Fair vs. Tanned Skin

After baking in the sun most of yesterday, some of us were sun burnt. Though we all applied sunblock (I hope!) being outside for so long turned us into pink people. AHHHHHH I hate sunburn. Luckily mine was only on my shoulders and with some aloe gel, it healed by morning. Others were not so lucky. Jimmy has a line on the back of his neck (looks like chocolate and vanilla) and Benjamin has a serious farmers tan going.

Most people in Taiwan, men and women, carry umbrellas with them to block the harsh sun. 

I think I've only seen this in Chicago's Chinatown. Old Chinese women carry umbrellas during most seasons while shuffling from place to place.

Most girls here prefer to be pale. Hulda from Taiwan asked me why I don't hold an umbrella.

At first I didn't have this habit, but now my obnoxious leopard print umbrella goes everywhere that I do. Hiking, museums, meals, parks. When I'm not wearing my hat I have my umbrella up for shade!

There are many pale and skinny minnies here. I guess because I'm getting pretty tan...I'd be an ugly Taiwanese girl.

This morning we had one lecture concerning Experimental Design. I think in almost every science or social science class I've taken I've heard this shpeal. I still paid half-attention. The other half of my attention was spent doodling some of the plants that we saw yesterday. 

Some sad news came our way before our second lecture of the morning. Our teacher had cancelled class because two NTU died in a scooter accident on the coast and she needed some time off.

My prayers go out for them and their families. 

Instead we toured an Agricultural building. Not really a good substitute for a lecture about Taiwan's society, but we got a lot of free snacks. MORE SNACKS! They really are trying to fatten us up.

People in Taiwan who work at the school or at museums are extremely friendly. They're patient when I can't follow their Chinese and really enjoy answering questions about their specialty. It's nice to know that they genuinely enjoy what they're doing.

We also visited Yingge Ceramics Museum. To my disappointment, we didn't get to throw on the wheel. I did watch amazing videos of some Taiwanese men throwing giant (up to 4 feet tall) pots. Crazy good!