First Experiences

The First Days

 

I did not feel a 'culture shock' when I arrived in Taiwan. It is VERY similar in ways of America. They LOVE American food, cloths, styles, so they have all of that, but then they have their own unique culture within the 'Western Culture' of their own.

 

They do have some Fast food restaurants we have, such as McDonalds, and KFC, and many more, but they also have a very cheep and unique food of their own.

This was my first meal, which is a large portion size, along with yes my drink is Coke. The deal breaker is that this meal cost only $3.00 in US Dollars.

 

I think that the food here is great, many vegetables. I was telling some of my Asian friends I have here how it is so hard to eat healthy and so expensive in America and they were in awe. The food is really good and very cheep over here.

 

One thing I was not excited about what having the same size room as I do in Wayne, but have to share it with 3 other people. It is very tight, but we get our own bathroom, which is nice in a way. As you can see below, there is a western toilet and then a sink. Right in the middle of it is the shower head, so when you shower the entire bathroom gets wet!

 

Different Bathroom than I am used to.

 

My room looking in, left side is 4 desks next to each other, and right side is 4 twin size beds.

 

A very new experience I did not really experience yet is the 'squat toilet'

These seem to be very popular here, but when a 3D toilet is around, I make sure to use it.

 

 

I traveled to my first night market and it reminded me of a fair/carnival. It had a lot of different foods to try and sweets to eat, and games to play. It was a smaller one close to campus, but really fun and unique to the Asian culture!

 

LEGAL DRINKING AGE: 18 

 

I experienced my first Shot the other day, it was a pre-made one in a 7Eleven Shop. It was sweet with a tang, and warm to my tummy!

 

 

There is a story behind this bird: The morning before I took this picture I was in a Chinese Language class and I learned how to say bird in Chinese. Niao=Bird (pronounced Neow, like Meow with an N) So what happened was, me and my friends went walking and saw a bird in a cage, we walked up to it, and it started "Neowing" No joke, I thought this was the funniest thing ever! 

 

This was a mini temple/worship place along the side of one of the streets. It was the first one I saw and walked into, it was very cool with a lot of designs and religion tied into it. It was very fun to experience.

 

My Friend Hannah and her friend taking a selfie!

This is one of the regular crowded streets in Taiwan. It is crazy. People drive crazy and there are no sidewalks, so you have to walk in the street with crazy drivers to visit all of the different shops and food stands all along the Market streets!

 

I am an official student at Providence University in Taiwan!

 

The first couple of days in Taiwan was full of a lot of new experiences and a lot of good times with new and old friends! I love my faculty advisor Dr. Ellis, and am already annoyed with certain students that obviously came here just to drink, but I am having a good time with my friends! 

 

I cannot wait for more fun experiences!

Signing out,

Michael Reed