Isabel Chen

2009-10 Inbound from Taiwan

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Sponsor: Taipei Shihmen Rotary Club, District 3480, Taiwan

Host: Bartram Trail Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Creekside High School, St. Johns, Florida

Bio

Isabel's Bio

Hi everyone. My name is Isabel Chen. I’m from TAIWAN (a beautiful island lies on Pacific Ocean. Oh, NOT Thailand! And definitely NOT China). I’m 17 now. My family is my mother, my grandpa, and two sisters (15&19). We have a cat, Pudding, she likes to play outside, but one day she got lost and never did find the way home.

I spend time with friends and my sister, chatting and laughing. And so as music stuff, I like music, I listen to it till I fall asleep everyday, iPod is my very good friend. I like Taiwan music, Alternative and Rock bands. I can play cello (or a big big violin); the reason why I chose cello is only because that was the instrument played by the boy I used to admire. However, I still love cello (not the boy anymore)!

Taipei is the city I live in. As the capital of Taiwan, Taipei City has the metro stations everywhere, and our convenience stores are the highest-density in the world. The National Palace Museum is the national museum of the Taiwan, and has a permanent collection of over 650,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. My school is at the center of the city, school start at 7:30 am and end at 4 or 5 pm.

When I was little I wanted to be an international student, I wanted to go to other country. Last year my school had three Rotary exchange students. I really liked the things they were doing: to a whole new place, meeting people, learning their culture and language, live a new life! And that is what I want. And I have the good luck to try and make dream come true.

The first two weeks in Florida is like a dream. I still can’t believe I’m here. I’m hosted by D6970. I have a host father, host mom, host sister, and also host cat and dog. And they are all very nice to me, treat me like their family member.

My host father Barry is funny, he always makes we laugh, speaks in freaky way, smiling all the time. My host mom Becky is very thoughtful, she teaches me everything, and always encourages me, makes me feel so nice and warm. My host sister Savannah is 16, we go to the same high school (Creekside High) at same grade. She is so nice to take me to many places: parties, pool, Sonic, Hooters, shopping...etc. So before school started, I had already met many friends!

I wish after 10 months in USA I can speak fluent English, make friends from everywhere, make this year the best year of my life.

Thanks for my family and sponsor D3480 and Taipei Shimen club, and Host D6970 and Bartram Trail club.

October 16 Journal

Hey, everyone, It has been two months since I came here. So, how is my life here? Is everything going right? Hey, let's review it now!

Yesterday I went to Brad Paisley's concert--American Saturday Night, he is the most popular country singer. And here in Jacksonville, people love country music, and I’m in Jacksonville, too! How can I miss it! We drove to downtown, it was about 7pm. We were so close to the stage, it was so awesome! He puts on a great show and I can't move my camera off him. Becky, Barry, Savannah and me, we all have a great night!

Brad Paisley: "Nice to be here with you Jaguars and Gators! Today is not Saturday, but we can pretend it is!"

I also can't forget we had a really good ice-cream, that was the night after PSAT test, Savannah suggested "Can we go to Marble Slab to have an ice-cream?" with sparkle in her eyes. So we drove to Marble Slab after dinner, everyone had their ice-cream, it melted immediately at the time it touched the tip of your tongue. We took a walk in the night breeze with our awesome ice-cream.

Life is so relaxing and enjoyable, even at a normal Wednesday night.

I walk to the bus stop with my friend Justin every morning, who lives in front of me. One day I walked out to the garage, it was so foggy that I can only see about 15 foot. Though my skin got wet by the steam in air, I feel like I’m in a movie scene, I smiled and waved. Justin seems happy, too. (I guess, because Justin doesn't talk much.)

People say weather here in Jacksonville is humid, yes, it is. Especially that morning...

I met a teacher at Creekside football games, Miss Godfrey, she said she is going to visit Taiwan in November. Hey, I'm from Taiwan! So she probably doesn't want to go to Taiwan without my advice! :) I went to her classroom the other day, I read her schedule: Go to capital—Taipei (the place I lived in); Visit the best girl high school— Taipei First Girls' High School (many of my friends are there); Meet our great president— Ma Ying-jeou. Can you believe it? I'm not kidding! That is an awesome schedule! I can't wait to teach her some Chinese (Taiwan speak Chinese and Taiwanese), and maybe tell her when to escape from hotel to have more fun!

The other day we had a presentation at Creekside high school auditorium. Mr. Jack and two other students who went to Hungary as exchange students and me. Mr.Jack introduced about exchange student program, and we answered the questions and shared our experience, From first until seventh period, we had seven presentations a day. I was tired, but the students were interested in it. It is worth it. I think of how I became an exchange student — because the exchange students in my school made me want to. So this is kind of "generation to generation". The thing I am doing now may inspire someone.

If you think the thing I am doing is cool, then maybe you can try it, too; If you think I'm cool, then maybe you can go to Taiwan!

Thank you for reading this article (I know is long! haha). I still have much much things to say, but let’s keep those words to next time, Take a rest and enjoy your weekend! See you next time. Friday, Oct 16th.<-- my birthday is next 16th!!			American Saturday night
Bertt took me to a Jaguars' game	My friend Justin	Jaguars and Gators	The place Miss Godfrey is going to (Taipei)

December 1 Journal

Today I came home with happiness. I had a great time at school and on bus. Whatever... such an awesome day! and I feel like to write my journal = v = (since I got assignment and test tomorrow ).

Weather has turned cool and it’s time to move to my next family.

It looks like a normal Saturday morning, I allowed myself sleep until ten, having cereal for breakfast just as other days. I’m moving tomorrow, and my room is just the same as two weeks ago, I was not hurry at all, because I got all day to pack.

“Good morning.” I saw Becky mom walked in. I kind of notice this was the last few good morning conversations, since I am leaving tomorrow.

“Good morning, how is your packing? ” she asked. The meaning behind the words suggest me better do it now. This is Beck strategic thinking. Makes this home orderly.

“Oh..it’s pretty good, I am doing it.” After finish my breakfast, though. I got bunch of time, I thought.

“Okay, that’s good, we are leaving around eleven.”

“Hun?....wait, I though I'm leaving tomorrow? right?”

“No, you are leaving today! I always remind you is today!” Oh my! Mrs. Becky’s right!

Yes, this is the story of my moving day, I ran to Barry dad told him how crazy I'm going to pack all stuff in an hour, he was cutting grass, we both think my situation is kind of funny.

And I did something you will never believe -- I packed in 40 minutes! I MADE IT! I think my potential had been fired up, I’m proud of myself.

I was seated in the kitchen, watching Becky, silence.

“No sad face today.” with a casual tone she said.

“...I know.” Suddenly, I could feel something in my throat.

I had really good time and I don’t even know how to start to tell. I am used to the fragrance; used to chatting with Becky and to her good cooking; used to Barry’s kind of humor and our football time; used to petting Clia the cat and having fun with Bronson the dog.

I remember the delicious time that you took me to new places to eat, you had diet-pepsi, and I had tea. And that time we walked in the night breeze having Marble Slab ice-cream. I remember the concert, I thought Brad Paisley is more cute than your Dierks Bentley. I remember how excited we were in the Jags game and I became their fan.

These three months is probably the hardest time for me, everything is different, I didn’t have much friends at school yet, and something, sometime, somehow, I could be depressed. Your company is my energy resource, thank you so much.

At last, I want to say, Savannah my sister, though we didn’t do much, I appreciate a lot that you had tried hard to adapt my appearance. We both learned a lot, didn’t we?

If you guys are reading this letter please don’t cry too hard (I had tears up several times when I wrote this, though), and I took 3 hours this time (remember I took all day to do my first two report?). I think my English did improve. Good day!

P.S. Sydney can’t wait until I write the new story; you don’t know who’s Sydney? I’ll tell you next time :)