Catching Up Time

I received the best care package from my mom today and in the note it said to keep up with my blog. Whoops I guess I just haven't had anything "thrilling" to write about, but in reality everyday is a new and thrilling day... I am across the world. So I decided to recap my last few weeks because I know one day I will want to look back and remind myself of all that I have done.

School: So the reason I am here is to teach, obviously so I will start there. Being a first year teacher, in another country, with 14 students that only know the English I have taught them is a little harder than I though. Being a person that wants (according to my boss (who is right in this fact)) "Rome to be built in a day" makes my job even more challenging. I had my 2nd observation that happened to be a week ago, on my saddest most off day I've had in Taiwan... and I BOMBED IT.... I mean I just knew it couldn't have gone any worse. Not because the kids were bad, but I was bad. I was awkward, and frazzled, and nervous, and gave the expression "a chicken with my head cut off “a new meaning!! I learned a lot from it though. I learned that again "Rome wasn't built in a day “and to be a great teacher, it takes great successes and great failures. Then I sat down and thought about it and realized... if I was great now, I would have no learning to do and then my journey would be over. In teaching and in life I need to just enjoy each and every day and stop trying to have all the big life changing experiences now. The experiences that will change my life will be the building up and learning of a variety of events.

Patience: This month I am working on patience. I am trying to teach myself how to be patient even when it seems very hard. My patience is definitely tested, but I also remember someone once saying "it is not patience that makes a good teacher, it’s understanding." I strongly believe this, and I understand that days I am tired, I am not very patient, hints get a good night’s sleep... problem solved :)

Adventure: This island is beautiful. In one weekend I went to the mountains on a breathtaking hike and to the beach to go surfing. Getting out of the city is incredible and I love being high up in the mountains and looking at the city. You can't get hit by a scooter in the mountains! I also spent a Friday night in the night market with 4 of the Chinese teachers. Such a fun chance to be around individuals that knew Taiwan, and a great chance to get to know them too.

Teacher Fam: I am very lucky to already have made my Taiwanese friends along with my fabulous co-workers. We are about the most diverse group of individuals that anyone could have put together, but it works. I have found one buddy who watches trashy TV with me... which of course is the backbone to any fabulous friendship :) The other girls are great and all the Yves teachers at school are fabulous... I have learned already that an hour long conversation with someone can completely change your views of who you thought they were from the beginning.. and this is a beautiful thing.

My life: My job here is to teach the students, and let them teach me. I have promised myself to learn to let life come to me, and not take it too seriously.. it's life :) A Buddhist Proverb says "When the student is ready, the teacher appears" I am ready to let this journey take me wherever it wants to go, so bring it on journey :)

Life is truly amazing, and I am so happy to have found a place that even with days of pure frustration, I have found friends to have my back, and a mind clear enough to look back on the day (Friday) and find the positives in the negative and learn from them. Needless to say I have put into action some new teaching skills and "so far so good “as the C.Ts would say

PAPARAZZI!!!

Kenting Weekend:

This week I found myself very immersed in the Chinese culture along with the Western culture that can be found in Taiwan. The “new teachers” arrived this week and I took two of the girls to the night market their first night here. While at the night market I practiced every little tiny bit of Chinese I know. It was truly amazing. Although I am terrible the fact that I could somewhat communicate with locals and I have only been here a month makes me feel so good! Also, it is kind of addicting. Once I started trying to speak I just wanted to learn how to say different words and phrases.

This week was also extremely successful with my kiddos. I had my first observation and Peter (my observer) had such magnificent things to say about my teaching style.  I felt super good afterwards!! This week I also had a  “I don’t want to be anywhere but here in this moment” moment. My class was learning about Dippy Duck (D) and there was a suggestion on the curriculum to do a Dippy Duck Dance. So that is what we did. Although unlike in the curriculum I turned on “Ain’t No Mountain High” and watched as 14 smiling faces where jumping around and having the time of their lives, and I was right there with them.  It was such a beautiful moment!!!

This weekend was Teacher Amanda’s birthday and we went to Kenting for the weekend. Kenting is like the prime beach location according to many locals.  Upon arriving I said Hello Myrtle Beach, Taiwan Style J It was crazy… I have NEVER seen so many people on the beach… and so many water toys out in the water. It was a sight, and apparently so were we. The older teachers warned us that EVERYONE would want to take their picture with us while in Kenting… we thought they were being over dramatic… THEY WEREN’T. For about 20 minutes we couldn’t move because everyone wanted to get their picture with us. We were like celebrities.  "Picture"everyone would say. We even had a full family want to take pictures with us. Trevor even said that he saw people taking pictures then when he looked at them they would quickly put their cameras away.  So now when I come back to the States I need to make sure I have paparazzi at all times now that I am such a star! J

This was a great weekend. Although it was super touristy, I am very excited to go to the more chill parts of Kenting. The time spent with the teachers was very special though. I feel like we got to know each other much better and started to bond some. Our hostel was incredible. It was called the Surf Shack and that is exactly what it was. I ALSO GOT TO SLEEP IN A SOMEWHAT SQUISHY BED!!!!!!!!!!! It was like heaven.  We ate incredible food, played “ never have I ever” and laughed until our stomach hurts.  We also slept on “adult bunkbeds” which for some reason we thought was so funny J

This morning we walked on the beach… found sea glass.. and took some amazingly cheesy pictures and had a good ole American breakfast.  It was a wonderful weekend, but I am excited with everything I have done in only a month to take this next week and weekend to explore my new home Taichung and maybe take a little weekend trip exploring.  On the train ride while looking out the windows I saw what I though Taiwan was going to really be like… and it made me so happy. The city is fabulous, being able to walk to anything I want is great, but the rice fields and mountains are picture worthy!!!

Tonight I went on a bike ride and to the grocery… my new favorite Sunday night ritual. I am ready with my oatmeal, coffee(instant, I really need to splurge and buy myself some coffee coffee), and a new book thanks to Amanda to start my week off right

Happy Monday All!

The Definition of Close Perfection

Perfection: A early morning hike, a waterfall, a beautiful car ride through the mountains, a broken down car, a monastery, and a magical Taiwanese family!

But let's start at last night.
Friday: The night started out at Kelli's going away party. A pretty low key night up in a big room. Then everyone decided to go to Elementary Bar (one of the only bars open in Taichung because there was a fire a while back in a bar that ended with some deaths so now they are closing EVERY bar in Taiwan.) where we were having a lovely, laid back evening until the police showed up... to (I guess) shut down this bar as well. There were like 7 government officals and 4 police men :) We ended up making friends wit the government offical but the police man just wasn't having it... he was trying to not smile the whole time but he definitly wanted to!! It ended up being totally fine.. but sometimes when I get awkward I cant stop laughing... and of course this was one of those times.

Saturday: We woke up and headed to the waterfall. The weather was incredible and the waterfall was RUSHING. I ended up hanging out at the top where the view is breath taking and there were a couple Taiwanese families having a picnic.
After the waterfall we headed to Puli to meet with Kelli's Taiwanese family. Driving there with the windows down, good music, an AMAZING view of the mountains, and fun friends. On the way the car overheated. The fun part was that it overheated by a monastery where monks brough us water and Alumi (taiwanese dad) came and fixed the car. While waiting I took in the sights of the beautiful country side so needless to say the little detour was a successful one.
We then got to Alumi's house where I met his daughter and wife. We had a large barbeque and hung out all afternoon just talking and getting to know each other. We then went to a temple where there were so many tourist and monks.. the temple was beautiful and it overlooked the mountains that were covered by the clouds at the top. It was truly breathtaking. We then went back to the house... proceeded to eat more (I don't know how that was possible) and headed home... on the way home there was this one moment when I felt like if I could have been anywhere in the world for just a second it would have been in that moment. It was a very good moment :)
It was a great day and tomorrow we are off to another small down that apparently has some amazing arts and crafts! I am excited!!

As weird as I think blogging it... I do think it is going to be my favorite thing when I want to look back on these random days and on all the adventures that are to come.. there are so many things I want to do.. it is time to slow down and take everything one day at a time!!! :)

A Little Piece of Luv

I found a piece of paradise in Taiwan this weekend. It was in Docan at the Refuge. This weekend they hosted Luv Stock, a small music festival full of good music, amazing people, and an outstanding location. The Refuge is at a broken down amusement park, which in some ways is totally eerie, but in most ways is a magical place. It seems everywhere you go there is a hidden surprise live caves, monkey mountain, and a dragon up in the mountains that I have not yet been able to discover. The  way the place was set up the main stage was at an old pool where we danced in the pool (with no water of course) and people could watch from the big water slides... it sounds confusing but it was so cool!! (pictures will be on facebook soon!)

The food was amazing too.. I got to eat Mexican which started off the weekend right. Also, Friday night I went to the big night market with Kelli, Lauren, and some new Taiwanese friends... it was a great night away and full of language lessons, squid tenicals, and ice cream :) We got Mexican that night too!!! :)

Yesterday (Sunday) before going back to Luv Stock , I went exploring on my bicycle. I met the nicest women who worked at a soup and noodle shop and invited me in for lunch. It was delicious. She was super sweet and talking to her made lunch a really great experience! I also found a coffee shop that is quiet, quaint, and really just like a little piece of heaven... a nice escape from the craziness of school with AMAZING coffee.. I was SO happy to find it, considering my favorite place to do work is Heine Brothers!!! It is like my own secret work Heine Brothers  in Taiwan!!!

Today has been super successful as well!!! The students are really starting to come around to me. I have received many hugs :) nice notes from parents, and communication from some of the most sky students in class. We are starting the curriculum tomorrow, which I am very excited about!!! I am looking forward to the rest of the year and to watch my Greenhouse loves Minds Bloom!!!

Well I am off to teach the Days of the Week song!

Week and a Half in Taiwan

So I am going to start at today and work my way  back... it is my first day at school and holy cow I am EXHAUSTED!!! My class seems fabulous except I have a student that balls every time he looks at me. I wish there was something I could do to fix it, but it seems like I just make it worse. Thank goodness for my Chinese teacher who is a miracle worker. They say once the kids get used to a foreign teacher it gets better, I sure hope they are right!!
Last night Lady Gaga was in Taichung.. .I guess it was a welcome party for the new teachers :) We walked past where she was playing and it was pure caos.. but super cool. The teachers and I attempted to watch from the roof but a building was in our way.. but we did see some huge GAGA fans that became estatic when I yelled Gaga :)

This weekend was also Canada Day and 4th of July Celebrations. Canada day was super fun, the teachers and I just chilled in the grass ate some amazing food, and enjoyed a nice day out. We worked at America Day and made friends with people from all over.

I have also ridden my first scooter, experienced the craziness that is the night market, moved into my RIDICULOUSLY sweet house (6 bedrooms , 3 baths, 4 girls, and I have a balcony), set up my classroom including a leaf canopy and all, learned some more Chinese , eatten McDonalds :( and so much more.. but my brain is completely shot today from all the playing outside, singing , and dancing.

I think I am really  going to love it here. The people are amazing, the place is beautiful, and the mountains are a perfect touch to get away from it all.. which we will be doing  this weekend!

Waterfall!!

So after realizing that we are living in a big city, to me it seems like New York, I got to escape to the most beautiful place I have seen in a while. Seven of the teachers pilled in Kelli's car and headed to the mountains where we went to a local waterfall. It must not have been that secretive though because there were like 7 big brown signs on how to get to it... when in reaility they needed like 2 signs :) So anyways the hike in was so beautiful and the waterfall was small but the area around it was breathtaking!!! I realized why I wanted to be in Taiwan. It was the spot that made me like "ok.. this is where I want to be." Getting out of the city was nice because the last couple days have been a tad overwelming. So I climbed the waterfall on a rope (slipped off a couple times-sorry mom) and then jumped off a small cliffside, saw monkies, and ate some amazing fruit up on a big rock overlooking the area. Needless to say it was an incredible day. Then we had our teachers welcome/going away party, at TGIF :) Hello American food.

Well today I am going to get lost in the city, and learn all that Taichung has to offer, and hopefully more Chinese. New friends, new food, and soon to be new Taiwanese babies to teach. It's going to be a good year!
Carpe Diem!

Day 2, Taiwan

Ni Hao Taiwan,

Day two in Taiwan and with a break at school I decided to write down all that has happened so far so that my 7 hours of sleep in about 36 hour break can try to remember all that has happened. So far I have learned a few Chinese words, found out that 6 foot showers are hard to manuever in :), fallen in love with the school, found out my new teacher friends appear to be super amazingly fabulous, watched 4-7 year old Taiwanese students perform poems, plays, and songs, oh and met the the Educational Delegates from China that came to taiwan to see the students. No Big Deal.  I have learned that being put in a situation like this one allows us to get very close faster... like during medical checks where we all ended up having to be in robes for x-rays with our new friends. Ok that is all I can think of now, headed to the waterfall tomorow... and going for a walk now before watching more children perform.. I am really hopping sleeping will be a posibility tonight :)

8 Days!

So I figured I would set up my blog that all the girl's suggested now, and go on and figure out this whole blogging thing. I'm not really a blogger, but I guess it is time to start something new especially since a new world awaits me in 8 days! I am moving to Taichung, Taiwan to teach Kindergarten at the Cornel School. I will be working with the 4 year olds in our class which I named the Greenhouse. I am so excited and ready to get started on this amazing adventure. I look forward to beginning my teaching career and exploring the mountains and the cities that await me in Taiwan. 8 days still seems so far away, but hopefully it will be here super soon. Everything is ready to go, now I'm just enjoying my last week in Kentucky and ready to roll.