Let's Invite Canada, Too

Dear EAPSI-nerds,

Oh my, this has been seriously insanely fun, to the max. That's scientifically proven.

Mark, the Mighty Grape has a birthday on July 14. City Jungle is our destination, beer is our consumption.

I hope every can make it. RSVP..., or don't, I don't care, I'm going to be there on the 14th, with or without you (including Mr. Grape).

And... who else has birthdays while we are here...?

i'mabarbiegirl,
-Derek

Indiana Phones and the Taiwan of Doom

Dear EAPSIs,

I've compiled some phone resources for us while in Taiwan:

• MobiTai - English
• Chungwa - English
• Taiwan Youth Travel phone list
• FarEastOne (not in English, but recommended)
• phonecardsforsale.com
  
• BitPim - phone unlocker
  

According to Mike W. and some friends in Taiwan, it might be easier just to buy international calling cards.

Calling Cards are ~ $300 TWD for 60 minutes
SimCards are ~ $0.18 TWD/second

Taiwan Youth Travel also seems to have lots of resources, and was highly recommended.

Only 18 days until orientation - I'm not prepared... but I couldn't be more ready.

hugsnkisses,
-Derek

PS: I'm compiling my karaoke songs-to-learn list... suggestions?

Advice from Andrew

Andrew Portnoy, an EAPSI Taiwan alum, writes:

Most important: Keep an open mind and use this opportunity to try and learn new things.

Travel advice: You've probably already heard about how quickly time will pass for you on the island. My advice here is to be especially proactive about planning activities and trips. As soon as possible get your calendar and devote a weekend for a trip to Taipei and/or Kenting (south end of the island = beaches). That itself is a major step toward making it happen. City to city buses can be very convenient as well as the High Speed Rail system. Your hosts will be great for travel partners, giving advice on destinations and how to get around.

Communication: You will undoubtedly improve your communication skills particularly in areas of determining what's really important and breaking down complex ideas into their basic elements. Using analogies and metaphors will be helpful when vocabulary is a problem. (Example: A boat is a car for the water.) I know very little Mandarin, but this was not a problem at all. You may want to carry a card with your address/directions or other important places unique to you because they won't be in the standard travel dictionary.

More info: (my blog posts from the summer are here as well as links to some pictures)
http://andyportnoy.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
http://andyportnoy.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

Look, Magellan, we're at this wrinkle here...

Taiwan EDITION

About a month ago, I took the liberty of putting people's names and their email addresses into "push pins" on a Google map. This seems like a quick way to see who's in your neighborhood over there and maybe find a person to buddy up with and get a free place to crash as you venture around the countryside.

For those who are collaborators, the map is fully editable and located under your "My Maps" tab of Google Maps. Please feel free to update your pin's comments with contact info, move the pin to your exact location, or change its color to your favorite (mine's blue). Also, if you're privy to some cool sites in Taiwan, please add an icon and description. I labeled a bike path for the fellow joggers. Could use some beach or snorkeling info.

If you're a little uneasy about broadcasting your info/location to the world--a la Gene Hackman, Enemy of the State--simply delete your pin and return to your electromagnetic radiation-proof lair. Holler in the comments if you add anything substantial. [Map Link]

Thanks Mike for setting this all up. Anyone found a place to live yet? I am thinking about a few days at the beach in Tainan before orientation because I know I will not get any breaks before then!

And we're live.

Author invites were just sent out to EAPSI Taiwan 2008 members. You can either sign in to Blogger with an existing Google account, or create one. If anyone get's hung up with the login/account creation process, please contact me. With that, I'd like to request some fresh posts!

Alums, please toss up some random thoughts, advice, ideas for good vacay spots on the island. Anything that you think might help with our transition.

Noobs, if you'd like a link to your personal picture website, please leave your info in a comment. I'll try to get them compiled and in the column on the right as a hyperlink.

--Mike S.

Holiday KTV: Hsinchu Karaoke/Farewell Rachael

Dear SIT Crew:

Karaoke party tonight at Holiday KTV in Hsinchu to celebrate Rachael! Donations will also be accepted for the "Shuai Ge Scooter Fund." :^P

Meeting coordinates (x,y,t): NTHU Main Gate, 7.15PM.

Sing you later,
Shuai Ge

Andrew's Web Album

I wanted to follow Jason's lead with posting photos.

Mine are located at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/andrew.portnoy/TaiwanOrientation2007SIT

Taiwan Orientation 2007 (SIT)

Higher resolution versions were uploaded to the FTP server.

I had such a great week together with all of you. I hope to travel while in Taiwan and it would be wonderful to meet up with you guys. I'm studying in Hsinchu at NCTU, so please let me know if you plan to be in the area.

Andrew

Hi guys,
Upload your photos onto the ftp:
ip: mcs9.cs.nthu.edu.tw port: 5200 account: SITsa pwd: sit

Let's get together sometime, there're some nice places to go in Taipei. If you're going to Tainan or Kaohsung, look for Semis, Tim, or Joel, they know their ways around. As for Taichung, call Sophia, that's her territory. If any of you is planning on going to Kenting, you should start planning now, cause it's really popular, and hotel reservations need to be made early.

Anyways, hope to see u all soon!

-Jack

i've gone and done it--there is a facebook group called "SIT 2007". it's a closed group. i figured calling it EAPSI would leave out the taiwanese and the canadians =P. i haven't seen any other groups for this event, but if I'm mistaken let me know.

for those who have cell phones or land lines, i'm at 0928 477 621 or jean.lee@duke.edu. MSN is joryrl@hotmail.com, AIM: joryrl. i'll be in hsinchu and taipei with hopefully weekend trips to central taiwan.

and to the staff, thanks again for an awesome week. i hope you guys have slept lots since yesterday.

Jason's Web Album

Hello all.

I've uploaded all of my pictures from SIT 2007 to Google Picasa. Click the following picture below to view. Feel free to download any of these pictures. If anyone objects to having their picture online like this, please let me know.

2007 Taiwan SIT

I also uploaded the video of the 'tongue' dance from the farewell party (I've specified this video to be private which means that it is unlisted). Follow this link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6036336114535351281&hl=en.

I miss you all already, and hope that we can see one another before we leave Taiwan. I am at the National Central University in Jhongli, Taoshun. I will probably head down to Taipei during some of the weekends while I'm here. Please let me know if any of you are nearby, and want to meet up.

My contact information is as follows:
Primary Email: salonga@gmail.com
MSN: spreadpeace@excite.com
Facebook: jason.salonga@utoronto.ca
Skype: jasonsalonga
iChat: jsalonga@mac.com

See you all soon,
-Sand Dragon Plus

sunday/monday in Taipei

I think En-Chi, AKA coffee grande, will be in taipei this sunday/monday. i plan on going out, maybe doing some gift shopping and clubbing, although nothings set-in-stone. if you wanna meet up, email me and we can set up a time and place to meet up.

Eric Ott
EOtt@agcenter.lsu.edu

Whassup

Hey everyone,

Just can't believe this week has finished. I think most of you are going to stay in north. I probably head back to Tainan next monday. If anyone wants to take a visit, let me know, this time I am not gonna take you to the beach. wanna know why? ask Matt, Al-aakhir or Mike. Really have great time this week. SIT ROCKS!!

here's my contact
semisliu@gmail.com

ppl who use facebook can add me with that email.

see u guys soon

This is Joel speaking

You guyz were all here... It was established earlier, right?

This is my mail
kof2000kka2000@hotmail.com

Keep in contact

S-I-T ROCKS!

Hello, Gang!

We welcome our newest members to the blog: Team Canada and the SIT staff! As we begin Phase II of out Taiwan adventure (research) this blog can serve as a picture post, link drop, and message board to keep up on weekend happenings and Taiwan Q&A.

Blog help for computer-phobes can be found by emailing Mike: wininger@eden.rutgers.edu.

Hăo yùn [Good Luck!]
Shuai Ge

anyone here yet?

yo crew. just wondering if anyone is here yet. i am in central taiwan, near shitou right now but will be heading back to taipei tomorrow. will be around all week. i am staying at (as far as i can decipher) a forest service dorm. it's about .5 block across roosevelt ave from the NTU gates at the intersection of xinsheng s rd (across roosevelt from the watsons).

Hi....This is Jamie

Hi......everyone
My name is Jamie. I was the host student for SIT2006 program and hosted Jon before.
I am now the graduate student in the University of Arizona. I like Taiwan , Chinese culture and Asia. I am learning Japanese also. I would like to share my experience. I like the following vedio about Taiwan, enjoy !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIBshbaha9U

Early Arrival to Taiwan

Hello, gang

I am thinking about booking my flight for 27-June-2007 departure from the East Coast (Newark?) U.S.. For those who think that they would prefer to arrive early (as opposed to late departure on return to the U.S.) I'm happy to have company. I plan to book my flight on Monday, 30-April-2007, so I'm flexible in the next few days. Send a note if you want to coordinate.

Keep Smiling
-Mike Wininger!

Hey... I have something to say....

Now, I normally have a lot to say, but i am trying to curb my enthusiasm. But I cannot contain it any longer... I got my e-mail today to book my ticket. IS ANYONE ELSE AS EXCITED AS I AM! I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO TAIWAN!!!

Now be honest, who has really had enough time to even open the packet from DC? i know i haven't even looked at my visa form since the first day i received it.


I barely know how to say hello! LOL!
Yo, it is going to be "on and poppinn'" in Taiwan. So, who will be the brave soul to make their reservation first? I have to be honest again, I want to go to China first, or leave early and hit the beach up in Taiwan or something. I want to have fun there, but first line of business is business.

Any ideas, suggestions? I have just about forgotten everything I learned in DC, sooo, I have some work to do.

Hey, I AM ESTACTIC (did I spell that right?) Ok, how about I am EXCITED!

bLeSs YoU reAL GOoD!

Al-Aakhir

Pictures

Hi,

Not that anyone wants to know this much about me... but I have my own website with a bunch of pictures from my recent trip to Taiwan (among other things). If anyone is interested you can find it at www.whereishollie.net I am also excited for the trip and look forward to seeing you all again.

Take Care,

Hollie