One Week Down...

Ni hao!



One week down and I'm still plugging away. I've finally gotten into the rhythmn here, and realize that two weeks will not be enough time to fully understand the working of the Hualien government. There is another staff member here from a small island in Japan and he is here for 6 months! Maybe that is a little excessive...

Great weekend visiting the Taroko Gorge (Hualien's Mt. Rainier) and the Ocean Park. I have been connected with a great group of women and it has been very confortable. Each day there are approx. 2 good English speakers. I realize that the little bit of Chinese I learned before going is not enough to do anything.

Today is the City Council, National Ministry and television station. It is going to be very hard to return home and not be a celebrity.

Still stinking hot and humid. I'm such a lightweight when heat is concerned. The street life only really gets hopping at night, and not I know why. In addition, the Taiwanese women do not like the sun. People do not "sun tan" here, but instead cover up with pants and use umbrellas.

Still having trouble downloading photos. Main page on the computer is in English, but none of the commands are. Three steps forward, two steps back. I long for my own computer and air conditioning!!!!

I'll keep trying to post photos. In the meantime, I continue to go with the flow.