We began our last day at Hui-Wen School by attending classes one last time. I went to a gym class for possibly the fourth time. I was supposed to play basketball outside in the very hot and humid weather, but luckily the Taiwanese students picked up on my facial expressions and provided me with other options. They let me just sit and talk with some of the other Taiwanese students in the lovely shade. We talked a lot about food, pop music, and my time in Taiwan. Brady spoke Chinese to some of them.
After class we attended a coffee tasting session. We ate cheesecake and tasted six different types of coffee. The coffee came from places like Kenya and Ethiopia. I really enjoyed the session because I love coffee. I thought it was very creative for the exchange directors to schedule the coffee activity.
Next we went to a painting class. We used ink and brush to paint images of bamboo on rice paper. We learned three different strokes that were used to create our images. They were very difficult.
After a small lunch of dumplings and a long break, we went to our Goodbye
Party. The school gave us goodie bags filled with things with the Hui-Wen School logo. Some very sweet and touching speeches were said by the Hui-Wen directors of the trip and Pingree's leaders. A few tears were cried.
After a more snacks, the Taiwanese students and the Pingree students got up in front of everyone and said a few things they enjoyed on the trip and then gave a few touching goodbye remarks. More tears were cried.
I went out for Thai food with my host family and I got to meet her cousins and aunts. I feel very close to my host family now and I am going to miss them a lot.
Coming to Taiwan I saved room in my suitcase to bring back gifts. I actually didn't do an excessive amount of shopping, but my suitcase is so dense that I have to leave a few food items behind. This is because all of the Taiwanese students and my host family gave me so many goodbye gifts. I think my bursting suitcase of gifts sums up how friendly, welcoming, and caring people are in Taiwan.
Alena Larsen
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