Happy 24th!

My 24th birthday was on Wednesday.  I am really happy to be 24, because it is my favorite number.  It is such a beautiful even number.  I was surprised by messages and balloons. 

My MK kids surprised me by singing "Happy Birthday" and telling me "Happy Birthday Miss Megan!" every time they saw me.  It was so cute! 

 

After eating lunch, we treated ourselves to Bing-shas.  And when everyone came home from teaching, we went out to eat at Style Restaurant.  I had my first Hot Pot, which literally that.  A hot pot is serving with a flame beneath it.  It is a soup that you add stuff to, and it cooks right in front of you.  It was definitely a good birthday.  Thank you everyone!!!

I am a winner!

I have finally done it.  I have conquered the squater!  I tried once.  I tried twice.  I tried three times!!!!!  Then I drank a ton of water.  My bladder was complaining.  I did it!  I feel like a 2-year old.

The lucky squater.

Taichung 台中

Last Saturday, a few of my roommates and I decide to go to Taichung.  It's the same town that we go to our English branch in, but we have never gotten an opportunity to explore the town.  We started out by going to Modern Toilet.  It was a crazy hilarious restaurant that was themed... you guessed it... about modern toilets, and squaters, which I do not think are very modern.  All of the dishes were served in various things in the bathroom.  Our dessert was in a squater.  My meal was in a toilet.  Katy's juice was in a urinal.  Kristi's meal was in a bathtub.  It was a very interesting place and the food was good.

We later went to FromLove New World Park.  A few of the girls went water zorbing.  You get into a plastic ball or cyllinder and try to walk on the water.  I didn't go because it was super hot out and no one would go with me.  I'll go eventually, maybe when the weather cools down.  There was so much to see at the park.  Lots of neat sculptures.  Plenty of opportunities for taking pictures. 

We topped off the fun day with going to Costco.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, Taiwan has Costco.  We ate at the food court first.  Almost the entire first floor was the food court.  It was huge.  Ah!  My love...Costco Pizza!  It was so delectible.  Then we shopped.  I only bought a snack for "break the fast" and CHEESE.  I had been living on fake overly processed cheese since I got here.

Taichung was so fun!

Taoist Temple

The Taoist temple is right next to "Stinky Tofu Alley."  As Libby and I were walking through the alley an older man with a 3 wheel bicycle stopped us.  He was trying to sell us cookies and practice his English.  He told us that the name of the alley translates to Temple East Alley.  That's probably a nicer name.  However, I will probably still call it "Stinky Tofu Alley."

These lanterns are in the front of the temple.  Every lantern has a yellow tag hanging from it, which has a person's name (the person who purchased it.)

Crepes

My roommate Kristi introduced the concept of "first Friday."  Every Thursday is first Friday.  Why not celebrate.  I am endorsing that whole heartedly. 

After a fun hike, Libby and I went to "Stinky Tofu Alley" to get crepes.  Mmm!  It was cool to watch the crepe girl make it.

Apparently, I wasn't supposed to be filming her. 

The finished product.

Hike

Last Thursday after class, Whitney, Libby and I went for a hike up in the mountain.  I enjoyed myself very much. I love any opportunity to spend quality time with my roommates, especially when it involves time outside exploring the beautiful Earth. 

Love the clouds

Mis amigas queridas

Whitney, Me, Libby

That's my city (Feng Yuan) out there.

I do it for the kids

My afternoon kindergarteners and I made marionettes. 

Here's mine.  I call it Jasper.

Here is a lovely video filmed by Libby.

Starring Jasper.

Be jealous.  Just kidding.  Haha!