Week 1

Taiwan is both hot and humid! In comparison to Virginia summers those in Taiwan are completely different. Just being outside means that I start sweating profusely. It's like a free sauna constantly surrounding me but more humid. I learned that quickly upon my arrival. The following are some pictures of what I saw and did during my first week in Taiwan.

Day 1: Arrival

Yilan Fulbright ETAs 2009

1st ride on the MRT in Taipei (l-r: Deborah, Jessica, Maria, Owen, Joe, Jean, Professor H, Eric, Kim, Aimee, Monica, Kevin, Nikka, Courtney, Jill - not pictured Gabe & Lillian)

Gate in front of the Grand Hotel or Yuan Shan

The Grand Hotel

(many receptions and dignitaries are hosted there)

Taipei Skyline

(This is view from the restaurant inside the hotel. Taipei 101 is the tall green building in the background)

Eating in the restaurant

(Da jiu looking at the menu)

Day 2: Moving to Yilan County - Luodong city

Our lovely tour bus that drove us around for the first 2 weeks.

My room

(it's huge and has a great view)

View from my bedroom window of Luodong

The Living Room

(Jessica my roommate lounging on the couch after moving in)

The Kitchen

Roommates

Hot Pot soup/veggies

Grilling our own meat

(for the carnivores in the group)

Day 3-7: Training

Wai-Ao Beach

(one of the elementary schools is right off of the beach and they have surfing classes)

The group at the beach

Since the typhoon was coming we weren't allowed to swim in the water. We could go in up to our knees but if you had a surfboard you were allowed to go in deeper. Perhaps having a surfboard means you won't drown. Jessica and I also attempted to learn how to skimboard. This requires that you wait for a wave to come in and begin to recede then you throw out the board and run and jump on it. It's amazing how many times I missed the skimboard or failed to stand up and balance correctly. Perhaps with more time I can master the art of running and jumping on. Or I can just switch to learning how to surf since the elementary school we visited offers classes.

Typhoon Morakot preparations

(window taping, stocking up water, bread, and ramen)

The typhoon did not end up hitting us particularly hard in Luodong which was fortunate for us. We got together and hung out with the other kids living in Luodong, went to Family Mart for ramen, and watched movies.