Mindy's plog
A Growing Bond with Chiayi:
My Second Home
2024/11/13
Welcome visitors to your site with a short, engaging introduction. Double click to edit and add your own text.
I come from Taichung and study at Chung Cheng University in Chiayi. Every semester, I move here to live when classes begin. I still remember my freshman year and my first experience coming to this unfamiliar city. I seized every chance to go back home, which to me meant Taichung, where my family and friends are. Every Friday morning, I would pack my bags so I could catch the train to Taichung as quickly as possible after classes. During that time, I didn’t take the chance to explore Chiayi or discover its hidden cuisines and places worth visiting. This routine continued until I became a sophomore.
​
As my workload grew heavier, I started going back to Taichung less often. I stayed in Chiayi to study, which became a turning point. I used to think going downtown was time-consuming and inconvenient. However, when I started spending weekends in Chiayi, I began going downtown with friends to try new food stands. I also explored new places and even joined local festivals. I became more interested in learning about Chiayi and started thinking of it as my second home. The more I got to know this city, the more I fell in love with it.
Let’s turn our attention to the festivals I recently joined. There are a few festivals that are only celebrated in Chiayi. Last month, I attended the “Open Possible Market” and the “Youth Festival Concert.” The Open Possible Market invited hundreds of food stands. Visitors could stroll around and discover delicious food. The setting was elegantly decorated, with strings of warm yellow bulbs hung above the heads of visitors and vendors, creating a cozy atmosphere. My friends and I were attracted to a famous food truck called ChocoBear, which sells burgers with a special sauce mixed with chocolate jam. It tasted really juicy, and the flavor was beyond my expectations! Then, we stopped at an ice shop, where the perilla wine ice caught our attention. The ice cooled us down and kept us from feeling thirsty. The shop owner was very friendly and active. When we were halfway through our ice, she came over and poured more perilla wine into our bowl to enhance the flavor. That night, we enjoyed delicious food, the relaxed atmosphere, and chatting freely with friends, which let us temporarily set aside our stresses.
The “Youth Festival Concert” was another event I joined last month. It was hosted by the Chiayi government and was free. The most exciting part was that my favorite bands were performing! Although I couldn’t get there early and had to stand in the crowded back, it didn’t affect the quality of the performance or my cheerful mood. The songs I play on my phone every day were now being performed live in front of me. How lucky I was!
Every city has its unique features, style, and lifestyle. I am grateful to study and live here in Chiayi, giving me the chance to get to know this city. I participate in local events, love the flavors of the food, and know about hidden spots that regular tourists miss. Chiayi is becoming more and more like my second home. Now, as a junior, I feel I need to cherish the time I have left before I graduate from Chung Cheng and move away from this city. Just imagining not living or studying in Chiayi anymore makes me feel emotional. This journey, from being a stranger to developing affection for Chiayi, is a small record of my bond with this lovely city. I know I will definitely come back regularly to revisit familiar places, even years from now.
