The third week at HTA has wrapped up! I am feeling more adjusted to life in Taipei, but still working to find a good work-life balance. The pace of our study makes it challenging to balance new vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Nevertheless, we are still doing our best to find study/life balance!
On Friday we had our third and final excursion with 台大 (NTU) students. After finishing my exam in the morning, I headed to the Second Floor Cafe in Gongguan with a few friends to celebrate the end of the week. It was my first time having an “American meal” in Taipei. French toast, sunny-side-up eggs, and smoothies certainly delivered! We rushed back to the dorm to apply sunscreen and bug spray before meeting at the MRT stop. This time we were off to Bitan, located at the end of the MRT Green Line. The weather was brutally hot and humid (over 95 degrees Fahrenheit). We rented paddle boats, four people to a boat, and enjoyed an hour on the river. Next, we crossed the river via a suspension bridge and enjoyed frozen fruit popsicles before a medium-length hike. Our hard work was rewarded with beautiful views and a short boat ride to the other river bank.
The next day, on Saturday, we woke up early for another exciting Saturday adventure. After vising an outdoor sculpture garden, we went to the Yehliu Geopark on the Eastern side of the island. Described as the closest place to Mars on planet Earth, it was home to a fascinating assortment of stone figures. Most notable was a stone that resembled a queen’s head!