First Day of School ^_^
"Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate."-Chuang-tzu
Ok I am going to break the last 3 days into three sections ^_^ Please enjoy XD
Chinese Wedding
Basically we went to this fancy placed called W Taipei. There were so many people that they had to have guests in two rooms and broadcast the wedding through live video . The Wedding was spoken in both Chinese and English. The guest were in the room where the wedding was going on and ourrotary club was in another.
The Son of one of the rotary club members was getting married.
So this is how a Taiwanese weddingworks :
-You have to eat 13 main courses (yes 13...I ate about 8 of them fully and the other five was half assed tries)
-You have a video presentation before the wedding begins and it showcases images and stories about how the couple met, fell in love and how the man propose.
-You can not say Good Bye at the end ofthe night. That bad luck.
-You have to have long speeches fromeach parent (on both sides) before the wedding begins
-No church (well not in this case)
-Both parents stay at the front during the ceremony. Then at the end the children hug there parents "Good Bye"
-The fiancee seeing his bride before the ceremony is totally acceptable. Actually the bests man will test the groom to see how far hewill go to see his wife (ex; the groom had to do 50 push ups)
-They test each bride and groom knowledge of how well they know each other (ex; what 3 movies the couple saw together)
Interesting enough the photos that photographer takefor Weddings, in Taiwan, look so much more professional and better here. I actually though there pictures were advertisement photos or magazine articles lol.
At the end of the nightyou get these little cards of the photos.
If any of you are wondering I was in the video broadcasting room ^_^ Though I did get to sneak in to the main room to meet other rotary members.
The Food was delicious ^_^ I amstarting to become accustom to Taiwanese food ^_^
And just to end this section with a bang. Here's some Engrish (mess up English)
District Orientation for Outbounds
This was on Sunday ^_^ It was 8:30AM to 5pM. I woke up early and my host ma and me went and pick up Minji (Korean exchange student) and her host family. Then we drove to the school where the orientation was being held for district 3490. It wasn't exactly boring. It actually went really fast. And I made a lot of friends. It just felt that the same thing was being repeated and repeated to us (the rules) in different manners (speech, presentation, ect). I know they were trying to get us to accept the rules but I got it after the fifth time I heard them hehehe.
Basic outlines:
-Listen to a bunch of speech from rotary people (in Chinese, didn't understand a heck of a lot)
-Had a introduction ceremony into Taiwan Rotary district 3490
-Learn Taiwanese laws and information about culture, culture shock and who to phone.
Taiwan is very conservative. I think I am finally realizing this. It okay to show as much leg as want but it the top of us females that is conservation. Taiwanese don't want NO cleavage. Of course look at the person who has no shirts that cover all my cleavage.
I must work on this. Taiwanese are people who will not be direct with you but hint at stuff. I have been scolded numerous times and it never once been a direct scolding. Common one: I don't speak enough Chinese. WHICH IS TROUBLESOM for everyone. I am being a burden because of this. I get the guilt trip (many people want to speak to me but can't because lack of Chinese).
Taiwanese will never call you on being immature or a burden they'll just show hints. This a cultural things which I have come to accept.
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During this orientation I got a lot of cell phone numbers, contact information and pins ^+^ My blazer is more lively now. I also got presented a pin from rotary Taiwan. For Lunch we had subway ^_^
First Day of School
So today was the first day of school It was the best first day of school EVER. I love hanging out with the other exchange students.
Basically I woke up at 6:10 and my host ma drop me off at the station and I took the MRT, by myself (for the first time), to school. Then I met up with Lindsay (exchange student from MRT) and Joyce (Lindsay's host sister).
We walk to school. My school is so huge. It amazes me each day.
-Met my class (in Taiwan it much like Canadian elementary school system. We stay in one class. Though since I got to pick my classes I might be a bit different haha). They're pretty cool though they don't speak English (which is good :D) but I didn't get to stick around long enough to make friends.
-I have Chinese classes 4 days a week (though this week it all week and all day ^_^ So basically I am with exchange students all day. Usually it only in the morning)
-Chinese class is fun and interesting.
-Other exchange students are funny.
-My school has air conditioning.
-We also have a 2 hour lunch period 0_0 <---I am including nap time (Yup, in Taiwan they have nap time)
-We are allow to leave the school at lunch ^_^ many restuarants are near (including a mcdonalds)
-No uniforms (for exchange students anyways). In Taiwan they have 3 years of High School. Each year has a different uniform. My class, 2nd year (16 years old), wear Green Shirt and black pants. I think I might want to wear a uniform <--- I am the only one who doesn't in a class of a 50 .
-No other exchange students in my class
-My school is a college/high school. College students don't wear uniform .
-One of the college students is a assistant teacher to our chinese class ^^ she is very nice.
-I now know how to right my name, by memory, in Chinese
No pictures but it was a pretty good day. Us exchange students went out for lunch to a Chinese Restuarant.
GUESS WHAT?? In Taiwan restaurant serve lunch food for 70NT (2$ Canadian). And I am not talking about a cheaply made lunch. This lunch for 2$ is probably the same to anything from 10 to 12 $ in Canada.
Also I am making progress in Chinese & Chopstick ^^
see you
~Maura~
Posted at 7:14 AM | 2 comments
.I hope you enjoy reading my oversea journey. Hopefully I can inspire others, like others have inspired me.
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