Though a little nervous about the swimming pool trip, because of the Taiwanese’s shyness of showing their body, we had a really great time in the pool. I definitely was the only one to wear a bikini, but nobody seemed to care so it did not cause me any problems.
When entering the swimming pool my two youngest host sisters (18 and 23) told me to go to the lane 4, 5 or 6 if I wanted to swim for exercise. As I have been really lazy since I came here, I decided to swim some hundred meters. After having swum about 50 m I realized that I was subject for admiring glances from my host sisters – and that because they cannot swim. They just kind of walked back and forth with a yellow foam rubber board in a very slow tempo. After swimming a little more I decided to join them, and we went to the playground area where I showed them how to do a handstand under water. They were very impressed and tried to learn it – without success, but though very fun!
Finally my host sister Ya-Kuang (23) asked me, if I could possibly teach her how to swim like a frog (and with that she meant breaststroke) – and of course I could (or at least I could do my best)! We began with the legs, then the arms and so on, and suddenly not just the two of my host sisters but a lot of Taiwanese swimming guests where watching me do the legs in an educational tempo! Ha ha :) I don’t know if the other Taiwanese persons learned anything, but when my host sister and I went home, they were actually able to swim 12 m without touching the bottom! Well done!
And concerning water I have had some funny seafood experiences! Yesterday evening one of the many dishes my ma-ma served were small octopuses – not cut into pieces or anything, just octopuses. As I didn’t know how to eat them I had to ask my one of my host sisters and she showed me how to pull out the inner parts and eat the rest in small rings. It was actually delicious!
And right now I am watching my ma-ma and my youngest host sister much some dried fish in strips (I only thought they did that in Norway and Island?). When I first saw it, I thought it was noodles but I can ensure you that it is not! Yuck – not my favourite! :)
Tomorrow I am going on the inbound camp for three days so I am not going to be active on my blog – I am going to have a lot of fun instead! :)
Julia
