First Day

So he 17 hours of trtavel wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Staying up until 3 am the day before we left actually paid off because I was able to sleep for about 60% of the flight. The first flight was actaully fun, intil the last hour when I really was getting tired of being in the same place for tooo long.

The Tokyo airport was alot smaller and alot less crowded than I expected. I was able to buy my favorite Asian handy (chocolate mushrooms which are sort of like pocky only with less bread and more chocolate). I recieved my change in Yin, which I realize was jipping me on the exchange rate, but that was okay because they were still cheap and I got Yin coins for my scrapbook. We found it ironic that in Japanese security, you don't have to take off your shoes, but in American security you do, while in Asian houses you have to take off your shoes, but in american houses you don't. I like the Japanese way better. The Japanese security was a million times more efficient than American security (completely organized). I do not remember any of the second flight except for the fact that the food came on real dishes (I fell asleep almost as soon as I got on the plane.

When we arrive in Taiwan,
I was estatic. I was so excited that I didn't even feel tired. We breezed through customs and immigration, and saw a group of people holding a huge sigh that said "Welcome Texas Exchanged Students." We approached the group sort of unsure what to do, but then one of the girls held up a poster that said "Dana Dinsmore," And I rushed to her. She handed me an absolutely georgeous boquet of roses- really it was the prettiest boquet I've ever seen. We transfered the school gifts to the chaperones, and I was able to leave with Carol's family. I was ultra relieved that I didn't have to ride to a meeting place before meeting my family.

Walking to the car, I quickly learned that Winnie's (Carol's sister) English is better thank Carol's, but Carol is still pretty good at it. She tends to get nervous about mistakes when talking to me. I tried to convey that I completely understood her difficulty because I have the same problems in Spanish, and that she should not be embarrassed for her mistakes. Carol's Aunt also came to pick us up, which worried me because I did not have a gift for her like I did for the rest of the family.



I was very relieved when the car they drove was a newer car- a good sign as far as the housing situation goes. The girls laughed at me when I tried to find both sides of the seat belt. Appearently in Taiwan you only buckle up in the front seat. As we drove home, I darted my eyes everywhere trying to see everything. Carrol and Winnie were afraid I was scared, but I was just overly excited. they kept asking me if I was hungary, but really the only thing on my mind was sleep.



After about a 30 minute car ride, passing both KFC and 7/11, we arrived at the house. It was not like I expected at all. The houses here are bunched together like connecting lego blocks with only tiny alleyways in between. There aren't neighborhoods, just clusters of buldings everywhere. I go to the house, and learned that Carrol's dad trades wines, which are stacked in their garage/ground floor. The ground floor also has their kitchen, a bathroon and the "laundry room." Their kitchen is very small. I don't think I could cook in an area that small. On second thought, I can't cook anywhere, so kudos (sp?) to them for pulling it off. I put that laundry room in quotes because it isn't at all like the American concept of a laundry room, but I don't know what else to call it. The laundry room is out of a door, and is outside, but comlpetely inclosed by stone walls on the sides and a tin roof type thing. They have a washer there and hang their clothes to dry there. There are poles crossing each other that go up 10 feet to hang the clothes on. Carol showed me how they use a y shaped stick to lift the clothes on hangers onto the poles. Up a narrow staircase (which we leave our shoes on), is the rest of the house. There aren't really stories in their house, just one main staircase, and rooms branch off of it a about 7 foot intervals. Winnie's room is the first room, and that is where Carrol and her are sleeping while I am here. Next, on the same level there is an office, the paren't bedroom, and Carrol's room. I didn't get a tour above that because Carrol said it was just storage and the aunt's room. They don't seem to have a "family room" or any general living space, which perplexes me as to how they have family time. Carol's room is enormous. About three times the size of mine. She has cute pink mosquito netting around her bed (which is almost a perfect square). There is also magnetic netting in front of each door that closes itself magnetically after you walk through it. There is also a bathroom that connects Carol's room and the parents room. Carol says that is the only bathroom they usually use. This also perplexes me because they have two, and possibly one more further up stairs. The attitude about bathrooms here is very different. In America, the bathroom is just another room where we spend lots of time doing makeup and other cosmetic things. Here the bathrooms are strictly for washing and relieving yourself..You don't spend any more time than you absolutely have to in them. The showers are also very different in their house. They are not showers you step into. There is a drain in the floor and you just shower with no shower curtain and let the water run on the floor. It sounds awful, but it actually works rather well, especially because showering and using the restroom is the only time we are in there.

This morning, I rode on the bus with Carol to school. We walked to a convienience store for breakfast before getting to the bus. i felt ridonkulous in the cowboy hat, but I figured, I already stick out like a sore thumb, why not complete it with odd dress. The bus was very different from an American school bus. First off, it wasn't yeallow. It was like a charter bus. Also, no one talked on the bus. Only seldom wispers. I was odd, but really peaceful. At Carol's school, the double takes began. Everyone stared at me. I wan't uncomfortable, but I was surprised how shy some of them were. It was like they were afraid they were'nt allowed to talk to me. I met up with Gena, Eve, and Amalia (all of our sisters go to the same school). I can't express how refreshing it was to talk to someone without an accent. I don't think I would be able to do a trip like this without being with a native english speaker some of the time.

A really nice physics teacher drove us to Yung-Feng High school where we spent the rest of the day. We got there, and their award winn ing band played three songs for us. I honestly really enjoyed them. Then we did our dance, which I felt went wonderfully. They loved doing the cupid shuffle. Then we were given our class schedule. I went to Chinese, Chemistry, Civics, History, and housekeeping management (home ec.). chinese was really confusing. they taught me toungue twisters in Chinese. I didn't understand what they wanted me to do until 15 minutes after they started teacheing me. All they wanted me to do was repeat after them, but I though they wanted me to translate or something. Finally I got it. I didn't think they were very twisty toungue twisters. Like one was "Mama Chee Ma," but I guess its harder if you pay closer attention to your inflection. chemistry was great. It was mostly balancing equations, and that's the same in every language, so I understood. The teacher demonstrated a chemical reaction by revealing hidden words on a piece of paper by rubbing iodine on it. It said "I <3 You," "Dana," "Joeseph" (He and I went to the same classes), and "YFHS." Civics was great because it was a brief summary of Taiwan's history in English. In several of the classes, students showed us their talents. I had two boys (In separate classes) play gutiar while singing to me. One of them sang "you and Me" by Lighthouse. I really appreciated it because it felt nice to have something to relate to with the students. They had us introduce ourselves and answer questions. Joeseph did his in Chinese, which made me feel a little left out, but it was okay. when the boys asked me if I had a boyfriend, I encountered a lose lose situation. When I said "yes" they looked ultra disapointed. If I said "no" they would ask me for my contact information and if I thought they were handsome. What am I supposed to say when someone asks that.? It isn't like saying no is an option! something I noticed was tha the atmos[phere at school was way more relaxed. The students get up and walk aound, talk while the teacher is talking, and ask questions without raising their hands. however, I think I got a skewed image of their schooling because the entire atmosphere was changed because of us. I would really like to see what classes are normally like. Also, I noticed that the students are impressed, amused and shocked by the simplest things. I don't know if they were like tha tbecause of our presence or not. Like for example, one of the teachers held up a peace sign for a picture, and the class lost it with laughter. Or another time a guy walked by the window and waved at me, and the entire class hooted and hollered.

I had more pictures taken of me today than all the other days of my life combined. i'M NOT EXAGERATING. Every class member had to have a picture with me. And there were 40 kids in each class. Not to mention, the random kids in the Hall taking pictures as well. One class actually video taped Joeseph and I sitting there, and later playing PSP. My number of facebook friends may increase exponentially.

The bathroom situation: No toilet paper. None. Anywhere. We were so glad we had some.
We managed to fing western toilets. They had one in each bathroom like a handicapped stall. When us girls would go to the bathroom, the students would look at us like we were crazy as we waited in line for one stall while the others were empty.

I have never eaten so much in my entire life. I don't think I could go hungry if I tried. They feed us every chance they get, and they have a whole lot of chances. I went to a buffet with my family tonight, after being fed all day at school. I thought I would burst at the seams. It was quite possibly the biggest meal I have ever had. I wanted to get my family's moneys worth (it was a 4 star restaurant) so I couldn't just say I wasn't hungry. It was a three hour meal. I am not a huge fan of meant or fish, so course after course of it definateley filled my meat/fish cravings for the week. My family wanted me to try everything. So I did. My family is friends with the restaurant's manager so she likes to sit with them sometimes and eat to test the chef's work that night. She did so tonight. She was very friendly, and she gave me a special fish that she taste tested herself. It was the full fish, scales and all. Keep in mind this was at the end of the meal, so I was stuffed. Mrs. Loretta Williams, you would be proud. I ate the fish. Overall it was a good meal. Just larger than my stomach, but I appreciated my family taking me there. It was a good experience, despite the fact I might gain 10 pounds.