Hi students,
Welcome to Taiwan High School Summer Program Class Blog! On this blog, you will have the opportunity to write about your experiences here in Missoula and read about those of your classmates. You will also receive feedback on your ideas and writing from your instructors, Josh and Dan. Most of all, the blog will serve as a class journal in which you can chronicle your ideas and experiences during your time in Missoula. Please remember to write complete sentences when you respond, and be sure to edit your responses (check grammar, spelling, punctuation, and spacing errors).
Here are the questions for week one (Due: Monday, July 8th):
Describe your observations about Missoula so far; that is, write about.......
1. something interesting
2. something confusing (you don't understand it)
3. something you will write home about (to tell your parents/friends in Taiwan).
Happy writing!
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ReplyDelete1. something interesting
ReplyDeletewe went to todowntown on July 5 th with David.There is First Night that is a New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts and is now entering its 20th year in Missoula.I feel really nice because its atmosphere is great. Watching a lot of vivid and lively pictures is very interesting.
2. something confusing (you don't understand it)
I’m confusing about the food culture of USA.lt’s very different from Taiwan.For me,it adds too much salty.
3. something you will write home about (to tell your parents/friends in Taiwan).
I will tell them about the view of Montana, included the beautiful blue sky,and the wide grasslands .
Hi,
DeleteI agree that American food can sometimes be too salty. This seems to be a problem for many foreigners.
We are very lucky to have such a beautiful view here in Missoula. I appreciate it every day.
Thanks for sharing!
Josh
1.The natural of here has lots of creature and plant that Taiwan doesn't have,so I think that is interesting for me.
ReplyDelete2.some people will tell something I don't understand,and I thing the U.S.dollar is more complicated than Taiwan.
3.I'm fine ,and the America is more interested than I thought.I'm lucky have more conversation with foreigner,I thing that will be great.
by Jack
Hi Jack,
DeleteMoney is often confusing for the first few days or weeks in a new country. I remember having a lot of difficulty with the Dong in Vietnam. It was something like 16,000 Dong for one U.S. dollar. I'm very bad at math so it was difficult for me to tell how much something cost. I hope you have had many conversations with Americans.
Interesting thoughts!
Josh
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ReplyDelete1.
ReplyDeleteHiking to the M:
I was looking forward to seeing fireworks on the mountains.That was my first time to do that.
Climbing the mountains with our partners is so interesting.We chatted with one another all the way,even knowing each other further.When we arrived in the M, we all shouted for the good view to see all the city at night.I definitely think it romantic to see the night view on the top of the mountains.How beautiful it is! I also lay on the M, enjoying the beautiful night that day. : )
2.
*Is that legal not to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle?
*Is that normal when someone you're not acqainted with says hello to you? I think in the campus is. But when you're out of the campus?
*Are people in Missoula like to ride a bike as a tansportation? I seldom see motorcycles.
*When will it become the hottest in a day?
3.
Hi, dears,
I really have a gorgeous time here every day.
The bed is soft enough for me to sleep well.
We went to many places where we've never seen before.It's very special,quite different from Taiwan. The scenery here is too beautiful to describe. The high mountains, fresh air, clean river, and kind people impressed me the most.Wish you can have an opportunity to visit this great town.
Hi Mindy,
DeleteI've never hiked the M on the 4th of July, but I've heard that it's amazing. Someday I'll do it.
You'll notice that many people ride motorcycles without helmets. It's not to law--some people just ride very carelessly! Seems dangerous to me! Many people ride bikes in Missoula.
I think the hottest day was the day after you arrived (last week). Let's hope!
Thanks.
Josh
I think the most interesting is we missed the airplane, because we went to Public Market in Seattle and we took eight hours to University of Montana.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why many "MEN" always have long hair. Is cut hair expensive or they are lazy?
I will tell them the fresh air here is comfortable and people are generous.
And the weather is too hot to walk for a long time.
Hi,
DeleteI would guess that your plane delay was a difficult situation, but I'm glad that you also see it as "interesting."
Long hair for men is a common style here. I don't particularly care for it, but many men here like to wear their hair long. I can understand how this might seem strange.
Thanks for sharing.
Josh
First,I think Missoula is a good place for living, just like my hometown, Maoli. It is not a vig city, however, the transportation, nature environment or any functions are very good for students to study. But the most interesting thing is the life temple of Americans, the behaviors of Americans. They have so many free times. And you can do manythings. You can sleep until 9, did not have to worry about you are late for school, because the class is start at 10.You can go everywhere after school, like the people in Missoula. They keep floating and riding bicycle all day.That is what I saw in the road and the river. How interesting it is! Second, I still have a question. Why there are so little people playing basketball in Missoula? I even bring my full sport equipments! Is not Missoula in the USA? Because the USA is the paradise of basketball, like NBA. Why I can not find any 3on3 games in the basketball court? There are nothing at the courts! Ind the end, I want to tell to my parents---Just send me to the USA for my college! I really like the study environment in the USA!
ReplyDeleteDouglas, I'm glad you've been having such a great time in Missoula. Yes, there is a lot of free time in Missoula in the summer, that's because people have to make use of the nice weather while it lasts. It is very cold here in the winter! I am sorry you have not been able to find games of basketball, I have played indoor at the YMCA, a community gym here in town, but unfortunately it isn't possible because of our class schedule (they meet during lunch Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Hopefully you have had better luck since you wrote your comment
DeleteDan
The most interesting thing is seeing lots of squirrels running in the surrondings. It's really a particular and unusual scene for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why Americans seldom eat hot food in their daily meals. Is the gas cost too much or there is another reason we don't know?
The weather and the sky here is wonderful. you guys can come and enjoy the environment in Montana!
Hello (sorry I don't know which student you are because your name is in Chinese). I hope by now you have seen that Americans eat lots of different kinds of food. I think, in general, colder food is being eaten now because it is hot outside. In the winter, people in Montana have to put up with the cold weather, which means hot food warms us right up!
DeleteDan
1. American are very passion and there are many people playing music along the streets ,it's a good opportunity for me to practice my English
ReplyDelete2The coin's unit is hard to remember , there are many different kinds of unit,
3 The scenery here is very beautiful and all of the things,you should take a look!!
Thomas, you're right about the currency here being complicated. The fact that our money is split into dollars and cents means that there are many slang terms for money: cash, bucks, cents, change, then their individual names like quarter, nickel, dime, and penny. I'm glad you have liked the music, Missoula is special in that regard.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of difference between Taiwan and Missoula. The most interesting things are nothing more than the fireworks on the mountain in the Missoula. That is totally distinctive in Taiwan. I love the feeling that the mountains around me. It makes me live in paradise. The people who live here are so nice. I like it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I came here just a few days ago, I still do not know why they are riding the bike in the campus. And the bicycle still can lend to the students for free in the collage of Montana. Maybe it is because the size of land is different. Taiwan is very small country. So it will not happen in the university in Taiwan. But I hope it can.
If I want to tell my parents and friends in Taiwan I will tell them I am safe now. Please do not worry about me. I can take care myself in any situation. Even I meet in trouble which is not easy to handle or in the emergency condition. I make some foreigner in Seattle and Missoula and they are glad to converse with me. I get lots of fun here.
Hello! You are right about the bicycles in Missoula. The city government has worked hard to make Missoula a bike-friendly community. Our city has grown a lot in the last fifteen years, and there are now too many cars for the size of our roads. Bike traffic is a great way to free up space for more cars. I'm glad you like the mountains, they are my favorite part of town.
DeleteDan
I really like Missoula. It's a wonderful place. The most interesting thing that I think is the sprinklers. It is rare to see those in Taiwan. On the way to classes or somewhere,hiding from the sprinklers is the most thing that we do. Laughter always goes around us. If we lucky enough, we can see the rainbow above the water. That's very incredible.
ReplyDeleteI am confusing about why we have to wait for a long time for taxi. In Taiwan, if you open your eyes, you can see many yellow taxi on the road. If you want to get one,the only thing you have to do is to wave your hands and the taxi will appear in front of you. It is contrary in Montana . Yesterday we went to the SouthGate Mall and we waited for the taxi for more than one hour!
If I could, I want to introduce Montana's fresh air and the green mountains! I like to take a walk in the early morning and enjoy the scenery. Otherwise, the cars in Montana always stop for a moment at the cross even though there isn't any traffic lights.
Taxis are less common in Missoula, that is very true. That is simply because there are not as many people here! In Taiwan, there is a huge demand for taxicabs, but Missoulians prefer to drive or ride their bikes. I'm sorry you had to wait for nearly an hour for a cab, some of the companies in Missoula take way too long to get a driver to where you are.
DeleteDan
•Something interesting
ReplyDeleteYesterday we went to the international house and have some BBQ with the Taiwanese, but there also have forigen too, we get to know each other, and have some good time , and I found that "Jennifer" is an "American name",so the people there think my name is special, and I am really surprised about that.
•something confusing
I know everyone still can't distinguish the money here, so am I...
Dime cent dollar penny....they are so complicated, I must get used to it as fast as I could.
•what to tell Taiwan
Missoula is a really big place, people here are friendly and nice, you can get to know each other quickly, the food here taste really great, and there is a river you must float, this activity is really exciting!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer, you are right about the money, another student also said something similar. There are many slang terms for money, even past the coins actual names like penny, nicke, and so forth. Cash, change, bucks, dough, bills, these are all words that people use to refer to money, and since each coin has its own name, they can be hard to keep track of!
DeleteDan
My English name is interesting.It origin the novel Twilight.There is a vampire called Didyme.I think the name is beautiful,so I used this to my English name.
ReplyDeleteI confused about the coins in US.I can't identify the"cent"and the "dollar"and the "dime".
Missoula is a good place.There people are friendly,and the air and the sun are comfortable.Come to Missoula to learn the US's culture.
Hi Didyme,
DeleteI haven't seen or read the Twilight movies/books, so your name was new for me. It's an interesting name.
I bet that by now you are very familiar with the coin system. In fact, your probably an expert!
I hope you are still enjoying Missoula's fresh air and beautiful sun.
Josh
1. something interesting:
ReplyDeleteI have very interesting thing about Missoula.such as Pow-wow.It is too funny and amusing.and we went to look the horsemanship and the cowboy(most of the cowboy is so crazy)!!!My favorite like is a cowgirl who only about five years age.It is so cool,isn’t it?
2. something confusing (you don't understand it)
Sometimes,I confused about something because some rules and laws isn’t as same as Taiwan.For example,taxi in this country too abominable.That because we took taxi from the dormitory to Southgate mall.It just spend us thirty two dollars everyone.But when we went to the dormitory by taxi.His attitude was too bad and asked for us to give them sixty dollars.My question is why every taxi prices is not the same prices?
3. something you will write home about (to tell your parents/friends in Taiwan).
The world is too big andTaiwan is too small and it hasn’t many surprise thing.I will talk them about my interesting thing and maybe I am confused in here.All of the people,things,matter is very amusing to Taiwanese.I must do my best to answer when they are curious.
Josh:
I am student Vincent.Sorry my yahoo mail can't login and I am delayed.So I handle a new gmail and you can mail some message by this to me afterday.Thank!^^
Hi Vincent,
DeleteYou have some interesting observations and thoughts. I really like Pow-wows, and I'm glad you got to experience one. I can't exactly tell what happened to you with the taxi driver, but I can say that a trip to Southgate Mall should only be $10 or so. $30 or even $60 dollars!?!? That's way too high.
I'm sure you will have many amusing stories to tell your family and friends when you go back to Taiwan.
Josh
This is from Tina:
ReplyDeleteOn Sunday morning,after we ate breakfast,we went to the gym to do some exercises.When we got here we rent basketballs and badminton, and there are some people from other group in Taiwan also come to play with us! We have 12 people so it is 3 on3 with 4 teams. And because I haven't play basketball for a long time so it's kind of tired and rusted. We all have a lot of fun there and we'll definitely go to the gym again!
I'm confused about the cabs in Montana.Because every time we call the call the cabs,they always late for like an hour or longer.I don't know if it's because too far from them,or there are only a few cabs here.Another thing I'm confused about is why all the stores have to be closed so early that we couldn't get any food after 7p.m. Is it because they don't want to work so late or open at night is dangerous.
If I can write a letter home, I'll definitely "floating" in Missoula. Because you'll never see somebody floating down the river like that in Taiwan. I'll also write about the weather here is too Dry, my lips are gonna crack if I don't drink water. And interesting thing here is the sun go down at 9-10 p.m.because of the latitude. In Taiwan, the sun set will be 6-7p.m. I really like Montana it's lovely and peaceful,there are tons of mountains and animals,the sky is so blue and enormous. I'll be pleased if my family can also come here!
Hi Tina,
DeleteI hope you have continued going to the gym. It's great that you have the opportunity to play so many sports. I think the reason it takes so long to get a cab is because there aren't many cabs. In fact, there are probably fewer than 10 cabs in all of Missoula. I also love that the it stays light for so long here in Missoula. I can fish until 10 pm!
Josh
This is from Rosa:
ReplyDeleteEverything here is so cool and fresh to me. For example, the "Rodeo" , I used to see it in magazines or on TV, I'm very interested in it just when I saw it on TV. It's very lucky to have a chance sitting in the crowds and watch a real one. The atmosphere is nice cause everyone enjoys it and is enthusiasm. Another impressive thing is the "First Friday night" , there are so many cool shops and nice prices, the singers along the road throw into very much, I had lots of fun there. I think it's a common problem to those who first use U.S coins. Dime, cent, quarters are so hard to distinguish. Oh and there's a word on the shop sign I don't know but lots of shop has that, they add a word "Inn" behind their names and I wonder if that means they own a parking lot? At last, I can tell you guys in Taiwan that I'll definitely come back to Missoula! I love the fresh air, the thick lawn which feels like a carpet, the clean environment and the lemonade here. It's a good choice to take a vacation here, it has a village life but it has what a city has and the best thing is there's no tax! You will have a really nice and relaxed life here!
Hi Rosa,
DeleteIt sounds like there is a lot that you like about Missoula. All of the things you mentioned are things that I also like about the city. For example, Missoula has the feel of a small town with the activities and atmosphere of a city. First Friday is good example of this, and I'm glad that you and the other students had the opportunity to experience it. I hope you can make it back to Missoula someday!
Josh