Taiwan Pride 2020 (I believe it’s the only pride parade in the Northern Hemisphere)
大家好,好久不見。
Hold up. I’m a long way away from writing an entire newsletter in another language. But it has been a while! I’m six weeks into my Mandarin course at a local language center. It has come with a few surprises and certainly humbling experiences. For example, I came into the process three years ago, adamant that I didn’t want or need to learn writing. But since how well some of my classmates write, and how it can help with note-taking and recalling characters, I’ve decided to at least learn and practice the basics. Which has led to purchasing a character book made for pre-schoolers. (It has stickers!)
Learning a language, much like learning anything, is all about finding the right environment. Every person is different. You’ll need the right schedule, teacher, classmates, books, and supplementary materials. You’ll also need to be self-motivated. As an adult that doesn’t need to speak Mandarin for my job or getting on in my daily life, I need to find other forms of motivation to keep studying and practicing. For me, it’s about growing my relationship with my family, friends in Taiwan, and my partner.
I have to admit that I’m lucky. I spoke Mandarin at an early age so I have retained a coherent form of pronunciation. A lot of foreign learners have a lot of trouble with the tonal structure of the Mandarin language and making certain sounds. My biggest hurdles are grammar, vocabulary, and remembering which tones to use. It can be quite embarrassing when you want to order a bowl of dry noodles and end up cussing out the shop owner.
For now, going at the pace of the class, it’s challenging but not too overwhelming. I might transition to a 1-on-1 class after this semester is over. This will open up some free time for self-study as well as for deciding my own pace. I use a flashcard app as well as Duolingo every day to recall vocabulary. And I’m practicing writing in my little kiddy book. I think patience is key as well as practice, practice, PRACTICE!
Taiwan Road Trip Recap Part 2
I know this was back in July, but better late than never. At this rate, part 3 will come out after the next road trip.
Taitung (台東) is the third-largest county in Taiwan by land area. The East Rift Valley runs through the northern half of Taitung County. But as you pass the Coastal Mountain Range, the ocean comes into view. Because of the area’s relative seclusion due to the mountains, it was the last part to be urbanized and commercialized. Additionally, it also holds the largest percentage of the indigenous population compared to the total (33.5%). We didn’t go south of Taitung City, but there are plenty of beaches and outdoor activities for another trip. The islands of Green Island (綠島) and Orchid Island (蘭嶼) are part of Taitung County but I'll save that for another post.
Laid-back city
With just over 100,000 people, Taitung City is the least populated of the major cities in Taiwan. One of the first things you notice when arriving in the city proper is the lack of high-rises. It sits in a flat plain along the Pacific Ocean. Everything is just a little more spread out. With that comes a sense of ease and freedom.
The area is becoming popular for city-dwellers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle. You'll find plenty of unique coffee-shops for the freelance crowd. It has also become a popular city for yoga retreats. The peaceful environment and proximity to the ocean provide a great atmosphere to unwind.
Surf’s up
Taiwan’s surfing culture and popularity is likely a secret to many. Surfing was brought to Taiwan in the 1960’s by American soldiers. Since then, the sport has quickly grown because of the ease and availability of waves. You can generally surf all year round at almost any part of the island. Taitung is the mecca of surfing in Taiwan. The area hosts many international and domestic surfing competitions attracting athletes from all over the world.
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There are some exciting things happening on the travel hacking front. There are some new cards and bonuses. I just got my new Chase Sapphire Preferred!
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred has a new 80K point bonus
The 80,000 point bonus is the highest ever with this card. This might be the best card for anyone thinking about starting travel hacking. With Chase’s 5/24 rule, this is the card I recommend getting first. Chase has also added new benefits to fit the current times such as Doordash, Lyft, and Peloton benefits. There are reports that this deal will end November 8th so it’s best to jump on this one. You should be aware that you can’t get this card if you already have another Sapphire card or if you have received a Sapphire bonus within the last 48 months.
2. Chase Flex is a new card replacing the Freedom card
This no annual fee card takes the 5% rotating category earning and adds a new cell phone protection benefit. There’s a $200 (20K point) bonus after spending $500. You can also earn more from Lyft, dining, and drug stores.
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