We returned to the regular class schedule this week, and after having the past two weeks to apply my Chinese skills to a variety of interactions around Taiwan, my teachers and I could really feel the improvement in my ability to express myself in Chinese. At this point, I could not only construct many different sentences with greater ease, but also actually express different emotions, joke around, and explain more complex ideas. The class environment was also transforming as my classmates and I became more comfortable speaking Chinese and could actually deepen our friendships, both within and outside of class. This week, I spent my time outside of class visiting the National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) to see a museum exhibition. Following the visit, I met with my host family again at Lungshan Temple (艋舺龍山寺) and explored the surrounding areas in the Wanhua District of Taipei. This weekend, HTA and the Harvard Club of ROC hosted a special event for HTA students and Taiwanese high school students, sharing our experiences as students in American institutions and learning Chinese with high school students interested in studying abroad. It was yet another enriching experience to speak with a Taiwanese family and student on topics I had never spoken in Chinese about before. To cap off this eventful weekend, I attended my very first baseball game in Taipei with my classmates and teachers. I had heard about how big baseball was in Taiwan, but I finally got to experience watching the game, dancing with the cheerleaders, and a surprise post-game concert at the stadium with my own eyes. I now know a few baseball terms in Chinese and fun chants thanks to my teachers!