Reflections from Taichung ETA

Written by Daniel March, 2020-2021 Taichung ETA

I am glad that we were given the chance to visit the traditional market, buy ingredients, and cook authentic Taiwanese food. It is easy to get into the habit of only buying groceries at PX Mart or similar stores, but traditional markets have a variety of options as well, many of which are higher quality. This activity has even compelled me to seek out traditional markets on my own. Even though I don’t often cook, they are excellent places to buy fruit and snacks. The environment also feels very authentic, and if you speak Chinese, you will have the opportunity to practice.

Cooking the dishes was relaxing too. I was thankful to spend time with friends in a way that would not be possible in the U.S. right now. While I enjoy cooking in the U.S., I rarely get the chance to cook in Taiwan. Overall, this was a very enjoyable activity.

Decorating the bowl at Dajia was a fun activity. I enjoyed painting my bowl and seeing what my friends had painted. The staff also helped me improve my technique since my natural artistic ability is pretty limited. I wish there was a little more time to share with people outside of the cohort. I would have liked to talk to some of the children about what they were painting.

I found planting rice at the rice farm to be educational and relaxing. It was educational because we saw how rice is planted in Taiwan, planted rice ourselves by hand, and got to ride on the rice planting truck. It was relaxing because we got to walk around the farm, eat a nice dinner, and enjoy the views. I’m always excited to check out the more rural areas in Taiwan. It’s a nice break from city life.