4ever Discovering
The Final Countdown: 10 More Weeks in Taiwan
Someone Pinch Me, I Must Be Dreaming
Before I left for Taiwan, all of my friends and family were telling me my time abroad would go by so fast, and I would be home before I knew it. I just figured they were saying that because that’s what you are suppose to do before someone embarks on a crazy one-year adventure. Well, let me tell you, it’s so true. My time in Taiwan has gone by so fast, it’s kind of scary to think about. I don’t like how one year can pass by so quickly; I’m only 24 and still have so much to see. Time needs to slow down so I can complete my bucket list before I die! (I am still determined to visit every country in the world!)
With only 10 short weeks left in this beautiful country, Emily and I have been busy trying to see and do everything on our list. We have every weekend planned from now until the end of June! For such a small country, there sure is a lot to see (so much we can’t even do everything we want). It just goes to show you how time passes when we blink. Sure, it’s important to stop and smell the roses every now and then, but when you only have a limited amount of time somewhere, you are working on a tight schedule. Who knew one year was going to be a tight schedule!
After 8 successful months living in Asia, I will give you the low-down on how I am finally adjusting to the culture here. I will say with pride, I can now successfully use the squatter toilet. That’s right friends, I have used it on several occasions and have realized it’s not as bad as I originally thought. The secret is you just have to get down REAL low. Along with my bathroom success stories, I can also order a milk tea in Chinese (well, kind of). When the worker doesn’t speak any English, I can say milk tea, cold, and no sugar. I am still struggling saying the size, but luckily I can just point to the cup for that one. It’s always funny when I try to order in Chinese, and then the worker can respond in perfect English. But hey, they want to practice their English just as much as I want to practice my Chinese. It’s a win-win situation.
I don’t consider myself a local by any means here, but I am getting very familiar with the Taiwanese way of life. For example, now when I walk down the street, I don’t always wait for the streetlight to turn green. If there are no cars coming, a local will just walk. It’s not illegal, people just seem to be a little impatient here. So to follow suit, I will walk with everyone if it seems safe (I call it ‘following the herd’). As much as the scooters still annoy me, I have begun to just block them out. I am getting tired of them weaving around me, so now I just don’t move. My philosophy is if they hit me, it’s their own fault. Sidewalks are for pedestrians, and it’s as simple as that. The scooters are one battle I will never win.
Because Taiwan is located between the two plate tectonics, we experience a lot of earthquakes here. Apparently, there are over 2,000 earthquakes here per YEAR. That’s insane. However, most of the earthquakes here are so small, only about 200 of them you can actually feel. I remember a while back when I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking my bed was shaking. I’m a pretty light sleeper, so even the tiniest noises (like a rat eating my reese peanut butter cups) will wake me in the night. At first I was scared. I thought someone was in my room, shaking my bed. And then, I calmed down a little and told myself it was probably just an earthquake (as normal as that seems lol), and fell back asleep. Surely enough, when I woke up the next morning, I googled ‘latest earthquake in Taiwan’, and there was one from that night! I went to school the next day and asked everyone if they felt it, and of course, no one did. I think experiencing an earthquake and a typhoon in Taiwan qualifies you as living like a local, and now I can say I’m 2 for 2.
I think one of the most challenging parts about living in Taiwan has been trying to stay connected to my Canadian life. Sure, there are western restaurants here I can eat to feel at home, but it’s hard to keep up with the latest events when I am in a completely different time zone. Now that baseball season has begun (thank God), I am back to struggling to watch the Blue Jays games. Luckily they aren’t starting off too hot so I don’t feel like I’m missing too much, but there is a lot of hype around the Leafs and Raptors too! It is times like this when I wish I was home, watching the games in a pub, feeling the positive vibes of our Canadian team making the playoffs. I know when the Jays were in the postseason a couple years ago, I skipped a few classes to watch their afternoon games at a bar (sorry mom). The atmosphere is just amazing; everyone coming together to cheer for their home team. I’m a sap when it comes to that. I love sports and beer, what can I say. It’s hard for me to find that here, because all of the games are aired in the morning. I don’t think drinking before 11 is legal here, but you never know. So, just know I am there in spirit, and am cheering on the boys from Asia!
Keeping with the Canadian culture here, Emily and I have FINALLY found beer pong in Taipei! I don’t know why it isn’t popular over here, but we have gone 8 months without our beloved game. When we saw this beer pong bar had reopened, I thought it was a dream (ok a little exaggerated). But still, I love beer pong, and I don’t want to be too rusty when I go home. I can’t have my brother beating me and give him that satisfaction. So to make sure we hadn’t lost our touch, a group of us went to play beer pong on Paddy’s Day. It was just like riding a bike, once we got playing, all of our skills came back. Now, Emily and I weren’t as amazing as we were in France, but there also isn’t a weekly tournament to practice here. Oh, how the cultures are so different. It was a great night to show our local friends how we party in Canada, and they loved it! (Are you really surprised?)
Well, with 10 more weeks in my home away from home, I can say that I am having mixed emotions about leaving. Of course I am excited to go home and see all of my family and friends (and I mean beyond excited), but I am a little sad ending this chapter of my life. This was my first full year living abroad, and my first year living as an official ‘adult’ (gross). My time is France was so different than Taiwan. Here, I actually have responsibilities; I can’t take a week off of school to travel. My kids are relying on me to be here every day. This chapter has been filled with many different emotions, and many lessons learned. I learned a lot about myself as a person, and as a teacher. I am so thankful for yet another amazing opportunity to see myself grow into the woman I am today. One year is almost over, but I still have a lot left to learn! I will see everyone very soon; be ready to have a few caesars with me when I get back on Canadian soil.
PS, only 71 more days until I get to see my mom!
