Mariah in Taiwan Sept 2 09

Rotary put all of us up at a 5 star hotel that had an incredible indoor and outdoor swimming pool! During my weekend stay I found out there was to be another exchange student at my school. This was kinda a relieve but I was hoping to have the experience of being the only white girl in the school, even so me and Rebekka were still a distinct minority, which made me feel unique but also self-concious. Anyways I had an awesome time at orientation, met a whole bunch of people, and I even changed my steroetype of what I believed an American was. I'm going to skip back to the very first time a stepped foot onto the school grounds. My host mother (Sunny) and I walked through the guarded gates of my new high school and we were immediatly stopped by a women dressed in what look to be a seargents uniform, she asked what we were doing there, my host mother replyed that we were here to see the Principal. Then the seargant asked if we had made an appointment, in a tone that meant you probably have not and I am going to have to escort you out of these gates. Sunny replied yes we have made an appointment, and could you please lead us to her, from the look on her face I kinda felt bad for the person who was supposed to tell her that we were coming, but she was polite enough to roughly tell me to move my bangs away from my forehead so she could stick a "gun" like fever monitor to my forhead to make sure I could not possibly be carrying H1N1flu virus (the disease has become a huge fear in Taiwan with over 2,000 people thought to be inffected, which I think is a lil bit of a blow up since everyone can just have colds, but I guess better save than sorry). After I was found to be healthy we were taken to see the principal (who is a nun) she was incredibly kind and invited me to her school. After our meeting I was introduced to two giggly Taiwanese girls who were sent to help the exchange students find some uniforms. After an hour of searching and numerous amounts of teachers walking in and offering their help we found clothes for all the seasons, which consist of summer and mild summer. It was fun actually, but I think the Rebekka (other exchange student) thought it was weird having to change in the gym storage closet. After being suited up in our uniforms we were informed that we were to introduce ourselves to the school, which would have to be twice since all the students would not be able to fit into the auditorium for one assembly. The cool thing about introducing myself was that all the students answered you when you said hello or goodbye, the place would be silent and then all together as if it were only one voice they would basically yell back at me hello or goodbye, and of course there would be a huge applause for you like you were a rockstar or something. After my introduction me and Rebekka were sent to regular class where all the girls would wisper, giggle, stare, and occasionally you would here a click of a camera. Between breaks everyone was really shy they would yell hi and wave but when you waved back they would run away from you. Finally the ice was broken when one girl was pushed at us by her friends telling me and Rebekka what her English name was and how she just wanted to say hi, after a little compliment to the girls English name we were kinda like swarmed but they were particularly careful not to touch us, but they are all very nice and sweet and all seem to carry around their cameras; I have never had so many pictures taken of me in one day. At my school I am not taking any subjects other than gym, spanish, and band; so I think it will be a fun year. My school uniform is not as attractive as I had hoped, but then again uniforms are not supposed to be fashionable, although I do like like the sweater that they gave us, that I will probably never get the chance to wear. Things are going really good so far, I start Mandarin classes tomorrow so that should be cool. Oh, and I am proud to say I can travel by myself on the MRT! Thanx for reading what I have been up to! -Mariah