“Guess who’s back, back again?” -Slim Shady

I know everyone has been anxiously awaiting the day Mandarin Allison would return, and much like the Canadian teen drama Degrassi, my blog has been picked up again for another season.

Mandarin Allison

Three years ago, I went to Taiwan with no expectations– you don’t know what you don’t know, so I basically just showed up there with an open mind.  The scholarship I received, Taiwan US Alliance (TUSA) Ambassador Summer Scholarship, was funded by the Taiwan Ministry of Education.  TUSA housed me in a dorm at National Cheng Kung University, paired me with a tutor, and enrolled me in immersive Mandarin courses– not to mention, took me on trips all over the island, taught me tai chi, and gave me lessons in Chinese painting.  During those two months,  I learned (some of) a new language, I met people from literally the other side of the world, and I ate as much mango as I possibly could.  I wanted to record my travels, as well as keep my friends and family at home informed of all the stuff I was learning and cool places I was going, so I started this blog, Mandarin Allison.  I was thrilled to get 4,000+ hits on my blog in the two months it was active.  It’s now at 5,000+ hits and I am so happy that people are learning things about Taiwan and about me.  I love you, everyone who reads my blog.  Thanks for your loyal support ❤

My aim for this blog is to share everything I’m learning and doing with anyone who cares to listen.  Don’t consider this a “travel blog,” but rather a “What-is-Allison-doing-and-learning-in-Asia-now” blog.

I write these posts for a few reasons:

1. To remember what I did and learned
2. To show friends and family what I’m up to
3. (I hope) to show Taiwanese friends an English-written perspective on topics they can relate to/ show them how things and events in Taiwan would be described in English
4. Just to write because no one can ever write enough and there is a lot to say

Some Context For this Year:

I will be teaching English with Hess International Educational Group on a 1-year contract, with a 10-day orientation starting July 18.  I won’t know what ages of students I’ll be teaching or what school I will be placed at until I get there.  However, I do know that I’ll be living in Taipei with Tammy (my language partner from the TUSA program), her sister, Xania, and her friend, Maggie.

Tammy on the right, Xania on the left

This is Tammy (right) and her sister, Xania (left).  Tammy will be getting her Masters of Science in Molecular Medicine very soon– she actually defends her thesis on the day I arrive in Taiwan!  Tammy and I always have so much fun together… stay tuned for several “Tammy & Allison adventure” posts.

Xania teaches commercial design at vocational high school near where we’ll be living. She’s very good at photography and drawing.  Looking forward to meeting her!

Maggie

This is Maggie!  She is Tammy’s classmate from graduate school.  She’s seeking a PhD in Molecular Medicine as well.  Such smart and talented roommates I will have 🙂

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They’re all already living there, but I will be moving into our fully-furnished apartment on July 15, which looks awesome.  They did a great job apartment hunting.  I had the easy task of saying, “Yes, that looks perfect.”

Here’s a few shots of the place:

The living room

Living room, angle #2

My bedroom

The kitchen

Here’s what I’m looking forward to most in my year abroad in no particular order:

1. Living with Tammy and Maggie and Xania | We’re going to have so much fun.  I’m very fortunate that the timing worked out to live with them. I will probably have a lot of questions, so living with people who know all the answers will be great!  Hoping to share some American cooking tips and pick up some Taiwanese ones too.
2. Teaching | I’ve never taught before, so I think it will be a rewarding, fun, and challenging experience.  I am already anxious to see my students progress.
3. Living in a big city | I’ve also never lived in a big city, pretty much only suburbs and a college campus, so the size of Taipei will be a new setting for me… if I love it, then I may check out living in a larger city when I come back to the US!
4. Living in another country | I have been abroad before, and even to Taiwan, but actually figuring out groceries, banking, getting around, etc. will be a new experience outside the US.  I look forward to living day-to-day life in Taiwan.
5. Seeing a full year of Taiwan’s festivals & holidays | When I was in Taiwan the last time, people described elaborate festivals and holidays to me, but of course they were spread throughout the year.  Now I’ll get to experience them all!  Notable ones I’m anticipating most: Moon Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Chinese New Year.
6. Reconnecting with my host family and others from three years ago | I really hope I can reconnect with my tutor, my host family, and my friends from the TUSA program.  They were so kind to me; it would be wonderful to see them again.

The Details:

I will fly from Cleveland to Los Angles at 8:05 am on July 14 (with one layover in Houston), and then I will fly from Los Angeles to Taipei at 5:55 pm to arrive at 10:10 pm on July 15.  That leg of the flight will be 13 hours and 15 minutes.  Not looking forward to the flight, but very much looking forward to being there!

Don’t hesitate to comment on my posts, I love reading your feedback.  You’ll hear more from me when I’m on the other side of the world.  Until next time…