Taiwan – WuLai

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It’s been awhile since I last updated. I’ve had a few hospital visits and stressful situations, but I won’t get into that… On to more positive things: WuLai!

On one random afternoon, my roommate’s girlfriend asked if I wanted to travel with them to WuLai. Not having anything else to do, and being quite burnt out on constantly doing schoolwork, I decided to tag along.

WuLai is one of the famous hot-spring destinations littered around the city of Taipei, and is approximately 20min outside of southern Taipei via local bus. Being so close to the city, it is a frequent destination for weekend warriors and spa-goers. After mentioning my destination to my neighbor, his face immediately brightened and he proceeded to regale me with tales of fishing in the verdant mountains and fresh rivers of WuLai.

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I didn’t expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is the kind of area that can give rest to a weary soul. It is a nature-lovers paradise. WuLai is famous for its aboriginal culture (specifically the Atayal tribe) which is apparent immediately upon entering the city. Paintings, statues, and carvings litter every corner of the small town.

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Taipei is a perfect city for small day-trips.  Although it is a large metropolitan area, the city is surrounded by nature, on all sides. Mountain, rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife ensure that there exists a balance between the hustle and bustle of the city and the peace and serenity of nature.

Charles Bollig

Da jia hao! Wo shi Charles, laizi Denver, Colorado. Hello, everybody! My name is Charles. Iโ€™m from Denver, Colorado. Currently, Iโ€™m studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Colorado, Denver. At any given time, you will likely find me in one of two places: the engineering computer lab on the UCD campus, โ€œzoned inโ€ to some complicated engineering project, or at my kickboxing gym. Living outside of a โ€œcomfort zoneโ€ opens the mind and heart, allowing personal development and growth within an individual. The opportunity to study abroad is priceless, beyond measure. To me, this is particularly true. Believe it or not, I lived in China for a short period of time. While there, I learned the language and became enthralled with the culture, people, and pace of life. I came back to the U.S. to study, but I always knew that I would make my way back to that area of the world, one day. Well, that day is nigh! I plan to study abroad in Taipei, Taiwan at National Taiwan University during the Spring and Fall of 2016. While in Taiwan, I will be attending classes following my regular engineering curriculum, but with a twist: The majority of my classes will be taught in Mandarin! Fun stuff, right!? Iโ€™m excitedly anticipating, once again, being immersed in Chinese culture (The food! Oh, man!). For me, being able to study in Mandarin will be an invaluable experience towards the direction I want to dedicate my life. For now, this planet is the only one the human race can exist upon. For humanity to survive into the future, the perceived boundaries that separate groups of people must erode. Humans must come together despite language barriers and other minor 'gaps' that hinder mutual understanding. I see my future role in helping to 'bridge those gaps.'