Wakeboarding

My taiwanese friend H asked me if I wanted to go wakeboarding and showed gave me a link with crazy wakeboard-tricks pictures. The answer was YES, of course. I love trying new things. Wakeboard is like snowboard on water with a handle fastened on a boat.

The sun was shining and a little windy when we got to the canal. Perfect. The most critical moment in wakeboarding is to get up from the water to a standing position. In the first round fell all the time and I (unintentionally) drank so much of the greenish-not-looking-too-healthy water (I just have to make an input that it doesn't taste as bad as it appears to be). Anyways, I didn't manage to get up out of three attempts and I was kind of bitter.

But after the warm up it got better. I got inspired by another girl in the group (we were all beginners) who surfed like a pro. It was an amazing feeling to stand on the board (with somewhat shaky knees), to see the white waves from the boat and I couldn't help myself to let out a big "WOOOH!".

We also ride a float-like thing that flew over the water. The boat driver made some mad u-turns and maxed the centripetal force just to see how long we were able to clang on the float. We also had the oppurtunity to sit on the boat and it was so fun to watch friends fly off. I want to thank Hank for a great day. Now three days after I still have "träningsvärk" (according to tyda.se the english word for träningsvärk is "charleyhorse". Haha) that reminds me of the speedy wakeboard rides.

Waiting excitingly for my turn. (Why, why always the victory sign?).

The boat pulls with a great force, no wonder I got so much charleyhorse.

WOOOH!!!

This was totally hilarious. :D

Culture class & Modern Toilets

Several times a week we have culture classes and yesterday I learned some Chinese Yo-Yo and Kung Fu. It was so fun! At first the yo-yo seemed simple but when I hold the sticks myself the spinning thing doesn't act as I wish. We get to learn som tricks and we'll have a test next week. I'm gonna be as good as the teachers's children who were there and performed:

The kungfu class was quite simple and we learned the ten basic steps. It was like the first time that I exercised since I came here as training that I normally enjoy so much is not really the first thing I think of when it's 36 degrees outside. One cannot really take a walk as in Sweden as the air is so full of pollution and it's terrible traffic.

Last night we went to Modern toilet in Shihlin to have dinner. Odd place for sure. The food is served in toilets and the dessert is poo-like chocolate ice cream.

The dessert.

Wall decorations.

There were about 100 different toilet seats.

Have I mentioned that I'll have a dance performance with a group from school for the vice Taiwan president tomorrow? Oh my...

First Lesson

When I woke up this morning they hade put up the list of the classes on the notice bord. I'm in the beginner class (well, of course). So, the first lesson was great as I understood what the teacher said and he was so funny. We got lots of text books and will also perform karaoke and drama together.

The First Day

Now me and my sister are in Taiwan. Finally! I haven't figured out how to use the internet in the dorms yet so I use the school's computer now. To sum up my experiences till now: it's complicated to not have your luggage, Taiwanese are very nice but not very good at English, and it's SO FREAKING WARM here. The air is humid which makes you completely soaked wet. Kind of wrong order on the pics, but here you go:

Some bakery at the Shi Da night market near the universty.

Sight from the air somewhere between Moscow and Beijing.

Me at Cityterminalen in Stockholm on our way to Arlanda.

Sangfroid

Yesterday was my last day at work. Time has really passed so fast and I've made my best to use this limited time at home. I've barbequed, played ultimate, read in the hammock, had fika with friends, baked a lot and been with the family.

People have asked me if I'm nervous about going to Taiwan and it's quite strange but I'm not nervous at all. I should be a little frightened (it would be the most normal state I guess). After all, I've never been abroad for such long time period and I don't know the language. It might be that I'm cool with this whole thing because I feel mentally prepared and I have my sister with me.

However, the only mission I had today was to have a kebab pizza. I dare say the best kebab pizza are made in my hometown Jönköping. (I know, this pic is not very impressive).

Minimalism

Yesterday, I bought a pink travelling-bag (yes, I said a pink one to distinguish from the common black and grey bags. How pragmatic one can be). Now I can begin to pack my things to Taiwan. The weight limit for the luggage is 20 kg and I think it's gonna be a fight between minimalism and vanity.

Laktritsskallar

Yesterday, my friend S asked me what I'll missed the most from Sweden when I'm away and without thinking too much I said Swedish "lösviktsgodis" which is pick candy. Especially I'll miss the salty liquorice skulls. But I've heard that there's a wide variety of food in Taiwan so I'm not worry. But most of all, I'll miss my family and friends and all those things that I'm used too like being understood and all the familiar streets. However, to be a little confused is also the charm when coming to a new place.

http://swedishcandy.org/2010/09/28/salta-skallar/

A New Era...

... is here. Sounds dramatic, doesn't it?

I can barely believe that I have ended my third year at the university, time really flies by. And I have to admit that it has been a tough year from time to time. For example, I've been struggling with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in quantum physics, laborated with antibodies and modeling of the insulin pathway with scientific research purpose. In retrospect this feels very cool. Though, I must say to be a student is not all about study. I've had so much fun during this time such as going on concerts from classical to electronic, met nice people, participated in Bioteknikdagarna at Chalmers in Gothenburg, had a blast on parties, taken classes in house dance and been a dodgeball leader.

Despite the fact that I enjoy the university life at Linköping University I look for new challenges. I will now take one year off and to learn Chinese in Taiwan for a half year. It's gonna be awesome! Now is the most exciting time as I'm not sure what to expect. Just wait and see...