Through a green colored perspective...

萬聖節 (Happy Halloween)

Hello again, 

So I hope you all had a good Halloween and enjoyed seeing all the costumes, decorations, going to costume parties and just plain old getting into the Halloween spirit, because you know for sure I enjoyed it!! 

Paul & I

This past weekend was jammed packed with things to do. First, on Saturday during the day, my roommates and I along with some other friends went to Taiwan's gay pride parade. First, I just wanted to go to see what it would be like and second, I found out that Taiwan has the largest gay population in all of Asia, so that was another great incentive for me to check it out. So before we headed out, my friend Paul, roommate Brittany and myself thought that we should get in the spirit and dress up for the parade ( no, not get all fancy dressed up, costume dressed up). 

So myself, the green man, Paul the rabbit and Brittany the zombie and Tasha all headed out to the parade. I honestly can't believe that I had the guts to wear that green man suit. I only did it, because the other two were dressed up as well. Although I get starred at every day, just walking around in my normal clothing with my blonde hair, I have never been starred at like this. People, snapping pictures and laughing on the train, it was so funny! So we finally arrived at our destination and were standing around waiting for some other friends to arrive, people started coming up to Paul and I and asking if they could take a picture with us....AND, that was the beginning of what was going to come ALL DAY LONG. (I guess I should have known). 

Brittany, Myself and Tasha = roomies

As we stood in the train station for 20 minutes, I have to estimate that about 100 people asked to take either a picture of us or with us. People were starring, giving us the piece sign, wanting their children to have pictures with us...it was crazy. We had to get out of there.....not like it was going to get any better outside though. 

So, as we walked outside, into a massive crowd of gay activists and supporters who were dressed up ridiculously themselves, we were then again asked to have our pictures taken. We were standing next to the parade that was passing by and even the people marching in the parade were stopping to take pictures with us. I am not kidding, I swear I was taking pictures with different people for one period of time for at least 10 minutes straight.....ugh, my face hurt from smiling and saying "xie xie"/ "thank you." But, all in all it was hilarious and so much fun. I definitely was proud of myself for wearing that suit. After we spent a couple hours watching the parade/being watched, we left and went home to get ready for that evenings festivities. 

After a few hours of recovering, I put on some green......face paint, black and green stockings and a witch hat and cape and was reading to play the part of the wiked witch from the Wizard of Oz. I then left with my friend Euan and we headed to meet everyone at the Halloween event/party that was being held that night. Once again, although my costume this time wasn't nearly as crazy as "green man," Euan and I were still being starred at as if we were idiot Americans. It was ok though, if I could go out in a skin tight spandex green suit that day, I think I can do just about anything now, haa. Well the night went on and the event was pretty good. Some dancing, some drinking and all in all a good time with friends. Its weird to think that this was my third Halloween outside of the states. First London, then Australia and now Taiwan and each one was so different. 

Well  know this was a short post today, but I thought I would start and try to keep you updated with smaller blogs with less information, but more frequently! Keep following and hope you're all enjoying the fall weather back in the states and the coming of winter. Oh, its still almost 80 here...but humid! Yikes. 

My little kids all dressed up

Keep and eye out for another post soon.                       

Olivia 

Its a small world

Last week on Tuesday, my roommate, Brittany and I, decided to get some exercise and go hiking, because it was one of the most beautiful days I have had here in Taiwan so far. No humidity, it wasn't scorching hot , therefore I wasn't sweating profusely!! I knew of this hiking trail that is about a 5 minute walk away from our house, so we thought to go there. I feel so lucky, because the locals here in Taiwan consider the area in which I live to be the place with the best "feng shui." To one side of us, we have the Danshui River, then to the other side of us are the mountains which is where the Jiantan hiking trail is. Also, there is the largest night market in Taipei located about a 5 minute walk away as well. 

Jiantan Hiking Trail Entrance

So after reaching the entrance to the Jiantan Hiking trail, we headed upwards. I thought this trail was just going to be a short little hike with some stairs and then you head back down. OH NO, I was completely wrong. I couldn't believe how many amazing things that were buried inside of all the shrubbery and trees that appear on the outside. At the first stopping point, we reach a wonderful temple that has large Buddhas to pray to and amazing painted details all over the temple. We then kept moving onward and upward. We then arrived at another, larger temple. This temple was incredible. It not only had the amazing accessories that a temple has, but it also had a flourishing flower garden and a look out over a part of the city. I had to stop and stay there for a while just look at and take in all the amazing sites there was to offer. 

As we headed upward, I randomly looked to my left and told Brittany "look there's the Taipei 101." When you looked to your left you could see another part of the city which included spectacular views of the Taipei 101. After getting more good exercise for our butts with all of those stairs, we came across some very interesting and funny daily activities in the lives of Taiwanese people. We not only came across very old Taiwanese men working out in the dilapidated gym area, randomly placed within this mountain, but as we walked higher, we came across a large group of people doing KTV (or Karaoke singing)!!! It was fantastic, I wanted to sit there and watch them sing to their Chinese songs all day. Then lastly, we came across this lone woman who was talking (or more like having a conversation) with her cats and trying to feed them. It was so funny! So after all of this, we finally hit the top of the mountain, where you had to walk past the people singing KTV and there was the most.......wait for it.......wonderful views of the area in which I live and beyond. Rivers, mountains, people below, cars below, the hustle and bustle of everything happening below us seemed so non-existent as we were so focused on looking at everything that was so beautiful. It made me realize how I should appreciate the wonderful things Taiwan has to offer instead of getting so caught up and frustrated with how many people there are around all the time and all of the cultural differences I haven't gotten used to yet. 

Random gym in the middle of the mountain

But after we had hiked up for a good hour and a half, we headed back down. It was one of the best, most calming days I had in a long time. 

KTV Singing 

As the week went on I went to school, worked out, taught class and private tutored. Did the usual routine. But, this past Thursday, I was out and about and decided that I would kill some time before I had to go teach and get my nails and toenails done as I haven't gotten them done since I left the US. So you can probably imagine how gross they might be...hah!! So as I entered the nail salon, none of the girls spoke English so I knew I was in for trouble. But, there just so happen to be one other Taiwanese lady getting her nails done as well and she offered to help me since she spoke wonderful English. We started to talk and I asked her how her English was so good and she told me that she did a language exchange in the states when she was in college. She told me she did her exchange in .........WINONA, MN!!! Wait....what? First of all, I am FROM Minnesota and second, why Winona? hah. We both couldn't believe that we were the ONLY people in the salon and that she had lived in MN for a year of her life and absolutely loved it. But, wait. It only gets weirder from here. After getting to know each other I found out that she used to be a host/have her own Travel Asia TV show here in Taiwan (Ok pretty much my dream job). Now that it is done and off the air, she works for a  PR/Marketing firm and hosts events for foreign banks and their staff who come to taiwan. Banks like AIG, HSBC and more. OK WHAT? I got my degree in Marketing and I also held an event/marketing internship two summers ago...I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. So we exchanged numbers and she said that I may be able to help her and her company out later in the year, because they are going to be really busy. I am so stoked!! 

I just couldn't believe this kind of thing happened, especially to me. These things only happen in movies. I just feel very fortunate and I feel like it was kind of meant to me. Hopefully something comes out of this meeting and when it does I will let you all know for sure! 

Well thats all I can tell you for right now. This weekend I didn't do anything, because I didn't to catch up on some sleep and get prepared for next weekend.....HALLOWEEN!!! Look forward to another post soon. 

Look out over the city

Zaijain (goodbye)

Olivia 

Dear Friends, I'm back!

Can you believe it has been almost nearly a month since my last post? I can't believe how fast time flies. I guess I should get this blog post started by telling you that I have never been so busy in my LIFE! I thought that by coming to Taiwan and escaping another year before getting a "big-girl" job would be easy and relaxing, but its not and I am pretty sure I look like a mad woman that is running around the streets of Taiwan. To catch you up, I am currently taking Chinese class everyday from 8:00-10:00 am. I then head back home to my house to gather my stuff, eat and head off for work in the afternoon. I then head to private tutor on Tuesday/Thursdays as well. All of these things + how long it takes to get from one place to the other = NO LIFE!

On Maokong Gondola 

Anyway, I am still trying to make the most of my time here and do as much as I can when the weekends roll around. About two weekends ago, my friend Julie and I headed to Maokong Gondola. We took the gondola up 4000 kilometers to the top and had the most splendid views on the ride up! It was such a pleasant ride and you could see over all of Taipei. We then got off and walked around the little touristy town there and soon sat down to eat lunch. It is very interesting here, because while walking throughout the town, there are absolutely no sidewalks and the streets are very narrow. So I am wondering what the Taiwanese were thinking when they decided to make no room for people to walk and cars to drive. So, while Julie and I were walking to the place we were going to get lunch, we were dodging scooters and cars at the same time. Nightmare. We then sat down that this adorable tea house, which had a view overlooking Taipei and a direct view of the Taipei 101. It was amazing and we ate the most amazing food as well. After having spent most of the day site seeing and looking at random temples, we headed back into the city for Jordan and Conor's housewarming party and a night out.

Kenting 

Not this weekend, but the week before, a group of us, decided to head down to the southern most point in Taiwan for the holiday weekend. We decided to head to Kenting. Kenting is known for its great beaches, water activities and laid back feel. It is also known as the "spring break" place in Taiwan. I was so excited to head down south and get out of the city. Also, I was excited to spend some money because I FINALLY got my first pay check (or pay cash I guess, because I get paid completely in cash, ha). I was so excited to finally get paid at my first real job after graduating college. So, I was ready to head down to Kenting and the morning on October 8th, Mary and I boarded the HSR (high speed rail) and headed down to the southern most point of Taiwan. We arrived in Kenting about 3.5 hours later, found our hotel, threw our stuff down and headed to the beach. The first day in Kenting was great, but a bit windy. As Mary and I "tried" to tan, we not only were getting "hit" with rays, but we were also getting hit (well let's say pelted) with sand as well. I am pretty sure I left the beach with welts on my skin from the sand blowing around so much. That evening, we met up with Conor and Jordan and went out for a great dinner at the place called Amy's Pizza. It was so nice and relaxing, we all ordered great western food and sat around chatting for a good 2 hours. That night we headed out to scope out some of the bars and good places to go out. 

At the Reggae bar outside

As we woke up the next morning to head to the beach, our plans and dreams were shattered, because OF COURSE, it had started raining. Great. We thought we would wait it out, but that was going to be pointless, because it ended up raining to for the next two days that we were there. FUN. In a town where all the fun/activities are pretty much based on water activities and its raining. Awesome. So our weekend pretty much consisted of looking at the ocean and eating and drinking. I felt like a fat cow by the time I left there. ha. So all in all, it was nice to see a new part of Taiwan and hang out with nice people, but I didn't get any tanner. Actually, I think I may have gotten whiter. Gross. But, that night all of us decided to go out to dinner to this place called Smokey Joe's mexican restaurant for dinner and it was excellent. Then we were determined to go out afterwards, even though it was pouring rain. So we made the smart decision to stop at the truck that is parked on the side of the road and it serves beer and plays reggae music. So then, we all decided to stand out in the rain for a good two hours and dance in our ponchos in the rain to reggae music. It was the most random night ever, but pretty fun!!
Then Monday afternoon, October 10th (Taiwan's 100th birthday) we decided to head out early, because yet again it was still raining.

All the girls outside the W Hotel

After the week went by (which was a 4 day week, thank heavens), the weekend came and it was Mary's birthday weekend. So on Saturday during the day, the girls and myself all went shopping and got ready for Mary's birthday night. A large group of us first went to the WOO Bar in the W Hotel. The bar is on the roof of the W Hotel and is pretty ugly and not nice at all, NOT. This bar was amazing. There was a pool right outside of the bar and couches and seats to sit on which looked over the pool and city below it. It was very beautiful and it was amazing to see all of my friends who I hadn't seen in a while.

Although I have been here for a short period of time, I have already done so many things, met so many people and have taken on so many different responsibilities, but I am also starting to miss home a lot.

Sorry for the delay in blog posting, but I am trying the best that I can. I hope you all are enjoying everything I am telling you and you will never truly understand what Asia is like until you come here yourself.

Look forward to another blog in a couple weeks.

Olivia