A Long Time Coming!

Contrary to popular belief, I most certainly have not fallen of the face of the Earth. However, I do offer my sincerest apologies as this would have made for a much better explanation for my recent absences from western civilization. As a token of my appreciation (and as an apology), please accept this incredibly boring entry about my current situation in life.

I last left you with a raging battle between me and the giant dragon Peaches on Christmas day(you’ll be happy to know I survived with only minor scratches to show). Christmas here wasn’t anything special. I went to Taipei with Jenny the American from my district and we met up with some of the Taipei YEPs. New Years, I stayed a couple days in Taipei with my friend Cecilia (she’s Taiwanese) and Kyle (he’s American from another district). We spent a couple of days just going around Taipei. On New Years eve we met up with other YEPs and went to watch the fireworks at 101. It was really interesting to see the building lit up and be there with at least half a million other people. The streets were so packed that we could barely move.

In other news, sometime in the middle of December I moved to my second host family. I happy to be leaving my first family but nervous because it always nerve wracking to move in with strangers! At this house there is my host mother Rora, my host father whom I call Uncle (it’s common to refer to people over the age of 30 as aunt or unlce), two younger brothers Ryan and Timmy as well as a housekeeper named Alyen. They are all very nice but of course are nervous about having a foreigner living in their house.

Sometime in the mix of January I managed to work up the courage to go get my hair cut. Not only did I get it cut but I also got it curled, there will be pictures.

Since the Chinese New Year is very soon the students have been on holiday for the past two weeks and still have one more! (The middle week, the current week, they do have to go to school in the morning). I go to school during the day though because my host parents work.

The new year is quickly approaching (Sunday, the same day as my birthday) and I will be sure to do a good report on it and take lots of pictures! I’m not sure where I will be next week but I am taking my notebook home and I will write lots about it, no more waiting months, I promise!

Finishing off on a good note, I got my camera back! (For those of you who don’t know, I broke it last month and it has been in the repair shop for quite some time now) so I have a couple pictures to post. I have more then what will be appearing in the post but I don’t want it to take to long to load so I will put the rest of them up tomorrow or when I get back from vacation. Thank you all for being so patient with me and I am now open to any questions that you may have about my life in Taiwan, either send me an e-mail or post them up in the comments box and I will get to them in my next post! Until then, I hope you are well and keep checking back!

Much Love
Karly
xoxoxo

New Years!















Cecilia, my friend in Taipei, eating.


























Snow in Taiwan? It's bubbles!















Valentine's Day - All of the Ilan exchange students went to a kindergarten and made these. The picture below is of Chase (USA) and Struan (Canada). We're all a little crazy here...















My pig I made (it's going to be the year of the pig)


























Taiwanese English!


























Valentines Day Dinner (delicious!)
















Giant pigs in honour of the New Year!
















Valentine's Day - It was at least 25 out!
















So this is the end, I'm sorry it was so random and unsatisfying but I should have quite a bit of spare time over the next week and I'll do something better up!

P.S. Sorry for any errors or anything being out of place, I"m trying to fix it but so far, no luck!