We have reached a strange point in the trip. We have officially passed the midpoint of our journey, which now counts as the longest continuous time I have spent outside Aotearoa. It is a strange time to pass through because we have adapted to life in Taiwan, and, at the same time, we have not….Continue Reading Tourist trapped
The last few days have been surreal. I can’t believe I have only been here for four days, but I’m not sure if that’s because it feels like I only left yesterday or if it feels like a lifetime ago. We have managed to pack so much in since we arrived, and I’ve been able…Continue Reading Goood Morning, Vietnaaaam!
สวัสดีปีใหม่. Happy New Year! I’ve decided to start my first blog post by describing the amazing night in Siam, Bangkok, as midnight hit and the new year began. The night began around 7pm with a quick train ride to Siam Station via the BTS Skytrain, absolutely crammed with locals and tourists alike. Many were excited…Continue Reading New Year’s Eve in Siam, Bangkok
Taipei’s New Year’s fireworks are world-renowned, so it was impossible to pass up the opportunity to see them. That was the primary driver of the most intense all-nighter I have pulled. Despite the difficulties, it was an enriching experience. Our night started in the day with a 1:30 pm train from Tainan to Taipei. Given…Continue Reading New year, new city
January 2nd 2022 9:56 PM 大家好！ 圣诞快乐！ 新年快乐！ This last week has been very busy. Busy enough that I forgot to submit my last blog for review! Last week was Christmas, which was very different and interesting. It was hard to be away from family, however. This was the second year in a row in…Continue Reading its not all fun and games sometimes, and that is ok
December 22nd 2022, 11:05AM 大家好！ 我希望你们很好！ 这周很忙！ 我们去上课，去开会等等。 This week has been our first official week in the 大学的宿舍, and I had not realised how much of a difference it would make. I will not lie, it has been a bit of an interesting experience to live in the 宿舍, more than anything because of…Continue Reading 台南 Shenanigans Continued: speaking 中文
We’ve had classes now for the last two weeks. Whilst I was nervous at first, full immersion classes aren’t as tricky as you’d think and it surprises you how much you know in a controlled environment like the classroom where the pace of conversation is much slower than real life. I’m in the 8 am…Continue Reading Classes and Chòu dòufu in Tainan
“Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity” by Robert Alan. Learning all about the history of Taiwan- from politics, art, religion, and much more- has felt like reading a bedtime story. I have learned much about this beautiful country in a small…Continue Reading History through the words of others.
It has been an incredible couple of weeks studying abroad in Tainan, Taiwan. One of the highlights was spending Christmas day with the Tongxuemen in Tainan Park. It was so special to see how everyone likes to celebrate their holiday, and it was an incredible opportunity to learn more about their culture. Although it was…Continue Reading 聖誕節快樂！新年快樂！
大家好 and hello to you, reader! This fortnight’s blog post is about experiences I’ve found interesting as I settle into 台南/Tainan. They’ve challenged my cultural disposition as a second-generation Chinese-New Zealander in Taiwan. Reader, I hope you enjoy the journey through my thoughts. McDonald’s Mcdonald’s has unfortunately become my weekly haunt. The familiarity of the…Continue Reading McDonald’s, Tradition and Cultural Identity