Taiwan: Day 7

at Pier 2

So I have officially been in Taiwan or more specifically Kaohsiung for a week now and I have yet to actually post on my blog!!! In my defense it has been a CRAZY week jam packed full of activities, meetings, and traveling!



I am trying to figure out my way around Kaohsiung. I have the Metro pretty much figured out, but once it comes to navigating outside the metro station I'm pretty much SO GO ME and my awesomely horrible sense of direction!!! YAY!!!

'Dome of Light' at Formosa Station

So, to tell you where all I've been will be a bit difficult, but let me try:

• San Min Elementary School
• Kaohsiung Cultural Center
• IKEA
• Carrefour
• National Taiwan Bank
• Visa Center
• Metro Station
• Sun Yat-Sen University
• Cultural Tour Bus (Pier 2, British Consulate from the 1800's, etc)
• AIT Kaohsiung (American Institute in Taiwan)
• Siziwan
• CiJin Island
• Youth Market Area
• Dream Mall
• Lotus Island
• Dome of Light
• Jao Dong Port
• Some island off of that Port

So I have done quite a lot of stuff within one week! I am planning on creating my own little Black & White (痞子英雄) tour!!! I've already been to the Dome of Light and Dream Mall! I need to find all of the other cool places it was shot and take off one weekend and go reenact the show around Kaohsiung!!!

Anyway, I'm LOVING Kaohsiung! The only negatives are that the pollution is kinda insane here and the hand rails only come up to about mid-thigh on me! Other than that, the people are AMAZINGLY nice, accepting, and helpful, the city is BEAUTIFUL!!! I can't wait until I start teaching and get to interact with the kids!

Flower Rock

I'm also starting my Chinese classes in September. One thing that has been a terrible struggle for me has been my lack of Chinese skills. MANY people here speak at least a little English and help me out when I'm ordering food and whatnot, but most of the time I feel my experience is crippled by my lack of communication skills!

Speaking of food, OMG!!! I'm LOVING IT!!! Taiwanese people eat SOOOOO much carbs/bread!!! It's insane! I thought I was gonna lose weight here, but that would definitely be a miracle with how much bread and rice I eat! I hope to start figuring out some other options soon, because I really do want to lose weight so I can possibly fit into some of their clothes here! I LOVE the clothes the women wear here. The younger women are all so fashionable and well dressed! I pretty much LOVE all of their clothes!!!!






Ok, now that I've prattled on inconsequentially for a while now, I'm gonna take a shower and head to bed after I'm done watching the Live Broadcast of 'Drunken to Love You.' I hope to post more often! 

My Apartment building at KS Cultural Center

Random Fun Fact: Kaohsiung is the most polluted city in Taiwan. I have terrible allergies right now and I think it's my body reacting to the horribleness in the air and the scooters that surround us at all moments in the streets and sidewalks.