Travel

This Is It.

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Location | Taipei

This is it. I’m having an anxiety attack. Complete and utter failure I am. I’m crying my little heart out for the first time ever because I’m all alone. I just feel so helpless right now. Every time I’ve gone someplace new I always had someone with me that I knew, and now, I have no one. I feel so lonely and sick. I feel terrible. There’s nothing for me to do but cry and that’s all I’m doing.

I’m scared out of my mind. I’m not the one who goes adventuring off alone. This is why I didn’t go far away from home for college. It’s so weird that I can’t stop crying. All I know is that I don’t want to go to Japan to study anymore. I just want to stay home. Stay home for the rest of my life. That’s all.

I feel so bad for crying my guts out. Seriously. I just can’t control my feelings right now. I don’t know what I’m going to do. Sure I’m independent and cut off for the most part now, but I really can’t stand this fact. I just want to be home where I’m most comfortable. I’ve only been here for about 2 hours and I already want to go home. Can you believe me? I really can’t believe it.

Ok, I’m just blubbering, I have no idea what is wrong. I feel very insecure and ripped apart. Its not a very nice feeling at all.

I don’t want to be left alone. I was watching this movie and in it there was this guy who traveled all alone and he had no one because his family had all passed away and even his wife had passed away. I don’t think I coud take being left alone like that. I can only be human and need people to be around me all the time. Frankly I just miss everyone back at home. I miss everyone like crazy.

I just can’t handle it. I kept talking about Taiwan this and Taiwan that, except I was just really afraid of it all. I don’t even want to be here anymore. I wanted to be here for like a day and then since then I’ve just wanted to go home. What is wrong with me!? I’m so messed up.

I guess I just don’t like being here.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Birds.

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Location | Taichung

Altogether during my less than week stay in Taiwan so far, I’ve collected around $600 from relatives. (which is NT$18000)

Its been really hot here. I’ve stayed inside most of the time. I’ve had nothing to do. I watched Ranma. I watched Card Captor Sakura. I saw the movies: I Spy, Ever After, and Predator. I went to my aunt’s on my dad’s side.

Oh, I forgot to mention that in Taiwan, besides the cockroaches, there are these lizards that climb on the walls and they’re white and make weird noises. They scare me.

Ok, I have nothing more to say. Bye.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Inside

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Location | Taichung

Its been extremely warm in Taichung these past 2 days. I’m getting pretty stir crazy being inside all day. Its quite boring.

I went to Sogo for a little bit yesterday, but before we left the cleaning lady came… so we had to put the dog, Kudi on the “6th floor” meaning on the 6th shelf from the bottom on the bookshelf. That way he couldn’t climb down and bite the cleaning lady… I didn’t realize where my grandma had put the dog until I went to get my sunglasses and I saw this small white dog sitting on the bookshelf next to the bird… it was SO FUNNY… I’ve never seen anyone do that before…

Anyway, I got some stuff for myself and also a present for someone. Sogo is still as cool as ever, now they have Kinokuniya as their bookstore! I was so excited! Only… they don’t have a good selection of English books AT ALL.

I’m going to go read Forumosa now and see where I can get a plug converter for my laptop. The batteries are almost dead… and there is only a 2-prong outlet here, and I need a 3 prong.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Mosquitoes

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Location | Taichung

Yesterday I went with my mom to Taipei to check out the area around Shi Da University (aka National Taiwan Normal University). We took the train from Taichung and rode 2.5 hours north to Taipei, then we got on the MRT (subway) and rode to the Guting stop. We went over to Shi Da to see if there was any housing for rent on the bulletin board, and found one… but we went to see the room and it was TINY… like the size of my closet in the dorm at Martha Cook. Plus it smelled kind of bad… so we’re gonna avoid that place. Hopefully I can get a single room asap at the I-House.

Anyway, I finally got my cell phone here.. it’s my aunt’s, but she’s letting me use it. It’s so cute! I want to keep it! Too bad I can’t though… perhaps I will steal it :D.

My allergies are getting better. I wanna go shoe shopping soon… shoes here are like $15 for really cute shoes. La di da. I still want to get an MP3 player and a webcam. Those will come later.

So, my grandma’s dog pees EVERYWHERE… in the morning when I walk out of the 4th floor door theres dog pee outside the door and on the stairs… and the dog just plays innocent! Luckily the cleaning lady is coming today to clean everything up. Yaaay for no more doggie pee! It’s really warm here… eee! Luckily I-House has air conditioning.

Oh, I had McDonalds here yesterday and it was AWFUL. OOOOHHH~! I just found out what kind of dog Kudi (my grandma’s dog) is! It’s a Maltese! AHAHHAHA!! All this while I was thinking either bischon frise or poodle… LOL!! Oh, well now I know.

Well, I’m out (at least for this entry)

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Sick or Allergies?

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Location | Taichung

Reasons why I don’t like Taiwan:
a) The air is polluted so badly that you choke on it sometimes.
b) It’s dirty EVERYWHERE, seriously, it’s really hard to find a clean place.
c) Taiwanese people have bad habits, like spitting great big gobs of…
d) There is so much trash that they have to burn it…
e) Everything is disposable… therefore back to so much trash…
f) Racism… dude Taiwanese people are extremely racist, makes me sad
g) Conformist… all the teens look THE SAME. Same clothes, same haircut… oh wait, that’s the same in the US…
h) The heat, it’s gonna be around 100* all summer

Reasons why I like Taiwan:
a) GOOD FOOD. Mm… I love all the little food stalls
b) Great shopping… so much shopping you can do and it’s so cheap too!
c) Relatives who are always willing to give you money or take you out shopping
d) Convenience, food is everywhere and there are also lots of taxis, buses, and MRTs to take you places

Wow, apparently reasons why I don’t like Taiwan outnumber the reasons why I like Taiwan. I prefer America because it’s CLEAN. I miss the clean fresh air…

Yesterday we went up to the mountains to a Sakura garden, only the flowers had already bloomed and were gone… so it was kind of weird just to go see trees. Anyway, we also had a meal there on these huge red oak (?) tables. The meal was super expensive, and not that great, but oh well.

I’ve been sleeping A LOT lately, yesterday I slept from 9:30pm until 6am and then 3pm until 9pm and then 11pm until 5:30am. It’s just that there’s really nothing to do but sleep here… how boring! Oh well, whatever. I should go shower… I smell like sweat probably… it’s really warm, even with the air conditioning it can get warm at night.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Can’t Sleep

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Location | Taichung

I can’t sleep. I slept from 4-7 and then 8-2:30. Now… I can’t go back to sleep… I will in a bit though. Anyway, I’m really allergic to my grandmother’s dog. My nose is runny and I can’t breathe and my eyes are puffy and red. Plus that dog is the devil and all I want to do is just kick it everytime I see it, no matter HOW cute it is.

So, here are some more things about Taiwan. I’m looking for an apartment right now, but the problem is I can’t find one that suits me. I went to International House of Taipei and it quite LITERALLY is on a mountain. Plus in the middle of nowhere.

Taiwan is really dirty. I mean I love this country, but I don’t think I’d be able to survive here unless I lived in some REALLY CLEAN penthouse suite in a new building in the middle of the cleanest part of the city… The air is polluted, the houses are old, and the streets are dirty. Pollution is everywhere. Plus it appears that I am allergic to EVERYTHING. If any of you wanna send me a package, some allegra, claritin or zyrtec would be nice.

Ok, allergic reaction to everyone right now *achooo* *nose runs* *eyes itch* Ok, so let me tell you about some more stuff. I saw 2 of my cousins yesterday. THEY ARE GIGANTIC. Well at least my youngest cousin… and not to mention very BEEFY. I am scared. He used to be tiny and bite size… and CUTE. WHAT HAPPENED!? Oh and in Taiwan yesterday it was my birthday. They got me a cake. I will update later and post pictures so everyone can see. Bleh… I’m using my aunt’s computer right now… in the middle of the night. It’s quite interesting. For ADSL you’re not already connected when you turn on the internet, you gotta connect it yourself.

Well, I’m getting tired so I’m gonna go back upstairs and escape allergies. There’s really only one room where I’m not allergic to anything and that’s the 4th floor bedroom. So I’m going back there and going back to sleep. Goodnight.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Taichung

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Location | Taichung

So the biggest lessons I have learned these past few days is a) take sleeping pills on the plane or you will be wishing for your destruction b) get plane seats early so you get to sit next to the people you are traveling with c) laptops go into the xray machine separately and d) Taiwan public bathrooms don’t come with toilet paper, bring your own.

Anyway, so the plane ride was super long and I only slept like 2 hours out of the last 28 hours. I didn’t sleep well last night cuz my grandma fed me bubble tea… and of course I couldn’t sleep after that.

Today is my birthday, I’m 19~! Woohoo! I get a cake and lots of money from relatives. Oi, we love birthdays in Taiwan. Today I’m going to Taipei to take a placement test and look for housing. I probably get to see my cousin too…

I don’t get it, but I live on the 4th floor of my grandma’s building, but I don’t run out of breath climbing up… wow. Oh, and the stupid dog my grandma has BIT ME. I have a round bite mark on my foot. Oh and the bird that they got is REALLY ANNOYING. It keeps making noise as I sit here.

Anyway, hopefully I will pass out tonight because I really need some sleep. Ok, my aunt and great uncle are here to take me to Taipei. So I’m off!

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

I’m Leaving On A Jet Plane

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Location | Canton

I’m leaving tomorrow for Taiwan! Can you believe it? I really can’t, my summer portion at home went by TOO FAST. I’m gonna miss everyone a lot… and kind of regretting going for THE WHOLE SUMMER. It’ll be ok though… keep in touch with me everyone. You can always im me or email me… I’ll respond and you know it — because I’m INSANE.

Anyway, my plane leaves tomorrow at 3:30pm and I’ll arrive in Taipei at 9:30pm Taipei Time (9:30am EST). Then I’ll arrive at “home” in Taichung around midnight depending on traffic. On Friday (my birthday…) I’ll be in Taipei taking a placement test for my Chinese class, as well as apartment searching and visiting my cousin and her 3 dogs and cat.

Other than that, classes start June 1st, and I should be moving into my place May 30th. Well, email me your addresses so I can send postcards or something.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Less Than A Month Left

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Location | Ann Arbor

Well, it’s less than a month until I leave for Taiwan. Lots of stuff I’m leaving behind. Lots of people left behind. I’m going to try to come back 2.5 months later. A bit earlier than planned. I was supposed to be gone 3.5 months!! EEP! I’d rather cut it short, because I don’t think I’ll be able to take the heat! It’s so hot in Taiwan.

Anyway, I’ve been packing to take all my dorm stuff home. Can you believe the semester is over? Two tests and I’m out of here! I’m so excited. I’ve been waiting so long for this to just be FINISHED. I’m so sick of the classes I have now (well except Anthro, I like Anthro lots).

As for Taiwan, my dad just sent my application for housing at National Taiwan Normal University. He applied for a single! Yay!

Ok, time to go. Talk to you closer to leaving.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]

Running Away

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Location | Ann Arbor

I’m so excited to go to Taiwan because it’s my time to get away. A lot of people I know are going to be there this summer also.

So far:
Jess Wong
Dave Liu
Michael Chu
Joanlie Shiah
Alex Ho

I can’t wait to spend the summer there. I’m also planning on working at a blind children’s summer camp if the plan doesn’t fall through. I’m also thinking about getting a job, but that might be a little strenuous.

[This entry was taken from my old blog, Away from Home. Formatting may have changed when moved to Explore!]