Yesterday was my first shopping excursion and I rode my bike to the convenience store, a fruit stand, and bakery. Chiayi is a big booming city, but only a few blocks away from our school I found quiet rice paddies and chicken farms. There are temples everywhere, ranging in size anywhere from little shacks to the Seven Levels of Hell Temple, which is six or seven stories high. Back in the states I couldn't help but admire the beauty and peace of Asian art, but now I see it from a different perspective. These ornate temples are ominous and dark. Perhaps East Asians strive for such a peace and "good energy" in their aesthetics because they have none in their religion. How do you know if you've been good enough? What if you were bad in a past life? How do you please Matsa and the other gods? Are your ancestors pleased with you? How do you know? Although we Christians also appreciate good art, we don't have to rely on synthesizing a sense of peace in our environment; we have the Spirit of peace inside of us. The price for our sins has been paid for, it is finished. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. What peace could we possibly lack?
Tomorrow is Tomb Sweeping Day and it's a holiday for that very purpose. Kind of strange that we get this day off from school, but not Good Friday.
My least favorite thing about Taiwan: mosquitos!! My foot is swollen from bites and barely fits into my shoe and my legs are covered with them too. But I can't complain. Warm showers and edible food have already exceeded my expectations of the living conditions here. My lovely room with a great bed:
My pictures have been put on hold because my camera charger isn't working and these are all I have. I will upload photos as soon as possible.
Anna
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