Accompany Me On My Journeys

Initially I was thrilled when I got to know that I would be learning the saxophone when I first took up the internship. Who would have thunk I would be getting to attend an orchestra perform in concert. I heard the National Taiwan Symphony orchestra perform in Taichung city yesterday and it was simply breath taking. Music is an essential element in every school in Taiwan. And luckily the family I am closest to is very musically inclined. I have heard some amazing classical music-western and Taiwanese in the last few days thanks to Hui Yu.

And today came as a bonus, who would have thunk I would come to Taiwan, get to learn the sax and the piano and then attend two music concerts in the same weekend? Today I got to listen to the hucha, yang-qin, teetha, basoon, saxophone, flute among other instruments in a concert organised by Tzu Chi. Two visually challenged little adorable girls performed too. One sang traditional chinese songs while the other one Taiwanese song.

Its amazing how when the words do not unravel into meaning, yet when combined with melody can touch your heart so deep.

In a small town named Houli

I am serenaded with affection



I devour the cacophony, the peace,

the beautiful sights and garbled sounds.

Breathing it all in and sighing it all out



In a small town named Houli

My house is built on a mountain



I bask in the beauty of the image

from the wooden patio of my room

I see mountains and hills

And mist and greenery.



In a small town named Houli

I teach English in Elementary school



I am overwhelmed by their love

My students ask me to sign on sheets of paper

They want to teach me Taiwanese dance

As I strut to class they shout out "Hello teacher Monica"

And a little one grips me in a tight hug unwilling to let go



In a small town named Houli

My colleagues are my family



I revel in the confusion and

grope for familiar words.

I stare at their hands

We are left with phonemes

Followed by nervous laughter



In a small town named Houli

I live with a local Taiwanese family



Modest and only to happy to help.

The children are fascinated with Skype

My home-stay parents try their best

to communicate with broken English



In a small town named Houli

Every meal brings something new



The food bland for the Indian palate

Every morsel melts in my mouth

Sea-food, spinach, green beans,

tofu, mushrooms, bamboo, rice and soup

I taste everything "without legs"



In a small town named Houli
I take the train to the city



My eyes waver to the huge windows from my book

On my left I pass green fields and traditional houses

On my right the mountains outline the horizon

Every train ride leaves me feeling rejuvenated



In a small town named Houli


I see nothing like in the city



A mere twenty minute train ride

And a gaping cultural difference

The ostantatious dressing fascinates

I walk throuh the lanes of the nightmarkets

Its a paradise -Every shop calls out

the smell from every food stall lingers

The track of time is always lost





In a small town named Houli
I feel I am at home.

What is it made up of? Husband,wife and dog. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, many Taiwanese prefer having a dog instead of children. Maybe we should take a cue from them to control the bursting population in India. I have been tremendously fascinated by the cute variety of dogs I have seen here. And then on speaking to the locals what do I find out; I was so amused and shocked on hearing that most couples prefer dogs to children.