Hiiii. Back from my little hiatus. I'm currently in a slightly off-beat coffee shop (also my favorite coffee shop), Cafe Macedonian. The owner knows me as the “摩卡女生” aka the "mocha girl"; I love him! It's about a 4 minute walk from my apartment. I'm sitting at the corner table with my hot chocolate (dabei), my hoodie, and Leon, sitting across from me. I have been feeling really grateful the past few days: hanging out with friends (unlimited hotpot at Guoin & thrifting at Fuhe market with Manon, lunch with Indie at vegetarian place next to Guting while spilling our gossip, late night studying/laughing/complaining/etc. with Mika) and travelling out of Taipei (Keelung and Yangmingshan with Leon) has really meant a lot to me recently. I have fallen into a routine life now in Taipei, and oftentimes, moving out of routine feels like a task to me--it's a large undertaking. I don't totally know why--usually too lazy and tired?--but when I travel, decide to go out with new friends, go on a walk in the evening, it feels new everytime. It's so refreshing. I need to remind myself to do that. So, do that, Andrea!! I have a little itch in the back of my mind that is fearful that I'm not maximizing my experience here to the fullest, going out more, or travelling more. But, isn't that the most normal fear all people in their 20's have? It's always good to remind myself that I have done so much, and also that it's ok to have a limit to what I can do. Little moments of kindness towards me that I want to remember: Manon told me the other day that her mom calls me the "magnificant one who dances" when referring to me. I was dancing on the beach one day while Manon was facetiming her mom. Another one--Ray, Indie was telling me, told me that Ray said that she is so grateful for me, and that I am so kind and funny. She said she hopes other people describe herself the way they describe me. I'll start with New Year. Totally surreal/happy/exciting that I was able to see the Taipei 101 fireworks. Definitely a highlight for me! I used to watch it on TV, so even though the fireworks were eh, I was so excited the whole time. We had an amazing view at Sun Yat Sen memorial (although it was crowded and a little cloudy) with Lola, Leon, and Mika. We went to look for a 7-11 to finish our beers afterwards. I got a hot chocolate, and we sat until 2 am, but then I was feeling tired so went home. Thinking back, I wish I went out drinking, but in the moment I was pretty tired so it's okkkk! OK, funny moment. the next day, Leon and I went walking around a temple, and we saw on the wall a bunch of candles with wishes written on them, so we went to the temple desk and asked to get our own. We filled out the paper with our wishes on it, then handed it over to the lady at the desk. Then, she told us that it costed money (after we already wrote our wish) and she told us it was $20USD!!!! HUH?? There was no going back although we asked to cancel it. The thing is, Leon bought 2 one for his sister and one for himself because it was free, so he spent $40. We were both laughing/crying/distressed/trying to make ourselves feel better. A little funny. But, our wish is up for one year. January 1, 2023-2024. So, that's pretty cool. I am glad now to have spent the money. I'll go visit my candle soon.
Just got back from Yangmingshan with Leon. We spent 4-5 hours walking and laughing at Qingtiangang fields: walked in the fields, hiked to a viewpoint to see the sunset, hiked to a waterfall. It was so chill, but felt like such a big day. I loved it. Thankful for Leon who is always up for something fun. I'm proud that I let myself come to Taiwan, that I rebelled against the little voice that wants me to rush through everything. Sometimes it can be difficult to see change in my life, but I can truly tell that my Mandarin is improving. I am thankful for my friends here that feel like family to me, my parents, my sisters, my friends back home. Unexpectedly, I feel more inspired by medicine and feel so secure that it was the correct decision to better my Chinese and go to medical school. I am experiencing a new set emotions: a sense of loneliness and distance from family and friends that I never understood until now; a new sense of independence and freedom; new friendships that feel old, like family. I am grateful for these emotions, I am living! This is life. I am confronted with uncomfortability, fear, and insecurity here, and I am trying to learn how to fully accept them and let these feelings be my guide. I'll recap the other months I missed in other posts! See ya, Andrea
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施安雅我是個愛喝咖啡 吃東西 和朋友家人在一起的人。我從西雅圖來台灣學中文 學九個月。歡迎! Archives
March 2023
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