ryan: i like to eat eat eat

The schools: The schools we are visiting are filled with students i wish i could be surrounded by in my own school. Students shouting, asking for pictures, and not acting like 6 year olds in the hallways, it's pretty nice. I'm not sure how they can endure the heat sometimes though. If i had to wear long pants and dress shirts like them in the heat of Taiwan that can rival Texas I might die of heat stroke. The one reliefe from the heat is the constant breeze that flows through the school. Most of the windows remain open and all of the hallways are only blocking the elements from the top. The students clean their schools, wash the dishes, pay attention in class, and go to cram school. How do they have time or energy to host American students?

My Family: It wouldn't be a lie for me to say that my host probably is the most fluent of all the hosts i have met. Thi is obviously helpful as all i know how to say in Chinese are the basics and "why are you laughing" as other kids always laugh at me if i speak a word of Chinese. Despite my host being nearly fluent, his mother doesn't seem to know a word. However, she more than masks her inability by being one of the sweetest people I have had the honor to meet in Taiwan. She cooks, cleans, and works a full time job, how does she also have the time to look after her 3 children +1 while her husband is working in China? The other two children speak English at the level you would expect a 3rd year Spanish student to speak Spanish. I was very lucky in my placement in Taiwan. Not only is my host Allen very likable and keeps the whole group laughing, but he takes me to see all of the sites in Taiwan. I couldn't have asked for anything better!

Is anything Less than expected or diffifcult: Well despite the apprarent lack of sleep on all the delegations faces, I do believe we are all happy to be here. It isn't a stretch to say that the Taiwanese hospitality is far greater than expected, and the living conditions are far superior to that which we were prepared for. All in all, it has been a fantastic trip, and i wouldn't trade it for the world.