12 Things I've Learned So Far About Living in Taiwan

It's hard to believe that I have been in Taiwan a week. Already, I have learned a great deal and look forward to learning more. Below is a random list of some things I have learned so far from living in Taiwan. 

1. The weather is very hot. Constant sweating ensues.

2. I was expected tea, but the tea I was thinking of was hot tea. Everyone frequently gets iced tea and there are so many different kinds. 

3. People try to be healthy and clean. Shoes are taken off at the door. People will also wear masks when they are sick to try to prevent spreading their illness to others. 

4. There are many Taiwanese superstitions. Some of them include: No swimming during a Ghost month,. Do not write someone's name in red because that means you wish them dead. Do not place chopsticks straight up in the rice.  Do not point at the moon. The number four is bad luck. 

5. White rice tastes so good. It tastes way better here than in the United States. 

6. Most meals involve cabbage.

7. It is fashionable to be as pale-skinned as possible.  Darker skin implies blue collar work/lower class. To stay as pale as possible, many of the skin products have bleaching in them. Many also use an umbrella when outside or avoid going out when it is sunny altogether. Guess who is the fairest of them all?

8. It is cheaper to eat out than to cook. 

9. There is a great deal of pressure to do well in school. Students work hard and spend long hours at school or studying. As the 6th graders said, "it's a hard knock life."

10.Restaurants are not open as long. Some are only open during the morning, while others only open at 8 pm. 

11. There are other ways to communicate when you don't know the language. 

12. It really is a small world. It is amazing, even half-way around the world, finding connections that I have with others.