End to my amazing journey

I can't believe I'm blogging in my hometown of Iowa. This past year has been a surreal rush. I've done so many things and have experienced so much that I can't believe that I was hesitant to live in Taipei. Of course I had to leave behind my family, friends, and my American culture which wasn't easy. Coming home as made me realized that I'm very blessed and grateful for the people who stuck by me and made my trip abroad worth it.

I not only made such great friendships, ate amazing food, reunited with my relatives, but also discovered my own personal identity and what it is to be an Asian American, more specifically Chinese-Taiwan American.

After I left Taipei, Taiwan I stayed in Los Angeles for 3 days and 4 nights to visit old high school friends and watch American Idol in concert. I had so many dreams come true like reuniting with my friends after 9 years. I used to live in LA when I was a freshmen in high school and moved shortly after. I told them I would come back and this was the time. I met Stefano and got his autograph and he took a photo with me after the concert. I also saw Leo's beach house. California was amazing and I'm so glad I stopped by to visit.

I'm sad to say that this will be my last blog for now. I'm so glad that I have my memories of Taiwan kept on this blog and I can relook at all the posts that I've done, talked, complained, and laughed about. I'm moving to Springfield to go to grad school in less than a month. I hope I have time to blog but right now, I know I need to study and focus on grad school.

Thanks for everyone for following me and keep in touch via email or facebook :)

Take care!
Chihchat

Wrapping things up

My year in Taiwan is ending in a couple of weeks and I'm busier than ever. It's a weird kind of rush since I'm not too excited to leave but I'm happy to be done and moving on. I will miss a lot of things in Taiwan especially my family, friends, and food :) My friend came from the States a couple of days ago to work at my school and it's strange that while I'm leaving, she's coming. It's definitely like a cycle where one door closes, and the other opens. Yes, that is a lame motto but it's definitely true in this case.

I feel guilty that I'm done working and in a state of "non-work/school" period. It's weird because I feel an obligation that I have to be somewhere at a certain time or place but really I just have to wrap everything up here.

Although this isn't my last post that I will write on this blog, I have so many things to do like closing up ties with work, closing my bank account in Taipei/figuring out taxes, saying goodbye to family and friends, helping my friend get adjusted to her new life in Taipei, getting ready for my 4day stay in LA and finally going home.

I can't believe in less than 2 months I will start grad school! I will try to post one more time in Taipei but if not, my last final post will be when I arrive home in Iowa. It will be about one year and one month that I have taught abroad!

-Chihchat