I Tell You The Truth...

   Truth: what is it? Now that I cannot define. It is impossible. No matter how much we ponder, research, or debate, we will only know theory, and/or partial truth. 

   Today, Raphael and I went into Shandao Temple, a buddhist temple, near the social science's campus. I had 3 hours after my first class and we, after lunch, had decided to chill in there. It is a really nice temple. In the front are three statues of the Buddha, and various items that go along with Buddhism. It's somewhat difficult to describe. But thank God that a picture is worth 1000 words. :) 

   And as we sat in this temple, away from the traffic and pollution outside, we started to talk. We talked for a good three hours in there, ranging from buddhism to judgement, and several topics in between. And that got us thinking: "What is truth?" 

   For some, truth is what you have grown up with. Some within the Christian church, as far as I know, and probably in many other faiths, attend their religious services out of tradition, culture, and respect. But they don't really go because they WANT to, they go because they are EXPECTED to. Now those two words are completely different! What really is inside a person's mind and heart? And if what is in their heart truth, at least to them, what happens to them? And even if they just do what is expected of them, what happens to them? (In the case of an after-life). 

   For example, we talked about truth and death. What if someone loved their god with so much a degree, but could not withstand the horrible degrees of the world, that they wished to end their life? What would happen to that person? Would they suffer for an atrocity against the beauty, dignity, and sacredness of life? Or, due to their belief, would they receive a paradise? Or nothing at all? 

   And with this, in other people's eyes; suicide is thought to be a very heinous sin. But, how can we judge what is sin? How are we capable of categorizing what is sin and what isn't? Isn't that the job of God or the gods? And if we are given the word of that which we believe, how can we so take it under our direction and power to establish right judgements against another? 

   And what is sin? What is truth? What is religion? Is it a philosophy or an action? Or is it neither? Is it required or optional? 

   We could have talked for weeks on these issues. And no one knows for sure. It is like in the Christian church; there are so many denominations and texts describing differences in God. But isn't God IT? Isn't God the ONE thing in this world that IS? How can we be sure we are right in interpreting what He wants us to know? 

   For centuries, no, for thousands of years people have debated these very issues; these very questions. And no one has come up with an exact answer. 

   Stuff happens. So what? Was it pre-ordained, or is that even possible? If it is possible, then how does free-will factor into our lives? If both are true, then what is the point of either? 

   I can't even write all of the questions that we asked each other today considering Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Atheism, and Agnosticism. I would probably have to write an entire series of books on just one question: What is truth? But, I don't even think that I would be able to answer that question, or anyone for that matter. 

   Why do we have these questions fill our heads? If we really are just a blink in the span of life, then why should we trouble ourselves with these questions? Or is lifetime just another part of the real lifetime that our souls take? Or are there even souls? Gah, so many questions! 

   But there was one thing that we agreed on: No one knows anything for sure, and even though we have so many questions, we just have to believe in what we think is right. Our lives are meant for figuring this stuff out. Of course we won't know it all, but what we seek we shall find. 

   For me, as a Christian, I seek what God truly wants of me, and of what He truly is. That's all I want to know. Isn't that what we should seek? That simple, yet complicated, truth? 

   It's harder than it sounds, eh?

Adventuring into the Language and Food

   That is probably the question that I've wanted to pose on people for, what seems like, the longest time. When I was studying Mandarin Chinese in Hawai`i, I excelled through the classes and really enjoyed the language learning process. I would think to myself: "Chinese is easy!" How now do I feel foolish. Mandarin is a very difficult language, not to mention it being on the most difficult languages on the face of the earth.
   Let me explain it: Mandarin is made entirely of syllables. And each syllable has its own tone. There are fives tones. Each syllable has a corresponding character, but the character/meaning of the syllable will change completely with different tones. For example, the word for "yes" (是, shi) has a falling tone. However, the word for "ten" (十, shi) has a rising tone. But this is when it gets difficult. Shi/是 can also mean "is." So when a native speaker is talking at a fluent speed, and I am trying to listen for each tone and connotation... you can see how it is difficult.
   But the language itself is so amazing! Just to hear people speak it makes me happy that I am here. For 8 years I have wanted to come here to learn, and finally I am here, and that is just remarkable to me.
I have been able to use some of the language: when ordering food, asking questions, greetings, etc. But even with language comes another very important part of the Taiwanese culture: FOOD.
   Lion's head, squid, frog legs, eel, stinky tofu, pearl tea, tripe, blood rice cake, tongue bake, etc. The food here is delicious, and never before have I tried so many different things that, to others might be disgusting, but truly are wonderful. Rice is made with everything, and there are so many different ways to cook it, even making it into noodles! It is so important to the Taiwanese culture, that even some local farmers pray to the gods before working with it; they care for it that much. Soups, dumplings, mounds of rice, fish, vegetables, tofu, and nearly everything you can think of. It's amazing!
   Even still, I have to order food in Mandarin, and it is only by the grace of God if the waiter/waitress knows English. Haha! Ordering food for me is more like: "Um, this... one. Yes." Of course I translate it, but you can get the picture. Hopefully once Chinese classes start, I'll be able to get back into things and just speak normally, like I used to.
   One adventure I had was when my friends and I were coming back from a day at the zoo, and we wanted to try this Burmese and Thai restaurant. One friend, Steffi, had ordered frog legs, just out of curiosity. And they delivered to us this medium sized plate with, I guess, cut up frogs legs with cashews and green peppers, lathered in peanut sauce. It looked delicious! Pretty soon, my other friend, Raphael, wanted to be adventurous too. So he grabbed a chunk off the plate and looked at it. "Wait, does this look like a face to you?" *ahem*. Of course that just grossed out another friend, Stephan. Haha! But I wanted to try it, or at least, some of it. And that some of it, would be the eye ball!
   Taiwan is quite the adventure, indeed!

歡迎到來臺北 (Welcome to Taipei)

   What shall I say? I am in Taipei, the capital city of the Republic of China. Does that sound as amazing to you as it does to me? Taipei is a huge bustling city, filled with heavy traffic, thousands of pedestrians, crowded markets, and a haze of pollution. But, through all of that there is a culture. A culture very different from mine.
   Culture: what is it? It is that which we live by: our traditions, our routines, our way of living. I am here to discover it, to hold it, to know it. Hopefully, within a year's time I will be able to achieve that goal. But as anyone knows who has travelled abroad, or even to another state, there are cultural changes that jump right in front of your face and shock you.
 
   The Republic of China is in the Tropic of Cancer. The weather is very hot and humid, ranging from 74 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees. And I can tell you, I have probably put out enough sweat enough to fill a bathtub and then some. And I thought Hawai`i was hot! Air-conditioning and fans are my new best friends. But until I become accustomed to the heat, it will probably be winter by then.
   There are a bunch of little things that really strike you as "You're not in Kansas anymore" kind of feelings. The first full day I was here I decided to take a walk through the city. The buildings are all packed together tightly, each using as much space as possible. If that means expanding nearly over the entire side-walk, then it is. The awnings to the buildings are very low to the ground, and I often find myself bending down or ducking in order to avoid hitting my head every three seconds. And usually from the on-ings you can find an array of signs, bottles, or other items that are suspended. I almost walked right into one of these the other day!
   Mopeds are the thing here. Unlike in the United States, where nearly everyone has a car, here everyone has a moped or a bike. It's crazy to see dozens of people fly past you on mopeds like it's nothing; weaving in and out between cars, trucks, bicycles, and other mopeds. I find it amazing that I haven't seen or heard of an accident yet.
   The food is another thing that is amazing! But that which is quite familiar, and to my surprise, was the numerous 7-11's around the city. But they are quite different! Manapua, or 包子 (baozi), an array of teas, along with the number of tea eggs, and nearly anything and everything else you could think of that is quite popular with Asian culture can be found in these stores. However, everything is in Chinese characters, so that poses a problem to me as of yet!
   The first day though, held another surprise for me. On that random street that I was taking a walk on, I came upon a motor-bike. It wasn't a motorcycle or moped, but it was like a three-wheeler that you see old people riding around towns who collect cans. But on the back was stacked numerous bags of garbage; nearly 12 ft high! At first I just walked past, until I heard a voice from behind. I turned and it was a short old lady who was sitting on the bike. So I walked over to her, and through a series of groans and moans, I figured out that she wanted me to start her bike for her! Even though I had no clue about these kind of things, I hopped on anyways and gave it my best try. It was operated by a foot lever. Every now and again my foot would get stuck and she would quickly free my foot. But eventually I got it started! Huzzah!
   But still, with all of the amazing sights and unusual happenings, jet lag has got the best of me.
   I can tell this will be a very interesting year. And to the best of it, Taipei!