Today was Stake Conference for the Taipei Central Stake. The English speakers got to wear headsets and have it translated so we could participate in the meetings. There are about 6 men who served Chinese speaking missions and so they translated. During one of the talks there was laughter and one of the translators said, "Sorry guys I have no ( Read more... )

Ok so if you haven't been reading peterintaiwan you are missing out. Chinese is hard. I am doing ok but I am the worst in my class score wise. But I am also the only (a) non asian (b) non second language speaker and (c) non foreign born Chinese. So I think I am doing ok. And lets remember that it takes 5 times as long to learn Chinese than other languages ( Read more... )

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears!

I have started a new livejournal specifically for my Taiwan adventures. peterintaiwan Add me as a friend if you want to read about my Taiwan craziness.

Today I found out (via email) that I have been awarded a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition for the Winter Semester. I am grateful that I found this scholarship and was chosen to receive it.

Now i just have to wait 45 more days til I go...

In the hustle and bustle of the last few days I lost track of time.

It it now less than 50 days til I go to Taiwan! (48 days, 22 hours, 29 minutes, and 30 seconds in case you care!)

( Read more... )

The trouble with democracy ( Read more... )

I am going to Taiwan.

My official letter has not arrived, but the school emailed me and told me I am in.

They do not know about the scholarship because the Ministry of Education has not informed them about their funding level for December. So we are in a holding pattern for that.

But I'm in. And I am going.

Holy $h!t.

My application was delivered to the school. Now I get to hold my breath!

Taipei or Beijing?

I keep going back and forth. There are pluses and minuses to both. I think I have made up my mind--a comprise. I have already been to China and to be well rounded I need to have exposure to both. I will start in Taipei and then after a year or 2 go to Beijing. I hope thats the right decision to make.