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