已經12月了。時間過的很快。第二學期也開始了。所以我有新的班，新的同學，新的老師。我的班有英國人，挪威人，立陶宛人，義大利人跟印尼人的同學，他們都是很好的同學。老師也教我們很多中文，也休息的時候跟我們說話。因為這次的班是水平比較高的班，我們學比較難的詞，也學很多好用的語法。我覺得這個學期以後，我的中文水平可能是比較好。我也想練習更多我的口音。
11月我們有一個星期的放假，所以我跟同學們去了花蓮，看了孔廟，去了夜市。在夜市我吃了地瓜球（我真喜歡地瓜球跟糖粉）。我們也看到了一位男生的狗，狗非常可愛，所以我們跟他說了話。他是花蓮人，有花蓮的口音，但是他對我們說了我們的中文很棒。花蓮的海邊也很漂亮，我們在海邊過了3個小時！去花蓮的時候也是我的第一次坐台灣的高鐵，我覺得又便宜又舒服，希望英國也有這樣的高鐵！
I have really been enjoying my last month in Taiwan, and I can’t believe it is December already! The time has flied and I’m already in my second term of three in Taipei. This means I have a new class too, with a new teacher and new classmates. As I’m now in an intermediate level class we are starting to learn higher level vocabulary and a lot of useful grammar – this is my favourite part of language learning: beyond the beginner level! My teacher is also really kind, she only speaks to us in Chinese, and we also share casual conversation together in Chinese during the break times.
It is has also suddenly become much colder in Taipei in the last 2 weeks, dropping from temperatures around 30 degrees to about 17. I have busted out my jumpers (and I’m also sporting a new hoodie from the university shop) and have bought some fluffy slippers too – I never thought this time would come, and so abruptly! In fact, being in Taiwan has quickly changed my idea as to what is classed as hot and cold. I’m freezing at anything below 20 degrees now, but I can’t complain when it’s minus 6 back home.
My friends and I met a very kooky bar owner in Hualien, who insisted Hualien is a country, served rather strong drinks (one was enough), had a karaoke machine and a hat stand that did not have hats but instead had plastic chickens and squeaky hammer toys. It was definitely a very fun encounter.
Beach at Hualien
Taiwan high speed rail, comfortable and cheap
Chickens in a bar
