Did you know that Taiwan is 13 hours ahead of Colombia? After I could leave the hotel in the capital city of Taipei, I moved to Hualien. Hualien is almost three hours south of the capital by train and is known for its beautiful scenery. Many people come to this part of the island to hike, bike surf or go whale watching. Taiwanese people say the best places are those with water and mountains, and Hualien has both! However, there are also a lot of earthquakes and typhoons.
In September, I started taking Chinese classes with my Taiwanese teacher. Every day, I go to class for three hours, where I learn new vocabulary and grammar. In the afternoon, I do homework or travel around my city to see new things. I enjoy swimming in the rivers and hot springs, which are both natural! I also teach English in a nearby village once a week. I have three female students in fifth grade who are excited to share their indigenous culture with you.
When you move to a new country, it can take time to make friends and to understand many things about the culture. I have only been here for three months, so I still have a lot to learn, but I am excited to keep trying new foods, practicing speaking Chinese and spending time hiking and biking. I also enjoy running and reading in my free time. I have two parents and a younger brother and sister. I can’t wait for them to come to visit me in Taiwan sometime soon!
