Week 4 of HTA! Social Study Trips! This week, has been, the highlight of the program. On Tuesday, we woke up at 5am to begin our journey to Hualien — the train ride was startlingly beautiful. When we arrived, we went to a Japanese temple (the biggest one in Taiwan, I believe). I accidentally drank the sacred water that, I learned later, you are supposed to spit out. But I was told it would be ok. After the temple, we drove to a fish museum and had a lovely lunch. A little girl in the bathroom pointed at my friend Charlotte and I and yelped, “外国人！” which was quite adorable. We spent the afternoon kayaking in the ocean; it was beautiful and crazy and certainly an adventure to remember. Post-kayaking, we went to the big night market in Hualien for dinner. While we were wandering around, my friends and I encountered some wonderful older Taiwanese women who were dancing to Mariah Carey christmas music. They invited us to join in — they taught us the traditional Amis dances, and we laughed and held hands and they invited us to dinner at their homes and it was a moment I am certain I will never forget.
This is getting a bit ramble-y, so I’m going to try to pick up the pace a bit and just offer some highlights. But, I feel the need to say, my whole trip was wonderful. A few favorite moments: 1) walking, eyes-closed, arms outstretched, in a line, to the top of a cliff, where some members of the indigenous Bunun group gave us a glimpse into their life and history. 2) Catching fish in the Amis wetlands and making mochi. 3) Learning, at dinner one night, that my two teachers’ dogs are best friends (the photos were fabulous). 4) Listening to some of the Bunun people perform their music. 5) A monkey pooping on me.
Now I am back in Taipei and am exhausted but happy. This week was, to put it simply, incredible. (7/15/24)