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Phoenix Excitement!

I am very excited to show Allen Phoenix from my point of view. I want to show him the small generational family businesses, and take him to eat some authentic Mexican food too! I’m also excited for him to meet my little sister and my family. They are all very important to me and my sister is my best friend (I have missed her the most on this trip). We all have the same sense of humor, so I’m excited to have family game night and spend evening in the pool in the back yard together because I know it will be full of laughter and fun times. We are also going to take Allen to the Grand Canyon which he is most excited to experience in Arizona and take him up north to go fishing like my family often does. I am more excited to give him experiences, rather than show him places and things because I think he will remember being with my family and having fun together more than going to see a tourist stop. We have told Allen to be prepared for the heat (which he is most nervous for) and to expect to have a good time with my family. My family isn’t very strict and they love to talk, so I told Allen to expect an interrogation when he gets to Phoenix because I know that everyone will have loads of questions to ask the both of us. Allen also said that he wasn’t nervous about visiting Arizona because he has done some traveling in Asia without his parents before with school. My time in Taiwan exceeded all of my expectations. I didn’t think that I could become so close with people in so little time. I also didn’t think that I would be so comfortable with my host family because living with them now I feel like I’m truly Allen’s sister and Mike and Candice’s daughter. They make me feel accepted and I hope my family will make Allen feel the same way. One thing that I wish I would have known before going abroad is to bring a small book with paper in it, so that you can collect stamps. They had stations with free stamps everywhere, and I think I would have been cool to have gotten them from everywhere we went, like a timeline. Soon we will be going to Phoenix, and I hope that it is going to be as amazing as my experience in Taipei!

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Favourite Times in Taipei

Throughout this trip in Taipei, I have experienced many new and exciting things. My personal favourite thing that we did was going to the night markets. All of the hustle and bustle and the unfamiliar sights and smells of new foods made it like heaven on earth. I love trying new foods and just by tasting them I was going on an adventure. I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit a lot and let things move around me, instead I like to be on the move and absorb all of the new things that my senses detect. We went to more than one night market, so it’s very hard to choose the best one. I also really loved going to the temples because seeing all of the ornate details in the structure made me appreciate all of the time and dedication put into their religion. I got to do prayer rituals as well when we were at the temples and it made me feel like I was truly accepting the Taiwanese culture and way of life. Also, during my time here there have been an abundance of funny moments. All of the kids in my group and even the kids in the European group (there are some kids form Poland and Latvia here too because Taiwan has multiple Sister Cities like Phoenix) are some of the funniest and goofy groups of kids I’ve ever met. One distinct funny moment was when we all went on a ride at the Leofoo amusement park (this was probably my favorite day because Allen, Angel and I rode all the rides and had a blast!!) , but ,on the ride was Pearl, Allen, Natalia (Polish ambassador) and I, and we were all facing each other. We all couldn’t stop laughing once the ride had gotten going! Another funny moment was when we all visited Pearl’s school and they introduced us and and made us go on stage to speak to the entire school assembly. Of course none of us knew that was going to happen, so we improvised and spoke a little bit about the program and where we come from. But, once we got off that stage and left the assembly, we all laughed at and with each other so much because Pearl had told us that all we needed to do for the assembly was to smile and wave as they said our names- not go on stage and speak to an entire school! As for the worst day, I was lucky enough to not have one. I never really left that dream state while we were there. The entire thing felt like a whir. If I had to pick a worst moment though, it would have to be when my eye swelled up because I forgot to take my allergy medication. Even then, it wasn’t bad because we went out and bought a cream that I had never tried and it cleared it up over night. These are just some of my most memorable times in Taipei!

Some of my favourite pictures!

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Host family

My host family is amazing and I am going to miss them so much when I leave. The family consists of my counterpart Allen and his parents because he has no siblings. My host mother (Candice) is one of the sweetest and most bubbly women I have ever met and she always wants to make sure that I’m happy and well fed. Actually, I don’t think I have seen her without a smile on her face on this trip yet. She speaks pretty good English and is always chatting with me. Both her and Allen always want to make sure that their English is correct, so they ask me lots of questions about words and if they are using and pronouncing them properly. My host father Michael on the other hand speaks no English whatsoever and is very shy, but you can still tell that he is a kind man. Me and Michael actually have something in common: Art. Even though we don’t actually speak to one another, we use gestures and Allen and Candice translate for me and smiling seem to be a universal language in itself. We both seem to get into the zone or a trance like state when we do anything artistic or detail oriented because we both tune out everything not related to the task at hand. We also both like to cook. Mike has made us some amazing breakfasts and he always makes sure I like it. He even uses a special Costa Rican sauce called Lizano (which we put on everything in my house) that I got them as a gift on some of the food he makes because he knows it will make me feel at home. Oppositely, Candice and Allen don’t like to cook and instant noodles with some market food are staples for dinner (it still tastes amazing and I am in no way complaining). As for jobs, Michael often works late and Candice comes home around the same time everyday. Candice takes the bus home from work most days and Michael drives (and sometimes picks her or us up if he has time). I have learned a lot from living in a host family environment. An important thing was learning how to live with a guy my age because I have no brothers and have never had to live with a male other than my dad. I also learned how to be more courteous and mindful of myself so that none of my habits would make anybody uncomfortable. One such habit is taking long showers. Because there is only one bathroom in the apartment we all have to be aware of the hot water amount, and we always ask if someone needs to use the bathroom before the we use the shower. I also learned to keep my room as tidy as possible, but Candice always comes in to straighten up and take my laundry anyway (definitely going to miss that). All in all, I love my host family so much and they are definitely becoming a second family to me because I feel very comfortable around them and we can all joke around with each other. I can already tell that leaving them behind is going to be extremely difficult.

My host parents Candice and Mike❤️

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Food!

To say the least, the food here is absolutely incredible. It is unbelievably cheap and delicious! One thing I noticed about the food was that the people here tend to make a lot better use of the entire animal or vegetable. In America, if it has bones or isn’t a typical cut, than we often throw it away. Here on the other hand, they use every scrap of meat and veggies. One of the many out of the ordinary dishes that I have tried here was pig’s blood cake which is white rice that has been made into a loaf like squad for you to eat on a skewer while walking as a snack. It sounds horrible to most Americans, but it was actually pretty good, and I would not have a problem eating it again. Another food that I tried and love is pork floss which is dried pork meat that has been shredded finely to an almost cotton candy like consistency and it is excellent with rice! But my favourite food was Taiwan’s National dish: beef noodles. It was so simple and fresh, and the broth was rich with savoury flavors. Soups are definitely one of the most popular dishes here in Taiwan (and I have tried many of them)! So, If you want to learn how to make this amazing Beef noodle soup, here’s a link to a recipe! : https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-taiwanes-159033

As for Allen’s opinions on American food, he loves it! He really likes burgers, so I’ll have to take him to In-and-Out burger when we get home! However, he isn’t a fan of the supersaturated sugary drinks and candies. I don’t like them either, so whenever we go out, it will be easy for me to tell him what isn’t overly salty or sweet because we tend to gravitate toward the same foods and interests.

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Things we do don’t have readily available in Arizona

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Cultural Differences and Similarities

The culture here in Taiwan is almost completely different from back in Arizona. The first cultural difference greeted me on my first night in Taiwan: everyone here takes their shoes off before going inside and putting on house slippers that never get worn in the outside world. It keeps everything very clean in and tidy inside the house (or apartment in my case). Cleanliness is a very distinct cultural aspect here, and it is most noticeable in the underground metro (MRT) because there is no food or drinks allowed in the station. If you are caught with either one, you have to pay a hefty fine which keeps the MRT spotless inside (not even gum is allowed). Another difference that stands out in my mind are the toilets because many are flat or have lots of buttons on the side. However, they often have regular toilets available for Westerners too. Also, I have barely touched a knife or fork this entire trip. We use chop sticks and spoons for everything here! Need to cut steak: use chop sticks, need to eat rice: use chop sticks, need to do literally anything: CHOPSTICKS. My host family has offered me a fork and knife before, but I’m pretty good at using chopsticks, so I just embraced the change and have used them for everything thus far. Additionally, everything in Taipei is on the go, whether it be people, eating, or drinking. We have some level of this in Arizona with drive throughs, but they are no where near the night markets. In the night market you will see people eating full on bowls of soup while walking and drinking bubble tea at the same time. Honestly, it amazes me so much. But, whenever we go to a sit down restaurant we see another cultural difference: there are no waiters or waitresses. You are given a menu card and you tick off how many of a certain item you want to order, and then you give it to the cashier. Once the food arrives, everybody typically shares (family style) so they can have a bit of everything, just like what my family does in Arizona. Dishes here are also pretty big and the kids here eat way more often than I do at home. It’s probably because the food here is so delicious, affordable, fresh and accessible. As a girl, I also realized that women don’t shave here, which is usually frowned upon if done in America. Personally, I don’t care either way. These are just some of the similarities and differences I have experienced here in Taipei, and I look forward to observing more throughout the rest of the trip!

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Some pictures from Allen’s Senior High School

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School

I have had the privellage to visit both Allen and Kennedy’s counter part Pearl’s schools! Allen goes to a prestigious public all-boys school and Pearl goes to an all girls school. To get into these schools, you need to get a good score on your entrance exams in middle school. Allen did extraordinarily well (he’ll tell you the opposite) and was only a fraction away from a perfect score! Both of their schools focus a lot on science and Allen’s has won many international science competitions as well. There are many differences between American school and Taiwanese school. Firstly, middle school (junior high school) lasts a year longer and high school lasts for only 3 years. Also, once they are in high school, they pick a “team” and study specific subjects that relate to what they want to do as an occupation. Some of these teams include science and social groups, and Allen is in the science group that focuses more on math and complex sciences like physics and chemistry. Another difference is that the students at both schools have a home room and all attend the same set classes together because the teachers will switch between rooms instead of the students. The class bell in America is also loud and intense while the bell here sounds a lot like a door bell. Lunch time lasts much longer here too (an hour) , and students are allowed to leave campus to get food if they want to unlike in America where campus is closed and lunch lasts 35 minutes (at least at my school that is). Students often have to wear uniforms at school too where in most public schools don’t require a uniform but instead in force a dress code. Additionally, a typical school day here in Taiwan lasts from about 8am-5pm which is almost 2 hours longer than my school days in Phoenix. Another difference is the importance of historical leaders (like Sun Yat-Sen) who have statues and pictures throughout the both of the high schools. As it is easy to see, there aren’t very many similarities between Arizona schools and Taipei schools, but that’s what makes visiting it so interesting!

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First Impressions

Hi! So, I have been in Taiwan for a little over a week and we have done a whirlwind of activities! My host family is incredible, and they are very accommodating. While here, I’ve developed an impression of both Taipei and where I’m currently staying called Keelung. Keelung is about half an hour away from Taipei city, depending on traffic and mode of transportation. To get to Taipei, we have been using a lot of public transportation, and Allen (My counterpart) seems to know every short cut and backstreet very well! When walking around, our counterparts have basically been our tour guides so far and they give a strong impression of independence. So, because we haven’t gone out into Taipei city with adults yet, our counterparts have been running the show. They keep our day packed with fun and cultural activities, and there is never a dull moment. They are also extremely hospitable and always take into account our thoughts and necessities. My impression on the Taipei city itself, is that it’s a town that never sleeps and is constantly on the move. People are always eating, drinking, texting and walking all at the same time! It amazes me how they can multitask so phaselessly! It also reminds me a lot of New York City because there is hum of international banter all around you (which I live for) and you walk everywhere. Keelung on the other hand is a smaller and more secluded. There are a lot less foriegners (almost none actually that I can tell) and there isn’t as much hustle and bustle like in the city. The weather cooler here but the humidity is higher because it’s a port city. Don’t get me wrong though, Keelung isn’t a sleepy town with no action, it is filled with street vendors and scooters weaving in and out through traffic fearlessly. Scooters definitely rule the land here in Taiwan because they don’t obey the traffic rules as much as cars (which they don’t really either because turn signals and lanes are used very much). Whenever we have driven in a car, my host father, Mike, has been the driver because Candice (my host mom) doesn’t have her license. Mike is extremely shy and doesn’t speak English, but he is very kind and has a welcoming smile that speaks louder than words. Candice is the opposite because she is outgoing and chats with me all the time! She is also very cheerful and is probably one the nicest women I’ve ever met. She always wants to make sure I’m happy and well fed (I haven’t even this much food in my entire life) also I haven’t seen her without a smile the entire time I’ve been here and I love it so much. It seems to me that the men are more shy (excluding Allen, who is caring and bubbly like his mother and also has an amazing smile) and they women are more talkative and extroverted. That’s just based on my experience meeting Allen’s family members (parents, grandparents, aunts uncles, and cousins). So I think that’s a pretty good overview of what my impressions of life in Taipei has been like for these past couple of days, and to sum it up: I don’t think leaving is going to be very easy.

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Hey! My name is Emma Salazar and I was selected to be a 2018 Youth Ambassador for Phoenix Sister Cities! A couple of fun facts about me: I was born in Phoenix, but I spent 6 years living abroad in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates! While over there, I travelled a lot, and within those six years, I went to 20 countries and well over 50 cities! Also, while in UAE, I learned how to speak Arabic and my family is half Costa Rican so I know Spanish as well. In total, I can speak 3 languages decently! After the expat life, I moved back to Arizona in 2016 to start high school. Another fun fact is that I’m a total jock (but also a nerd). I play Badminton, Basketball, Softball, but skiing in the winters is by far my favourite! I’m a complete adrenaline Junkie and live for thrills (once I skied off a cliff with a parachute in France), and that’s probably why I’m not feeling any nervousness about flying to Taipei. There isn’t an ounce of fear in my body right now because I’ve spent my entire life in airports and interacting with people of different nationalities. Also, I’ve done these types of long haul, transatlantic flights without my parents before, so I am well accustomed to the whole airport process. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t seem real that this is all finally happening and we are really going to be leaving and the anxiety hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m going to ride this calm for as long as I can. I am extremely excited to meet my counterpart Allen because we have been in good contact and he seems like someone I’ll be good friends with! However, I’m a little weary of the language barrier with his dad and the fact that I’ll be living with a boy (which I’ve never done because I only have a little sister), but overall I feel like this is going to be the trip of a lifetime! To conclude I feel like am well prepared for this journey and I’m looking forward to experiencing Taiwan through a new set of lenses!