BT: To the Shore

Yesterday I had an awesome Fourth of July and today I am continuing on with doing really American things and going to the New Jersey Shore. Like I had in Philly one of my best friends lives out there so I'm going to visit her. I also haven't been to the Jersey Shore since I was in High School so it should be fun. 

As much as I am excited to see the shore today I'm more excited to go the beach in Taiwan. I have never seen the Pacific Ocean before. The closest I've gotten to it was living vicariously through my brother who lived out in California for a bit. He poked it for me. Unlike where he was I will be able to swim in it. I actually already made plans with my one friend who is going over with me to go to the beach. It will be tons of fun. Well it is now time for me to head to the beach so until next bye. 

BT: Fourth of July

Happy Forth of July!!! It's Independence Day here and America and I celebrated it with one of my good friends down in Philadelphia. I came down yesterday and spend the night. It took a little while longer to get down to his place than I had originally planed (it took me a good 40 minutes to move like 2 miles). We went over to a Korean marketplace and picked up the ingredients for dinner, which was curry and really good.

Today though was the Fourth of July. I was up way earlier than anyone else in the apartment so I made pancakes for everyone. Needless to say because of doing that I believe I've become my friends favorite house guess ever. 

For the rest of the day I didn't really do much since my friend had to work. I did though watch the Kamen Rider Fourze movie finally. Then after my friend came home we headed over to the park were we were meeting a group of friends to watch the firework show later that evening. We were there for almost four hours before the firework show started. 

Before the fireworks they played the national anthem and I have to say that I got a little chocked up. This was probably the last time that I will hear it play in a while. I only have about 10 more days before I go and I'm in a mixture of being really exited and sad because I'm going to miss all of my friends. The fireworks themselves were really great. It kept on having parts that could have been the finally but just kept on going. It had been a long time since I seen firework and let's just say that I had forgotten how much I love fireworks. It honestly was a great way to spend my last Fourth of July in the States in a while. Till next time. 

here are the pancakes I made

BT: Boring Day

So today wasn't very eventful. I went shopping with my mom, not because I needed anything but so I could keep her company. While at the store I tried on a bowtie as you can see. I didn't buy it because well I really shouldn't be buying things that I don't need before Taiwan. 

After shopping we went over and canceled my AAA membership since I won't be in the country. My mom had already taken me off of the other insurances so this was the last one. I don't plan on driving when I'm in Taiwan. Taiwan has a good public transport so I will just use that.

For the rest of the day I cleaned and helped my Mom with the pool. 

BT: Hershey Park

So yet again it has been several days since I last posted. I've really been trying to get on my computer but I've just been busy. It's amazing how I did't really have a social life and in the last three weeks of moving to Taiwan I magically get one and become super busy. 

As mention in an earlier post I'm trying to do things that are really American before I leave. Well to help me with this my sister took me to Hershey Park. Her fiancee and our Aunt also went along with us. Our Aunt use to take us to Hershey Park when we were younger so it was rather nostalgic. I hadn't been to the park since I was probably twelve (or younger I don't remember) and I have to say a lot has changed but they did have some of my favorite rides (the swing ride and Lightning Racers). I have to say that I was proud of myself because I went on three separate roller coasters. For those of you who don't know me I'm really scared of heights so the fact that I was able to go on three roller coasters and a Ferris wheel and not really freak out is a huge step for me, although my sister kept on saying that I looked like I was going to get sick.

Anyway after we had our fill of all the rides we headed over to Chocolate World (it's free and right outside the park) for the mini tour of how chocolate is made and the shop. We though had awesome timing because it only started raining once we got inside. After the tour I stocked up on my favorite Hershey's Chocolate. Over all it was a really good day. Till next time and enjoy my picture of the park. 

BT = Before Taiwan

So in order to start organizing better I've labeled post BT or before Taiwan. It makes life easier.

BT: Been Busy

So it's been a little while since I've posted anything on here. Sorry although I've been done with work for a week I've become rather busy. 

I'm in the final stretch before I leave for Taiwan and there is a lot to get done. I'm currently in the process of cleaning and completely packing up my bedroom and all of my stuff. Considering this is the first time that I've really moved in my life there is ton of things to go through. I've already gotten rid of 5 bags of clothing since I won't be needing them in Taiwan. 

Another thing that has happen in the past couple of days has been that I've checked everything off of my list of things to buy before moving to Taiwan. These things were like a new swimsuit (I needed a second once since it is a tropical island), shoes for the plane, gym clothing, bras (yeah I'm more busty than your typical Asian), and Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver. I know that the last two on the list don't really make sense but hey I need something to do on the plane. 

I've also started making plans to see all of my friends before I go. I was able to see a good number of them recently since my sister threw me a surprise going away party, which will be another post. Anyway till next time 

BT: The First Goodbye

This morning I said goodbye to my brother and saw him off as he left to go move to South Dakota. This is probably going to be the last time that I will see him about 2 years and the first of my family members that I've said goodbye to. 

How much this effected me surprised me a little. My brother and I haven't been super close at all. We have seven years separating us but I guess since we lived and worked together this year we were close. Now he's moved away and our work schedules won't really permit us seeing each other for most likely two years. 

The biggest thing is that if my heart is shaken over saying goodbye to my brother what is is it going to be like when I bid the rest of my family, especially my twin sister, farewell. 

BT: Time with my Brother

Today was my last day to spend time with my big brother. Tomorrow he is moving away and since I'll be going to Taiwan next month this will be the last time that we will see each other in probably a year or two. 

We had to think of something that we could do together that we would both enjoy. We were originally going to go on a day canoe trip since we have one and live close to the Delaware River but he was able to get into the summer training program and is leaving much earlier than planned. So we comprised and spent the day hiking. 

Our first stop of the day was to Hickory Run State Park's Bolder Field. It is basically as it sounds. It is a natural field that is filled with rocks that a glacier deposited there hundreds of years ago. Its pretty cool and the last time I was there was when I was 15 so it had been a while. The nicest thing about the visit today was since we were there early we had the whole place to ourselves. 

The second stop today though was not as good as the first. My brother wanted to check out a new trail which basically turned out to be a paved trail along side a river that you couldn't even see because it was blocked with trees. We called it quits on that and headed over to Big Pocono State Park. As children we spent a lot of time there having picnics and flying kites. Unfortunately we didn't bring any kites but we were able to get the nostalgic feeling by eating our lunch there. After lunch we hiked two of the trails around the mountain. Once we had gotten our fill of hiking we headed home so he could finish packing. 

Here is some of the  pictures that I took today:

BT: Cleaning out the closet

So yesterday I started cleaning out my room and closet in prep for moving to Taiwan  I had to get my dresser cleaned out since my Mom decided to give it to my brother who is moving away first. I'm find with my bro having my dresser but I'm like "but but I still have a month yet but where am I suppose to but my clothes?" 

Needless to say she didn't really have an answer for me. I was able to get it all cleaned out while my brother was out at the garage getting a tune up for his car. Surprising I was able to move it outside all by myself. After getting the dresser out of my closet I started to rearrange things which was interesting considering I don't think the closet has been cleaned out since I was a baby which was ironic with the amount of baby clothing that I found. I also found some of my childhood favorite books that my mother had kept. There were also a giant purple ball, a hamper lid that doesn't match any of the ones that we have, two wooden trucks and  a full traditional Chinese outfit which didn't fit me in the closet. Though I have to say that the most interesting thing that I found in the closet was this:

No one in my family has any idea where this knee length sequenced jacket came from. Anyway afterwards my bro took me out to a really quaint ice cream parlor for a nice summer treat. It was really nice and in a historic inn. It was a type of small town America that I  won't be able to find in Taiwan.

Another thing that I won't be able to find is Friendly's. Those of you who don't know it's a restaurant chain in Eastern USA. It has standard food like burgers, crispy chicken, and salads but the thing that it is really known for is ice cream. The ice cream is why my family, especially my dad, really like it. I'm saying this because we went out to dinner to our local one. It was funny since it was on both mine and my brother's list of things to go to before moving away because we both will be moving to places that won't have one. Well till next time