Kate here!

Well, today is June 27th, and its my sister and my final day in Illinois. Tomorrow at 7am we fly to LAX, and later that day we leave for Taiwan! We’ll be teaching English for nine weeks with an organization called World Passport. We’ll be working in summer camps all around the country, but our offices are based in Tainan, Taiwan, which is the snack capital of Taiwan :D

Today we packed. I started making my packing list last week. It included lots of clothes, sandals, my awesome (new!) Kindle, laptop, power adaptors, toothbrush, camera, etc. You know, the standards. We’ll also be bringing some cheesy English movies to show our classes (note to TSA, that is why Legally Blonde is in our suitcase). 

I’m super, super excited to leave. I’ll miss my mama and my boyfriend (he’ll be in Korea!), but I’m glad to leave Illinois for awhile. I graduated college earlier this month, but I’ll be returning in the fall to complete a post-bac fellowship. I”ll be taking classes in addition to working on a project in the history department and ta-ing classes. So, this will be a much needed adventure.

Travel is my passion. Taiwan will be the 17th country I’ve visited since I was sixteen. I’ve been to Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Nepal, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. (And the US, of course). The longest I’ve been gone is four months when I was in South America, so this two month trip will go pretty fast for me. 

I’m so glad that I get to experience East Asia with my amazing sister! She has only spent a week abroad. She went to Egypt (fucking awesome, right?). So, we’re really, really lucky to get to adventure around Taiwan with each other. She’s my best friend!

That’s about it. I’m so excited. Maybe we’ll have wifi on our flight, and I can blog from China Air!

love.

Taiwan! Taiwan! Taiwan!

I’m still in a bit of shock. 

I feel like I’ve been packing for days (probably because the pile of clothes on my floor has been slowly building all week). Four pairs of shoes, three bandanas, several dresses, tanks, skirts, shorts, contacts, toothbrush, etc. Lots of stuff. Yet somehow I have lots of room in my suitcases, which worries me. 

I’m so ready for some adventures! I’ve only left America once (Egypt for ten days). Of course, that was incredible, but it was mainly tourist-y. This trip will be so different! Not only will I be living across the Pacific for 9 weeks, but I’ll be with my sister and 8 other students teaching! I won’t just be looking. I’ll be participating. I’ll be immersed in the culture and food and music and night markets and teaching and Taiwanese life. 

13 hours until departure.

- Krista

and I’ve already been awake for 12 minutes. 

UGH.

Heading to the airport in a few minutes, and then the trip begins.

GOOD-BYE GOOD-BYE GOOD-BYE GOOD-BYE

Farewell Friends!

love, Kate

(oh my goodness I am so exhausted.)

Hey Everyone

Kate here. Its about 8am in Chicago now, but 9pm in Taipei, where I am currently sitting on a very comfy airport bench waiting for my next flight to Kaohsiung. It will be my third flight in two days, and my body is beyond confused. We were served breakfast right before we landed which made sense for my Chicago body, but not for my Taiwan brain.

Its all okay though. One more hour of lay-over, 45 minutes in the air, customs, luggage and then we’ll meet a van and a rep from the World Passport office who will drive us to Tainan. And then I’ll definitely be able to sleep when we get there. Like a fricking baby.

The flight was fine. Instructions in Mandarin, English, and Taiwanese. They even gave us slippers to wear. Food was “eh,” but nothing too disgusting. I watched the Justin Bieber movie. I’m not ashamed! :P 

That’s it. Hopefully a more exciting and picture-y post will be forthcoming.

My thoughts have been a whirlwind of mystery, fear, anxiety, enthusiasm, and love for the last few days. I slept for about four hours last night dreaming about everything I could have forgotten. When I woke in the morning, I hugged my mom over and over again as tears poured from her eyes. I kissed my dog and walked out into the dark world of 3am.

Panic is a feeling I’ve been trying to avoid. What would bring about this feeling? How about two months in Taiwan teaching English? Yes, that. I don’t speak Chinese. I’ve never been away from home this long. I haven’t left the country for more than ten days. I’ve never taught. I don’t even like kids.

So why am I on a runway in a huge China Air airplane about to take off on a 13 hour flight to Taiwan? I wasn’t really sure why until a few moments ago.

Right before boarding the plane, the airline attendant ripped our tickets, checked our passports, and passed through the gate. I went first and waited. Orit and Ryan came through the gate next. Finally, Kate rounded the corner. “Let’s do it!” she said as she through her fist in the air. We all smiled and stepped forward to board the plane.

And that’s why I’m here now in Taipei. One flight to go. One big adventure to be had. 

 -Krista

I woke up this morning in Tainan. 
After the usual morning ritual, we took a walk to get breakfast at the Seven Eleven. Kate, Ryan, Rachel, and I wandered a few blocks down the street.

We looked around the store for some breakfast food guessing at the labels. There were dozens of breads, drinks, cookies, and snacks. Yum. I bought a “Cream Bread” which was quite delicious, and some guava juice. Kate had apple milk, which was lovely as well. So sweet. Ryan wanted some apple juice but accidentally bought apple beer for breakfast.  

Went clubbing :D Now its 3:56am. Trying to sleep. Trying to beat the jet lag.

It was wonderful tonight. Dancing. Drinking. Smiling. One of the best birthdays ever!

People even sang me happy birthday in the club.

I <3 Taiwan

love, Kate.