(or, "What?! Why???")
Hi guys! If you're reading this, you probably already know that my name is Dylan Byrd (唐德龙) and I'm going to Taiwan. Before I start posting actually interesting things, like pictures or travel plans, let me explain how this all came to be.
Last year, when I was still serving in Wallkill Bethel, I had the privilege of attending the Hong Kong Special Convention, and when I returned to the field not long after, I knew I really had no choice but to join Chinese. I already had an interest in the language, and my experiences in both HK and China sealed the deal. I joined the Sacramento Chinese Congregation, now called Oak Park Mandarin (represent!), in November of 2012.
Some time went by, and my Chinese became marginally better. I really wanted to go serve abroad, but for most Asian countries, you need a work visa to get a job legally, and you need a four-year degree to get a work visa. Sadly, I'm not independently wealthy, so I need to work. I know there are ways around this requirement in some areas, but none of them quite squared with my conscience, so I began to look for alternate ways of going abroad.
I found one soon enough- the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, from Taiwan. I wouldn't be rich, but if I could find a roommate or two, I could afford to serve in Taiwan for at least six months. As a bonus, I'd be attending a university, studying Chinese! And so here we are. I applied for it, took tests, went to interviews... and didn't get the scholarship. Then, two weeks later, I got a call. The guy who did get the scholarship, didn't want it! Did I still want to go? ("Yes!") Hooray second place!
My plane leaves six days from now, on November 6th, out of San Francisco. I arrive two days later in Taipei, after a short layover in Hong Kong. I've gotten my letter back from the Taiwan Branch, with my congregation assignment (Taipei South); I have my school picked out and paid for (Chinese Culture University); I have two roommates lined up (Harry Sparks, from Sacramento, and a friend of mine from Bethel, Mason Moore); all that's left is... well, a place to live. Still no progress on that. I'm sure I'll be fine, though- how hard can it be to find an apartment in Taipei, right?
I'll end this post with a picture of Sacramento, for old times' sake.
下次见！(xià cì jiàn!) (See you next time!)
