Second Day of School

The first day of school has come and gone and now I'm halfway through second. Already, I've questioned and doubted myself and almost dropped my double-major. I have a pretty packed schedule, class everyday from 9AM to ~4:30PM, except on Fridays when I have Orgo Lab until 6:30 PM, but most of those hours are filled with my RA hours. I'm actually supposed to be doing my RA duties right now. (; Still, when there are no subjects in the lab, it's a great time to catch up on schoolwork, or as is the case right, just think.

I might not actually be able to do my 9 hours a week RA schedule this semester, which would totally bum me out and destroy my college plans. With my current load, I'll be taking 19.5 credits, three of which are research credits. That's only 5 classes though -- Orgo, Orgo Lab, Korean I, Rev. Ref. and Inequality of China, and Nervous System I. I'm not sure if this is a crazy schedule...will find out today. Still, I want to avoid dropping any research credits because I want to finish up that requirement this year. That would free up my next two years for clinical research, which I am very interested in looking into. If I drop a class, I'd probably drop China, but that would force me to take over two East Asian studies classes each semester in my Senior year. Suck suck suck. I actually stayed up for an additional hour last night thinking about these things.

I spent my down time at research yesterday emailing the Dean of Academic Advising and my department head/advisor about my conundrum. To overload on credits, I need approval from the Dean of Academic Advising. He told me to get a letter of "support" from my department head/advisor. She hasn't responded yet. :\ Why must they make my life difficult? Let me slowly kill myself in peace.

Anyways, on a more optimistic note, I'm getting along great with the new lab manager! She's from Australia and we had a great time yesterday talking about cultural differences. They don't have pumpkin pie...or THANKSGIVING. (gasp) Even though it's totally a "duh" realization, it's still mindblowing that they have no pilgrims or turkey in November. No Sasquatch...Satchmo...uh...Shaniqua?...whatever that Native American corn master's name was. Also, their Christmas takes place in their Summer. Their Santa dashes through the bush! D: I think she's also open to getting me a lot more involved in the lab this year. Score!

Nervous System, China, and Orgo Lab are the only classes I have yet to sit in on. I'm excited and terrified all at once. ): Still praying that everything works out. I keep on reflecting on PR's message from last week, about how we weren't made to always push ourselves to the limit. But how do I avoid doing that when I don't know what my limits are? Also, in my QTs on Monday, I came across this verse:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"

-- 2 Corinthians 12:9

Now I just have to learn how to be content in my own weakness.

End of Summer

I can't believe summer is coming to a close already. Looking back, it's hard to process that I already spent over two months in Taiwan and another one chilling/eating in San Jose. Great things were done this summer but I can't let the fading memory of those things hold me back from doing many more this semester. I'm always really sad after saying goodbye to my family. I DIDN'T CRY THIS TIME. YES. That part will come after I'm all moved into my new single and the realization dawns that, once again, I am alone.

I worry about a lot of things when I leave the house. First and foremost, the dogs. I miss my babies so much. ): But after seeing how suddenly Sebastian passed, I'm more and more concerned for Sonatina. I don't want another situation where the bad news is relayed over the phone and goodbyes are left unsaid. I also worry about who will keep the peace in the family when I'm gone. I don't have the best of tempers, but I have the worst of guilty consciences. I feel like this summer, after spending a week with Dad on his turf, I have a better understanding of my Dad as a person, and consequently, the problems that this family continues to stumble over. Still, in my absence, all I can do is pray and surrender all these problems to God.

It's like I've lost all concept of time. Last year passed by so quickly. In fact, it feels like just a few months ago when I boarded a plane to go to Baltimore for the first time, a pre-frosh looking for something outside of what she already knew. Now that I've seen what lies on the other side, I wish I were back here where home is. Still, I am constantly reassured that I am in the right place, that I have allowed myself to be led by God. The near and distant future are still blank to me right now -- the new concerns this semester will bring, what to do next summer, how to get into med school -- but I feel that each new obstacle that I tackle only brings me closer to God and one step closer to realizing His plan.

It feels like I've learned so much this summer and at the same time, nothing at all.

Adventure of Mishaps

Dropped off the kids at school today with The Dentist and said my goodbyes. Slept through the entire train ride to Taoyuan. Got to the station and realized I probably should have called beforehand to make sure all arrangements were in order. After seeing nobody with an "ADVENT" sign at the airport, I called the number he emailed out a few weeks ago. His sister picked up and seemed very annoyed when she told me, "He's not using this number this year." Oh snap. It was at this point that I didn't know anything about the church I was supposed to go to except that it was within 760 m of the train station. Not the name. Not the street. Nothing.

For the next hour, I dragged my luggage around looking for wifi, laptop in hand. I started asking convenience store clerks if they knew about any Christian churches nearby. After hitting up Familymart, Hi-life, Starbucks, McDonalds, I finally found a clerk at 7-11 who was like "Umm...I think so. Canaan?"

YESSSS.

She gave me directions and the street name. I knew it was a 3-minute taxi ride, so I decided to be cheap and walk it. I'm here safely now, by God's grace, and I want some pearl tea.

Peace.

LAST NIGHT. SNIFFLE

I'm chilling with Jenny in my room and it's like...11 PM. She's still studying Social Studies for her massive exams tomorrow. I'm watching True Blood. Suddenly, there's a knock at the door and Jenny is shadily summoned outside. Five minutes later, The Dentist, May, and Jenny come back upstairs with two bags of goodbye gifts for me. D: SNIFFLE. Jenny bought my candy, chocolates, and chocolate cookies. May made me a little stuffed rabbit. Aiyi bought me a journal cover and a handmade Amis keychain. We totally group-hugged it out and I did NOT cry (Thank you very much, Amy Wang).

God really blessed me with this family. They took me in for an entire month, housed me, fed me (extremely well), and went out of their way to make me feel at home. I got really close with May especially and I was just starting to get to know Jenny better. Hopefully, we'll continue to keep in contact. I've repeatedly invited them to America. May wants to come to MIT. :D That would be so awesome! I'm definitely going to keep them in my prayers as I leave tomorrow morning. May God bless them just as He has blessed me by bringing them to me.

I WILL NOT CRY.

Until I get on the train.

Last Day at the Mennonite Hospital

This morning, I walk into the door of the Holistic Department and immediately, three people stand up in their cubicles and exclaim "She's here! She's come!" I'm like "Uhh...what the hell?" and I am whisked away to the conference room. (I'm being whisked a lot lately.) At first, Pastor Judy hands me the score to "Because He Lives" and says "Will you sing this for us?" I'm wanted to say "I'd rather not." but instead I said "Can I change the key?" After much discussion, it was established that we seen in very different ranges. haha. I have a tranny voice...they have Chinese opera voices. Not very compatible. Anyways, they ultimately decide to have me play the keyboard for them when they sing for the patients downstairs. I'm freaking out because I hate performing for the public without practicing, but before I know it, I'm crammed in the elevator with the keyboard, four associate pastors, and two pastors. Balls.

Things went pretty well, except for one minor mishap when I ended the song before it was actually over. A lot of "shit shit shit" and some one-handed playing while adjusting the volume went down. Then it turns out that Pastor Chao, who USUALLY plays the piano or sings for them, was just standing around "managing" the sound system. I was like "WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THIS??" She shrugs, "I forgot my uniform...upstairs" TURD. If she weren't taking me KTVing (karoaking) later today, I'd probably be pretty ticked off. haha.

OK, my task today is really just to deliver the thank-you letters I wrote for the people I spent the most time with.

Oh! Dude, God is totally forcing me to practice witnessing. First there was the testimony on Sunday. Then just now, Ya Wen found out that today is my last day. She insisted on treating me to some pearl tea. Conversation went something like this:

"TODAY'S YOUR LAST DAY?? NO ONE TOLD ME! I'M BUYING YOU PEARL TEA."
"Oh no, you don't have to."
"I INSIST."
"No, really--3Q milk tea, half sweetness, no ice. Thanks."

hahahahaha. No shame. 3Q milk tea turned out to be milk tea with ju ruo (jelly strips), coconut jelly, and red bean. Suprisingly good. Anyways, for some reason, she starts asking me really deep questions about the Christian faith. I know that she was given notice about a week ago, and that she was struggling with some things. All the more so because when she was hired two months ago, she wasn't a Christian. I think God really helped me in that conversation because at first, I was all like "Oh God, please don't let me say the wrong thing and turn her off religion forever. " but by the end, I was like sharing Bible verses. haha. Praise the Lord. I was afraid that she would bring up some questions that I couldn't answer, but things turned out all right. Ya Wen is a super caring girl. She's a social worker that is a social worker because she actually cares. It's not just a job for her. I really hope that whatever went down here doesn't change her passion for helping others.

But seriously, getting a lot of practice for missions. Less than 24 hours now!

Dinner with the Pastors

I was mistaken. It wasn't lunch, it was dinner! And WHAT a dinner. We went to a hole in the wall Italian place that was recommended by the president of the Shoufeng chapter of Mennonite Hospital. Apparently, there's a seafood chowder bread bowl that is to die for. At 2 PM, Pastor Chao was summoned to an IRB meeting. (Yeah, she's IRB. hiss!) At 5:30 PM, she calls Pastor Mei Hua and whispers shadily that the meeting is running along, we should go first. So Pastor Mei Hua and Pastor Judy whisk me off on their motorcycles. We get there, and the place is pretty small. It looks pretty fancy too. I looked at the menu and I said "Oh holy shit." Everything was above 230 NT (about $7-8) Ok, that's nothing in the US, but that's expensive in Taiwan!

The first course was a salad. Nothing special but I liked the sauce. Some sort of orange caesar dressing. While devouring this, I realized that I've started to like tomatoes. I'm getting OLD. The whole time we're eating, we're joking about how we have to chew each bite for five minutes so we could stall until Pastor Chao arrives.
The next course is a purple sweet potato soup. I thought it was taro at first, but it tasted kind of like sweet potato bisque. Very good.
I was too cheap to order the seafood chowder bowl (I was being treated, had to be polite.) Instead, I got the Smoked Chicken Pasta bowl. MUCH better than I anticipated. I even ate the slices of garlic it came with. Made me really really crave some pesto pizza. Mmmm.
This is the seafood chowder bowl. Both Pastor Mei Hua and Pastor Judy ordered it because it's the restaurant's signature dish. It was really cute to watch them drink the soup while gently sawing away at the bread. hahaha. Also, when they were ordering it, they said "We have to eat it. What if Zhu Ge (the president) quizzes us on how good it was?" Wahahaha. Chinese people and their manners. Teehee.

Anyways, until then, Pastor Chao had NOT shown up. It's almost 7 now. We're more than half way done with our meal. At this point, I thought it would be a good time to take a bathroom break. I excuse myself, walk over to the bathroom, open the door, and stare aghast. It's a SLIPPER SQUATTING TOILET. IN A FANCY RESTAURANT. Who DOES that?? Pastor Judy sees me turn pale and scuttle away from the bathroom.

"What's wrong?"

"Squat."

"Excuse me?"

"It's a squatting toilet."

"...So?"

"I...don't know how to use them."

"..."

"WAHAHAHAHA."

She then grabs me, tells Pastor Mei Hua to stay put, and whisks me to her motorcycle. I keep on insisting I can hold it but she glares me down and tells me that that sort of behavior increases my chances of getting bladder infections. No really, that's what she said. It's kind of drizzling at this point, but we jump on her motorcycle and drive to the doctors' dormitories which is a little ways up the street. We pound on the door shadily until someone lets us in. Then Pastor Judy begins to call people asking if they're home and where they live. While we're waiting for the elevator, she looks at me and says, "You really don't know how to use a squatting toilet? They're more sanitary!" At my doubtful expression, she suddenly pulls a deep squat, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DORMITORY LOBBY. I'm like "OH, dear!" She's all smiling like nothing horribly embarrassing is transpiring: "Just like this!" (sigh) Gotta love the Taiwanese. I ended up going to Pastor Cai's place to use the bathroom. They were all laughing at me. I'm pretty sure that's what they are going to remember me for in three years.

When we get back to the restaurant, Pastor Chao STILL hasn't arrived. It's 6:58 PM. Dinner was supposed to be at 5:30. Apparently, the really old dude came in for the IRB meeting and we all know the thing about really old dudes. Blahblahblahblahblah. I felt really bad for her because she had't eaten lunch either. ): Anyways, she came at around 7:15 and ordered the seafood bowl too. Her reason? "Zhu Ge is going to ask." hahaha.

The meal came with coffee too, but I wasn't terribly impressed. This is the creme brulee. The layer of carmelized sugar was really good but the pudding underneath was too flan-y for my taste. Still, overall a very good dinner.

When it came time to pay, Pastor Judy and Pastor Mei Hua put the money on the table and look over at Pastor Chao.

Pastor Chao: "Heh. heh. Do they take card?"

They all glare at her. Then Pastor Chao turns to me, "Hey Abby, can I borrow 1000NT?" hahahaha. I'm pretty used to this because Pastor Chao never carries cash. She always borrows money from me and returns it the next day. I find it hilarious. The other Pastors are all yelling at her because they're like "We're supposed to be treating her!" hahahaha.

After dinner, we went over to Pastor Judy's house to see her son. I taught him two years ago during ADVENT. OH MY GOD. Kids grow so fast! In two years, he went from a cute little boy to a little man with a deep deep voice. D: He's still cute though. haha. And apparently, he's quite the smart one. I was actually pretty happy to see him again. I remember him in particular because when I started giving the altar call, he knew more about Jesus than I did. haha "Jesus is the Son of God who came down to forgive our sins..." in CHINESE, nonetheless. Turns out he's a PK. Now it all makes sense. haha. They live above a CHURCH for Chrissakes. hahaha.

I come back home and I tell Dr. Liu and May about my pee ordeal. They both immediately drop into a squat: "Like this!" D: I'm like "WHAT IS WITH YOU TAIWANESE PEOPLE??" And May even goes so far as to take her pants off to demonstrate. wahahahaha. I'm like "GOT IT. PLEASE PUT THAT BACK ON." Lesson of the day: Never tell Taiwan people you don't know how to pee squatting unless you want to be thoroughly mortified.

Catching Up and Winding Down

It feels like a long time has passed since I posted last. Just a fair warning, this post is going to be relatively pic-heavy. I'm down to my last days in Hualien and people are clambering to get a piece of this American. I kid. A little.

Here is my favorite picture with Dr. Xu. He didn't believe that I could take a picture of the both of us. Never question the skills of a camera whore.

After going to Shoufeng on my last Friday, Pastor Chao, Dr. Xu, and I went to the hospital restaurant to get some lamb. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture before I devoured the whole thing. SO good. Mmm. I'm a little less fond of this picture because it proliferates the stereotype that all Asians only have one pose. That's why I chose to go with the less tradition "Gun Frame Face" pose. Also as a side note, the person who we grabbed to take this picture was a HEART SURGEON. So mad props to that random stranger. haha.
On Saturday, I went to lunch with Cai Hui Aiyi. I was a little apprehensive at first because she's been known to have a unstable temper. If she likes you, she REALLY likes you. For example, she keeps on giving me things on her desk. "You like this? You can have it. Is this pretty? You can have it." But if she doesn't like you...run. I've seen her face change. She was yelling at one of the other social workers, and I came around the corner and she was all smiles. Chills. Down the spine. (shudder) Still, she's a very nice person when you're on her good side. This is a picture of her family. Her husband is a pastor and their kid is only in middle school. He's quite the character. When Cai Hui Aiyi got her womb removed, he clutched her stomach and cried, "MY HOUSE. MY HOUSE. " WAHAHAHAHA.
I usually don't like pasta, but this bacon penne was DELICIOUS. The sauce was a little salty a little sweet. The bacon flavor was clearly absorbed by the cream. There was also little pieces of broccoli in it. Mmm. Not too cheesy, just the way I like it.
There was some OK tomato soup before this and some really good coffee after, but they weren't too special. Thus, no pictures. The dessert was milk pudding with mango sauce. The pudding was good both with or without the tangy mango.
Cai Hui Aiyi's son had to leave early for class (on a SATURDAY for Chrissakes). When we were finishing lunch, she asked me where I had gone on my trip. When I told her "Eating. Everywhere." she was pretty horrified. Her husband and her insisted on taking me to Li Yu Tan. It looked like a lake to me, but they insisted it was different. Anyways, the mountains around Li Yu Tan look like a specific type of fish ("Li Yu"), thus its name.
Pretty gorgeous, yeah? You can take one of those swan/dragon paddle boat things around. However, they warned me that the lake is so damn big that some people who paddle out can't summon up the energy to paddle back. hahaha. I don't think that would be a problem for Tatiana. She's strong....like bull. They also have water shows some time, similar to Bellagio.May finished her finals last week, so as a reward, her Mom took her to the night market. There are two major nightmarkets near Ji An in Hualien and this particular one we went to is known more for its games than its food. I wasn't particularly hungry, so I was totally down with that.
May's pretty good with games. We went BB shooting, dart throwing, DDRing, pinball rolling, etc. etc. etc. I swear we threw down like...$10 for her to play games. haha
After shooting 50 pinballs, she won a bow and arrow set.
Victorious.

Last night was my last night with Professor Liang because he has to attend a 3-day course in Taipei. We went to O Xiang, the steak place that I went to for Pastor Chao's birthday. Didn't take many pictures because I had pretty much the same stuff. A four-course meal for 5 people cost around $55. Gotta love Taiwan. Unfortunately, I did not get to treat. The Dentist glared me down. BUT, I am happy to report that the night previous, I did manage to wrangle the bill for Da Tu Dou dessert. All I had to do was take advantage of a small child. No biggie.

Oh, exciting things! I was supposed to practice drums on Saturday to accompany the children's choir on Sunday. However, they decided that the children would not be performing so we didn't practice. Come Sunday morning, they're like, "Oh, why not. Perform" so I had to pull last minute drumming skills out of my bum. It went all right, praise Jesus. haha. After that, I gave my testimony to the youth/children's section. I think it went pretty all right considering I condensed my life story into 5 minutes of awkward Chinese. hahahaha. Anyways, I can only pray, do my best, and give the rest to God. Some of the older children are struggling with stress issues. As I mentioned earlier, one of their members had recently committed suicide. I really hope that my testimony, however boring/awkward it was, really gives them some hope or helps them to turn to God with their problems. Still, it was good practice for the next three weeks. I also discovered that I take after my Dad. I was sweating like a BEAST up there. whoowee.

Today, the associate pastors want to take me out to lunch so I'll definitely be posting those pictures soon.

A few days ago, I was freaking out because I wanted to leave letters for people who have taken care of me over the past month but I had no paper. I didn't want to tear pages out of my notebook, which would just look atrocious. That night, I prayed and was like "I NEED STATIONARY." No joke. The next day, Dr. Liu decided she wanted to buy some new books and I managed to sneak upstairs and buy some + a fancy black pen. Praise the Lord. Now all I have to do is write them. hahaha. Whee!