Today was a pretty simple day that started with Mandarin class. We learned how to introduce ourselves; name, age, nationality, and our families. Last semester in our Intro to Taiwan class we learned the same thing, so it was easier for me this second time around. For lunch Amanda and I went to a vegetarian shop which turned out to be a noodle shop. I got the spicy noodle bowl and it was yummy.
Our afternoon excursion was to a tea house. 
Before we entered the tea room we had to remove our shoes. This action did not produce a pleasant smell as all 16 of us had to fit around one table in one small room. The tables were very low, so we sat on small cushions on the ground. A variety of tea party finger foods were then brought to us; the first being a sweet pumpkin hashbrown (tasted like sweet potato), and then crispy sweet potato balls. We were also served small pieces of fluffy brown cake. Cake in Taiwan is not as sweet as in America, it has more of a pound cake taste. My least favorite was the sesame seed pastry (flakey with black sesame seed filling). The three teas that we sampled were Orange, Roselle, and Oolong.
- Orange Tea – sweet at first then a sour/citrus flavor
- Roselle Tea – Sour and fruity
- Oolong Tea – light and tasted just like the oolong from home 🙂
Greta said that the teas for sale at this tea house were too expensive and that we would take a trip later in the week to buy tea.
After tea, we walked around the city looking for the Early Bird Diner. This American-themed diner was recommended to us by a student who went on the COBE in Taiwan trip last year. Since it was the 4th of July we thought it only right to eat ‘merican for the night. On the way back to campus, after enjoying some comfort food, we stopped at the Top City Department Store. This mall was very high end (Cartier, Prada, Gucci, ect.) but had an H&M store on its lowest level. The girls all enjoyed this stop, I don’t think the guys appreciated it as much.
Apparently, there is a typhoon brewing and it is heading towards Taiwan. But don’t worry. The large mountains on the eastern side of Taiwan will block most of it from hitting us, hopefully. So for now, goodnight from Grace in Taiwan.
Grace in Taiwan 