7/15,16

7/15,16

     The rest of the time in Sitou is mostly doing our project, playing and chatting. In the morning, we took car up to the hill to have lecture about ecological engineering. I still remember when we arrived the place, all of the tourists, most of them are alder people, looked at us, and one of them mer mer to the other guy, saying why do such yang guys need to take cars?! Um......it may seems not fair, but we were here for lecture, the teacher was waiting, plus, we need to go back on time so we can start our project.
      Anyway, let's talk about the lecture. Actually, I'm quite interested in ecological engineering. The structures built on and beside the river were well designed.

     In the afternoon, we started our project. First, we found an area where two streams flow on each side. It's exactly what we were finding for! Unfortunately, when we finished measuring the length of the area and just about to start marking, it suddenly rained heavily! The rain came so fast that we didn't even have time to put on our rain coat. And even we have umbrella and raincoat, we still got wet before long! But since we didn't have much time, so we still continue doing our project in the rain. And because of the rain, some easy task became really hard to be done, thus our work slow down. But ironically, when we done our work, the rain stopped......

      Next day, we went to the field at 9:00, and started measuring the air and soil temperature and humidity, we also dig some soil and took sample of some plants at each point. The whole work were quite efficient and harmonious, I'm glad that we got a bunch of hardworking, cooperating, and nice fellow~ really enjoyed the time~! Because of our hard work and efficiency, we finished the measuring and sampling before 12:00, and we had launch just on time! And we sent rest of the time making power point and ....Playing, of course.

          

      

7/14 Day 2 in Sitou~

7/14
      Everything returned to normal today, the electricity was fine, the food was fine, even the fallen leaves and branches on the roads were cleaned up ! And the tourists went back again. Everything was fine as if the typhoon never exist~
      And of course, we are fine~ Actually, more than fine! We could finally get out of the building and walk into the forest! We went to the Sky Walk up the hill, took some photos, and went back for launch. The walk was quite tiring, but I love the weather and fresh  air though. When we went back, Hulda, Steven, Jenny and I kept taking photos, so we became the last group back to the building.

Jump and shot, shot while jumping~

         In the afternoon, we started to brainstorm some idea about our project. And at 3:00, every team stood on stage and made a brief introduction of their project. Every team came up with interesting topics, and our topic(at that time) is "The research of biodiversity and distribution of creatures according to the increasing distance from the stream" sort of like that. Thus, according to this topic, we started to make plans and experiments that night. But to be honest, we play and chat most of the time~

7/13 The Typhoon day

7/13

          When I woke up the next day, we notice the power was out! No light, no fan, no hot water, and no internet! I walked downstairs to have breakfast, all I could see are bunch of black bun, dishes and blur face. Few flash lights were lit up and fixed at a place, providing the room with a dim of light. Staffs and workers walked back and forth, here and there, communicated with each other, and with Jack. All of them looked serious. From their talk, I heard that the Soulik typhoon blow down a tree, which blocked the road and smashed the electric wire, and they were trying their best to fix it. 

           Apart from the atmosphere of tension, we, as the "only" tourists in Sitou, were so exiting and happy when Jack announced that the lectures for today were canceled ! We spent the whole morning celebrating~ We played cards, listen to music and chatted! Our scream and laughter cover the sound of the heavy rain.

 
           Again, we ate in the dark at launch time. Since there was no electricity, the chefs cook noodle and soup for us. Even though it's not a rich feast, but to be honest, it's delicious! especially at that kind of  "refugee-like" situation, you will somehow felt grateful and cherish every food. Likewise, we would also cherish every opportunity to go to the convenience store. Therefore, when Jack asked us" Hey guys, do you want to go to  the convenience store? I mean, the staffs will drive you there." we said yes without any hesitation!
         Along the way to the convenience store, I was astonished by what I saw, Broken branches and fallen leaves were everywhere, what a mess! Steven always wanna buy "流ㄌㄞˇ (milk with  四川nese accent )" and Vico always wanna buy 包丁(pudding with  Cantonese accent ), I bought some snacks and popsicle. 
        After we went back to the building, we, again, monkey around until dinner. The electricity went back around 4, and the entire floor  suddenly came a shout of cheer~ Everyone was so happy! Some immediately charged their device, others rush to the bathroom to have a worm shower. But the power didn't last long, after dinner, we started to discuss our project at the meeting room. Suddenly, the light went out again... We can only continue the discussion in the dark. Fortunately, the light went back again before long, and thus we celebrated another few hours and went to bed~ What a "dark, bright, dark and bright" day...!

7/12

7/12

After the brief tour around the tea farm and drank two different teas again, then we pack up our luggage and rush to Sitou experimental fore. On the way to Sitou, we stop at the Bamboola Taiwan. When we walk in the building , I noticed almost all of the decoration and furniture in the building were made out of bamboo! They gave me a calm and comfortable feeling. The boss show us some bloody outstanding and awesome items, such as the first and only one “bamboo glasses”, basket, boxes. Every boxes has a secret lock, and every lock are different, some are easy to open, but most of them almost piss me off! But except that, most of my feeling is impress and admire. I have never seen such delicate bamboo items before, the designer must be really talent and thoughtful.

 When we finally arrived at Sitou, all of the sceneries seems so familiar because I had been here last semester. This time we finally can stay in one place for more than three days. But bad news is the typhoon will attack on land tonight. Thus, after dusk, it started to rain. And it last for one and a half day. 

7/11

Today we headed to Endemic Specimen Research Institute and took some courses, some of them are good, but again, I a bit disappointed by our senior’s English, and I almost felt asleep sometimes. The lecture about bat is my favorite! There are so many different types of bat, some have big ears, others have really strange nose, still others have peculiar feature. The most interesting part is that the teacher took out a box of bat and let us touch it! They are so cute! One baby bat even crawl on my arm, the way they walk is really cool! but i think they probably freak out.

Despite the lecture, we went to the Mingsin Academy and Temple remains, it’s actually not something special.
 Originally, we are going to have lecture about tea culture and science in Taiwan tomorrow, but according to the typhoon, we have it tonight. Although the lesson was quite long, but I like it though. We kept smelling and drinking different tea while the teacher was introducing them. The atmosphere was so relaxing and comfortable( one of the reason is because the teacher speaks good English and was quite funny).

7/9 7/10

7/9 

  Sitting in the bus, looking out of the window, listening to leisure music, thinking of what we did the previous days, I smiled.

  Yesterday morning, we woke up early(6:00) to have bird watching, two narrator lead us to several place to observe. Although they try to explain and introduce the species and character of the bird, but I could barely understand; and although everyone had a binocular, we could barely see the bird. Therefore, I probably only see one clear image of one kind of bird, White-eared Sibia, it’s quite disappointed…….

After breakfast, those two narrators took us around the Meifeng farm. There are so many bazar and peculiar plants in the greenhouse, some have special smell, other have unique color, still other have peculiar appearance. I was totally amazed by so many kind of plants. After launch, we had a really special lecture, Table waste composting and organic vegetable. The speaker is a foreigner who came from Québec ,Canada, and I’ve heard that he already live in Taiwan for over 30years, no wonder his Chinese is so good, even better then his French accent English! He mainly talk about how he created a organic farm using “puwn” for fertilizer. I think everybody think “puwn”(left over) is stinky, useless and disgusting, but it actually can become a perfect fertilizer. It is natural, nontoxic and doesn’t kill the bacteria in the soil.

 Next, we start to make our own spinach , beet and fruit juice, I actually don’t like the taste of the beet, it’s weird! At night, we went to the greenhouse again to observe insects, I was so amazed by the mimicry of insect when the teacher let find the insect in the pictures. But I was more interested in the Introduction of Saideke tribe and hunting traps, two aborigines show us the clothes let us try it up, then took us to see their traps for hunting. I was so impressed by the wisdom of the aborigine, they used some simple tool(wood, bamboo, rope, stone), combine them together and form a simple physical balance.

 Next, we made Chinese ban, actually I don’t really like beet and Chinese ban, but it’s quite fun to knead the dough. Then we went to the tomato garden to pick “two” tomatoes, yeah~ just two! Due to the delay season of fruit. But I think it’s because there’s only two, so precious that it seems to taste sweeter and more delicious.

After that, we went to Shueili wood utilization center, when I first opened the door and step in our rom , I was totally amazed and touched by the beauty of sun set! Almost every one shouted out. At night, we play the Rubin lock. It’s really interesting! But I was disappointed that my senior speak poor English that I could barely understand. But anyway, we still had a good time competing with each other, but Vico defeated me, what a pity.

The next day, we still stay in Shueili, my senior show us around the utilization Center, which I might come here in sophomore. The master showed us how to saw a log, sanding, honing saw and other utilize process. And for the rest for the time, we made Tissue box DIY, it’s interesting but little dreary~ 

7/4, 7/5, 7/6.7/7

7/4  

Today we set off from Shifen and headed to Hualian. We first went to King Car Orchid Park, had our launch at Mr.Brown, then we went to Cingshui Cliff, and Finally went to Hualian city.

   It is probably the second time I went to Hualian in my life, so I was quite exited! The view along the way is astonishing! Especially the scenery at Cingshui Cliff! The beach is so different from the beach in west coast!

    However, today I felt that I was a little far away from other people. When the time pass by, we usually have our own preference. Everyone has already found their own circle. But it seems I still couldn't find where I belong. Anyway, I think it will just be temporary.

At night, we spent about half hour to down town, we had a nice chat, Steven told me the “fake-brand” of China, such as”雪碧”and “雷碧”, “康師傅”and”康帥博”,etc. It’s so funny and hilarious~!! Also, he told me about how the people in china think of their government and how the internet change the way government usually does to the people. The internet actually contribute a huge influence to the exchange of information in China, in the past, people usually don’t know what the government is doing, and they don’t the truth. But nowadays, people can know more about the unfair event that happened in other region and discover the truth. I was ashamed after I heard it, because in Taiwan, we have much more freedom and we can get a lot of information from the internet easily, but I don’t really cherish it. I usually don’t care about what big events or serious issues are happening around me. So through this conversation, I really learned a lot and I decide to make a change. Anyway, we all had I good time though~

7/6

   As we drive up the mountain more higher, the whether change dramatically. I still remember yesterday when we were still in the low elevation of Taroko national park. It’s still really hot, but it already had a little difference to the former days. But today, we drive much higher to the Hehuan mountain. The Bilu Devine tree is about 2150 m above sea level, and I had to wear a jacket to make myself worm. Finally, when we arrived at Meifeng Farm, my Jacket couldn’t keep me worm anymore!

 Despite of the temperature, the tree type also change a lot. Taroko broad leaf, Bilu Devine tree, broad and Coniferous forest, Mayfeng almost Coniferous forest.

 Just then, we finished playing Eagle catch chicken and “Hugging games”, I felt joyful but tired. We kept running, hugging with others to make a group, the one who didn't have a group should be punished with “Truth or Dare”, it’s a lot of fun! Chenhou lick Baker’s ears, Kim did a silly dance with me, Kylee lick Hulda’s ears, Ban did 40 times push up, Ken walked like a lady model and most of us were forced to answer some silly question( why the question are all about “love”, isn't there any other question?) We really had a good time and had a harmonious atmosphere during the game. But when I came back to the dorm, I looked at the mirror and asked myself: Why everybody see me as a “quiet” boy? I know the way I behave is comparatively low profile and not outgoing, and that’s truly my personality, but sometimes I don’t like it. 

      Anyway, let's just put this away. Through these several days, I have been to a lot of places. every places are so unique. I saw bats hanging in the cave, walk along the valley of Taroko National Park, hike to the peak of Hehuanshan, and had some pretty interesting lectures! I love it!

7/2,7/3

7/2

Comparatively, today is a little bit boring. We set off at about8:00 and headed to JingShan for blue dye. Different from the other days, we were separate into two small buses in order to path through winding and narrow roads. But this small change made quite a big difference, we spoke less on the bus( almost non) since some of the most talkative friends were at the other bus. Beside, I had already been to Ju Ming Museum before, so it’s not new for me, and I could barely understand what the narrator was talking about. Plus, we had to be quiet, walk slowly(in two lines), had our launch without talking at the Dharma Drum Mountain. So that’s why I said it was comparatively boring. Nevertheless, there were still some interesting things. Dyeing is quite fun, but I’m not really satisfied with my pattern. I like Richard’s(handle of a ship), ShungYu’s(owl) and Hulda’s (eyes) pattern more. And experience the life of being a “Buddha”(I couldn’t understand why they kept calling us Buddha when we were heaving launch??) is quite new and special to me.(But if you want me to stay there for several years, I probably would be crazy… it’s just too quiet and without vitality.) At night, I bought two T-shirts and shorts(since it is the last day staying in Taipei), which I really love it!!

The Next day(7/3) we headed to Jiufen and Shifen, which is so far the most relaxing and enjoyable day. Right now, I’m staying in a B&B in Shifen, which is really distinctive. There are doors, roof top Tables and chairs made out of wood, delicate decoration here and there, and, most distinguish thing is the lanterns hanging from the ceiling!

Apart from the B&B, the scenery outside is so poetic and scenic. We took a lot of pictures on the drawbridge and the railroad. At night, we had a wonderful feast, played some “storytelling and guessing ” games and we lit up a lantern up to the sky with all our drawings and wishes! I secretly wrote “Friendship” on the lantern, and thought in my mind: hope this friendship can last as long as possible for it is a rare opportunity to meet so many people from around the world! At that moment, I really felt that I made exactly the right decision to attend this program! At last, I hope there is going to be more and more sparks occurring within this multi-cultural families.