guiguiwillie

My New Car

2010-09-23T17:39:00.001-07:00

So I finally broke down and bought myself a car that i really wanted. I guess I got tired of feeling like i have nothing of my own. For almost 2 years now i have been driving my mom's car and Nathan will be home in like 8 months and will want to have something to drive. So i guess it was time. Here are some pictures.

It's been forever - Hope this is a new beginning

2009-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

I know i haven't written in forever. I decided that since i have bought 3 cars that i might as well put up some pictures so that i can show them off before I sell some of them. For now this will be all. This is my 1929 Mercedes-Benz.

What does the New Year hold in store??

2009-01-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday i went down to Provo to pick up my friend Luke and give him a ride to the SLC International Airport. I got down a little early so i decided to stop at the Target Super Store. While i was browsing the magazines i got a phone call from my landlord (or landlord to be). I decided that since i had time i would stop by and sign the contract and pay the first month's rent.

As I walked in the landlord's house i had a bad feeling about signing the contract. I signed it anyway. As i drove the rest of the way to pick up Luke i read the contract in detail. I found out that i can't really uphold the contract for two reasons -

1. I am not a full or part-time student of BYU (in my opinion the independent study program does not qualify)

2. I have had my BYU Housing contract previously terminated by BYU Housing.

I called the landlord to discuss these issues. She didn't know what to do cause in reality she was just the local agent. She called the landlord who wanted more information as to why BYU Housing had terminated my contract before. I gave her few details. She said she would need to call BYU Housing and ask them about my specific situation and my student status. The housing office was closed so i still don't know. I don't feel that it is right so i have already re-posted my room on the BYU website to see if i can get someone to take my contract.

I am not really sure where i am supposed to live. I still haven't found a job yet. I guess i have a few options.

1. Move to Murray and live with my aunt on a more perminant basis and pay some rent
2. Move to Sandy area where there is more malls and where a few friends live
3. Move back home to Oregon and live with my family and find work there
4. Move back to Hawaii since i still have a flight back on my round trip ticket leaving on Jan. 5th

Anyway... I am still not sure what to do. I am looking for the guidance that i need to point my feet in the right direction. I hope i can get the answer i need before too long, because if i am supposed to go back to Hawaii i need to know before the 5th.

Hope things work out soon so the New Year will not feel like a disaster already!!

Saudades of Hawaii

2008-12-17T18:32:00.000-08:00

So now that i have been in Utah for 1 whole day now i really really miss Hawaii. That is the place i have called home for the last 3 years. The great majority of my friends are in Hawaii and it is hard to leave. I really miss the mountain ranges and of course the beaches. Since arriving to Utah there has been snow and cold and pretty that is it. I did see the sun but not much of it. I miss my girlfriend too who is in California with her aunt and cousin. I can't wait until she gets here. I hope that i can get down to where home is and visit her and her family.

I have also been doing a lot of job hunting. I have been sending resumes to many different places by email. I really hope that i get some calls soon so that i can have some interviews. I really need a job and i need to feel like my life has not come to a hault~

It really is nice to be here with family. I have also got in contact with so many of my Utah friends who are excited to see me... which of course makes me happy!

I am also so happy to realize that i have many many good friends in Hawaii. Sometimes you don't realize what you have until it is lost or until you don't have it anymore. My friends... we didn't spend much time hanging out or doing things over the last year but it seems that when i was leaving there were a few people that wanted to cry! It was nice to see that they cared and i could tell they cared cause they didn't want to let go when we hugged goodbye. And there were others that didn't know how to say goodbye... Like they said it gave a hug and then chatted more, hugged again and then once more the same thing. It was really tough for me to let go... and i hate that more than anything.

I am doing better now and i am excited though now that i have like 10-15 applications in and i feel good about a few of the jobs. I am hoping to get calls by the end of the week.

Crazy Rain Storms and Flash Floods

2008-12-12T23:18:00.000-08:00

So I don't really know how many of you will care, but the weather in Hawaii got krazy all a sudden!! Like there are massive rain storms that have hit the islands and caused some major flooding in many of the surrounding cities and neighborhoods.

Just a short story to show how krazy things have been...

Aaron and i decided to head into town and go to Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and Waikiki cause he had never been and was taking off to go home. We set out around 13:00hs i think on Wednesday. We caught the good old local transportation... "THE BUS" which oddly enough is the name of the bus and bus system. All the buses here have the label "The Bus" on the side. Kinda like how in Eugene, OR it says LTD... Yeah...

Well, the bus ride was not too bad but it consisted of one transfer which is not exactly at a bus station and here in Hawaii there are not so many signs or labels to anything. We got to the place where we were to transfer which was basically on a random road just a couple streets outside of Oahu's China town! This was not the best place i think. Actually, we had to walk around the corner in order to find our bus. We saw the correct bus number so we caught it. We thought we were pretty lucky cause we just got off one bus that was about 10 minutes behind schedule as the next bus arrived!

We rode the bus for about 30 minutes at which time i noticed that we should only be 10 minutes away from our destination (according to Google Maps). Well, to say the least... It became apparent that we were not in the right place! We had taken the bus in the wrong direction! I guess the fact that we were in the mountains and not near the ocean we were not about to find a harbor! Well, Aaron and I just figured that we could ride the bus for another 30-45 minutes and it would get us back around to the right place!

We rode the bus for about an hour and finally arrived at where the directions said we could find Pearly Harbor. We walked down the road for 20 minutes and back up. We could not find the place we were looking for. Finally we found Pearl Harbor at about 15:30hs. By this time the last showing and boat tour to the USS Arizona Memorial was over!! What a krazy day!! Not the best of luck~!

We decided that it was such a horrible bus ride back and forth that we would stay in town and we would spend the rest of the time still in Waikiki on the beach or where ever. Well, as we got going (once again on da bus) we decided that we would watch a couple dollar movies instead. We got to the dollar theater and it was just starting to sprinkle. We ate some food and then went in to watch the two movies. The first movie was really really bad (Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist) and then The Dark Night. Well, after the movies it was about 1:00 in the morning! Well, by this time it was raining a bit more and we just wanted to find a place to sleep. Well, what we ended up doing was walking around for 20 minutes and stopping to avoid the rain. Then we went for another 20 minutes until we found a Zippy's and we ate some food. Then we headed back to find a place to sleep. We ended up sleeping in front of a ROSS clothing store! We were all curled up in front of the front door under their shelter to avoid the rain. We slept for about 3 1/2 hours when finally the store employees came to open the store. It was freezing cold and raining even harder. We needed to warm up and avoid the rain so we headed to catch the bus.

We figured that we would ride the bus for a couple hours just to keep warm since it was only 5:30hs and Pearl Harbor wouldn't open until 7:30hs. Well, we got on the bus and told them that we wanted to go to Pearl Harbor. Aaron and I then cuddled up on the bus and fell asleep! After about 30-40 minutes the bus driver walked to the very back of the bus and woke us up to tell us that we had arrived. We were still very cold and wet so we got off the bus to be courteous and waited for another bus avoiding the rain. We crossed the streets and caught the bus headed out again. We rode the bus for another hour almost when finally the bus just stopped. We were so cold that we didn't want to move to see what was going on. We stayed in the back and huddled to keep warm! We later found out after 10 people or so had gone to the front to see what was happening that the bus no could go cause the road was blocked!! I guess all the rain caused some flash flooding that washed 1 1/2 feet of mud over the road that it was impossible to drive through without getting stuck!! We waited for an hour and a half until the rains stopped and until the tractor had cleared the road enough to get through. Finally after getting through we rode the bus for another half hour and then switched buses to go back exactly to where we came from. After another hour bus ride we arrived at Pearl Harbor!!!

Pearl Harbor had flooded and was closed to the public!!!

We then decided we would catch the bus to Waikiki to go to the international market to get a coconut and some other things. As we rode the bus we decided to just go to Ala Moana shopping center instead cause almost guaranteed the little huts and stored in the International Market would be closed due to the rains as well. After arriving at Ala Moana we decided to shop for some clothes to try and change and hope that we could get warm! We didn't buy any clothes though. We just found some food, ate and then got back on the bus to head home!!!

We rode the bus all the way back to Kaneohe which was another 45 minute to 1 hour drive. After we got there the bus driver had another wonderful surprise for us! The road was closed that no could go circle island. That meant that we had to chill in the Wind Ward Mall until the flooding went down or until we could find some other way to get back home. We then went into the mall and slept on the couches inside the lobby for 3 hours trying to get warm and get some rest. Mall security woke us up and told us... "Dis not Waikiki. You no can sleep here! Get walking or sit up." We decided to leave and see if we could catch the bus again to go home. We finally caught the bus and made it back home. It was raining so hard. Everything was flooded. Well, we stopped to see if the Polynesian Cultural Center was open or not so we could buy some presents. It was closed so we walked the back streets to campus. The streets were flooded almost up to our knees! We finally got back in and took showers and changed our clothes.

Well, today it started to rain just about as much. Aaron was not able to make it to the airport cause more roads closed that prevented him from even leaving Laie!! The rains have all stopped now and hopefully things will be good so that we don't have to worry anymore about these troubles!!

It's been way too long... Sorry!!

2008-11-14T02:13:00.000-08:00

I am suddenly reminded of the great amount of love that God has for each of us and have come to realize that He has a hand in ALL things. Over the past 3 years i have been able to look at my life and evaluate where i have been, where I am at now, and where i want to be. I can see if i have made progress, moved backwards or stayed in one place. I would like to just briefly describe a wonderful experience and blessing that I came to realize in my life.

I decided after returning home from my mission in January 2005 that i would work. After i started losing my job due to a lack in customers and a downsize I decided that perhaps it was no longer the time for me to be working. I decided to think about college. I never had the desire to go to college and make something of myself. I hated studying all my life. I guess it just came to a place in my life where i needed to try something different. I decided that i would go to college for at least 1 semester and if nothing else i would have had some fun and made a few new friends. I then applied to Brigham Young University Hawaii. This was the only school i applied to and i figured that if i had to suffer through school Hawaii would be an ideal place to suffer ;)

I came to BYU-Hawaii and i made many wonderful friends and some not so good friends. I had my fair share up ups and downs in my college life and at times i asked myself why i was here. What was the point in me coming to school if all i am gonna do is through my money out the window by getting C's and F's. I still after 3 years second guess if what i am studying is really what i want to be going into. The list goes on as i am sure anyone who is or has been in college knows.

I recently made a friend who was one of those people you discover were only momentary people and the kind of friends you won't have your whole life. This friend and I were best friends for about 2 full months. We hung out almost every day (OK every day) and we got a long so well. We decided to take 2 classes together in the following semester. Well, just after Summer ended we returned to school to no longer be friends. This was OK with me though it was awkward at times to cross paths but to say the least it wasn't the first time i make a friend and lost a friend in such a short period of time.

Because of this friend I decided to take a class that i was pretty sure i would hate. *Lifeguarding* Well, I no longer had any friends in that class so i branched out and made a few new friends. My friend Aaron was really the only person that i connected with. Aaron and i quickly became good friends. We started to hang out a lot as well. We would go to the gym, the beach, watch TV or even just to the pool to practice our lifeguarding skills.

Aaron is a pre-missionary and one of the best ones that i have met. I would probably say that he is like Elder Gong that i met in the MTC in Provo, Utah last year. The kind of person that is o prepared and intune with the spirit that they are able to uplift and inspire you in ways they aren't even aware of. Aaron has been a huge help in my life at this time. He has not only helped me to stop focusing on how OLD i have gotten and rather helped me to start living like a kid again, but he has also helped me to start reading my scriptures again and praying. He has helped me to have a better outlook on life. He has in ways unknown, helped me to have the desire to repent.

I was talking to Aaron this evening and he mentioned how not too long ago his testimony was a little weak. He doesn't really know why he was supposed to come to school at BYU-Hawaii. He said that gives all the credit to his parents. I asked him what he meant by that... He didn't really have a good answer. He did say however that he only wanted to come here for the sun and that there were other places he's rather have gone. The more we talked we both began to realize that the Lord really does work in mysterious ways. Aaron felt that he was accepted here so that his testimony could grow. I at the same time felt that way about my life. I had only decided to come to school here so i could enjoy the sun and strenthen my testimony. I also realized that it was not by chance that I made friends over the Spring Semester with the kid who convinced me to take lifeguarding. It was becuse of that friend that i took that class, and it was because of that class that i met and became friends with Aaron. It is no doubt one of the great mysteries of God. Also, I have come to realize that as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talked about in the October 2008 General Conference, there really are angels around us. They come in many shapes and sizes, and not all of them are spirit people who have already passed on or have come and thus already been resurrected. In fact, most of them are NOT. The great majority of our Ministering Angels are those who are inspired or directed by the Lord to act and who obediently do so. Aaron was my ministering angel at this time. He did not know why he came to school here, nor does he really know why he is taking the lifeguarding class seeing as how he is already certified and currently works at the pool. I know, I guess we both know now that it was not by chance that these things happened, it was not by chance that we became best friends, and it certainly wasn't by chance that we uplifted eachother and have served as a strenght to one another.

Over this period of time I may have mentioned to a few people more than i expected about what has been going on, however, I have come to realize that it does not really matter to me beause trhough all this i have found that i have friends in places that i didn't even know. I have received texts and phone calls non-stop. Some of my friends called me after staying up until 6:00AM and then turned around and talked to me for an hour (friends that prehaps i took for granted and never realized how great of friends they were).

I am so grateful to God for the opportunity i have had to be at BYU-Hawaii. I am grateful that my stay here was prolonged when it could have come to an abrupt end 2 1/2 years ago. I am grateful that i have been able to grow over these past 3 years in Hawaii. I am also grateful for a wonderful bishopric. I am grateful for my parents and my family that have supported me in all the things i have gone through. I love my family bery much and will always be grateful that God gave me them rather than one of the other familes that might at times be more fun, or seem to get along better, or have more of the same interests that i do, or that is rich or whatever it may be... I am grateful that i was given the family i have. I am grateful that the Lord has blessed me with the privelage of being raised in a home where parents live the gospel. Where they have taught me those things which have protected me from the influence of the world (though i have not been 100% free from its influences, I have been protected as i constantly remember the things i was taught my whole life).

I guess i just wrote this post cause i wanted to start writing again and keeping people updated on my life a bit more. Sorry that this one is so long but so much has been happening in these last few days.

May 22 - repost in English

2008-05-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Sansia (Sanxia). It is a river near Taipei. We went there to go swimming. When we were close it began to rain. The minute we arrived... It began to pour so bad that we nearly drowned!! We covered ourselves with a rain jacket... we were soaked... lol

It was so fun!!!

When we returned...

I met up with my girlfriend and we went to Elder Lawerence's Birthday party. After that we went to Ximen to go shopping. We went to only one place and then Yun-Han said that he was going to go back and leave my girlfriend and I alone together to go whatever. Well i was already beginning to feel that there was no real purpose in us dating. She almost doesn't even talk to me. And more importantly... I came to Taiwan to have time with my best friend Yun-Han... not to meet someone and spend all my time alone with her.

In the end... everyone ended up going back... and my girlfriend and i ended up watching a movie... After that... Yun-Han was so nice as to pick me up from the bus station... well... from the subway.

I had to talk with the girlfriend about not feeling right about dating... that it wasn't the reason i came to Taiwan... and that i still wanted to be able to enjoy my last week with Matt.

We stopped dating...

We will keep contact... maybe go out... but i don't want anything serious... and i don't want to lose the time that i have set aside for my friendship with Yun-Han...

Peace

Yilan, Ximen, and Mahjong

2008-05-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

So Friday was supposed to be Wulai where ever and whatever that is... but since Maggie's mom invited us to go see Yilan when she pick her daughter up we went with her. It was a long 1 1/2 hour ride. The site was beautiful but everyone was speaking Chinese and i was quite bored. I felt alone the whole time...

Then we went through the worlds second longest tunnel... or that is what i was told. It was about 15km long!!! Then we got to the city and drove around and looked at some parks and some buildings and then went to the church...

The chruch building was 3 stories... it was really nice...

Then we finally went to get ice cream or something and then met Maggie at her school. Maggie showed us around. Her tour was mostly in Chinese...

Then we ate our dinner and went home.

After we got home I think i went out with Mindy... I can't remember...

Then we went to Maggie's house and played Mahjong.

One Saturday we had plans to go to the temple. Yun-Han had a bike activity but was supposed to meet me there in the city at the temple. Mindy called me because she was there already and I got there and called Yun-Han and he said he wasn't going anymore. I did some baptisms for the dead and then we went to eat. I decided that i didn't want to eat so Mindy and i went to Ximen again and went shopping. I bought another pair of pants and then a suitcase. I went back and saw a lot of high school kids dancing in the station so i watched for 2 hours or more. Then i met up with Yun-Han at the church for some fireside.

The fireside was about missionary work. There were 3 people who spoke. There was so boring. I sat by Maggie's mom and she kinda translated for me (this is the woman that owns the Bountiful Living store next to the temple). One person (an old man) was a couple missionary in China with his wife. They were not able to take there scriptures with them anywhere... They had so many rules and laws to follow. He said it was very dificult. I think it is great that there are Humanitary Missionaries there.

Then after that i walked home with the suitcase. I was so hot and tired. I slept a little late though.

Sunday i woke up early with Yun-Han but i didn't have enough time to shower and shave... so I went back to bed to do it later. I missed all of sacrament meeting. I got a ride with Taiwan mom... or mom Wang... (Yum-Han's mom). Then i felt really bored at church since Yun-Han didn't translate for me. After church we stayed and ate and then had choir practice and then i waited over an hour after that for Yun-Han to finish his interview with the bishop... then we ate again at the church.... They had a painting thing there so there was more food. Then we left to the Station to meet the missionaries and sing hymns while they contacted...

I couldn't find the missionaries but i saw the high school kids dancing again. There was one kid that was looking at me many times on Saturday... he was there again... we immediatly made eye contact... i decided to talk to him. I asked if he spoke English... he said no. Then i had to use Chinese... I asked what he was doing there... if he likes dancing and why they dance there... Then he left for the MRT... i was sad that i couldn't talk more...

Maybe i will run into that kid again... I hope so since i felt like a mission... that i need to use a foreign language to make contact... Maybe he needs to hear the gospel... he looked like a clean kid... no smoke or drink.... anyway... maybe i will get the chance again...

Now i am home talking on MSN with Maggie....

Quinta-Feira 22 de Maio

2008-05-23T02:54:00.000-07:00

Hoje nós fomos para Sansia (Sanxia). É um rio que fica perto de Taipei. Nós fomos lá para nadar. Quando estávamos bem pertos, começou chouver. O momento que paramos... chouveu tanto que quase nos afogamos. Nós combrimo-nos com uma jaqueta... facamos tão molhados... lol.

Foi muito divertido.

Quando voltamos...

Eu encontrei com minha namorada e fomos para festa de aniversário de Elder Lawerence. Depois disso fomos para Ximen para fazer compras. Nós fomos para apenas um lugar e depois disso Yun-Han disse que eles iam embora e deixar eu e minha namorada sozinhos para fazer qual quer coisa. Bem... eu já estava sentindo que não tinha propósito para nós namorarmos. Ela quase nem fala comigo. E quanto mais que isso... eu vim para Taiwan para ter tempo com meu melhor amigo Yun-Han... não para conheçer alguém e ter todo o tempo com ela.

Em fim... todo mundo voltou... eu e a namorada vimos um filme... depois disso... Yun-Han foi tão bomzinho e me buscou da rodaviária... bem... do MRT.

Eu tinha que falar com a namorada que não senti certo quanto namorar... que não era o meu propósito de estar em Taiwan... e que ainda queria desfrutar a última semana com Matt.

Nós paramos de namorar...

Vamos manter contato... sair talvez... mas não quero nada serio... e não quero perder o tempo que tenho dedicado para minha amizade com Yun-Han...

Faló

Wednesday - May 21, 2008

2008-05-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we got up and we went to Danshui. This is a pretty popular place to go. It used to be a port for the city of Taipei. We did some walking around there and seeing some of the old buildings and stuff. We went 9 of us total. We had 3 sets of missionaries (4 Elders and 2 Sisters), Howard, Yun Han, and I. We ate at probably the worst tasting place i have eaten here in Taiwan...

But other than all that...

We were at an old college which has a big museum at it. Just as we were leaving to go meet up with Willy, there was two big vehicles that showed up with police lights. Then we saw that down the street there were 5 cops on both sides of the street and someone directing traffic. The person was pretty important. When some people got out we could see that they were foreigners.

We all started to think that is has to do with the new president which was elected just a few days ago. I think they were taking him to that museum or something... not really sure...

Then, we finally met up with Willy just 30 minutes before we all were leaving. I feel bad that he rode a MRT for 1 hour and wandered around for 30 minutes to find us for so short amount of time.

We all went back and then split to different directions. Yun Han had some stuff to do for his activity or calling... maybe

The missionaried had to go back and get ready to work, and Howard, Willy and I went to meet up with another 10 foreigners to go to Elephant Mountain. When we got there it was just getting night and we could see a great view of the whole city and of the Taipei 101... or the tallest building in the world.

We took a lot of pictures. It was 500 meters up the mountain... all steps!!! I was so tired. After we finished there we all went back home.

I met up with Mindy for the first time just the two of us... and the first official day we were dating...

We went aroung shopping and did nothing really. We both were so tired... not a lot of conversation, but it was still a lot of fun. She is a very cute girl... we'll see what happens the rest of the time i am here and then the better question what will happen after....

Well, I kinda got lost after i got off the bus at the MRT station. I found what i thought was the right exit but it wasn't. I did realize that where i was at was not right... i walked a bit and found the right street with no problem. I got to Yun Han's house... and i tried to call but my cell phone was dead. Then i tried to ring the buzzer... Well no one answered... i found a pay phone then and told him i was just by 711. He said he would open the door. Well i got to the door and it was still shut. I realized that i was at the wrong door and rang the wrong bell...

I was about 3 doors off... oops!!!

After i got back, Yun Han was using the internet/laptop so i couldn't chat, but he was downloading some movies for us to watch. Then he went to bed about 12. I stayed up until about 2:30 again. I really didn't sleep well. It has been several days since i sleep well. I guess there is too much going on and on my mind now. LOL

Well i am excited for today since we will go swimming and then shopping!!!

Peace~

Tuesday - May 20, 2008

2008-05-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry i keep forgetting to update my blog. So, Tuesday we went to a museum. When we got there we started to go around and see everything. After about 2 hours, we were all getting tired so we stopped. While we were taking a rest i gave Yun Han a back massage which put him to sleep. He then got a phone call. Because he was asleep he couldn't talk and make anysense... and he kept falling asleep trying to talk on the phone. He finally gave me the phone... I then tried to talk to this girl.

Finally after i didn't know what to say, they told me to speak English and tell her that we were on the 5th floor. In reality we were on the third floor and there wasn't even a fifth floor. Then, they had me tell her that we were on the second floor. I started to make stuff up about being by the cafeteria and the statutues... i didn't know who i was lying to but OK...

Then, Yun Han and Howard told me that she was right outside the door where we were resting. Finally we got her to leave and go look for us. We came out and watched from above as she wandered around on the second floor. LOL

Then she asked to talk to Howard... I said he was in the bathroom but she could talk to Yun Han... Then finally we gave up and just told her to look up to the upstairs that we were staring at her.

She met up with us. I had seen her before since she is in the Banqiao ward... and so she obviously knew who i was. She was kinda mad however that i lied to her so she didn't talk to me. They kept telling me and her to speak English together... she didn't want to and so i wasn't gonna force her.

Later, after we were done with the museum... we ate and then went to a swing dance lesson. The girl is name Minday and she and i finally started to start talking. At the swing place we danced together a few times and she was really nice about teaching me.

After the swing practice, i offered her my arm to take her down stairs and walk with her to the subway... she gladly took it.

When we got back to Banqiao we ate shaved ice for the first time that i was here. It was so good!! For like $3.00 i had a huge bowl of it with fresh mangos, banana, and some strawberry. I really want to go back there. Then we went home. On the way home i got Mindy's phone nubmer and e-mail address so we could chat.

We both got online when at home. She asked what i was doing the rest of the week. I told her that i didn't know what the plans were because Yun Han was making them for me with Howard. I was ok with that.... The we talked about the movie "What Happens in Vegas." She wanted to see it. We made plans to go and see it on Saturday. Mindy then told me... "OK, good! I can date you then on Saturday." I asked her if jsut on Saturday or all the other days that i am here...

So she said... Ok, all the other days too...

So, if that didn't make sense, then hopefully the short version will. I hooked up with a girl from the Banqiao ward that i met for the first time on Tuesday. We also started to date that same day. LOL

That was about all the eventful things that happened.

Monday

2008-05-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

So today Matt went out with high school friends and i was left alone．．．I did talk on the phone with my family for at least 2 hours which was nice, however i was sadly reminded that i only had 2 weeks left that maybe i should go South and do somethings or that i should make Matt go with me to do some stuff outside of the city. I will try to do that and see....

So today after i talked the whole morning and chatted online, i went to Ximen strip with Howard. I had a lot of fun. We shopped a lot which was really tiring, but the sad thing is that we went to some unique place and while i was there having fun with Howard and a friend of his that met us to eat... i was wishing Matt was there to share that special and unique time with us. We ate at the Modern Toilet

After all the shopping we went to a FHE that a sister was putting on. She got her mission call and waited for 3 days to open it so that everyone could be there. There were so many people and it was really loud that i felt really bored and out of place and lonely.

I am glad that i am home now. Once again, Matt asked if i really want to still go to Kaoshiung tomorrow or not. He said, "Don't Go!! Stay here!!" That made me feel better after ditching me all day. I will finish writing and then see what all the plans are and try to make some plans to go do some special things and travel a little with Matt the last 2 weeks that I am here.

Sunday

2008-05-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Today was quite the interesting day... I will keep this short, but i found one girl that i think is cute in the Banqiao ward where i have been attending church. Some couple helped me to talk to her and make plans to be "study buddy". lol. I think this is really funny since she doesn't speak much English and my Chinese is pretty much non-existant. Anyway, i was told that i can go to YiLing to meet up with her where she goes to school and also stay the night at one friend's house. Also, she is here on every weekend. We'll see how our study time goes. :)

Friday and Saturday

2008-05-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am not really sure the last update i had was, but i think i was saying how i might just go south to Kaoshiung since Matt was going to go camping and it didn't seem i was invited. Then maybe i said that i was invited later. Well, camping was really fun. Those two days were the funnest days that i had so far. I am really feel comfortable with the Banqiao ward. So many of them are nice people.

Friday night Matt, Howard and I had a good long talk about the church and any other principle of the gospel before we were going to bed. It was really special experience for me. We talked about 2 Ne 2... also some of the things that i read in the Infinate Atonement and also as a Man thinketh... all of which i am reading right now... along with the Miracle of Forgiveness.

After the next day, the ward had so many things planned. We went out early and stretched and woke out bodies up as a whole priesthood body... (well, it was all men nonetheless... some were 4yrs old). Anyway, it was good. Then after eating and everything we went for a short hike and took pictures. Later we played in the water and went swimming.

On the way home, Matt slept most of the time, but Howard and I talked a bit... (this was sinificant since i guess i offended him a bit on Friday). I told Howard how i was going to go to Kaoshiung because i needed a break from him and Matt speaking Chinese and from me feeling left out. Then i told him that i would make some plans with Matt for when i come back of some things that we all can go together and some things that I can do with just Matt so i won't feel left out since i came visit him and couldn't even talk to him... lol He was kinda offended... i guess not quite like brazilians where you can be as open and honest as you'd like... anyway, to say the least... I think by telling him what i did it helped... he made sure to speak more English or just give us some time together from time to time... he is talking to me again and we are making some plans for next week of things to do...

After i got back home to Matt's house, we went out for dinner to the same place as Sunday for Mother's Day... very good food. Also after that, Matt told me that if i stayed we can do so many things if i don't go to Kaoshiung... that was kindsa a surprise since he origionally told me that i should go there...

Matt and i sat on the bed and talked about what he does that he wants to change... it was very nice to sit and talk. He referred to how he always waits for me to go to bed before he sleeps. He feels he wants to change that since i am the guest he always let me sleep first. Whatever... but that is very nice of him. He also peeled my shrimp for me at dinner... cute kid... but i don't need that much help. lol

He also told me that he stays up sometimes tryng to think of some things for me to do... or for us to do that would be fun since everything here is normal to him... well, i told him that i didn't care if we did anything or not... he said that if people asked what i did in Taiwan that was fun and i couldn't tell anything special then i would feel bad... but i told him that having pitures of us going places or just doing nothing together is special enough to me.

I also told Matt that i don't need to worry about seeing things in the south since i might plan to come back in December and especially in one year when i graduate... at those times he will be on a mission... so i don't want to go south and see tourist things alone when i will miss him for two years or more... i would rather sit and talk with him and do nothing together or exercise or something... at least spend time together before i can't.

That was a really good talk. Basically he told me he wants me to stay and spend as much time as i can with him and he will continue to do research of some things to do together... also, Howard will only come some of the time and other times not...

Tomorrow i am finally meeting up with Adam... I am super excited for that...

More details to come!!!

Wii and One-on-One Time!!!

2008-05-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

So yesterday after i spent the majority of the day shopping with Howard (which was quite fun) I finally met back up with Matt at the chruch where he had a meeting for planning the camping trip.

Oh, talking about the camping trip, Howard assumed that i was going or at least threw it out there as an option for me. Matt, during the meeting said, "we are planning for camping, what are you planning to do"... as if to say, since you are not coming, then what else will you do. Well, after the meeting was over, the bishop came up to me and invited me to go camping also and said it would be a very good experience. I said i would love to go.

Also, when Matt and I got back to his house, his mom talked a lot to Matt about me... about not taking care of me. LOL. She also asked what i was gonna do. Matt said maybe i would be going to Kaoshiung. I think i told all of them before that i really don't want to go down there if i don't have to... so Matt's mom asked if i wanted to go camping. LOL. well i would love to. We will see what happens. I like not having any plans and i love the feeling that so many people care about me and helping me to have fun here.

Then after eating and talking story the family kinda crashed and Matt and I played Wii!!! that was my fisrt time in ages playing any video game!!! It was pretty fun too. I decided that i am not too bad at the bowling stuff. The rest of if i was not too good at. It was a lot of fun though just playing Wii with Matt and talking story. That is the type of thing i had planned. Just hang out as best friends or as roommates.

After that, when we were both exhausted, we shut it off to go to bed and there was swimming and diving competition on TV so we watched for 30 minutes or more. LOL. I love the swimming and diving stuff and so does Matt!!! It was also so much fun to watch.

Then we went to bed about 2:00am. That was nice because Matt was actaully in bed before i climbed in with him. Normally i fall asleep 3 or 4 hours earlier than him, wespecially when Howard is here too... but it was nice to spend time with them seperately. LOL.

Today I think Matt and I are just gonna cruise. We might go watch a movie, play some Wii boxing and maybe go swimming or something else. Howard is still working on the translation for the missionaries so it should be just Matt and I for a large part of the day!!!

Today Today Today

2008-05-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

Should be very interesting. I don't know what I am gonna do. Matt will be busy with something he had planned a while ago so it looks like i might be hanging out with Howard most the day until Matt finishes... Anyway, Howard is good, Matt is good, but the two together is annoying... I just don't speak enough Chinese. Well, at least i can stay here in Taipei a bit longer at Matt's house. I think then maybe Friday i will go south since both Matt and Howard havve a camping thing. Anyway, i will have to come up with something to do with Matt on Thursday the doesn't involve Howard... that way i can actually spend time with my best friend and have a decent conversation with him!!

After my morning email and chat

2008-05-13T02:46:00.000-07:00

I went out with Matt and Howard to meet up with a friend from Hawaii's (Albert) mom. We ate fire pot or hot pot. It was really good. Then we went over to the mission office and we chilled there while Howard tried to help translate part of a video into English for subtitles. That was nice because i could chill with Matt in a more intimate setting where we could speak English and have a real converstaion. Then we came back home. I talked to Matt a little bit about my plans. I guess maybe there was mis-communication. I don't think he wants me to leave. He just has some plans on Wednesday. We talked about getting a pre-paid card for one of his old cell phones so we can keep in touch. I will then either hang out with Howard or i will wander around and find something to do during the day time while Matt is busy and then he will contact me later and we can get together and i can still stay at his house. Maybe i will need to head down durng the weekend to Kaoshiung since Matt and Howard will be doing some Young Men campout or something. Matt origionally invited me to go but i think he is afraid i will feel uncomfortable and out of place. I might go south. We also talked about me renting or borrowning a Motor Bike from someone or some place so i can get around. Matt said he had plans for a while to tour the while island or go in a whole circle before but has never done it, so we talked about doing that some time next week. I told Matt about how i don't need an activity every minute of the day to feel like i am enjoying my vacation. He just thinks i will get bored or should take advantage of the chance to see things rather than spend the whole time in Taipei. So it is not the fact that i am with him, it is moer the fact that he is probably running out of things he thinks are fun to do and see in Taipei that he doesn't want me to get bored doing nothing. I am OK with that as long as i have a friend to do nothing with. Anyway, i feel much better knowing that he still wants to hang out and that we are making some plans for things to do. I would love to travel and see other parts of the island and even if he has nothing to do then he can come too. He doesn't need to feel to stay in Taipei also. So maybe we will make some plans he and I to go camping at one of the beaches and snorkel. The ward also has a snorkel trip planned the last week i am here. Anyway, i am gonna go out and try to play Wii for the first time in my life, or at least watch Matt and Howard play rather than stay here in the bedroom. I am starting to feel sleepy and it is onl 6:00pm. LOL

My Chat with Tim - May 13, 2008

2008-05-13T02:42:00.001-07:00

09:43:46Tim *bgca says:
What's up?
09:44:04I say:
nothing??
09:44:13I say:
did you leave Oregon yet?
09:44:18Tim *bgca says:
what have you been up to?
09:44:20I say:
what's up with you?
09:44:25Tim *bgca says:
not much
09:44:25I say:
i have been super good
09:44:29I say:
for the most part
09:44:29Tim *bgca says:
we will leave tomorrow morning
09:44:37Tim *bgca says:
why?
09:44:41Tim *bgca says:
what's been so good
09:44:42I say:
there have been some slight disappointments
09:45:02I say:
well my best friend has invited another kid to come almost everywhere...
09:45:12I say:
and that is OK, i really don't mind that
09:45:23I say:
except for when it becomes everywhere
09:45:32I say:
not just often or most the time
09:45:33I say:
lol
09:45:37Tim *bgca says:
you feel like a third wheel?
09:45:46Tim *bgca says:
makes sense
09:46:11I say:
yeah
09:46:17I say:
well when they just use Chinese
09:46:26I say:
but the other kid can speak English
09:46:36I say:
it is just getting use to his personality
09:46:41I say:
plus being here...
09:47:03I say:
it is twice as difficult for two peeople to speak a foreign language to each other
09:47:04Tim *bgca says:
so they speak Chinese in front of you all the time instead of English?
09:47:09Tim *bgca says:
that would be really annoying
09:47:10I say:
not all the time
09:47:20Tim *bgca says:
that's still annoying
09:47:21I say:
and it doesn't bother me too mcuh
09:47:29Tim *bgca says:
almost like they don't want you to know what they are saying
09:47:49Tim *bgca says:
Have you figured out where you are staying yet?
09:47:49I say:
i find it interesting and i enjoy trying to understand
09:47:59I say:
not yet
09:48:09I say:
that is the thing that also is so so
09:48:11Tim *bgca says:
so where have you been staying?
09:48:12I say:
mas o menos
09:48:20Tim *bgca says:
you've been there like half a week now
09:48:21I say:
i stayed in the airport the first day
09:48:30I say:
the temple patron housing the second
09:48:38I say:
and at my friend's the last two
09:48:49Tim *bgca says:
ok
09:49:09I say:
here is the thing, Matt (Un Han) is one of the best friends i had at school
09:49:11Tim *bgca says:
mom says you should call your other friend and head south
09:49:23Tim *bgca says:
instead of putting up with the two you are with
09:49:44I say:
he has been in the Taiwan military for 1 year so he has been away from Hawaii for almost 1 1/2 years
09:49:55Tim *bgca says:
ok
09:49:57I say:
mom doesn't know anything
09:50:05I say:
it is not me putting up with them
09:50:10I say:
really
09:50:13Tim *bgca says:
she says if you're not having fun, why suffer
09:50:15I say:
it may sound like that
09:50:26I say:
but my friend has spent a lot of time taking em around
09:50:41I say:
and the other kid... actually he does that more often than my friend
09:50:54I say:
he always takes the missionaries places on P-Day
09:51:02I say:
well i an having fun
09:51:04I say:
a lot of fun
09:51:09I say:
the thing is...
09:51:18I say:
i don't want to be an incomvenience
09:51:38I say:
It was actually Matt that offered for me to stay here with him
09:52:02I say:
but i am starting to sense that he has some other thngs he wants to do since he barely got home too
09:52:12I say:
so i just need to talk with him...
09:52:25Tim *bgca says:
that makes sense
09:52:32Tim *bgca says:
I wouldn't put it off for too long though
09:52:40I say:
becuase if i can find a place nearby... or just crash here... then that would be better for me.
09:52:40Tim *bgca says:
you don't want him to get annoyed if he has other things that he wants to dfo
09:52:44Tim *bgca says:
do*
09:52:46I say:
yeah i will talk this morning
09:52:53I say:
anyway
09:53:14Tim *bgca says:
is it like 2 pm there?
09:53:16Tim *bgca says:
Tuesday
09:53:26I say:
we talked about me using his old cell phone and getting a pre-paid card so we can keep in touch and do things often while i am here
09:53:40Tim *bgca says:
ok
09:53:43I say:
but that would give him some freedom to do other things
09:53:55I say:
it is 10:00 Tuesday
09:53:56Tim *bgca says:
so are you thinking of trying to stay near where you are instead of heading south to where you were planning on stayin
09:53:57I say:
morning
09:54:04Tim *bgca says:
staying*
09:54:13I say:
yaeh that is what i am planning... well hoping
09:54:31I say:
i can spend time with my friend that is south anytime in Hawaii
09:54:40Tim *bgca says:
gotcha
09:54:46Tim *bgca says:
what was Nathan supposed to be showing us today?
09:54:47I say:
but Matt will leave for his mission soon too
09:54:51Tim *bgca says:
how to do this with you?
09:55:00Tim *bgca says:
does he know where he is going yet
09:55:05I say:
so i probably won't see him for a really ling time...
09:55:15Tim *bgca says:
well, 2 more years
09:55:21Tim *bgca says:
but that really isn't that long
09:55:52I say:
after he leaves for mission i will graduate BYUH before he gets back, etc... so i don;t know that we will ever meet up again unless i come back here or happen to be in Hawaii or something
09:56:17I say:
anyway...
09:56:25I say:
he is finishing his papers this weel
09:56:25Tim *bgca says:
yeah, well....
09:56:39Tim *bgca says:
if it's important then you will find a way to make it happen
09:56:53Tim *bgca says:
gotcha, so he probably won't be going anywhere for 2-3 months
09:57:18I say:
Nathan will... show you that on Facebook i added 2 links... one to pictures that i haven't updated yet and another to my blog that i explain what is going on
09:57:57I say:
yeah but that means he won't be going back to Hawaii euther and i won't be flying back at such an expense esp if Josh has a wedding
09:58:00Tim *bgca says:
ok, so we can save the link to your blog and the pics for mom so she doesn't need to have facebook to be able to use them,
09:58:10I say:
correct
09:58:18I say:
set a book mark or something
09:58:22I say:
anyway....
09:58:30I say:
we'll see how things go
09:59:03Tim *bgca says:
ok
09:59:21Tim *bgca says:
I'll get on tonight before we put Hannah to bed and help mom save the links so she can stay in touch
09:59:36Tim *bgca says:
I'll also see if she wants to add MSN since she has an account now that she can use to chat with you
10:00:00I say:
yeah that would be nice
10:00:07I say:
at least it would be cheap
10:00:08I say:
lol
10:00:17Tim *bgca says:
For sure
10:00:19Tim *bgca says:
well, I've gotta go
10:00:31I say:
i could call her and say that i am at home chillin or something and for her to get on
10:00:32I say:
lol
10:00:37I say:
anyway... ttyl i guess
10:00:37Tim *bgca says:
it's time for dinner and then we have to finish packing the car tonight so we can get to bed early and leave early tomorrow
10:00:38I say:
thanks
10:00:48I say:
good luck
10:00:51Tim *bgca says:
yep
10:00:53Tim *bgca says:
thanks
10:00:55Tim *bgca says:
peace

2008-05-13T02:42:00.000-07:00

My Chat with Jared Kwak - May 12, 2008

2008-05-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

9:25amMatt
what up bud??
9:25amJared
wats up
9:25amMatt
is there any news about the misssion???
How are you doing by the way??
9:25amJared
im workin on the papers
im doin good
jus lookin for a job
9:25amMatt
yaeh
well that is good!
i am glad that you are doing good
9:26amJared
yeah
u at byuh
9:26amMatt
My friend is also working on papers
i am actually in Taiwan
9:26amJared
oh sweeeeeeet
9:26amMatt
yeah it is pretty sweet!!
9:26amJared
wat for?
y u there?
9:27amMatt
i came for 2 main reasons, to visit a friend and then to jusr chill and learn some Chinese
9:27amJared
nice
9:27amMatt
it's nice
9:28amJared
how long you gonna be there?
9:28amMatt
except m friend just finished his military duty and i think he wants some freedom to do things
i'm here for 30 days
9:28amJared
dang!!!
9:28amMatt
but after only 2 days i feel like my friend wants me to leave
or at least give him some space or something
he didn't know i was coming
9:29amJared
hahahahahaha
9:29amMatt
it was a suprise to him.
9:29amJared
cool
9:29amMatt
then he was super nice and excited and said i could stay at his house
but now he is like....
well wednesday i have some plans so what are you going to do??
are you going to go to the south of the island
9:30amJared
lol
9:30amMatt
***which is where i planned to go if he wasn't done with his military duties
anyway
i need to talk to him and see
i don't want to be annoying
but for me...
he is one of the best friends i have, and i hadn't seen him for about a year and a half
and then if he goes on his mission...
another 2 years at least
that is a long time for someone that is your best friend
so...
you catch my drift???
9:32amJared
yessir
9:32amMatt
i would rather stay with him, or if that is too much for him, at least in the North part of the island and get a temporary cell phone and maybe rent a scooter
then we can contact eachother and do something daily or everyother day
or for a few hours instead of the whole day
9:33amJared
hahahahah
nice
9:33amMatt
at least he would feel less confine
9:33amJared
true
9:33amMatt
but to go south and then try and come back and then return agian, etc would cost too much
9:34amJared
i bet
9:34amMatt
plus the kid i would stay with down south it a good friend from BYUH but he will be back in August so i can chill with him anytime
9:35amJared
oh
9:35amMatt
anyway...
he has a few things he needs to do this morning so i guess i am just gonna sit here and chat or whatever
9:36amJared
hahaha
wat time is it there?
9:37amMatt
but when he finishes i really need to try talk with him and see what his real feelings are about me stay here and what not... you know how the Asians are... super nice and just tell you what you want to hear
it is 9:30am
9:37amJared
hahahah
true
9:38amMatt
where you at now??
Cali??
9:38amJared
yeah im at home
9:39amMatt
how's that treatin you??
i know that i couldn't hardly handle more than 3 days of my family
9:39amJared
its good
i like ut
9:39amMatt
maybe it's just a personal issue that i need to work out i don't know
9:40amJared
maybe
9:40amMatt
that's good!!!
i am glad that family life is good
9:40amJared
yup
9:40amMatt
so how long you think before your papers are in???
9:41amJared
probably 2 weeks
then another 3 weeks to get the call
9:41amMatt
that's sweet
9:41amJared
yup
9:42amMatt
then maybe 1-3 months before you leave after you get your call
lol
you wanting to go foreign or state-side??
9:42amJared
foreign
9:43amMatt
where??
Korea??
Japan??
9:43amJared
dunno
9:43amMatt
anywhere??
9:43amJared
anywhere i guess lol
9:45amMatt
that's cool.
yeah i didn't really care
i just wanted out of the US
lol
9:46amJared
hahahah
nice
alright bro
im out
im goin to go workout now
ill talk to ya later

My Message to Ting - May 12, 2008

2008-05-13T02:30:00.000-07:00

So i hate to come to you with a sad face, but i am starting to feel about the same as you felt many times... or at least i think so. I am getting the feeling that my friend Matt is not wanting to try to babysit me the whole time i am in Taiwan for 30 days. Well, i don't want him to have to spend evety minute of everyday with my if he doesn't want to. Nor do i want something FUN and EXCITING to do every minute. I am very OK with just sit and talk story with him. It was so great a feeling this afternoon when he took me to the ancient Chinese temple and we walked around and then just hung out and talked. That is really all i want. Matt and i always have something to talk about, but i am starting to feel that he wants some freedom and some space. It has only been 2 days with him. Anyway, i guess that is enough of my complaining, but i just think sometimes people take for granted how much people care about them or what others go out of their way to do. This trip was planned in great part to visit and hang out with Matt before he does the mission thing. After I leave and he goes on a mission i will graduate before he finishes mission and goes back to Hawaii... I don't know how many years before i see one of my best friends if i don't spend more time now. Anyway, I guess i am just upset since i think i have to go down to Kaoshiong and do nothing all day long and be forced to either make friends with people thati will never see again, make friends with high school students, stay at home alone, or wander the streets all day long. Once again, sorry for the complaining. I just really feel like crying right now because i feel like the most fun i have ever had in my whole life is about to end when i have to travel south. Take care Ting and keep me updated. Oh... and by the way, here is a little update on the three girl situation. I tried to keep in touch with Aom (Thai girl) and she never responds. I heard she just got a boyfriend. The Honk Kong ABC girl, Eugenia, is leaving for her mission, and when i went back to Hawaii for one dsay i spent most of my time with her seeing if it was worth trying to keep here from serving a mission. Well, i felt nothing. Then Leticia, the Japanese/Brazilian girl, she seemed too busy to really talk to me while i was there for one day in Hawaii. Anyway, it looks like i will go back single, broke, and with less surity of so many things. Take care my friend. Talk to you Later.

The whole day with Matt

2008-05-12T08:12:00.001-07:00

Today was so much fun!! I went back to the city and spent a lot of time over at the mission office since it was the first day of a new transfer and also the elder's preparation day. There were a lot of fun missionaries to talk to. I actually ran into a kid that i used to hang out with from time to time in Hawaii. It was completely random!! Then there was a sister that also knew me from Hawaii. We went over to Chilli's for lunch where we met up with many of the missionaries. After that I went with Matt over to the Chinese temple. There were having a special celebration for one of the God's birthday. There were tons of people there worshiping! It was an amazing site to see. I was also really happy because i felt comfortable hanging out with Matt. He was sharing with me some of the things that he was taught as he grew up. Matt is such a good friend to me, but i am also starting to feel at the same time that he doesn't want me to stay here too long in Taipei and invade his home. I can understand if it is inconvenient. Anyway, that is something that i need to figure out with him and talk to him about tonight. I don't think he realizes that he is one of the best friends that i have ever had in my life and that he is one of the main reasons that i came to Taiwan. I wasn't sure when he would be done with the military but i fugured that it could have been later in the month so i made sure i had a other place to stay. Well, since Matt finished with his military already I want to spend lots of time with him. If he has other plans, he can tell me and i can find something to do in the city by myself. I would be Ok with that. Basically what i am saying is, I don't need to hang out with Matt all day every day that I am here, but if i could stay at his house and do some stuff with him when he doesn't have other plans then i would be OK with that. Matt has asked... so what are your plans, what are you going to do?? I really don't want to go down to Kaoshiong and spend the whole time with my other buddy that i can hang out with anytime in Hawaii. I would rather spend with Matt who is gonna be gone on a mission soon. Anyway, Matt also mentioned that i should tour the who island of Taiwan. That sounds nice, but i didn't come here planning to spend that type of money. I don't know if the comments was to get me to think of things i can do away from Taipei and out of his house or if he honestly and sincerly wants me to think of some fun things because he think i am getting bored. I hope the latter. Well... i planned to come to Taiwan with no plans. The only plans i had were to find out when Matt finished his military and hang out with him, see another friend/roommate of mine, Adam, and then finally, to learn some Chinese. I figured that if i went down to Kaoshiong then i would just sit in the apartment most of the time studying my books. Or during the day i would go to classes at the high school. I figured that regardless of where i went, i would be spending the majority of the time alone either with my studies or wandering the streets. If there is anyway i can keep my whole 30 day vacation from being like that then tell me!!! I just really want to spend time with my friends that i might never see again (unless i come back to Taiwan again) rather than Kaoshiong alone or with a buddy that i can see everyday in Hawaii. Well, now that i have talked in circles, i guess i will think of everything as best as i can, and then go pray that i can speak my mind and my hearts desires tonight when we go to sleep. Anyway, I hope things go well and that i can work something out with Matt where i am not an annoyance but where i can stay not necessarily with him but at least in Taipei so i can contact him for a few hours here and there when he is not busy. Wish me luck and an enjoyable rest of a vacation.

Sunday - May 11, 2008

2008-05-11T16:43:00.001-07:00

Today was a pretty eventful day. I mentioned that i spent all day with Taiwan Matt at church doing so many things. Well, after that, we rode Moto back to his house. We had a super big dinner so his mom's special day (Mother's Day)!!! The food was so good that it's too bad that i felt embarassed to take a picture. There must have been 8 different types of main dishes. Let's start name them off and see. There was some kine pork dish, cold ginger chicken, muscle soup, deep-fried oysters, deep-fried squid, a squid with vegitable, a noodle dish, a green vegitable dish, some rice, some large shrimp prawns, smaller shrimp cooked a different way with vegitable, and maybe that is all... I am not really sure. The food just kept coming. Matt was so cute to take care to get food for me (since i was embarasses) and also to make sure that i tried everything!!! It was all so good. SERIOUSLY, real chinese food is much better than the greasy fake American stuff!!! After eating to much, we went back home (which was just around the corner) and we talked story for a while. I guess i played on the computer while Matt finished his Mother's Day gift. Then we talked store a bit. Then we showered and got ready for bed. Matt's mom was already in bed, but she got a phone call from either the first missionaries that taught them or the ones that baptized them some 12 years ago. I guess the guy doesn't speak much Chinese or not very well anymore, but I'm sure that was nice for her. It seemed like a wonderful Mother's Day gift and a great day for Matt's mom altogether. I felt bad kinda after i remembered that it was Mother's Day. I felt like maybe i was kinda interfering with the festivities and her special day by being this American kid that is COMPLETLEY lost!!! Anyway, after the night was coming to an end, and Matt's mom had gotten out of bed to talk with her missionary, we all ate some cake. It was so good. Not the really sweet stuff that makes you sick like in America, but some laywered cake with so many falvors that i have never taseted before. As we ate we all talked story. I felt super uncomfortable because Mom asked me how i would rank her daughter. If she is beautiful, half beautiful, look more like her or her dad.... kinda awkward... i don't really know how i dodged that one. It was a lot of fun to sit with the family after all extended famly left and just talk story. I kinda listened with a lost gaze more than anything, but there were times where i talked about my family, etc... We finally went to bed, well i went to bed since i was tired. Matt stayed out/up for at least anothre hour talking with his family. Then he came in to bed. I think i was mostly asleep, or at least i don't remember it much. The bed we shared was much different than what i am used to. They are pretty hard here. His ded is a super hard matress with a bamboo carpet thing on it and then just a blanket to cover it. To tell you the truth, i think i slept quite well. Maybe that is what i need, a harder bed so i am forced to sleep on my back a little more. Anyway, I woke up nice and early with the sun shining. It reminded me of the times in Brazil!!! Now that i am up almost 1 1/2 hours before Matt i decided to get online and update my blog. I hope that i can stay here at Matt's house the whole time. I think the more i feel comfortable with his family the more i will start to use my Chinese and practice what i know. I also would love to spend the whole 30 days with my best friend before he goes on his mission (he is putting in his mission papers this week - he thinks)!!! I could possibly be here when he gets his mission call. How sweet would that be?!?!?! Well, Matt is up and talking to someone on the cell. I think i will get off the internet and we will get going soon. I don't really know what we are doing, but i know we need to get me back to the temple patron housing so i can pay them and get my suitcase and i guess by this afternoon i will know if Matt will let me stay with him or not.

My First 2 Days in Taiwan!!!

2008-05-11T02:36:00.000-07:00

To Michael:

oh sorry. i thought you had my email address. anyway, it is the same as my email listed on facebook just through gmail. guiguiwillie@gmail.com. I have had nothing but interresting experience. i think i will call you and tell you about it. but to start off i got to Taiwan really late so i slept in the airport. then i took a bus for 1 hour to another city. i then took a metro (subway) for the first time. Then i rode on the back or a scooter/moto for the second time in my life. this time i had my large suitcase between me and the stranger that was driving. the suitcase was so big that i was nearly falling off the back of the moto bike. then i got to the temple and i got permission to stay in the patron housing. i showered and then went and did a session. i had a head set, but when i went to the veil, i had to listen to the questions and just remember how it goes and he asked in Chinese and i answered in English. so fun experience. then i found some fruit and ate it with Li Hing Mui. Then i walked around trying to find some internet place. i found one and then i found some donut place and some shaved ice. i just kinda chilled there walking around and getting lost (figure of speach). I slept early and then i took 2 more metro to meet my best friend who just got released from activce military duty (Taiwan Military) of one year (just last week he was released!!!). I was so excited to meet him. i hadn't talked to him in a while but just heard that he would be getting released soon. He is probable the main reason that i came here. I told him that if he didn't come back to Hawaii before going on mission (mission is after military) then i would have to come visit. That really was the main reason for coming is because i knew he would finish soon and i wanted to see him. the other reason was to just learn chinese (and stay there with justin for free). anyway... so i spend all day at church since there was the 3 meetings, then choir, then a going away party and dinner for 3 missionaries, then a baptism, and then a birthday party or a celebration for the baotizee (i'm not sure which, though we did sing happy birthday). I then rode on back of my friends moto bike and we avoided the police since i didn't have a helmet. We stopped at a light and there was one at the intersection. we then turned the bike around and went the other way. going down the street there were 2 more walking right in front of us. my friend told me to get off and he'd meet me at the next intersection. i walked and then i finally got back on and we finished to his house. that is all for now. lol... it is so fun that my best friend is here and we are hanging out!!! Peace brah!!!