what the taiwanese love

scooters and 7-11's that is all you see.  the scooter is the main mode of transportation if you are going a short or long distance.  also, no matter what you bought it will fit on a scooter.  7-11's really surprised me.  they have a much wider variety of foods and somewhat fresher.  also they are a general meeting and hanging place for the neighborhood.

will ellen not want to come

i have been a little worried about showing these pictures because im afraid it will slow her progress.  my place is a little small, but really clean and has a great view.  and it does have room, for those adventurous ones to sleep on the floor.  and teddy is doing just fine.

what a nice bunch of people

during this last week here i have been very impressed by how nice everyone has been to us.  we are being offered free services, rides, and help.  when we showed up at a hostel in kaohsiung and it was full, they called another (cheaper) hotel, confirmed a room for us, and then called a taxi for us.  i'm impressed.

my new friend bea

just as i started to get homesick i got a whole bunch of love.  this was all in the form of a cute little puppy named bea.  now bea is probably not her name, but she will come to it and love you and sit in your lap no matter what you call her.

my school

so my school is pretty awesome, but really it looks like a college.  it's huge made of brick and has beautiful gardens.  there are no students yet, but many will be there starting  august 31st.  

walk to town

 this is what i see on a normal walk into douliou.  hey look, it's me!

orchards and suburbs

my town, douliou (doh-lee-oh), is a smaller town about the size of corvallis surrounded by the beautiful countyside and orchards.  in the morning i pass people working on their crops and moving the fruit to town.

i made it

there will be many posts to come now that i have settled down, somewhat.  i still dont have internet so blogging is a little difficult.

my flight over was full of many emotions.  when i left my family and got dropped off at the airport i felt alone, very alone.  i spent my time at the pdx airport holding back a rush of tears.  once i got on the plane i tried to think ahead to the fun adventure, but it was still hard not to think about what i was leaving in portland.  i made it to tokyo and had my nose against the window while entering taiwan.  at that point i knew things would be ok.

teddy made it too.

the taiwan flag