at the restaraunt we looked around in the nearby shopping area and I'll be heading back there for sure. We finally got seated...and it felt so weird to not be using chopsticks and an "asian" spoon (I don't know what to call it for lack of a better term). I wanted to pick up my soup bowl but I couldn't. It seems so much easier to eat like the Taiwanese do, I'll have difficulty adjusting when I get back.
Tuesday and everyday up until today has been pretty routine, school and practice. I get out of school at 4pm while my classmates get out at 5pm so I spend an hour waiting around in the library for them. At a bit after 5 we start heading out of the school and grab dinner on the way. I never know what to order so I just ask my friends what's good, and they haven't led me astray so far. We then practice for the next few hours, usually we're done by 8 or 8:30. My friend and I take the same bus home so we chat and I get to learn more Chinese. I'm going to be a bit sad when this is over with.
This weekend I have practice again. The compeition is on the 21st and I'm also helping to host. I've got a Chinese final/proficency test on the 24th (yes that's right Christmas Eve). And I'll probably be attending school on Christmas. Winter break in Taiwan falls whenever Chinese New Years is, which I believe will be at the end of January/Early February this year. So no break for me until then. January 3rd I'm switching families and moving faaaaar away, I think my commute to school wil be at least an hour. I've been here over 100 days and it's freaking me out than I'm about a third of the way done with my year here. Needless to say I'm still loving it here and having the best time.
-Abbie
