Hi everyone!
I have 2 days left. While the year has gone by really fast, these past few days have been really slow going. Everyday, I try and get things done like pack a little here, by some gifts there, hang out with the guys here and there, things like that. It's a little weird, actually how little time I have left. When I first got here, counting the days that I had here seemed like a never ending task. Now, I have enough days to count on one hand. Time, you are a tricky
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Today was my last day of school. And it was not as emotional as I imagined. From friends that have already had good bye parties at school, I've heard that saying good bye to the people you spent most everyday with is pretty teary, sad, and nostalgic. But, I didn't feel any of that. And that's because I feel like my class and I didn't become friends like we should have.
I think we are both to blame for me feeling this way. I did come to school everyday and I did sit in class, but I was shy and quiet, and my interaction with them was limited. There were some classmates that talked to me every now and then, but still, that was every now and then. When my Chinese speaking skills picked up, I tried to interact with them more, but whenever there was a stump in our conversation, they would speak in English or just end the conversation. They are partially to blame too. At the beginning of the year, I would often ask them if we could go out to a night market, get something to eat, or just go somewhere to hang out. Every time, their answer was, "Sorry, I have to study," or "My parents don't let me go out." That's understandable, and I left them alone. But then, when I was sitting home and checking out Facebook, I would see them in posted pictures going out to eat, having fun, and doing all things related to merriment. I felt alone, and I couldn't figure out why whenever I asked, they would always say, "No." Was there something wrong with me? Was I not what they wanted or expected? Why couldn't I be friends with them like Alejandro was with his classmates? I often ask Alej and Olivia these questions, and sometimes even other Taiwanese classmates, and the answers are, "They are shy," "You should try speaking more Chinese," and, "They are just dumb." Whatever the case, class is over. I did have good times, maybe not as many as others, but it is what it is. Like Alej said, I have to understand why things are the way they are. In any case, at least I didn't ruin my make up. My days left here are dwindling down to single digits, and to me, that means that I need to start getting things done. So, I created a sort of count down clock that will pose daily objectives to me, this way I can assure that my last week and a half are both productive and memorable. 11 days now!
How fast two weeks goes! My family arrived on may 26th, and have already left. It was really different, having my parents here and them being fully reliant on me, from finding breakfast to asking the price of a tea set, to giving the taxi driver directions to our next destination. My parents said that I have changed a lot, that I walk taller and speak more confidently than when I first left the US. I hadn't noticed the changes until now, but now I remember certain points in my exchange where I got certain... "growing up points"(?) and I guess I just most recently got to level up. Cool:) We went to many places and did many things, so much that I am finding it really hard to recall everything. Here is a brief list: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Sun Yet Set Memorial Hall Taipei 101 Danshui Jiufen Fulong Beach Raohe Night Market Shilin Night Market National Palace Museum Taipei Zoo and plenty of really good restaurants. Taking care of my family for the past two weeks has really been... exhausting. I really don't know how my parents do it everyday. What I found most challenging while having my parents here was finding places to eat. I hadn't realized it, but a lot of the things that I eat here are completely different from what we eat back home, so getting my mom, brother, and sister to try new things was sort of challenging. Some nights, the only thing they would eat was ramen from 7-11. Thank goodness for my dad, who did try everything I sent his way, if I didn't have him, I'm sure I would have given up really early in the visit and just taken them to McDonalds. Love you Papa! Other than being a little picky when it came to food, my family was amazing. We walked a lot, and I mean a helluva lot. I guess that because I have been here so long, a 10-15 minute walk has become no problem for me. I can't say the same for my family, though. I'm afraid I broke my mom's poor feet with how much walking I made them do. That is just what exchange has done to me. Made me a walker, not a driver. I hope that this change will stick with me when I get back, so then I can walk the 5 minutes to the grocery store, instead of driving to it. All in all, having my family visit has been a blast! I remembered all over again why I missed them, my brother and sister especially, finding that they haven't changed at all. And, it was great exercise for my Chinese speaking skills, though I feel that my speaking skills have digressed in recent weeks because my Chinese classes have ended. None the less, I was proud of how I handled having my family here, and I miss them a lot now that they are already gone. Thanks for reading, any questions or comments you have are greatly appreciated:) A. So it rains here, and it rains a lot. It was tough getting used to, and it is still strange, to not have sunny blue skies a majority of the year. But, that's change, and you get used to it. What this has taught me is a valuable lesson: Always carry an umbrella. It could be a completely fine, shiny day, when all of the sudden, the clouds gather and decide to have a downpour. Or, it could start out as a rainy morning, take a break for lunch, and then be back with vengeance for the rest of the day. It can really happen at any moment, any where. And that is why I always carry an umbrella.
I know promises have been made, time and again, (especially pertaining to this blog) and I'm sorry that I can never hold onto one. I want to make excuses, but really, there are none that inhibit me from getting online, for at least an hour, and writing a short paragraph about something.
But, as you can see, it has been a real challenge. I talked with my mom last night, and we talked about many things, and at some point the conversation turned to my blog and that while I am here, I have only two jobs: 1. learn Chinese, and 2. write my blog. So, to make job number two more fun, I'm going to do a Vlog. Yep, that's right. Now, instead of just reading my words, you can actually see me! Yay! I have 43 days left, so that means that I am going to cover everything that I have experienced and learned in this year, so be ready for a lot of me! Thanks for reading, A. I was reading some bad news yesterday, mostly about the continuing war in Afghanistan. It is a sad and terrible thing that, by now, we have not resolved anything, but have just made relations worse. Koran burning in a pile of trash? A writer saying that, "People who consider a book more sacred than human life really aren't worth fighting for."? (The Week 10 March 2012, Controversy of the week) Marines urinating on dead Afghans (The Week)? Are you serious? This is really what we are down to after more than 10 years of fighting?
I was shocked by all of this news because I thought, out of all of the countries in the world, the US (who is famous for being the Melting Pot of cultures, beliefs, and languages) is at the head of all of these controversial problems. Where are the officers who should be reprimanding the people responsible for burning the Korans? Would we not be horrified and enraged if someone burned our bible, our flag, or a copy of our Constitution or Declaration of Independence? I know that I would be infuriated by such an act, so that is why we need to understand how great the foul up was. We should offer a bigger apology than just President Obama's. Though one man represents our nation, he is not our complete voice. The world may be populated by one type of being, but we are all different. All cultures have evolved differently, and our world has become an interesting place because of it. My job as an exchange student is to learn about different cultures, learn why certain things are important, why some things are taboo, and respect those distinctions. Sure, seeing a group of people worshipping something that is inanimate is strange, and when it is a large group, it is scary, but we should be willing to listen and understand why they do what they do, because when we immediately shut them off, label them as dangerous, and show media coverage of the "bad" things that they do, we are denying them the chance to defend themselves and we are rejecting a chance to understand our world. We all have something worth fighting for; whether it is religion, family, or a personal belief, we fight with equal might for anyone. If someone wants to fight for a book, let them. If you fight to protect people, then fight for them. You fight for someone because you see that they are the kind of person that the world needs more of, regardless of their beliefs. Because someone's beliefs do not correlate with your own is not a good enough reason to refuse to fight for them. And as for the Marines, that is just disrespectful. The rule, "Treat others as you wish you wish to be treated," applies directly. There would be a huge ruckus raised if the reverse happened. What kind of things happen to a person to make them think that urinating on the dead is okay? Not only is this un-civil to the victims, it is insubordinate to what our military stands for. Do we really wish to be viewed as a world giant that does whatever it likes just because it has the power to fight off an repercussions? That is ridiculous. There is a code of respect that we all should follow, and pissing on the dead goes against such code. Those Marines, and anyone that engages in acts similar to it, should face consequences that are in proportion to their crime. How disgraceful. Our world was created for us. To appreciate all that we have, we should all be willing to understand one another. The Rotary International President's motto this year is, "Reach from within to embrace humanity." I believe that this exemplifies what we, as exchange students, are doing. We all gave a year, just a single year of our life, to travel abroad, and learn about a culture completely different from our own, all with an open heart. We, at our young ages, already understand how important it is to get out of our comfort zone and expand our horizons, all so that we can help make the world a better place. I truly believe that the world would be a better place if every student went on exchange to somewhere in the world, for a month, a semester, or even a year. Our world is gigantic, so why stay in just a tiny part all of your life? Despite our differences, were are Humanity. We owe it to each other to give everyone a chance. Taiwan's climate (during the winter) is pretty much rainy and mellow. But, there are a few days that sneak in that ridiculously windy and cold. Much like today. The reason this day gets a blog is because of how the cold gets to me, even when I am at school. So here begins the differences between school buildings.
The differences between these two cultures continue to amaze me. My time here is ticking down, so I feel a little more urgency to let you all know about anything and everything here. Is there some question you want me to answer for you?
Thanks for reading, A. In a typical American high school, it is normal to see a fair number of couples walking down the hall, hands held, exchanges hugs, or even sharing kisses in dimly lit corners. These acts have never been restricted, they are a part of growing up as an American and attending an American high school.
The high school scene is completely different here. It is rare to see a group of girls hanging out with a group of guys, and vice versa. That said, a girl and a guy actually dating, and hugging, holding hands, and kissing, is a huge surprise. It is strange to think, but the way girls feel about boys here is much like how we (American girls) felt about boys when we were 5: they have cooties and are gross. Boys, they are a different pickle all together. Not only are they painfully shy, but family expectations keep them from messing around with girls that they are not certain they will marry. How things "look" is a very important part of Asian culture. Not only do teenagers not date because of the variety of reasons listed above, but also because they don't want to be percieved as someone who does not focus on their studies because they have time to court a suitor. Some how, Boyfriend and girlfriend = lazy kids who are probably failing out of school. Parents are very concerned about their students education, so unless the student is the best in the class, or the parents are a little westernized, they will forbid, truly forbid (not the American dad thing where he says that you can't date until you are 30, but there you are in a homecoming dress at 16), the act of hanging out with boys or contacting boys unless it is for a school project. Sometimes understanding this is difficult, but I believe if I had grown up in this society, I would feel much the same way as the other girls my age, and I wouldn't question the rules my parents have laid down. It is an interesting difference, and one that I don't completely agree with, but that is what this exchang is about; seeing these differences, understanding where they came from, accepting them, and respecting them. We are all different, and the societies that we all grew up in are sometimes as different as planets, but we are all one race: one world. I'm glad that I have the oppurtunity to see something that contrasts so greatly with the culture that I grew up in, and learn from it. What I have come to understand about love, dating, relationships, and that very adult word that starts with an "s", is that it is much more sacred here than western culture holds it to be. Some people go through boyfriends or girlfriends like tissues in a box. And everytime, their view of love becomes a little distorted, and they lose sight of what they really need to look for in someone that they will stay with for the rest of their lives. Maybe I am too young, or just speaking out of ignorance, but I believe that American society could benefit from employing some of these rules. But, America is America, and although we are a very progessive nation, nothing like this could ever change. But, maybe changes could start with parents: establishing high expectations, laying down rules that can not be negotiated, and talking with kids about the importance of schooling, and that boys, even though they are starting to look handsome around their 17th birthday, do in fact have cooties, and are gross. So stay away! Let me know how you feel about this topic, I love comments:) Thanks for reading, A. For Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week, I rode on bus #6, of 16 buses, with my classmates down to Kenting, which is in the southern most city of Taiwan. It was a very interesting trip, full of speaking Chinese, teaching English, and experiencing a face of my classmates that I never knew they had. Here is how it went.
Day 1: We went to a science museum, mostly about water and electricity. Really boring, but there was this thing where you could put on a poncho and go into a room to experience a fierce storm: pouring rain, really high winds, loud noise. That was cool. I talked with a girl from my class named Fuji, she is really cool and nice. This night, the school had a stage set up on an outdoor terrace where a few students performed songs, acts, and dances. Then we had a big ceremony where we branched off and thanked our home room teachers for the all of their hard work. That was an interesting activity because, never, in the US, have a seen kids so dedicated to their home room teacher. (I've never seen a class trip either, just shows how different our countries are.) Day 2: We visited a national park and a light house very near the ocean. We were in Kenting by now, and it was wicked hot. In the afternoon we visited a marine biology museum and aquarium. I remember being really mad that day because my classmates were babying me like none other. They even told me that I couldn't buy ice cream when I wanted. Uh, whatever. That night, we checked into a really nice hotel and then went to the night market. It started raining pretty bad this night, and my TOMS got all wet. When I decided that I was tired of walking around in soaking wet shoes, I bought some HAVILINAS, some pretty popular flip flops from Brasil. Now, I have nice brown flip flops:) Alej and I hung out a lot that night too. Everyone kept asking if we were together, and we both kind of looked at each other like, "uh, no." He and I are just really good friends. Day 3: This day we visited a university in kaoshung. It is the National Sun Yat-Set University, and my home room teacher happened to have graduated from there back in the day. It's a nice university, right on the ocean with lots of sports complexes, but I think I will stick with Hawaii. This night's hotel was even nicer than the other two that we stayed at, unbelievably. This hotel actually has it own outlet mall and theme park attached to it, so it was a fun place to spend our last day. They had a really nice Nike outlet that I wanted to shop at, but I told myself that I haven't earned anything that I don't absolutely need, so no new running shorts for me! I did have a fun time with my classmates though, we played some video games at the mall, and then played UNO back at the room. Day 4: The last day of our trip is entirely dedicated to exploring the them park and driving back to Taipei. Alej and I met up and kind of just wandered around. I really wanted to see a movie, but there wasn't one that we could see in the time that we had. Oh well. I did get hit on by a creepy eastern european guy. At 10 in the morning. Gosh, so creepy. But it was a good day! I've learned a lot on this trip. 1) Classes are a family. Everything is structured around what the entire class wants to do, not what a single person wants to do. 2) These kinds of trips, in this big of size, are a normal thing in Taiwan. (we have a league of 16 buses) There are even special travel agencies that work with just students and schools. It's pretty cool because the tour guides are really fun people. 3) Doing a trip like this back in the US would be impossible. This kind of thing is ridiculously complicated, but crazily simple because everyone is in one single class, for the whole year. Also, since Taiwan is a really small country, driving somewhere new and fun is really easy. With our ever changing blocks and teachers, doing something like this would be extremely difficult. And the US is huge, so convenience would be a huge issue. Perhaps fun it would be fun, but I think the work we would have to put into it wouldn't be worth what we would get out of it. |
Amberly PittsI've always been fascinated by Asian cultures, so traveling to Taiwan is a dream come true! I like reading, writing, drawing and trying new kinds of foods. I have a rather large family (two brothers and two sisters), but I love them very much! And I love to play sports and sing:) Archives
June 2012
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