Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Page: I'm a Youth Ambassador. Now look what I have done!
When I think back on my last night in Taiwan I wasn't sad or even thinking about how the next morning when I would have to be getting on a plane and coming back home to Dallas. I was out with my host, DEMI, and others friends at the Taipae night market singing karaoke! Every Sha-la-la-la Every Wo-o-wo-o, the signature song! It was a great way to end the trip just hanging out with everyone. When we went back home we said our last goodbyes and took more pictures with the family. They also gave Kathleen and myself a beautiful flower necklace, which we both were not expecting. I began packing my bags to go home to Plano and my once disaster of a room was empty:(
I imagined what it was going to be like but could have only dreamt in my wildest dreams how spectacular it was going to be in actuality. I have learned so much about the civilization of Asia and grown a profound knowledge of the Taiwanese culture. I hope to travel back in the future and maybe even fly up to go see my student graduate next year!
I cannot thank Ms. Williams, Mrs. Sloan, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Jan, or Ms. Erma enough for allowing me this amazing once in a lifetime opportunity for me to be part of this delegation and a 2010 Plano Youth Ambassador. They have done so much hard work behind the scenes and are not credited, so thank you again! I must also acknowledge and thank the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, City of Taoyuan, The DFW Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Plano. I feel so grateful to have been given the honor and gone on this prodigious trip!
Farewell Taiwan!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
ryan: :'/
Well it is currently 5:12 AM on my first night back and what better to do with jet lag than write my last blog?
Well saying goodbyes isn't ever easy, but this one was down right difficult. People were crying and taking pictures and getting final hugs and laughing and ....singing? Well we all handle difficult times the best we can and singing seems to have brought this group together through every shalalala and every woahohoh.
The only thing better than the karaoke with my friends and old friends from Taiwan was my last night with my family. Despite my pleads they sent me back with a suitcase full of gifts for my family. The gifts were all very kind and perfect in every way, but the kindest thing that they gave me to take back aside from memories was an enormous card filled with kind words from everyone in their family. I only wish i could return their courtesy in some way. I only wish Allen could come stay with my family in the U.S.
Hopefully we will be able to host new students this Fall and we will be able to grow close with them and amongst ourselves again. I hope i can as good of a host as Allen was to me.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Amalia: Day 10 - Last Day
Today was my last full day in Taiwan. I can't believe it. These days have gone by in a supernatural speed. The days have turned into hours and the hours into minutes - I have no idea where all of our time has gone.
This morning, the host families and the delegation went to a ranch for our good-bye lunch. For the first three hours we just played like little five year olds. Swings, trampolines, "boat" rowing, obstacle courses... what did we NOT play on? During those three hours we also had a chance to say our thanks to everyone. When it was my turn I almost started to cry. My voice was all shaky, my eyes were getting watery and it was all from just saying thank you to everyone. I don't even want to think about how tomorrow morning will be. After we were all done playing around we went and had lunch. OUR LAST LUNCH IN TAIWAN! Once everyone was done we went into the presentation room and danced our dance one last time. We just went crazy *cough* Joseph *cough* but it was cute, we all had an awesome time doing our dance one last time. After our dance a few of us (Mimi, Demi, Allen, Ryan, Amanda, Kathleen, Page, and I) got together to go to the Taipai Night Market. We walked around, bought TONS of stuff (trying to spend all of the Taiwanese dollards we had left), and lastly we ended the night by KARAOKING! It was the best was to end not only end the night, but the trip. Everyone sang, ate, and danced. It was simply amazing. When I got home Mimi's uncle, aunt, and cousins were waiting for me to say good-bye. I almost tried then too. I know I've probably said this about 100 times but everyone here has SERIOUSLY pushed themselves into my heart.
Tonight is the last night that I will ever be sitting in Mimi's room, surrounded by wonderful things and people. It is the last time that I will hear Bach and know that the trash will get picked up soon. Tomorrow when I wake up I will be in my room. I will probably go see family or friends and I'm sorry but what we did in Taiwan TOTALLY beats that. I mean, I ADORE my family and friends but I will miss waking up (even if it WAS super early) and going to a new school. Hearing people cheer, clap, and take thousands of pictures of us as soon as we walk into their school. Seeing Mimi, Matt, Demi, Kathleen, Page, Dustin, Amanda, Ryan, Gena... EVERYONE every single day. I will miss taking the bus downtown and going shopping until late at night every night. Bus rides will never ever be the same or as fun because there will be no karaoke and my crazy family won't be there to crack jokes every two minutes. I will miss trying something new every day. I will miss EVERY little thing about Taiwan. EVERYTHING, even the smell of stinky tofu! All I can say is that these past 12 days have been the best days of my life and that I would never trade this experience for anything in the world. I am BEYONG glad to have been chosen to come, to have gotten such a wonderful host family, that the delegation was filled with amazing people, and that I got the priviledge to make awesome new friends and memories.
All I can says is THANK YOU TAIWAN.
This morning, the host families and the delegation went to a ranch for our good-bye lunch. For the first three hours we just played like little five year olds. Swings, trampolines, "boat" rowing, obstacle courses... what did we NOT play on? During those three hours we also had a chance to say our thanks to everyone. When it was my turn I almost started to cry. My voice was all shaky, my eyes were getting watery and it was all from just saying thank you to everyone. I don't even want to think about how tomorrow morning will be. After we were all done playing around we went and had lunch. OUR LAST LUNCH IN TAIWAN! Once everyone was done we went into the presentation room and danced our dance one last time. We just went crazy *cough* Joseph *cough* but it was cute, we all had an awesome time doing our dance one last time. After our dance a few of us (Mimi, Demi, Allen, Ryan, Amanda, Kathleen, Page, and I) got together to go to the Taipai Night Market. We walked around, bought TONS of stuff (trying to spend all of the Taiwanese dollards we had left), and lastly we ended the night by KARAOKING! It was the best was to end not only end the night, but the trip. Everyone sang, ate, and danced. It was simply amazing. When I got home Mimi's uncle, aunt, and cousins were waiting for me to say good-bye. I almost tried then too. I know I've probably said this about 100 times but everyone here has SERIOUSLY pushed themselves into my heart.
Tonight is the last night that I will ever be sitting in Mimi's room, surrounded by wonderful things and people. It is the last time that I will hear Bach and know that the trash will get picked up soon. Tomorrow when I wake up I will be in my room. I will probably go see family or friends and I'm sorry but what we did in Taiwan TOTALLY beats that. I mean, I ADORE my family and friends but I will miss waking up (even if it WAS super early) and going to a new school. Hearing people cheer, clap, and take thousands of pictures of us as soon as we walk into their school. Seeing Mimi, Matt, Demi, Kathleen, Page, Dustin, Amanda, Ryan, Gena... EVERYONE every single day. I will miss taking the bus downtown and going shopping until late at night every night. Bus rides will never ever be the same or as fun because there will be no karaoke and my crazy family won't be there to crack jokes every two minutes. I will miss trying something new every day. I will miss EVERY little thing about Taiwan. EVERYTHING, even the smell of stinky tofu! All I can say is that these past 12 days have been the best days of my life and that I would never trade this experience for anything in the world. I am BEYONG glad to have been chosen to come, to have gotten such a wonderful host family, that the delegation was filled with amazing people, and that I got the priviledge to make awesome new friends and memories.
All I can says is THANK YOU TAIWAN.
Every Sha-la-la-la, Every Woah-woah-oh Still Shines
So today was my last day in Taiwan. (This time, anyway.)
This trip was the most fun I've ever had. I feel that I've experienced something that not a lot of people get to experience at this age (if ever), and it's really awesome. I've made so many new friends, and I feel like I have a second family in Taiwan. Matt has been such a great host.
This is all very bittersweet. I'm very excited to be home and see Shelley, and all my friends and family, but I will miss the people I've met in the past weeks very much. I'll try very hard to keep in touch with them.
Before I came here I pledged to myself that I would try every food that was offered to me. I am proud to say that I did so. Most of it was delicious. Some of it wasn't. But at least I tried it.
Anyway, I can't express how grateful I am for the chance to be on this trip. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thanks to the delegation, you guys were great. Especially my crazy family! =D And thanks to the people of Taiwan for being so welcoming and friendly.
This will most likely be my last post, so thanks for reading! ---Dustin---
Dana: What happens if I intentionally miss our flight
I'm just kidding. I would never actually do thet, but it seems a bit tempting. There is so much here that I still haven't experienced.
Today we went to the goodbye lunch. Before the lunch, we got to walk around the ranch type thing we were at. There was this pond with about a dozen rafts in it. Each rafty was made out of about 6 plugged up pcv piped hooked together. We were suppossed to steer it with a bamboo pole. It was harder than it looked, but still lots of fun. I got the hang of it, but lots of other people got their shoes wet. Ryan and Joeseph horseplayed a bit and were responsible for almost knocking most of us off our rafts, but it was all in good fun. We had a blast.
Then, Ryan noticed this over water obstacle course. And what are teenagers going to do when they see a slightly dangerous recreational activity? We did it. All of the girls were in dresses, but we had all worn shorts underneath. It was quite a spectacle seeing all of these girls in sun dresses climbing and jumping. The course was made up of a log we had to balance across, mopnkey bars, and a rope swing. All of this was susspended above water. PAge and I were the first girls to do it, and we felt quite accomplished. I, along with most of the other girls, crawled accross the monkey bars to be sure we didn't get wet. As Amanda was doing so, this crowd of about fifty people walked by and started taking pictures. We really hoped they realized that she had shorts under her dress. She was really freaked out by the rope swing and din't want to fall into the muddy pond below. Ethan promised if she didn't make it accross, he would grab the rope and pull her in before she fell. She didn't make it, and Ethan, keeping his promise, lunged into the muddy water to get her, soaking his shoes in the proccess. It was really sweet that he did that.
Afterward we ate a hot pot buffet, which was delicious. Then we did our dance for the last time. I thought that I would be much sadder than I was. I don't think the reality of leaving had hit me quite yet. I truly enjoy being here. I wich our trip was just a little longer.
After the lunch, my family took me to TaiPei to go to Costco. It was similar to Costco in the US, but it was still a unique experience. First off, it has to floors. Sencondly, it is much more crowded. When I think of Costco, I think of enough room to have shopping carty races. Not a chance here. It was as crowded as six flags during a summer Saturday. I bought all of my favorite asian snacks that cost more in the US. I should have checked my suitcase weight before I bought all of that. Who knew pocky was so heavy?
On the way home, the girls ran into the FE21 department store "real quick." They were there long enough for me to take a nap. They didn't tell me what they were buying and I had a sneeking suspision that I shouldn't ask. I was right. when we got home, they have me wrapped gifts for my family members. =) I'm not alloiwed to open them, so I have no idea what they are.
My mom cooked me dinner tonight. It was AMZING. I'm not a big fan of fish, but this fish was really good. I had not idea what it was, but I ate alot of it. I also found out that there are fruits in existance that I don't like. There is this fruit called a Durian. Its brown and prickly and the size of a small watermellion. Inside, it is yellow and soft. It has a farmiliar taste, but I can't quite place it. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't eat it if I didn't have to.
I did all of my packing tonight. It took six hours. I pity the poor security guy who elects to randomly search my bags. It will not be an easy task for them to put it all back in the bag. I often woinder as I am packing if the TSA workers have seen it all. I mean I have some pretty weird stuff in my luggage (like a life time supply of Asian snacks), I wonder if everyone has weird stuff in theirs. I really hope that I don't get stopped in security because on an x ray pocky sort of resembles dynamite and hi-chews might look like plastic explosives.
I am really meshing with my family and its a shame that I have to leave =(
Today we went to the goodbye lunch. Before the lunch, we got to walk around the ranch type thing we were at. There was this pond with about a dozen rafts in it. Each rafty was made out of about 6 plugged up pcv piped hooked together. We were suppossed to steer it with a bamboo pole. It was harder than it looked, but still lots of fun. I got the hang of it, but lots of other people got their shoes wet. Ryan and Joeseph horseplayed a bit and were responsible for almost knocking most of us off our rafts, but it was all in good fun. We had a blast.
Then, Ryan noticed this over water obstacle course. And what are teenagers going to do when they see a slightly dangerous recreational activity? We did it. All of the girls were in dresses, but we had all worn shorts underneath. It was quite a spectacle seeing all of these girls in sun dresses climbing and jumping. The course was made up of a log we had to balance across, mopnkey bars, and a rope swing. All of this was susspended above water. PAge and I were the first girls to do it, and we felt quite accomplished. I, along with most of the other girls, crawled accross the monkey bars to be sure we didn't get wet. As Amanda was doing so, this crowd of about fifty people walked by and started taking pictures. We really hoped they realized that she had shorts under her dress. She was really freaked out by the rope swing and din't want to fall into the muddy pond below. Ethan promised if she didn't make it accross, he would grab the rope and pull her in before she fell. She didn't make it, and Ethan, keeping his promise, lunged into the muddy water to get her, soaking his shoes in the proccess. It was really sweet that he did that.
Afterward we ate a hot pot buffet, which was delicious. Then we did our dance for the last time. I thought that I would be much sadder than I was. I don't think the reality of leaving had hit me quite yet. I truly enjoy being here. I wich our trip was just a little longer.
After the lunch, my family took me to TaiPei to go to Costco. It was similar to Costco in the US, but it was still a unique experience. First off, it has to floors. Sencondly, it is much more crowded. When I think of Costco, I think of enough room to have shopping carty races. Not a chance here. It was as crowded as six flags during a summer Saturday. I bought all of my favorite asian snacks that cost more in the US. I should have checked my suitcase weight before I bought all of that. Who knew pocky was so heavy?
On the way home, the girls ran into the FE21 department store "real quick." They were there long enough for me to take a nap. They didn't tell me what they were buying and I had a sneeking suspision that I shouldn't ask. I was right. when we got home, they have me wrapped gifts for my family members. =) I'm not alloiwed to open them, so I have no idea what they are.
My mom cooked me dinner tonight. It was AMZING. I'm not a big fan of fish, but this fish was really good. I had not idea what it was, but I ate alot of it. I also found out that there are fruits in existance that I don't like. There is this fruit called a Durian. Its brown and prickly and the size of a small watermellion. Inside, it is yellow and soft. It has a farmiliar taste, but I can't quite place it. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't eat it if I didn't have to.
I did all of my packing tonight. It took six hours. I pity the poor security guy who elects to randomly search my bags. It will not be an easy task for them to put it all back in the bag. I often woinder as I am packing if the TSA workers have seen it all. I mean I have some pretty weird stuff in my luggage (like a life time supply of Asian snacks), I wonder if everyone has weird stuff in theirs. I really hope that I don't get stopped in security because on an x ray pocky sort of resembles dynamite and hi-chews might look like plastic explosives.
I am really meshing with my family and its a shame that I have to leave =(
Day before we leave
I leave early in the morning tomorrow. Taiwan has been an amazing experience, not only have I tried things I thought I'd never try (like trying iron eggs and taking pictures with so many people) I would like to thank everyone who put this trip together, the ambassadors for making the trip memorable, and of course mrs. sloan and mrs. francis- they put up with everything and made it really fun. My host family was amazing! I feel so comfortable with them, and they treat me like one of their own. My host family said they will visit me this year because their kids are coming to Texas to study in a town about two hours from where I live. I'd also like to thank Loretta because she prepared us and made me more calm about going 17 hours away. I am excited to see my family and friends. I got my nails done today with my host sister, I got a french manicure (so mom, no, you don't have to do my nails tomorrow). I'm excited to wish my dad happy fathers day because he's the best dad. I also can't wait to see my sister.
I will miss Taiwan but know that I will always have another home and family here
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