I AM IN TAIWAN!!!

I made it!!!!! There was much hauling of luggage, last minute packing, checking flight schedules, and even some tears; but after 36 hours of traveling, I am in Taipei!

I left Ney, Ohio at 4AM Saturday and with the 12 hour time difference and 19 hours of airtime, I didn't land in Taiwan until almost 8PM  on Sunday!

Bedtime for me now, it's only Sunday afternoon at home, but it's almost 1AM on Monday here so it's time for me to crash!  Thanks for the prayers, support, and well wishes.....my adventure begins NOW!

Well This Looks Like Fun!

What's more fun than waking up early knowing that your daily agenda includes sorting through and packing your most {necessary} 100 lbs. of belongings?!?

Waking up to an email with reassuring me that I will have transportation home from the airport on Sunday even if my plane is delayed because of the typhoon. EXCUSE ME WHAT?!?!

Yes, I was anticipating "different" weather in Taiwan....I was not expecting a typhoon to greet me at Taiwan's doorstep though! Crossing my fingers and saying a prayer that this storm passes with little effects to my travels or to the people currently in Taiwan.

Check this guy out!

Single Digits!

I can't believe this! 9 days.... 9 days...9 days!

I am now in the single digit count down until I leave for the adventure of my lifetime and I couldn't be more excited/nervous/ready/unprepared/scared-out-of-my-mind to begin this adventure!

2 weeks ago I had my orientation and met with 3 other girls who will be going to Taiwan as well...although we are scattered throughout the country. Needless to saying talking about our fears together as well as voicing our questions to a couple people who had taught for 1+ years in Taiwan also helped to alleviate some of my fears...like will I survive?!?! :P

More exciting than that though? I got my visa in the mail today....things can't get much more real than that! I am now the proud owner of a 1 year Taiwense visa, an international drivers license, and a 1-way ticket to the other side of the world!! What's there to worry about?!

Also, it appears as if they have found an "apartment" for me! They are waiting for me to get there and approve it before I sign off on a year, but it's comforting to know I'll have a place to sleep! Lol

Before I go, I'll leave you with the top 5 things I have learned thus far about apartment hunting in Taiwan!

Things that I have learned about apartments in Taiwan (through my own personal research and hunt!):

1. Kitchens are amenities (yes you read that right!)

2. Apartments generally consist of 2 rooms; a bathroom and everything else

3. Finding an apartment under $175 USD a month is not difficult in the slightest (yay for me!)

4. A furnished apartment may mean the apartment includes both a bed and a toilet!

5. Having a window in your apartment is not mandatory!

The Countdown has begun!

26 days....26 DAYS!

Folks this is seeming all to real right about now! The countdown is ticking away, the stack of paperwork to complete before I leave is growing, and my to-do list seems to be never ending; but the time's   still ticking away!

I have an orientation this week in Columbus and it'll be the first time I get to meet some of the other crazies that are embarking on this amazing adventure with me as well as hopefully getting at least a chunk of my million questions answered.

I'll leave you go with a funny from a student of mine that I ran into at church the other day.

After running up and giving me a huge hug, he looked up at me with his big blue eyes and asked, "Miss St. John, when are you leaving to Tilwaynia?"   You've got to love them!

Taiwanese Foods?

I have been asked countless times during this preparation "journey" what I plan to eat for a year while living in Taiwan. If you've read any of my Semester at Sea blog, or shoot even if you just know me at all in general :) you know that I LOVE to eat! Needless to say I'm excited to try new foods.

That doesn't go to say though that I know exactly what I'll be getting into food wise though; so, I've been doing a little {actually a lot!} of research on what I may be eating for the next year.

Travel CNN has quite a list of foods that one should {supposedly} try while in Taiwan. After a year of living there I'm hoping to try quite a bit, and I will be sure to let you know what I think about them! (As a side note, I can't wait until smell-a-vision is a real thing, let's be honest smells of delicious foods are what I want to remember when I get home from trips!)

and without further ado... 

{clicking on a picture will give you a little more detail about what it is!}

Beef Noodle...sounds simple enough!

Bubble Tea..."tapioca" in tea

Iron Eggs...a chewy egg marinated in soy sauce {a little worried about this one!}

Pan Fried Bun...fried bread with pork inside

Stinky tofu...sounds self explanatory!

Any foods that you're dying to try or that you wouldn't dream about even touching?!