HELLO, TAIWAN.

8pm: Land in Taipei, Taoyuan International Airport

-          Get picked up by cousin and head to his apartment in Taipei

-          Stay over one night

Currently 3:12pm in Tokyo and I just landed in Narita International Airport with already hearing a lot of Taiwanese mandarin all around me as I wait for my flight to Taipei. No internet so I’m writing this on my word document and the Taiwanese girls behind me probably is peeking over my shoulder to see how I’m typing in English so fast. I swear, they already crept up next to me three times and I think I should just start getting used to that. 

So, flight got delayed right when I got to O’hare. They never really mentioned why but I had to wait an extra two hours. I would have to say ANA is WAY better than UA though… like everything: the food, the service (well, the service was kind of intimidating with the flight attendants always at your face for SOMETHING), and the plane itself. I had my own TV SCREEN!!!! Result of that were three and a half movies for the whole duration of the flight. I got pretty air sick in the beginning after the GLORIOUS first meal we had (picture below) and I was so scared I was going to throw up right there. Thank God I didn’t… instead I just knocked out.

I had two plane letters to read (from Hyein and Jeka) and I almost started crying on the plane after reading them. I’m already missing home. Finally realizing that this will be my first time actually FAR, FAR from home and to return isn’t just an hour train ride away anymore. No more AAIV community surrounding me with love and discipline; no more parents that are just a phone call away and no more usual places to escape to when I need time alone. Already in amidst of Asians, I feel American and different. The comfort I feel when I see Americans surprises me compared to the intimidation and judgment feeling I get when Asian faces surrounds me. I’m no longer different on the outside. I guess it’s the identity crisis that’s kicking in as I’m already trying to fit in. I haven’t even landed in Taipei yet.

Dang, one of the girls just came over and just laid her back and head towards my chair. Talk about privacy differences I have to start learning…

Well, I had a schedule going on but it got changed two nights before my flight day. Jerry (the person who came up with this awesome blog name) and I were supposed to travel together the first three days around Taiwan but due to time conflict and money, I don’t even know if I would be able to see the only friend from Chicago that would be visiting! Sad…

EDIT: Well, now I’m in Taipei and going to spend a night at my cousin’s! It’s already been an adventure: had to ride the subway and bus in order to just get to his apartment, nightmarket for a snack, and finally seeing Taipei 101 on his roof.

Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll be sleeping tonight since it’s currently 11:27AM at Chicago…

SCHEDULE:

7/26 – 11am: High speed railway to Kaohsiung

-          Arrive around 1pm and get picked up by Aunty

7/27-7/29: Finish school registration, medical appointments, and government registrations

~7/29-8/1: Visit family in Taichung

-          Meet up with Jason Lee

-          Maybe a short visit to Taipei with cousins?

8/5: Return to Kaohsiung

Prayer requests:

1)      All registrations will go smoothly

2)      All safe travels during these first two weeks

3)      God will start opening my eyes and heart to see what He sees in this country and my grandma, who I will be staying with

4)      Safe travels for my parents who will be visiting me in Taiwan on 8/7.

Miss you all!