What will I do when I get back to Nashville? Quick preview: seeing friends, job, GRE, grad school applications.

In the meantime, I’m just going to focus on how am I going to cram two years of stuff into two luggages that have to weigh under 23 kg each. This may be my biggest challenge yet.

We traveled to Ilan, where my mom is from, and saw the beach and sand castles.

We stayed at the Shangri La Leisure Farm Hotel, which was located on top of a mountain, so it had an amazing view with trails throughout the orchards filled with fun surprises like swings and drums on a cliff.

At night, the hotel provided sky lanterns that we could write messages on and send off into the sky.

Back in Taipei, we also did the obligatory trip up Taipei 101, but this time, I got to go out on the 91st floor outdoor observatory. It was always closed all those other times. But there really isn’t much of a view. You mostly see big bars.

All in all, it was a good time. I don’t know when I’ll get to see my parents and brother again. Hopefully, by the end of this year!

We went on the Maokong Gondola, which I thought was going to be one of those short cable car rides to the top of a hill, but it was a rather long (about 20 minutes) ride to the top of Mt. Everest (or at least it felt like it.). If you’re brave enough, you can take the glass-bottom bar. There are four stops along the ride, and it only cost $50NT ($1.50USD) for a one-way ride all the way to the top, and once you make it to the top, you can walk around in Maokong or take it back down and stop in the zoo for a tour.

On Friday night, we decided to take my 20-year-old brother out to the Taiwan Beer Factory, which was hopping by the way, and after a couple of drinks, a bit after 10pm, we hailed a cab to head back home. Just as we’re about to merge on the highway, the entire back side of the cab was smashed in, and my brother and I were thrown against the front seats, hitting our heads with glass shattering all around us. Some car had hit a scooter, dragged it along for a few meters, then slammed into our cab (which also ended up hitting another car due to the force of impact), and continued on to bump into a third car before finally coming to a stop a ways ahead.

The police and ambulances got here pretty quickly. They took us to the hospital and had us checked into the ER, x-rays taken, seen a doctor within 15 minutes. The scooter guy hit his arm and all his skin was rubbed off for being dragged along, but he was okay. The driver of the rampant car was pretty injured.  Our x-rays were fine, just a bump on the head and some scratches from the glass, and soreness is to be expected.  We had to stay at the hospital for a couple more hours for observation and the paperwork to be settled. Luckily the fees weren’t bad; I have health insurance so mine was just $300NT ($10USD), and my brother’s, as a tourist, was about $1100NT ($40USD) for x-rays and doctor’s fees.

My poor brother, he has the worst luck with cabs. The last time he was back, he got clipped by one when walking in an alley, and this time, he gets beaten up in one. It’s also scary that seat belts are not required here in the backseat, just in the front, so a lot of cabs don’t even have them even if you wanted to buckle up.

Then Saturday night, the dinner of my parents and the boyfriend’s parents first meeting took place. It was stressful, but at least we got that first meeting over with, and both sides approve of us and all is good in the world.

The wedding was at this absolutely gorgeous place called the Manor in West Orange, NJ. All of their closest family and friends were there, and I think that’s what makes celebrations like these most special. It’s really not so much about the place (which was breathtaking), the food (which was to die for), or the open bar (although it was an afternoon reception, and I didn’t take advantage of it one bit), but it’s about the overwhelming love and support at these things that make it truly beautiful.

During my trip, I was able to see all of my closest friends from college and high school and family. The wedding was filled with my closest college friends flown in from all parts of the States for a mini Vanderbilt reunion.

My 10-day mini-vacation consisted of me staying with the parents in Nashville for a week. Then I flew to Philadelphia on Wednesday to stay with the bride. The next day, we drove to New Jersey suburbia to stay with the maid of honor for the bachelorette party. Friday, we all drove to West Orange for the rehearsal dinner. We stayed in the hotel that night and woke up bright and early for the wedding. Saturday night, after the reception, I drove into NY with a friend to see the last of my Snap and flew from JFK Sunday morning at 10am.

(The Snap is my group of high school girlfriends. There are five of us. One of them, Jennifer, came and lived with me in Taiwan for the past year. Two of them drove into Nashville for the weekend to see me. I had dinner with the fourth one who lives in NY on Saturday night.)

I couldn’t have been happier. Well. If Michael could have come with me to meet everyone, then my life would have been complete.

Four connecting flights and 27 hours later, I’m back in Nashville. My mom picked me up at the airport. She looked so tiny standing at the exit. My parents moved last December, so it was a bit strange driving home. I had no idea where we were going. The new house is big and lovely though, even though a bit far away from the city. I went home, showered, and slept for 8 hours.

My first taste of America: Starbursts

My first meal in America: Longhorn Steakhouse – Ribs & Filet with a sweet potato and a Dr. Pepper

Fun Fact: Another identifying factor of an ABC is to automatically reach for the seatbelt when getting into the backseat of a taxi. Seat belts are not required in Taiwan, only if you’re sitting up front.