Lauren Parkerson - Greetings from Taipei!

Jan. 1, 2013

Our journey so far has taken us from Detroit to Tokyo to downtown Taipei, and what a journey it has been. I am not going to deny that the trip over was brutal; however our reward has been great. The sights, the people, and the treasures that this city has are unbelievable. I have never been so immersed in a culture so quickly. There haven't been too many other Americans that I have seen thus far, and to be honest, I like it. Everything is so new and different to me. Our western culture has not totally penetrated the Taiwanese culture, and it is refreshing. Last night is a great example of what I am talking about. It was New Year's Eve here, and we went to the most amazing fireworks show off of Taipei 101. With over 800,000 people at the event it was a sight to see. The main thing that I noticed was that the people here know how to celebrate. Walking through the streets there were families and groups of friends that we polite and civil. There were no drunken stragglers, or petty fights in the streets. Everyone was there to have a good time with respect to the people next to them. I can say that having been to New Orleans, Las Vegas, and New York for New Year's Eve, this party is different in a good way. I am off for acupuncture, a traditional Taiwanese way to detox the body and enjoy relaxation.

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Last updated or reviewed on 1/9/13