Shaved Ice
How to beat the heat in a Taiwan summer is eating a lot of shaved ice! It is so delicious and refreshing no matter how it is prepared. However, fresh mango is my favorite.
Posts
Tea Time
Tea in Taiwan is kind of a big deal! Tea time is anytime you visit someone! So if you enter someone's house or school for the first time they will most definitely serve you tea. Old men especially love their tea time! The picture below is my Taiwanese grandpa and I having tea on a very very hot day. So it doesn't matter what the temperature is it is never too hot for tea. The usually serve green tea, oolong tea or black tea WITH NO SUGAR! I was scolded when I dared to put sugar in my tea. It is actually very refreshing after a long day of teaching if it is not too hot. Also if you are full and do not want anymore tea: do not drink all the tea in your cup because they will think that you are still thirsty. My principal at one of my schools gave me two tea cups with my Chinese name on them for tea times.
Camps
Summer in Taiwan is probably the hottest time of year and hottest place in the world it feels like, especially since there is no air conditioning in the schools and we can only turn our air conditioning on in our dorms for 4 hours a day!! It is pretty ridiculous! I also got my boss to agree with me when she came to visit, now I am the hero in the office because they will have air conditioning installed in the office for next year. However, I will not be here, but I am happy for them. So besides it being EXTREMELY HOT, I am teaching camps. I co-teach two lessons a day about the character qualities determination and confidence, unless it is an office day. I also help out cleaning the school since the students only come for a day. I also serve lunch to the kids, it is kinda weird doing the jobs my students do at my schools. Camps are pretty fun, but most of the time they are just hot. I only have 5 more days of classes before I head home which makes me anxious every time I think about it....
Penghu
Penghu is an island located on the west side of Taiwan. Penghu is beautiful and very hot! I spent about three days there exploring, swimming and snorkeling. I would strongly recommend visiting Penghu, Taiwan! I went to the rainbow bridge, the twin hearts and McDonald's because it taste better in Taiwan for some strange reason. However, be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen so you do not get cooked by the sun. Also 7/11 and Family Mart have the best ice cream, I mean the most delicious perfect ice cream of all time.