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 Many questions came
to my mind when thinking about the kind of food I will have to eat for
the next two years, during my stay in Taiwan.
My first experience exposure to Taiwanese meals happened while
flying from L.A. Airport to Taoyuan Airport for twelve long hours. “This
had to be the first chance to start getting used to Taiwanese cuisine, I
thought.”
I tried some different tastes of seafood dishes.
Seafood is my favorite. After one month living in Taiwan, I can
say that
I am almost used to this kind of food. During this time I have tried so
many different Taiwanese dishes that I have never eaten before.
I can mention in Pinyin some kind of food I ate the first week I
spent in Taiwan during the Orientation Program held at National Taiwan
Normal University. Here are a few of the dishes, we international
students tried at that time. Notice that every word has its respective
tone. Thus you will be able to pronounce them correctly. I expect you
can add to this list other Taiwanese dishes you have tried in your
places.
Tang c(i)(w)u (y)u p(y)ian [Tones: 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 4th ]
S(i)an bei j(y)i [ 1st, 1st, 1st ]
Mei gan kou r(i)ou [2nd, 1st, 4th, 4th ]
(Y)u m(y)i ch(i)ao dan [4th, 3rd, 3rd, 4th ]
X(y)i q(y)ien (y)iou (y)u [1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd ]
Sh(i) j(j)ie q(y)ieng c(i)ai [2nd, 2nd, 1st, 4th ]
Chi(i) y(i)e x(y)iang s(i)(w)u [2nd, 4th, 1st, 1st ]
D(w)ueng g(w)ua ge l(y)i tang [1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 1st ]
If you have already learned other names of Taiwanese dishes, then
let it known to all the international students. Thus, we will have less
trouble next time when we want to eat out.
Even though, it is not that easy to go to a restaurant and ask in
Chinese for what I want to eat. Perhaps, being able to read Chinese
characters would help. However, I can hardly read and write my Chinese
name.
I am sure you also have many funny stories to tell about the
experiences in ordering meals at restaurants in Taiwan. Anyway, I have
made a lot of Taiwanese friends who may help me learn mandarin Chinese.
Moreover, one has to study Chinese everyday.
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