Today was an extra-special day in Hualien City. We started with pulling weeds and sweeping the streets in one of the Tribes here. We also pet some cute puppies that happened to cross our way during our breaks from the hot sun. For lunch, we ate at this restaurant where we cooked our own food in a dish with a hot plate in front of us. It was one of the best meals we've had there (in my opinion)! Afterward, we drove to the Tzu Chi Foundation which was so beautiful and quite amazing. They have chapters of their foundation in over 200 countries (and 2 chapters in Georgia)! One of their sayings was "teach the poor to be rich". It was very cool and their Buddhist Temple inside was breath-taking. We then went to a school where little children were there for us to read to them. The Mayor of Hualien City was there as well! The kids were so cute and very very smart. Some were read to in Spanish and English! We then went to dinner with the Mayor at the Parkview Hotel which was beautiful (it had a golf course, too). After dinner, we were brought to a government building where we all split up to be with host families. I am by myself with this very nice host family. I now know what it feels like to those international students that come to Darlington for the first time- lonely. I can't imagine being in a place like this being the only one who spoke my original language for a whole school year! I have to hand it to those who come overseas for school- they have lots of courage.
Well I'm going to head to bed because I am awfully tired!
-Abby Vincent
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It's great to hear of your experiences day by day. The kids who come here are awfully brave, aren't they!? You're staying in homes of some well to do families, if guess. I'd love to hear of their home routines--meal times, what they eat, what are the kids' responsibilities, are both parents working, what do the kids do during the day when parents are working, are their kitchens and bathrooms like ours? Do they have socialized medicine such that they don't pay when they go to the nurse or doctor, and if so, are the taxes the government takes out of their checks fairly high? Are there many doctor offices in the city or neighborhoods and hospitals. Will, ask to meet a radiologist/oncologist and see if he'd take you to his office and to make rounds at the hospital one day.
ReplyDeleteAbby and Stephanie, can you get to a high school band practice or some informal summer music get together. I know they would love to hear you play. Music is an international language!
We'll be awaiting your stories.
Nurse Lynch