Day 4: Tour of Xiufeng High School and National Palace Museum

We started out the day by taking the train to Xiufeng High School.  Andrew, a history teacher, provided us with many valuable Taiwanese and Chinese history lessons. He has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever seen. His students adore him. Andrew also helped me practice and learn some useful Mandarin. I have to say - I am getting a little better. I've added a few more words to my vocabulary!



Andrew giving Jacki a little history lesson. He helped us learn some useful Chinese phrases.



After taking the train, we arrived back at Xiufeng High School in New Taipei city exhausted, but ready to start day 2 of the seminar.  Students were learning all about Chinese history and artifacts from a history teacher from one of the top boys' high schools in Taipei.  They were taking notes on the National Palace Museum, which we would be visiting with them later in the day.  



Listening to a lecture about Chinese artifacts from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties


The assistant principal took us on a wonderful tour of the school where we visited the classrooms, principal's office, counselor's office, the security room, and the testing office. Only the 10th graders were still in school and they were taking their final exams that day.  We got to see the testing environment and even some of their exams.


The principal's office




A typical classroom

 


Students must pick up their final exam packet at the testing office and sign it out



The views from the high school are amazing

 



With our interpretor Vicky - she was so helpful and kind





With two of our favorite students - Nelly and Jerry. Jerry was a pop culture expert. He knew more than me!




Posing in front of student artwork



After the tour, we loaded up on the buses and went to the National Palace Museum.  I cannot tell you how excited I was for this! The National Palace Museum is home to exhibits of Asian art including bronzes, lacquer ware, textiles and religious artifacts.  The exhibits were brought over from mainland China and are now housed in Taipei.  They tell a wonderful story of Chinese history.  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside but a few of my favorites were the porcelain and jade artifacts. The museum is home to the famous Jade Cabbage.  It is jade carved to perfection. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadeite_Cabbage



Group shot before entering the museum




Posing with my student group




In front of the National Palace Museum




With Jacki and Kelly after touring the museum




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Front gates of the museum




Statue of Sun Yatsen. I didn't notice until afterwards the little kid pulling the orchid leaves off!



We ended the day once again with an amazing dinner back at the B&B. Our gracious hosts provided us with hours of entertainment. I will miss them so much when we go home. They have been treating us like family.



Jacki and I posing with Francis in the hats that he bought us



Day 3: Xiufeng High School, Yehliu Geo National Park, & Hot Springs

We started out the day by visiting another high school - Xiufeng High School in New Taipei City.  At the high school students from Taipei are participating in a 3 day seminar - day 1 is field work at Yehliu Park, day 2 is history at the National Museum, and day 3 is technology.  At the school, we met the students we would be with for the next three days and listend to a seminar with them. The students are competing in a competition and will present their findings on Friday in a presentation.  They will also be required to have a 3 minute English speaking presentation. Many of the students are very nervous about this. The award for the winning student group is approximately $130 US dollars.  The students at the school are so sweet and kind. I have never seen anything like it - they are so polite, attentive, and curious to learn. Everyone on this trip has been amazing so far - extremely generous, humble, and kind.  


Listening to a seminar about geography

 Next, we boarded the buses and headed off to Yehliu Geo National Park.  Yehliu contains natural rock formations caused by erosion. The scenery is beautiful. It is a must see for anyone visiting Taiwan!



Mushroom rocks




Cuesta Mountain





The Queens Head - it looks like the Egyptian Queen Nefertit





With my student group at the Geo Park



It was an exhausting treck around the park. The humidity and heat in Taiwan are out of control! I was drenched by the end of our day.

At the end of the day, our wonderful friend Principal Alice took us to a famous hot spring. The hot spring was quite an experience.  In Taiwan, it is customary to be naked in the hot spring.  Although a little hesitant at first, we embraced it and went for it. Jacki, Kelly, and I were officially bonded for life after this!

We ended the day with a fabulous dinner and a drive along the coast back to the B&B.



Jim and Alice at dinner at the end of our day



Day 2: Tourism Day

We woke up bright and early today to head to Ling Jiou Mountain.  Ling Jiou Mountain is in Fulong, Taiwan and is a very sacred place that is home to the Wu Sheng Buddhist Monastery.  Wu Sheng means “one’s innate spirituality.”

We entered through the Gate of the Divine Eye.  Since I had shorts and a tank top on, I was given a gown to wear into the monastery.  We entered the Main Hall also known as Lotus World and learned how to perform a Buddhist prayer.  Then we went to Patriarchs Hall, which is the spiritual headquarters of the monastery.  The master monk led us in a meditation session.  It was truly an experience – I really did feel more calm and peaceful after the experience. I plan to lead my students in a session when I teach them about Buddhism next year. 



The views from the monastery were simply breathtaking!

We finished our time at the monastery with a vegetarian-only lunch. My favorite part of the lunch was the dragon fruit – it was so bright and colorful.



Dragon Fruit





Group Shot before leaving the monastery



Next we drove a short distance to Fulong Beach where we came across some amazing sand creations from a recent art festival.  My favorites were the Jeremy Lin “Linsanity” sculpture and the Chien Ming Wang sculpture.  Lin, who plays for the NY Knicks and Wang who pitches for the Washington Nationals are two beloved Taiwanese athletes.


Chien Ming Wang Sand Sculpture



Linsanity



Happy Buddha



We wrapped up are day in Keelong at the night market.  Keelong is the city where my mom was born.  Taiwanese night markets are famous and some would argue they top those of Singapore for the best night markets in the world. 



Keelung in the background



Keelung Sign (just like Hollywood!)



Here, you can get a variety of street food, noodles, dumplings, buns, meats, and even things like pig’s feet and snake.  I wasn’t brave enough to try some of it. A few of my favorite things though were the oyster omelet, cuddlefish soup, fried noodle, shrimp and leek dumplings, and pao-pao ice.  The pao pao ice was divine – we tried kiwi and passion fruit and it was addicting – rivaling Pinkberry and Sweet Frog. For those who know me best – that’s hard to do!



Keelung Nigh Market




Oyster Omelet




Fried Fish




About to eat my fish and fried noodles





The group enjoying their fried chicken on a stick





Fried Squid balls




An array of fresh fruit - Taiwanese mangoes are the best!




Fried dumplings with shrimp and leeks




Enjoying steak and eggs




Pao Pao ice