We're finally back. A familiar welcoming sight is the Miramar Mall and Cinemas' giant ferris wheel within walking distance from our building. One day when I am feeling particularly whimsical I'll ride it.
Classes began July 1st. Monday through Friday, 2:20-5:10. I leave around 1:00 PM for my ~one hour commute to Shida University. This is the subway station, Yuanshan, where I transfer to from the bus.
The class is perfect for my level. My classmates and I are pretty much in the same predicament: being American or Canadian born Chinese who can speak Mandarin and have grown up speaking it, but are less skilled in reading and writing it. Because we learn at such a fast pace and have three hours of class everyday, I feel that my ability to write and recognize characters has already rapidly improved. It doesn't hurt either that our teacher is sweet and affable and my classmates are all very genuine, fun people. :D
Class minus Peter and Shiao-Wei at a hot pot restaurant.When not studying for the quizzes we have everyday, I eat and shop.
Grace making her custom dipping sauce for some more hot pot.
Celestine decided to order live (!) shrimp for her hot pot. Eeek it was difficult to witness. I think one's blurred because it was twitching.Besides its famous nightmarkets, Taiwan also has markets in the morning to early afternoon where many people do their grocery shopping or browse for anything from household supplies to random trinkets.
A stall with a man hawking his amazing headband. At this moment he was demonstrating to a gaggle of housewives how convenient it was to have while washing your face so hair doesn't get in the way.
Women even get their hair dyed here!
And naturally, the ubiquitous ice dessert. Always a good way to end some major shopping.
