A Recap
A recap video of my year in Taiwan living abroad as a Fulbright grantee!
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Jun 29, 20152 min read
Goodbye Taiwan
My last weekend as a Fulbright Grantee in Taiwan was filled with family, friends and so much happiness. I don't feel ready to leave!
Jun 27, 20152 min read
Goodbye Su-Ao
I just finished my last day of school as a Fulbright grantee and English Teaching Assistant ): It was a weird mix of emotions.
Jun 25, 20155 min read
The Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Weird (Part 2!)
Some of the odd things about Taiwan, I will just never adjust to...here's a continuation of the oddities I've found in this country (I love)
Jun 20, 20154 min read
As We Go On, We Remember
I say my goodbyes as my students graduate and I get ready to head back to America for graduate school. My time as a Fulbright is almost over
Jun 15, 20153 min read
A Foreigner Goes to the Second Hand Taiwanese Market
Trying to barter and sell things at the local market with minimal Chinese is a disastrous combo....but an experience none the less!
Jun 7, 20153 min read
Run, Forest, Run!
I ran the International Olympic Road Race in Taipei! My first half marathon was (mostly) a success!
Jun 2, 20157 min read
The Most Adventurous Weekend in My 23 Years of Life
I went to Taitung, Taiwan where I went hang gliding and spelunking all in one weekend! Adventure!
May 27, 20157 min read
Happenings In and Around Su-Ao
As my time as a Fulbright grantee winds down, check out some of my most interesting events of the past month!
May 20, 20152 min read
Cooking Veggies in Earth Water: A Taiwanese Hot Spring
My Taiwanese host family took me to a local hot spring to cook veggies! We also stopped at a mochi factory! A wonderful and food filled day!
May 14, 20155 min read
Long Weekend Adventures in Nantou!
A trip to Nantou ended up being one of my favorite weekends in my entire year in Taiwan! Filled with sheep, roller coasters and gondolas!
May 11, 20152 min read
It’s Not the New Year Without Some Lanterns!
You can't experience a Chinese New Year in Taiwan without attending the lantern festivals! We went to the Taipei and the Pinxi Festivals!
May 8, 201512 min read
A pit stop in Japan, then the Herrick clan arrives!!!!
Living abroad in Taiwan all alone can be lonely...but my entire family came to visit! Check out the ups and downs of our trip here!
Apr 29, 20156 min read
Chinese New Year Vacation in Vietnam
A short vacation to Vietnam had me falling in love with Mui Ne and reflecting on my time as a Fulbright grantee in Taiwan.
Jan 19, 20153 min read
The First Outing of 2015
For the first day of 2015, we headed west to Taichung to visit the inventor of bubble tea!
Jan 12, 20152 min read
New Year in Taiwan!
I thought Times Square New Years was cool...but the fireworks at Taipei 101 were absolutely amazing!!!
Jan 5, 20153 min read
The Jew Brings Christmas to Taiwan
As a Fulbright ETA, I try to bring American culture to Taiwan...which definitely includes Christmas...the only problem is I know nothing...!
Dec 30, 20142 min read
The Bird.
In a school completely surrounded by nature, you're bound to get a few visitors...today I got my first one!
Dec 29, 20142 min read
Sammie Turns Taiwanese
In true Taiwanese fashion...I got my hair braided at a local salon...and couldnt look more local if I tried
Dec 26, 20142 min read
23 in Kaohsiung Taiwan
I took my first trip to the South of Taiwan to Kaohsiung and explored the big city!
Nov 21, 20143 min read
Taipei Fine Arts Museum...or not?
I love a good museum but let's just say I was totally underwhelmed by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum...in fact, I even called PETA on the place
Nov 18, 20142 min read
Happy 114th Birthday Su-Ao Elementary!
We had a giant town wide celebration to commemorate Su-Ao Elementary's 114th birthday!
Oct 23, 20143 min read
Fulbright Classroom Observation
I had my first observation by the Fulbright committee and it went better than I ever could have hoped!
Oct 14, 20143 min read
Happy Birthday Taiwan!!!
I had the honor of being chosen to attend the National 10/10 celebration in Taipei along with the President and other high ranking Diplomats
Oct 13, 20143 min read
A Weekend of Ting!
This weekend I got to experience Ting's 1st birthday! And a visit to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial in Taipei!
Oct 1, 20144 min read
Thank goodness for ponchos
I had my first experience with a typhoon. But for locals like my host family, it was apparently no big deal! We went on a full day adventure
Sep 26, 20145 min read
HOST FAMILY!!!!!!!!
Today I got my host family for my time as a Fulbright grantee. Mine just happened to be my school principal and his family! SO HAPPY!
Sep 18, 20142 min read
BEWARE: KILLER FRUIT
I'm a huge advocate of smoothies and fresh fruit juice...but sometimes...it's just not worth it.
Sep 18, 20142 min read
Sammie Learns Chinese….from a seven year old.
Yuan-Chi and his family have taken me in yet again and this time we had a day packed full of adventure...and Chinese lessons!
Sep 17, 20144 min read
A Lucky Day in Haulien!
I took my first trip to Haulien and it was a more fantastic day than I ever could have imagined! We stumbled upon a surprise parade!
Sep 16, 20143 min read
Principal Lu and the Second Bike
I explore Su-Ao Taiwan with my school's principal...and it is gorgeous!
Sep 15, 20145 min read
The Good, The Bad, and the Just Plain Weird
When you move to a foreign country, everything is a bit weird. Culture shock is real. Read about my list of my weirdest Taiwan-isms.
Sep 15, 20142 min read
The Taiwanese Moon Festival!
I experienced my very first Moon Festival as a Taiwanese resident, with BBQs, monkeys and more!
Sep 14, 20142 min read
Fulbright Grantee Orientation in Taipei!
We had our first official Fulbright event with every Fulbright grantee in Taiwan in attendance. There was lots of learning and lots of wine!
Sep 12, 20143 min read
The Second Major Mishap in Taiwan
So…not so long after my first major mistake...here comes a second one. This one also somehow involves a call to the police...sorry Taiwan!
Sep 4, 20143 min read
Sammie Teaches Junior High School?!?!
My first day teaching 7th and 8th graders in Taiwan...and big surprise...I actually loved it!
Sep 4, 20142 min read
Day Two as a Fulbright Grantee at School!
My second day as a teacher in Taiwan found me standing up in front of the entire school!
Sep 4, 20143 min read
My First Day of School...in Taiwan!
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Monday, September 1st. I wake up at 5:30am (ew) and get ready for my first day of school! I take the shuttle bus...
Sep 4, 20143 min read
The First Major Expat Mishap in Taiwan
As an expat I'm curious about everything...but I learned sometimes it's better to not be so curious....
Sep 1, 20143 min read
Babies and Bikes and Blogs, oh my!
Becoming acquainted with the local culture is easy when you have colleagues like Yuan-Chi. He went above and beyond after just meeting me!
Sep 1, 20142 min read
Taipei Take Two
A day in Taipei isnt complete without a visit to the zoo and a ride up the famous Maokong Gondola 貓空纜車
Aug 17, 20145 min read
A Day Out in Su-Ao
My first day exploring my schools (and attempting to memorize the routes to get there and the Chinese symbols on the maps along the way!)
Aug 14, 20146 min read
SU-AO and DONG-GUANG!!!!!
So I know it is 5am in America and no one is awake to read this but….I GOT MY NUMBER ONE CHOICE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!
Aug 13, 20142 min read
Fulbright Cultural Exchange (for real!)
Landlords in the United States are not known for being especially nice. But here in Taiwan, ours is the absolute best.
Aug 12, 20143 min read
Becoming a True Taiwanese Resident
These three experiences made me feel like I'm really integrating into Taiwanese life!
Aug 9, 20142 min read
Travels to Southern Yilan
Visiting the aboriginal villages in Taiwan was an experience different from all other places I've been so far.
Aug 6, 20143 min read
The Motorcycle Diaries
Today I rode a scooter from the first time, which was mildly terrifying...but I lived to tell the tale!
Aug 6, 20142 min read
Hot Pot and Bottomless Ice Cream
Hot pot is the coolest. You sit down and there is a hole in your table. They come put a big metal pot in there and it is filled with water.
Aug 5, 20143 min read
Bubble Tea, bubble tea and even more bubble tea
Today was the first day of touring schools! In Taiwan's gift giving culture, we were greeted with gifts at each school...namely bubble tea.
Aug 3, 20142 min read
Exploring Taipei 101 & Beyond
We went to see Taipei 101. It is formerly the world’s tallest building and it is one of the most beautifully constructed building.
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