This week we embarked on our 社会调查, a 5-night social study trip. I luckily got my first choice and was off to southern Taiwan. After finishing our midterm exam on Wednesday morning, we celebrated with brunch at an American-style restaurant near the dorms. We spent the afternoon packing. The next morning, we woke up early for our train to Kaohsiung. Over the course of 6 days, we visited Kenting, Pingtung County, and Tainan. We traveled to a chocolate factory, tea house, Fort Zeelandia (the original landing site of Dutch colonizers), Mazu temples, and so so much more. This trip was a delightful opportunity to explore outside of Taipei and bond with our classmates even more. Our teachers informed us that in a few weeks, we would have to perform together at the talent show (台北之夜) and asked us to suggest songs that we could sing together. I recommended 《朋友》a song celebrating friendship that I had learned during my first semester of high school Mandarin. It was certainly a full circle moment to be rehearsing the song on the coach bus during our 社会调查. Overall, this experience was a highlight of the entire program and certainly one that I will remember for years to come!