This past weekend Nick and I visited Vivian's parents again, they took us to 天外天 to eat hot pot, which is delicious! Her parents are so fun, although I don't always know what to talk to them about, which is sad, its just that not that much happens and then the language barrier keeps me from talking as much as I would like to. I wish we could visit them more but its hard to organize/plan that kind of thing, and I don't want them to spend money on us eating out everytime we come by. I think in a week or so we could go by Fengjia and buy them some bread, and then go by and see them for a while.
Then Tony randomly invited us to his house in Hsinzhu - 新竹, and we stayed there for Saturday night. His family owns two apartments and they're both beautiful, Asian apartments are really bright, I really like them. They seem to have more windows or something, or maybe I just like how the floors have different levels so it feels like there's more room.
We went to 内湾， where we spent maybe $50 on souvenirs, and we ate rice-balls with meat in them, they were really yummy, and we also rode go-carts!! Then we had pineapple popsicles. His mom made the best food we'd had in a long time, she uses Hondashi, and the little fishies that Vivian has. Those two ingredients are magical!! Hsinzhu had really pretty scenery, its more compact like Taipei, but then there's also a river running through it with a pretty promenade along on both sides, and tons of trees surrounding it. It is small though.
Hsinzhu is also the "windy city" of Taipei, when we went to the ocean the wind was incredible! It made me lose balance when walking sometimes. It's also Taiwan's "silicon valley" so a lot of people there are rich, and there's an area where workers live in small dorms, but the area is so beautiful, some roads reminded me of NY near Central Park.
After we got back, Tony taught me how to ride a scooter. I think it's too dangerous for me to ride a scooter, it would take too long to get used to it, and I really don't want to ride a scooter next to a public bus. I heard today that some girl fell in traffic and her hand was ripped off. I think I'll pass.
And now I'm trying to work slowly but surely on my thesis. I only read through one article today, but it was a 30 pg article, and I read parts of a couple other articles. I think it was a lot for one day, so I'm proud. Hopefully I can get more done before I go back!!! BAHHHHH!!!!
Today the wind in Shalu was crazy
