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September sure wrapped up in a memorable way! Today, the exchange students in my district met up in Nangang Park for a picnic! We ate lots of good food, most of it made at home by the other exchange students. We also played games, took pictures, and of course just spent time talking! It was fun to see how everyone else was doing! I always feel inspired when talking to and hanging out with other exchange students. Seeing them taking on the world in a way not many get to is absolutely incredible. They are all remarkable individuals and I am thrilled to be able to share this adventure in Taiwan with them!     
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Homesickness is part of doing an exchange, and it comes differently to all exchange students. I struggled with homesickness a lot at the beginning of my first exchange. I missed my family, my house, the food, and it made me feel extremely sad.
This time, however, it’s a different kind of homesickness. Of course, I miss my family immensely, but it’s not as intense this time around. Maybe it’s because I graduated high school and would have been leaving anyways. Maybe it’s because I’ve already done this once. Whatever it is, I haven’t struggled with it yet. Instead, my homesickness is manifesting itself in the form of nostalgia, and I think it’s because I’m growing up. Unlike my first exchange, I don’t go home after this one. Sure I’ll go back for the summer, but then I’m on to university. I am eighteen now, officially an adult, and I’ve stepped into my adult life. Now, I find myself homesick for my childhood, and I miss the little things right now. I miss loading the dishwasher. I miss going to Costco with my parents and little sister on weekends. I miss playing video and board games with my entire family after dinner. It has made me wistful to think that I am leaving that life behind. However, I also feel ready to step into my adult life. I can’t go back to my childhood, but I have the memories of it, and I’ll happily take them with me into my next stage in life. I just finished my first week of school here in Taiwan! It is so different from going to school in the USA or in Germany, but that was to be expected. However, it is also similar in ways. For example, my class schedule is a lot like what I had in Germany, where there is a different set of classes each day. I'll have math twice a week, chemistry twice a week, and so on.
I am in the graphic design track in my school, which means a lot of my classes happen in the computer lab or deal with art. In one of my classes I get to learn how to use photoshop and illustrator in Chinese! In another class I get to draw and color with copic markers! I have found that I actually get to do a lot, which will make the weekdays interesting, and a typical school day for me isn't as long as I had first thought it would be. I have classes from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, but it honestly isn't so much longer than a regular school day for me in the USA. My classmates are super nice, and they have been helping me understand things during class! They will help me learn Chinese this year, and now that I'm in school I should be able to start picking it up at a faster rate. The only con so far about school is that all the toilets are squat toilets, but it honestly isn't too bad. Just another thing I have to adapt to! I'm excited that school has started. I think it is good to have some structure during the day, and I am glad to have something to do during the week. The 'study' part of 'study abroad' has begun! Taiwan is a beautiful little island! It may be small and not as well known as other travel destinations in Asia, but it is full of wonders and amazing places to visit! Last weekend, I had the chance to do a day trip to Jiufen and Keelung with my older host brother, his friend, and a fellow exchange student.
In the U.S., when someone says “We’re going on a car trip,” I prepare myself for three or more hours in the car. It took us maybe forty-five minutes to drive up to our destinations, which really put into perspective for me how small this island is. The drive, however, was absolutely stunning. We passed by Taipei 101, which was shrouded in fog in the early morning. Paired with the fact that Sunday was the first day of my exchange where the sun was shining with no clouds in the sky, and the view was spectacular. |
AuthorI am Angie. I travel the world making new friends and learning new things. Archives
December 2018
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