10.10 Continued...

Rach started telling the story, but basically yesterday was the coolest day ever.

We left the hostel at 7:45am and took the subway to downtown Taipei. We got to sit in the guests of honor box to watch the festivities. There were giant signs and banners that said "UN for Taiwan. Peace Forever.: Then they proceeded to have an elaborate military show, parading all of their weapons and they had a giant military flyby. It was impressive and a little scary. They had lots of performers, it was essentially the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and we were right there!

We had lunch at TGI Friday's and then we wandered to a Peace Park nearby and watched the locals celebrating the holiday. At 3;45 we met outside the Taiwan Guest House. I have never been to something so classy! We walked up to the giant mansion on a red carpet where we were instantly offered wine. There were carving stations where you could eat roast leg of lamb or prime rib or 10-15 different tables of hors dourves! We got to see the president of Taiwan as well as the Prime minister. We also go to rub elbows with "ambassadors" from Malaysia as well as State Rep. Foster from New Hampshire. She and her husband were really nice, they found out I was as theatre major and they went out of their way to find out the name of the performing arts school here in Taiwan that they had visited and really enjoyed. Kyle and I took our picture with Miss Taiwan, too. It was unbelievable. I kept looking at Erik and saying things like "what are we doing here? who are we to be here? We're from a school that nobody's ever heard of, chatting up some of the most important people in the world, and certainly the top of the top in Taiwan." There was a lake in the backyard and Christmas lights and it was all just overwhelmingly upscale and amazing. I still can't believe it.

Today I'm going to a tea plantation and then packing and then tomorrow...Hong Kong!