Only One Can Survive (On Bread & Tomatoes?)

We spent a good amount of today on the bus. Taking a new bus meant new seating partners for some of us. Every time we take a different mode of transport, I like to try to sit next to someone new. All of the time we spend traveling leaves a good opportunity to chat...or sleep. Sometimes the seat belts are hidden from sight, so we have to pull and tug them out. Sometimes it's an impossible task, which led Vico to say, "only one can survive!" Meaning that if we crash, the only ones with seat belts will be safe. Oh no.

It was a very relaxing morning filled with learning about culture (the C part of BACT/Biodiversity, Agriculture and Culture of Taiwan). Remember how I went to visit an Aboriginal museum? Well today our class had the chance to meet and talk with (if you knew Mandarin) two men from the Saideke tribe. First we watched a trailer about a historical time when members of their tribe fought the Japanese of Taiwan in the Wushe Incident. I plan on watching this two part, four hour film when I return home. It reminded me of how the British who colonized America and fought with the Native Americans, sometimes enslaving them. Seems to be a sad pattern throughout the world. 

Sàidékè Balái Trailer

Our guides gave us an introduction to Saideke hunting traps. When our schedule listed Saideke Tribe Hunting, I imagined we'd be practice shooting with a bow and arrow. The traps were much different, but took just as much skill and ingenuity to set up. We learned about three different kinds for various sizes of animals, from small birds to large boars. Two of them used a string that when stepped on would tighten around the animal, pull out the stick that was holding it to the ground, and fling it upwards to leave hanging. Very clever! I didn't want to get near them though, in fear that I'd catch myself on the flinging stick. On the other hand, Steven wanted to put his foot in the boar trap. I cringed as he placed his leg inside the string, but was relieved that he didn't get flung into the air. Too heavy of a catch haha.

 To compliment our lunch, we used the spinach and radishes that we harvested yesterday to made Manto bread. The process was similar to any other bread that I've made. The only difference is that they're steamed, giving them a chewy but light texture. During my trip, we've often had this bread for breakfast. I guess it's traditionally a stand alone food, because the Taiwanese students looked at my funny when I spread jam on top of mine. Now I know. We made this bread with our already formed research groups, which was nice. Our team consists of Richard from UIUC (originally Taiwan), Andria from Purdue, JiLing from British Columbia (originally China), and Jimmy from NTU Singapore. We're really starting to mesh!

Mmmm the final product

Fish and Chips for dinner

After lunch we said Bye-bye to Meifeng farm and started our descent down the mountain. Arriving just half an hour later, we saw another portion of the farm. So I guess I didn't have to say goodbye quite yet.

Unfortunately, the bus ride (or the tea the bus driver offered us) made Jimmy, Jessica and I a bit car sick. I originally thought the feeling was just temporary and associated with me journaling about meat, but I still wanted to vomit after getting off the mega bus. 

Fortunately a brisk walk and hand-picked tomatoes settled my stomach!


Besides re-igniting my desire to learn Mandarin, I am hoping to pick up some Cantonese. I might be crazy. Mandarin and Cantonese share the exact same characters and meanings, but the pronunciation is almost completely different. The words that I can remember in Cantonese are either names of food or sound similar to Mandarin words that I already know the meaning of. Sigh...I wish that I had begged my mom to teach me when I was younger. Most of my classmates are at least bi-lingual, some tri-lingual. The languages spoken on this trip include: English, Mandarin Chinese, Hong Kong Cantonese, Taiwanese, English with an Australian accent and Singlish. 

WHAT IS SINGLISH YOU ASK?! 
WATCH THIS TO FIND OUT:

This habit of switching in between Singlish and Standard English made me realized that I've actually been speaking English slower and more broken while here in Taiwan. I think it's a combination of me having sympathetically picked up on every one's speed of English and trying to speak more clearly and concisely. 

Our bus dropped us off at Shueili Wood Utilization center, another place that serves NTU. The wood here is used to make the dormitory furniture, desks, walls, and benches among other things. We tried our luck with the Luban Lock, a puzzle that involves six interlocking pieces. My best time clocked in at forty seconds. This wasn't fast enough to win me a bat, but congratulations to the quick-fingered Vico and Andria! 

 Good night from our room.