Busy Busy
I'm sorry I've been kinda slacking with updating my blog, but the past few weeks have been pretty busy. Classes are slightly more work than I was anticipating/hoping for. Between tests, papers, and dragon boat training, there hasn't been much time. Dragon Boat
Around 25 international students and a handful of Taiwanese students have been training the past few months for the Kaohsiung Dragon Boat race that will take place in the beginning of June. We train 3 times a week together - one day of track and 2 days of paddling in the pool. The international team has won the past 3 years in a row. It has been a great way to get the international students involved in something together.
Once I looked back on the past few weeks - I realized I needed to send out a shout out to all of those that made my birthday so wonderful this year. It was very strange celebrating a birthday away from my friends and family back home, but everyone here in Taiwan really made it super special.
I haven't really experienced feeling homesick until those closest to me back home started to send me the sweetest birthday messages. It made me so happy and sad at the same time. I think I even shed a few tears. It made me realize how lucky I am with the amazing friends and family I have been blessed with. I missed them a lot. 
I was feeling sad until my new exchange family reminded me of all the love there is here in Taiwan. The night before my birthday Arthur took me to a very romantic Italian restaurant with fantastic food! This cheered me up immediately. The day of my birthday I had to go on a field trip for school that I was less than enthused about. It actually ended up being pretty interesting. We visited the Kymco factory where they manufacture the number 1 brand of Scooters in Taiwan, and also Advanced Group where they make the top 5 brands of golf clubs, and super light carbon fibre bike frames. That night myself, Arthur, Ally, and Justin went to our favourite BBQ restaurant. All you can eat for 2 hours and you BBQ the food yourselves. A real treat! They even surprised me with a cake :)
The next night, to celebrate with another girl's birthday, Tia from Finland, we went to one of our favourite places - KTV. This is Taiwanese karaoke where you rent a room and you can drink for very cheap. They have a ton of english songs, which is great. This night there must have been at least 20 people in our room. It was a fantastic night and a perfect way to end a birthday I will never forget!!
Stay tuned to hear all about my trip to the Philippines!!
Chantal
xo
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