My performance

Here is the video of my performance :) It is not perfect, but I'm still really glad. For example there are (huge) problems with the guitar when it has to go like "wuaw-wauw" :) But never mind - enjoy!

I was right - life was and would be wonderful

Before I left Denmark I knew that I was going to learn a lot in Taiwan, and I had a feeling that a lot of awesome things were going to happen, but never had I thought, that my exchange would be so wonderful as it is.

Before I left Denmark I had a small dream, that if I got the opportunity, I would like to learn something cultural in Taiwan. Not like in just learning about the culture, but like in learning to do traditional art, dance or music etc… So when I found a place where I could learn to play the Chinese instrument Guzheng I grabbed the opportunity.

    Now that I’ve been playing the instrument for about two months I’ve already gotten callous skin on my fingers fingers, and Saturday I had my first little performance at my Districts yearly conference. Nothing big, but for me it was a special thing to be playing a Chinese instrument in front of other people.

Before I left Denmark I desperately tried to “google” my Taiwanese Senior High School. I eventually found a homepage where everything was written in Chinese, so I nothing understood, but with some luck I found the place on the homepage, where I could see pictures from my school.

    I remember my entire family gathering around my laptop studying every little detail on the pictures. The pictures I found most interesting were pictures of what seemed like students performing dance and music on a big stage. The stage was hit by different coloured light and surrounded by a crowd of happy people. I remember seeing it, and wishing I would get the opportunity to participate in something as cool as that – even just as a happy person in the crowd.

    I now know, that what I saw pictures of was my schools yearly prom/dance party which in Taiwan is held like a concert. Saturday this event was held once again. And I participated. Not just in the crowd – on the stage with my music club. And not just was I performing on the stage – I was in the front, singing. And not just was I in the front singing – I was in the front singing in Chinese.

    It was an amazing feeling standing on the stage with screaming people around me who all sang along on the famous lines, and true friends behind me who helped me making my dream come true. I am so happy as I never thought I could be.

Before I left Denmark, I had an intention that I wanted this to be good – but I had no idea that it could turn out as wonderful as it is.

I love Taiwan

Julia

P.s. as soon as I get it, I’ll upload a video of me singing at hour prom :)

Life is and will be wonderfull

Last weekend I moved for the second time. I now live at my last host family. I now have started my last semester at language school. I now have less than 100 days left in Taiwan. It is indescribably sad – but I am not allowing myself to be sad. I am going to make my last days the best of my days in Taiwan. And so far everything seems like wanting to give me the best days too.

As I said, I just moved to my third host family, and even though I have only stayed at their house for a week now, I already like them a lot. I have three sisters where of one of them now lives in England. The two others live at home with my host mom, my host dad, and me: one together with her husband (Lucy), and another (Ellie), age 18, who was an exchange student to Germany last year.

    At my first weekend at their house Ellie, some of her classmates and I had lots of fun making food. I was really happy, as I finally got to use an oven and therefore had the opportunity to make cake (most houses in Taiwan do not have ovens – only a microwave, if you are lucky). So I made apple-pie for everybody to eat, as Ellie already new this cake from her exchange in Germany.

My sister Ellie (the far left) and her classmates

This weekend I went with Jane and Chelsea (the two other exchange students at my school) to my host sister Ellie’s school festival. We got some talented kids there two draw a picture of us together, and they did a really good job!

    Later that day we went to the Global Chinese Golden Chart, which is a music award event that was held in Taipei Arena. Chelsea, Jane and I had the time of our lives watching one hot, famous, talented Taiwanese performer followed by another. Below is a link to a part of what was sent on television.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuIH6mhVcFo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s4G-7vBWaU

I have planned to keep this stream of good moments keep flowing over me, and with my lovely new family and my lovely friends I think there is a good chance, that the stream will keep flowing.

I love Taiwan

Julia :)