Day Four.

Today, on my way to the grocery store (to purchase laundry detergent and chopsticks as promised), I passed the temple where I was lucky enough to capture some final lantern and New Year's festival celebrations on Monday. Today, it was quiet and empty, the courtyard occupied only by this lady sprinkling something out of a red envelope into an urn where incense burned peacefully. I managed to capture two good photos out of three before retreating back onto the street.

I managed to make it to the grocery store on Ji He Campus without mishap. Along the way, I stopped to

purchase some fruit from an elderly lady on the street. Her selection was quite impressive and beautifully arranged and her smile was welcoming. I decided to give it a shot.

你好！我想买一些果汁。Hello! I'd like to buy some fruit.

好！Wonderful!

(Pointing at some Asian pears) 两个。(pointing to some rose apples) 两个。一共多少钱？two of these and two of these. How much will that be altogether?

等一下。wait one moment. (as she was weighing the fruit) 你是哪国人？Where are you from?

我是美国人。I am American.

好啊!你很漂亮！Good..You are very beautiful!

阿谢谢！谢谢！aw! Thank you, thank you!

And as she was smiling her kind, old lady smile, she weighed only one pear, but put it in the bag. "This one free. 一百九十七块" one hundred ninety seven dollars. I gave her two hundred and left, smiling at my good fortune. I have a feeling I will be seeing much more of this kind old lady.

So, laundry detergent and metal chopsticks acquired, along with more ramen, a box of jasmine green tea bags, cranberry juice, and some things I thought were lychee fruits. I have yet to figure out what they really are...but I know what they are NOT. A good loot, combined with my two Asian pears and two rose apples. I still need to purchase another blanket. Hopefully I can find someone to go with me to Shi Lin Night Market tonight where I can purchase one for a ridiculously small amount and then sleep happily, otherwise I will see if Amy can take me to the supermarket this Saturday before we go to the flora exposition. I have a feeling I will be purchasing a second mattress to go on top of this one; I can't sleep on concrete for another four months.

It's only 4 PM. What other mischief can I get into today? Sleep peacefully, America--I won't wander too far.

Day Three.

In case anyone is wondering, there are a LOT of stairs. Stairs going up, stairs going down, stairs going UP to get DOWN and DOWN to get UP, backwards stairs, upside down stairs...well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but you get the point: Ming Chuan likes skinny students and they know how to keep them that way. Well, it's either the stairs, or the fact that everyone here lives on ramen noodles because in order to get ANYTHING to eat you have to climb down off of this mountain and walk to Shi Lin for it. Let's be honest here--I bought ramen too.

The medical check up went well today. The exchange students all met in front of the main building to wait for the bus which allowed us some time for socializing. I met more of the exchange students while we were waiting for the bus to take us to the hospital. We are quite an interesting bunch, I must say. The medical examination went well, just a chest X-ray to check for something to do with tuberculosis. All in all, took about 30 seconds a person and we were on our merry way back to MCU.

I grabbed my camera and went for a stroll when I arrived home today. With so many stairs, I really need to find my way around this Escher labyrinth as soon as possible. What better way to explore than through my lens?

At last, more girls have starting moving back into the room. Wendy put down foam interlocking flooring for me today while I was at the hospital. I was so excited about it when I got home! She cut out the pieces to fit around the ladder, desk, and fit it all snugly against the walls...it must have taken hours. I really don't know how I got so lucky as to get such wonderfully nice roommates, but I love it. I am definitely looking forward to getting to know them all this semester.

Classes start tomorrow, however I do not have class until Friday. Apparently here, week one gives everyone a chance to attend the classes they would like to enroll in before actually DOING so to try it out. I'm going to test out my International Trade Regulations class on Friday with Vy over on the Ji He Campus across town. Let's hope I don't get lost! The Mandarin Intensive Program starts on March 11th, with the placement exam on the day beforehand. Thankfully this gives me some time to study and practice before getting destroyed by the exam.

Tonight, I feel I am going to sleep well. Too many nights without a proper rest, and I forgot to purchase another blanket while I was out--something has to give. I'm either going to pull through, and sleep off this bloody jet lag, or die. Let's hope for the best. Tomorrow: Laundry detergent and chopsticks.

Day Two.

The world is full of opposites, counterparts; it is a bittersweet symphony of happy, sad, good, and bad. Today was a day of good and bad. Orientation went well, I met my buddy, Amy, and explored a little. I used the remnants of my cash supply to get ID photos for the dorm and visa reapplication...to find that I cannot withdraw funds from the ATM with my AAA Travel Card. So here I sit, waiting for 10 PM so I can call BB&T via Skype and inquire about fees regarding ATM withdrawals in foreign countries and tell them not to do backflips if I withdrawal 200 USD on the other side of the world from where I am supposed to be. I really wish Taiwan came with a manual.

On a lighter note, orientation was wonderful. I met Ivy Lin, the lady I conversed with for many months up to my arrival here. She is such a nice person! Best of all, afterwards Amy took Vy and I exploring to Ji He campus. We happened upon the remnants of the Lantern Festival and many celebrating Taiwanese people--fireworks, loud music, incense, and red lanterns everywhere made for many beautiful photographs.

Not much has changed since yesterday. It is still cold, I don't sleep well, and an icy shower greeted me once again at 9AM. I guess the only difference today is that I have hope. The weather will eventually warm up, I'll adjust to the time difference, and learn to shower at night when the water is supposed to be hot. I will adjust and life will go on. So it goes.

Tomorrow I have to go to the hospital for the mandatory chest x-ray at 12:45PM. I wonder what wonders Taiwan will have for me after?

Check out the other photos I took today.

Day One.

In all honesty, regardless of how much you prepare, you're not ready for this. No one is. Regardless of how much you pack, you'll still forget something. I certainly did. And regardless of how much you research, you won't find out the little things that are exceptionally important. Like toilet paper. Laugh, take it for granted, come to Taiwan, sit on the pot...and see who's laughing when you reach for it to get up. At least, here in my dorm that is how it is--one "normal" toilet for number twos and in-the-floor urinals for men and women both for number ones. I'm not quite set to assimilate yet however, so I stick to the "normal" kind...let's just be honest; I'd either fall over or pee on my shoes. No thanks.

Another thing that would have been nice to know is that when you arrive, there is no mattress or anything on your bed. I slept last night fully clothed, covered in my bath towel (still damp from my freezing cold shower) with my neck pillow for head support, on a hard, wooden bed frame. Let me correct myself, I shivered and dozed. It's freezing here at night. Lesson learned? Bring warm clothes to sleep in, and bedding...or get here early enough to go to the supermarket and purchase it.

On the happy side of things, I have Vy for moral support and we've befriended two other exchange students who have been here for a week and know their way around a little. They've taken us under their wings and are getting us settled. They took us to get our MR

T cards and bedding and the Ethernet cables we didn't know to bring. I can't wait to get to know them better, I think we're going to have some fantastic adventures together...speaking of adventures. Take a taxi. It's an adventure in itself. Especially when of the four passengers, YOU are the only one who can speak Chinese to the driver. Wheeeeee. At least I've established myself as a valuable ally to have around.

As you see from the the time on this post, I have major jet lag. It is 4:08 AM here...I went to sleep at 3PM and woke around 2:45 AM. To those of you good with time zone changes, you see a striking resemblance to my normal sleep pattern--sleep at 2AM EST and wake at 1:45 PM EST. Hopefully I'll get out of this soon.

Orientation is tomorrow...today...at 1PM. I get to sign up for classes and meet Amy, my buddy assigned by the university. Outside of the university, I'm doing my best to speak only Chinese with the locals and, much to my surprise, have had major success. I'm also very happy to see that regardless of my foreign appearance, they give me a chance before speaking English. I successfully purchased a juice at 7eleven this morning, talked my way though the line at the supermarket with the cashier (much to her surprise and delight), and navigated a taxi driver back to my dorm all in Chinese. Day one. Complete. Let's get ready for day two.

Goodnight, World.

Fancy Meeting You Here...

Arrival in Taiwan. Success.

So tired.

3...2...1...GO!

Visa Application is complete! It is amusing I bent myself backwards..all for a little sticker in my passport. Regardless, I have it and feel much more secure.

Only a few more days remain until my departure and I am spending them with my closest friends and family. Although many untimely events have occurred and have stressed me to the end of my capabilities, I am determined to make the best of this experience.

I am leaving Friday...and I'm afraid.

The Best and the Worst

Apparently all the 4 person rooms are full...lame. However, I have decided to bring a frisbee and share some Ulti-love with my dormmates. I'm going to make the best of this, always.

Also,

Hi Elizabeth:

Warm greetings from Ming Chuan University, Taiwan.
My name is Amy Tsou. I am a third-year student at MCU International College, majoring in International Business and Management.
Paired by the international office, I'll be your personal Buddy during the entire spring semester.
I am very happy to answer any questions you may have about studying at MCU and help you to get to know our Taiwanese culture.
You are welcome to write to me at any time, or you can contact me on Facebook.

I look forward to meeting you in February!

Best,

Amy

Fiasco...averted.

2011/1/13 Elizabeth Butcher

Ivy,

I am a exchange student from West Virginia University who will be attending Ming Chuan this spring and saw in the handbook if we wanted to stay later than the date scheduled to move out of the dorm there would be a small fee.

Where can I find more details on this? I was hoping to stay until the 27th of June and did not know if I needed to move to a hotel when the dorm date is up or what the fee would be to stay.

Thank you for your time! I am looking forward to meeting you soon.

Elizabeth M. Butcher

West Virginia University

Hi Elizabeth,

you may be charged by additional NT$100 per day for staying longer.

for example, if you stay for 10 more days after the date is up, the extra cost is NT$1,000, approx. U$33, which is quite reasonable i think.

thanks.

ivy

I have decided to stay an extra ten days and spend my 2oth birthday in Taiwan this year, continuing my tradition of a different city every year. This time, however, I thought a different country would bring in my new decade of age nicely. For $33USD? Absolutely.

So, at last, I purchased my tickets today...but amidst the rush of work and time zone changes, the tickets I purchased caused me to arrive the 11th of February at 9:50PM...the day prior to the dates available to arrive. A phone call, crazy explanation, and ten thousand thank you's later, the purchase was voided and I was able to purchase tickets safely delivering me to Taiwan on the correct date. Fiasco averted.

Today was very productive. Aside from purchasing my tickets, I finished a scholarship renewal application and turned in the paperwork to receive my money from the B&E Enrichment Fund.

Status

Airline tickets: purchasing.

Visa Application: mailing after plane ticket purchase

Aside from packing, all that is left is to notify Ming Chuan of my arrival so my Buddy can pick me up!

[30 days to departure]

Hurry Up and Wait.

Well, looks like I told a fib. Apparently I have to include a copy of my airline itinerary with my Visa application...it seems everything revolves around my ticket purchase. I can't claim my B&E enrichment funds without it either...So again, I am waiting. Waiting on my ticket purchase, to wait on my Visa, to wait to leave.

Can everything just hurry up already?

[35 days to go]

In other news, I have purchased my giant suitcase and a few essentials for my impending trip...a few things at a time, but things are coming together. It is incredibly unfortunate however that I may have to purchase a new PC before leaving. Yet another expense I did not foresee to put in the budget, however it seems it is unavoidable. My computer is several years old and last night took a turn for the worse. So many things wrong, yet so many things right. At least it decided to be mortally wounded here instead of there. Thank you, PC gods.