Day 7 - ARC application

Today I applied for ARC at the New Taipei City immigration office. Some people say the Taipei City immigration office is better, while others say it's worse. I had to go to this one anyway because I now live in New Taipei City. What surprised me was that no one could speak english. I completed the application by calling my dad and his wife, who did some translation. If you need to go to this office, you should bring a friend who can speak Chinese.

They needed 

- Health Examination (performed within the last 3 months)

- Certificate of enrolment

- Scholarship award certificate
- Confirm of residence

- Passport and Passport Copy

- Passport photo

- Application fee (1000NT$)

I was told to pickup my ARC september 12th.

Waiting to apply for ARC

Later on I went to the university and got my pool-access card, so now I have access to a 50 meter swimmingpool until september next year :)

As I wrote yesterday, I was invited by some swedish guys to a birthdaycelebration. We went to a hot-pot restaurant and tried some tasty food, although non of us (foreigners) understood how we should prepare our food. Everyone who joined the celebration was really nice people, and we had a lot of fun :)

4 Swedish, 5 Taiwanese, 1 Canadian and 1 Singapore-guy (not in the picture) and me

While walking to the bus-stop, I tried to record how it felt to walk along all the small stores :)

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Day 6

Today I went to Taipei 101 to explore the area. I took the MRT and arrived at Taipei City Hall, and from there I could walk through shopping malls all the way to the world trade center. I think it is 6-700 meters or so.. This is a modern district and probably the most expensive one in Taiwan. At the Taipei 101 I met four swedish students, they were here to study part-time mandarin. We talked a little and exchanged phonenumbers. One of them are having birthday tomorrow, and they invited me to celebrate with them.

A lot of rain today

The CLC announced the class schedules today, and it can be found here:

http://mandarin.nccu.edu.tw/data/1975488165503f2e8f3d36b1.pdf

I will start my class 8:10am, and finish 11:00am. We are eight students in my class, and I look forward to meet them on monday. There are actually 7 beginner classes, so I'm not alone ;)

Day 5

Non-stop day!
In Taipei there is a theatre called Diabolo Dance Theater. Some of their artists are up for a tour, and therefor they had a pressconferance where they performed a part of their show. I attended this conference with my dad, and enjoyed their performance. They were really good.

Full show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-yzaMovZS0

After lunch at the parliament, I went to the university to meet my house rental assistent. She had found two nice apartments for me, and we went to see them and take some pictures. She also showed some of her favourite restaurants and cafés in the neighborhood, and some teahouses (they are everywhere.. ;)

After discussing the apartments back home, I decided not to rent any room this time, but rather stay in my dads apartment and reconsider next semester (november).

See anything? Look closer :)

She's burning papermoney outside her apartment at third floor!

It's ghost month, and people buy papermoney and burn them. They believe ghosts are walking the streets these days. Many people also avoid travelling, marriage, to buy house and to let their children walk out late at night, as they are afraid of getting caught by ghosts.

Outside the Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial hall, there was an organisation called Tzu Chi spreading their word. They wanted to tell people to not be afraid of ghost month, and also to take care of the planet. As I'm interested in learning more about Chinese and Taiwanese culture, I spent some time there. They then asked to make an interview, and they gave me some chop-sticks to keep me from using disposable bamboo sticks. Very nice people, with a good vision.

I was asked to walk through this gate, with dripping water inside..
I don't remember why.. :p

Day 4

Today I met a fellow student at the NCCU and we went to a restaurant to eat lunch together. She suggested I should taste cold noodles, so that's what we ordered. It tasted good ;)

After lunch we went to the swimming pool to get an access card. Students pay 1.600NT$ for one year access, a good prize if you ask me. Then we walked along the river beside campus towards Taipei Zoo and the MRT station there. We took the MRT to a place called Ximen which is a shopping district especially for the younger generations (?). In Ximen I ordered a juice containing carrot and apple. It actually tasted good when I got used to it, but the selection of drinks and juices are big, so next time I might order a juice-mix of carrot and orange. :)

Last but not least, I now have a taiwanese phonenumber: (+886) (0)988 819 002

Feel free to call me ;)

In the administration building they had a tea room, is this common in Taiwan?

We had rain when we walked from NCCU to the Taipei Zoo

Day 3

Didn't get much sleep last night, but when I finally fell asleep, I overslept.. Jetlag? Shortly after I woke up, I took the bus to NCCU (Green 1) and walked up to the International building where we should meet up. There was a written test starting at 9:00am, but I soon found out it was nothing for me, so I left the classroom before the test even started. When they say it's only for non-beginners, they actually mean that beginners should keep away (note to self)... haha :p

I paid my tution fees, joined the orientation and got my student ID card. Later on I went to the MRT station to get my student MRT card (Easycard). When I finally got back home I had a wonderful two-hour nap.

It's been a interesting day. When I buy food and drinks I try to tell the staff what I wish, but it often end up with just pointing at the thing I want. I tried to take the bus alone, and MRT, and didn't get lost on either of them. Oh, and I saw a cool bike (one I've never seen before)... Picture below :)

Day 2

Today I went to the supermarket and bought a couple of slippers and some other clothing as I didn't get my luggage at the airport. I almost gave up the search for slippers, as they only have "small" sizes here. But in the end I found someone who where just big enough for me :) Later on we ate lunch with some friends of my dad, and then drove to the NCCU at the end of the day. When we got back home the missing luggage had arrived, so I don't need to worry about dirty clothes for the big day tomorrow ;) There's many nice people here, and I'm really excited about the days to come.

A view from the  building where I live now

This was found in the stairs, floor 23! haha...

My first visit to the NCCU

Finally arrived in Taiwan

After travelling for approx. 24 hours, I've now arrived in Taiwan. The trip went well, but my checked in luggage did not arrive with me.. I really hope they find it soon, although I will need to go by some clothes tomorrow in any case. After taking the bus to Taipei Railway Station, my dad picked me up. We went to his appartment, and then we went out for some food together with his wife.

Peaceful morning

The 747 from London to HK

9639km + distance to Norway and Taiwan

Evening in Taipei

4 days left...

Outside TECRO Oslo, where I got my visa

I'm almost ready to leave Norway, only a few things left, like pack my toothbrush etc. haha.
I've got my single entrance visa, and they told me to apply for ARC, Alien Resident Certificate, within 15 days of arrival. With the ARC, I can travel in and out of Taiwan as often as I want, apply for drivers license, opening a bankaccount and more.