Bowling League & Xiaowulai

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog, but I have been pretty busy! I have a full schedule now so I have 11 classes a week. It's pretty nice but it keeps me doing lots of stuff. Between lesson planning, teaching, and having fun, there is not a lot time for other things. Haha.

On Monday we established a bowling league! It was a lot of fun! There are four teams of five or six players. We played a couple games on Monday - the first to establish a score for the draft, and then a second just to bowl with our new team. Well, my first game was probably the best I have ever had. Haha. I bowled a 130. And so, was a third round pick. Yeahhh buddy! Haha. Our team seems like it is going to be pretty good. It is me, Carly, Rooney, Jack (Taiwanese), Lily (Taiwanese), and Brian M. We have our first real round tonight! I think we decided that our name was going to be "Whoop! There it is!". Haha

Tuesday, we had a workshop. It was about the GEPT test that the students have to take. It was kind of boring, but it was informative too. The test is an English proficiency test that is analogous to the SAT or something. The better they do, the better schools and jobs will be available to them.

On Wednesday, Brian H, Ryan and I went to Xiaowulai. It is a really big, famous waterfall right around the Shimen Reservoir. It was about an hour and fifteen minute drive/scoot. The drive was gorgeous. It starts out in a lot of city but then pretty quickly it becomes countryside. We also drove through a really pretty valley. And then we went up into the mountains. It was so pretty.

We drove to Xiaowulai first but just to look. There is a lot of hiking around there but it has become a major tourist spot. It was super busy. There is a glass bottom platform that is over the pool at the top of the falls and it was crawling with people. The falls are gorgeous, but it would have been unbelieveable to see before they started developing the area.

After Xiaoulai, we hopped back on the scooters and went to a different waterfall. It was awesome. We were the only ones there and so we got to go swimming in the pool at the bottom. The water was freezing! Haha. But it felt great and we were swimming at a waterfall! :)

After the waterfall, we went to lunch at a restaurant that overlooked the reservoir. It was spectacular. I wish it had been sunnier, but it was still beautiful.

Thursday, I had my favorite class. This week, I taught Jarry "bust a move". He was dancing in class so I taught the whole class. Also, after class, Jarry said to me, "Teacher, you come with me. I be your taxi driver." Haha. He is a twelve year old kid and I own a scooter. Haha. He cracks me up.

Friday, we had another workshop. This one was by Josh Sanchez (from Hawaii). It was really good! We played lots of games and got lots of stickers. Haha.

Saturday, I had three classes. It is kind of crazy to have that many. But I have a pretty long break between the first one and the last two. During that break, Rooney and I went up to the Tiger Head lookout. It was really pretty - so clear!

Sunday, we had frisbee - like always! It was a lot of fun. I always look forward to Sundays because I love playing! And the group is getting bigger and bigger! So fun!

I miss you all!!

"Bonnie is blacker than Emily"

So the title is a sentence that one of my students wrote. I had them write a comparative sentence about me and Emily (the native teacher). They were learning when to add "er" to the end of a word or when to use "more" or "less". It was really hard for me not to laugh. Haha. And a student in a different class told me I look like chocolate with cream. Haha. It was pretty hilarious.

So, Alex and I didn't end up going to the museum in Taipei. It was going to get a little pricey and we decided that we didn't feel like going. Instead we slept in. Haha. A very cultural experience.

But Thursday night, Matt's friend from home arrived. He is working for Gloria now and we had all been anxiously awaiting his arrival. True to form, we took him to Vigorous for dinner. It's a good, easy transition into Taiwanese food.

Friday was Cristelle's birthday. We all had work and then we went to BBQ for dinner. Amy and I decorated her door with hand drawn balloons and Alex and I made her a card. That night, we didn't really do much because we all have class in the mornings on Saturday. I just picked up another class on Saturday so my schedule kind of sucks. I have one class from 10:10 to 12:10 and then I have a break until my class from 6-7:20 and then from 7:40 to 9. So, its a long day but I really like my class at 6. And my class at 7:40 seems pretty good. They were really quiet but I think that is only because I am new to them. One of the boys is really good at English. We were having an actual conversation about music and bands. It was refreshing.

Saturday night, a group of us went to Chiefs. That is the bar that had the live music. We got to talking to the band and requested songs. We were the only ones dancing for a while but then some others got into it! It was really fun! One of the guys, Brian, gave me the nickname "Diamond Dottie" from A League of Their Own. Because I'm so stinking good at frisbee. HAHA. But seriously. Then of course we were all yelling quotes to eachother. It was really fun!

Sunday was frisbee day as usual. We played three games, so I was wiped. But my team won two of the games, of course. We were still warming up in the first one. Which now I actually remembered, we ended on a tie because more people showed up. So technically I was undefeated. YES!

Josh P got back from his travels with Kristen on Saturday night so he was at Chiefs and frisbee. It was nice to see him again - he's a good guy. But he can jump like he's spring loaded and he's fast so I'm going to have to figure out a way to get him on my team every Sunday from now on. Haha.

The pictures are old, but they are of us playing frisbee. And that is my scooter! If you come to Taiwan, I'll drive you around! Haha.

Moon Festival Part II

Sunday, a really big group of us went to the park to play frisbee. I think it was the biggest group yet. We played for a good while - always lots of fun. When our frisbee playing was done, Alex, Carly and I went over to some kids playing with a soccer ball and asked if we could play. We ended up just passing the ball around but the kids were adorable. There is not nearly enough soccer played in this country.

After frisbee in the park we all went home but then regrouped in a different park (the one right next to the dorm) and had our own BBQ. Matt, Amy and Josh S bought two grills and everyone bought lots of food to grill. It was a lot of fun! We were just grilling food and hanging out. Carson also brought Catchphrase so we played that for a long time too!

The food was delicious again. There were lots of sausages, beans, steaks, chunks of beef, pork and shrimp. And Josh made some salsa - so good! I also learned how to say delicious in Chinese: haochi (sounds like how-chu).

So, first of all let me say that Taiwan is super safe. I've never felt less threatened walking alone or leaving stuff places. You can leave your scooter on the side of the road for a couple hours with the key in the ignition (yes, I've done it) and it will still be there. That being said, the park is a local hang out for vagrants and other people who are freaky deaky. There is one man who always comes around and he looks like he is high on something, or has been high on too many somethings. Not too sure, but we see him around.

Anyway, on Sunday night he was trying to talk to us and he kept getting in our circle for Catchphrase. Everyone who could speak Chinese was telling him to leave but he wouldn't. He just kept telling everyone "I love you." We put some food on one of the other tables to try and lure him away from us. It sort of worked, but he kept interjecting from that table. But at least he was further away. It was actually kind of funny, at least to me. Haha.

On Monday, we didn't have work because of Moon Festival still so again we went to the park to play frisbee. Two of the guys had gone away for the weekend and really wanted to play so we obliged them. It was super fun! We ended up playing for a little over four hours! It was crazy! And my team won both times - yup. It is really fun to have that every weekend!

Today, Wednesday, Alex, Cristelle, Carly and I went and hiked Tiger Head again. Today was gorgeous. Up along the ridge you could see for miles and miles. Of course I had my camera but had left it in the scooter. Such a bummer. It was spectacular. And the hike was great too. It's really nice to be able to drive five minutes and then feel like you're out of the city.

Up in that area, if you'll recall, is a Confucius temple. Carly and I decided to walk around it a little bit after the hike. It is awesome. The temples are always so serene no matter what they are surrounded by. We got stopped by a old Chinese couple that were walking out. They wanted to use their English, which only consisted of "hello, how are you?" and "very pretty girls". It was super cute.

We walked around the temple for a little bit and admired the colors. It is such a stark contrast to the western churches and cathedrals. I know that there is a lot of color incorporated into the decoration of the churches but in the temples here, color is an integral part of all aspects of the buildings. I feel myself brightening up when I walk into one. They are something else!

Tonight I have my last subbing class for Josh P. It is a really good week because I am finally getting paid for most of my classes. So I got paid last night, I get paid tonight, and Thursday and Friday! I'm going to feel super rich! Haha.

Tomorrow, I think Alex and I are going to Taipei again for a different museum. We heard there is a Picasso exhibit in the history museum so we are going to go check it out! Should be awesome!

Tea with Confucius

Saturday was an amazing day. Definitely the best since I have arrived in Taiwan. Alex, Matt and I farted around the dorm until three when Kay picked us up. We piled into a big van and set off into the unknown. We had no idea where we were going, what we were doing - anything. We drove just a short while, to the next town over called Guei Shan where Kay's parents live. They own a bunch of land where their house is but it is on a street. It is sort of like a cul de sac but only in the sense that the street ended there. There was a big triangular open area that all belongs to Kay's father. On it they have a big garden, a covered table area, an uncovered table area, and then tucked away in a corner they have a totally covered area which opens up into a different garden. It was a really big area.

Kay's father also owns a temple next to his house. So that was pretty cool. And he looks like Confucius. So I named him that and it stuck. Haha. We called him Papa Con for short and we called Kay's mom Mama. There were so many other people there as well. Two other Taiwanese teachers came, Fiona and Chloe. Then there was so much of Kay's family - cousins, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, daughters. And then there were the neighbors and their families. It was a very big group!

Moon Festival is a mix between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. The amount of food and the total family involvement are Thanksgiving. But the grilling and the overall vibe is more of the Fourth. We had so much food!

During the prepration, we were shooed out of the area because we kept asking to help. They sent us up to a lookout that was amazing. You could see the mountains in the distance looking one way and then the expanse of Taoyuan County the other way. And it was such a beautiful day - so clear and warm. After we walked down the eating began. I'm going to try and name everything: corn, clam stew, bitter melon stew, oysters (two different kinds), some sort of root vegetable that they couldn't translate, shrimp, chicken, pork (two kinds), beef, homemade sausages, and I think that's all. But all of it was amazing! My favorite was the sausages and the pork sandwich. Ah-mazing! I also tried chicken butt, seriously. Not the greatest thing I have ever eaten, that's for sure, but neither was it the worst. It just tasted like fatty meat. But I won't be eating it again.

During the eating, which lasted a couple hours, we wandered down to the temple but first we sat down with Kay's father. He was sitting at a table serving tea. It was awesome. He can't speak any English but Alex speaks a little Chinese. So we communicated as best we could but it was one of those times where you don't need language. So after about 10 cups of tea, Kay came over with her sister and the other Taiwanese teachers. We all started talking and eating Pamelos. They are a fruit that are only around during Moon Festival. They are really good - sort of like a less bitter grapefruit. And if you skin it and wear it as a hat, you have good luck for the rest of the year! Naturally I did it!

We got invited over to another BBQ right next to ours, some neighbors. There were a couple of people with very good English so we made some new friends. Oh, and I forgot to mention the karaoke! Our new friend, Henry, made us sing a song with him that I have never heard before. It was in English but it might as well have been Chinese. Haha.

There is a belief that from 9 to 11 on Moon Festival that a portal (or something) opens and enlightened people can communicate with spirits to essentially tell a person their fortune. Kay's father is one of those enlightened people - a spiritual medium. Alex and I decided we wanted to ask him questions about our futures. It was too special of an experience to pass up. The entire time we were asking questions, the men of the group stand in the temple amidst burning incense and in silent prayer, holding a chair (the seat of the spirits). It was pretty cool to see.

After asking our questions, Henry and Mama pulled us back to the BBQ and had us try Shochu (not sure if that is how it is spelled). In any case, stay as far away from that as possible. I'm not kidding when I say that on Sunday night, we used it for lighter fluid on our on BBQ. Seriously. It is so strong, and the point of it is to feel the burn down your throat and into your stomach. No thank you. But it was a cultural experience. Haha.

We also went back up to the lookout at night time to see the stars and city lights again. It was a pretty cool place up there. And the city was throwing off so much light that all my pictures looked like it was closer to sunset than the middle of the night.

After a lot more karaoke and food, we decided to meet up with some other friends at a bar called Chiefs. So we all hopped back into the van and set out. It was a fun place. They have a Taiwanese band that plays there but they sing in English. And the bass player is friends with some of the guys so we got to hang out with him - Darwin. Haha. Also, a group of the guys are in a band here, the lead singer being Matt, Sarah's boyfriend. He got up onstage for the last song and sang because he is leaving soon! It was a great end!

Such a wonderful day here in Taiwan!

National Palace Museum

Thursday morning, Alex and I headed to Taipei to visit the National Palace Museum. I had caught wind of an Alphonse Mucha exhibit going on that ends on the 12th. For those of you who don't know, Mucha is a famous Czech artist - very big in the art nouveau movement. He is one of my favorite artists, and so I couldn't miss it. Alex decided to come so we woke up early and headed out.

The National Palace Museum is something to see, just in itself. It was created by Dr. Sun Yat-sen as a home for the relics and artifacts that were brought over from China. Alex and I explored the grounds but didn't go in the Taiwanese part of the museum. We limited ourselves to the Mucha exhibit. It is supposedly the largest collection of his works outside of Prague. I absolutely loved it!

After, we grabbed lunch at a bagel place (so delicious) and then some frozen yogurt (even more delicious. Then we headed home because both of us had class in the evening.

Thursday I had my one of my favorite classes. During class, we did the Q/A: what kind of music do you like? Standard operating procedure is that you ask the question and then the students tell you what they like and you write it on the board. Then the co-teacher writes in Chinese. Well we were done with genres (one girl said country - she got an extra star! ) and the kids were writing when one of the kids, Jarry (my favorite) shouts out 'beat box!'. I almost died laughing. And then I taught the whole class "drop a beat". Haha. It was awesome! Never thought that was something I would be teaching in Taiwan!

This morning, Cristelle and I went to the stationary store. Even though it has a specific name, the stores sell everything! From envelopes, pens and other stationary objects to costumes, hair accessories, wallets and toys. It is pretty funny. I bought some amazing stationary, a pencil case and a driving mask. Two things: kids here are literally OBSESSED with pens. It is crazy! If you have a cool pen they will stop paying attention to what you are saying and stare at the pen and ask to use it! It is unbelievable. And if they ever give you a pen, it is the highest form of a gift

they can give! And I bought the mask because I have developed what I like to call the 'smog cough'. It is terrible. To drive is to be bombarded/attacked by fumes and smog. I have developed a cough that I am sure is due to the pollution and so have bought a mask. I'm turning Taiwanese, oh yes I'm turning Taiwanese, I really think so. :)

In the early afternoon we had a workshop and then a bunch of us went to Subber to write our lesson plans. It's really nice to have a collective brain to pool from when doing lesson plans. And tonight, I had my two young classes. They were both great. Both classes are so energetic and crazy that the hour and a half just flies by! So much fun! I also was given a pamelo by one of my students. That is a traditional eat during the moon festival! (We have Saturday and Monday off because of the festival!)

After classes, Josh, Brian, Matt and I got some dinner and then headed to the park to meet some others. One of our favorite past times now is to sit around and play categories like: countries of the world, 90s bands, clothing brands, etc. It is so much fun! But as many of you know, I HATE losing. It is a dangerous game! Haha. But seriously, we always have a lot of fun!

Tonight started the Moon Festival - it marks the end of harvest season. Traditionally, Taiwanese people get together with much of their families and barbecue. Tomorrow, I am going to Kay's family BBQ with Alex and Matt. Lots of food and some karaoke have been promised. Should be awesome, but at the very least, it will be an experience!

Lots o' love!

Catch Up

Friday, I had two more regular classes to teach. Both are at Chen Kung. Alex, Matt and I scooted over in a little scooter gang. Matt is terrified of driving here so it was pretty hilarious. Both my classes on Friday are Gloria English so they are adorable. They are a little older than the kindy classes but still really young. It was fun. And the class goes so quickly because it is only and hour and a half. After class, Matt and I scooted home and I almost killed him because I forgot he didn't really know where he was going. So I made a quick left turn and he kept going straight. He then had to do a u turn in the middle of a street and that is much easier said than done. But he made it, so no harm no foul. Haha. That night a bunch of us went to dinner Vigorous. And Cristelle's friend came to visit. He is working in the Philippines.

Saturday, I had two more regular classes to teach. They are both older kids. The classes were at Nan Kan. The only bad thing is that my first class is over at 1210 and my second one doesn't start until 6pm. So that is kind of a bummer. At least the school isn't too far. And I ran into Chrissy so we grabbed lunch before I headed back home.

Saturday night, the whole gang went out for Jen's going away party. I am really going to miss her! She and I got to be pretty good friends really quickly - we have a lot in common. So, obviously, I was pretty sad to see her go. We went to Mimi House again (a popular spot). This time was more fun, solely because I know more people better. It was a really fun night!

Sunday, a lot of people felt like death (haha) so it was a pretty low key day. Alex, Cooper (Cristelle's friend) and I drove up to the Tiger Head lookout. It was pretty awesome. Cooper bought some betel nut. It is a nut wrapped in a leaf that you chew. It is supposed to relax you. But it is pretty nasty. It turns your mouth red and you have to spit out the juices so it looks like you are spitting out blood. Nasty.

After we were up there for a while, we decided to continue up the mountain rather than just go back down. It was cool. There is just a winding, one lane road that keeps going up the mountain. Lots of great views from up there too. It was a nice little joy ride on the scooters. On the way back down we stopped at a shrine to some martyrs. It is a Japanese style shrine and beautiful. It was all made out of wood and was so peaceful. We wandered around there for a little while.

Sunday night, Alex, Cristelle, Cooper, Matt and I went to the night market. It was cool. I hadn't really walked around one much yet so it was fun. We got some dumplings, lots of fruit, BBQ, and Cooper got some chicken feet. But he couldn't bring himself to eat them. Haha. Matt and I also got an Asian hotdog. Haha. It was a hot dog with a rice 'bun'. Freaky. And they put lots of ginger and soy sauce and chili pepper sauce. It was surprisingly good, but we were both worried about the affect it would have on our bodies. Haha.

Monday, I had my first Outside Gloria classes at the elementary school. Oh man. What a rough day. The actual classes were great but I got totally lost. Instead of being 10 minutes early, I was three minutes late. So I walked into class dripping sweat because you can't wear shorts or tank tops, and it's on the fifth floor. Also, in my second class, I bent down to pick up a ball and my pants ripped. Haha. Thankfully you couldn't tell and I had long shirt on anyway, but oh man. I'm sure I turned bright red.

I had to go right from outside class to home, grab some lunch, and then head out again for an observation at Wu Ling and then a regular class. Both of those were fine and passed without much to note. But when I was done, I was so happy. For dinner, we went to Vigorous again for a final farewell to Jen. Lots of people turned up again so it was fun. And I got Jen's scooter! So that was the only plus to her leaving.

After dinner, a bunch of us went to the park and played catch phrase. It was super fun. We played a bunch of rounds, and they were still playing when I left. I can't stay up so late!

Yesterday I had my two classes at Tung An. One of my co-teachers is Kay. She is so great. And she was asking me what I was doing for the long weekend - it is the Moon Festival this weekend so no school on Saturday or Monday. I told her I wasn't sure but I was going to be sticking around. So she invited me to her family's celebration. I'm pretty excited to go! Should be pretty interesting at the least, but I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun too!

Last night I finally went on a run. I signed up for that half marathon if you'll remember and I haven't done much training. But last night I ran 4.5 miles so that at least was encouraging. I'll be able to run more. Haha. After my run I met Amy, Josh and Matt in the park. We were just sitting around talking and then Carson and Dustin showed up. They're both really great. Then we started playing categories - all of them geography. We did African countries, capital cities of countries, and South American countries. It was pretty fun. I like that we can sit around and do that.

Today I have a subbing class at Dar Nan for Josh P (familiar face). He is still on vacation with Kristen. It seems like they have been gone forever!

Today marks five weeks that I have been here. That is crazy! It feels like I just got here yesterday. But at the same time it feels like I've been here forever! Sometimes when I'm driving along I think to myself "I live in Asia." That is so freaky. But it has been such and awesome experience so far.

I miss you all!!

Stars and City Lights

So, the interview was less like an interview and more like an orientation. I am going to be teaching once a week, Mondays, from 110 to 330. I will have three different sixth grade classes, each forty minutes. Should be a good experience. I have to make up my own curriculum and everything. But luckily, it is only one lesson plans for the three classes.

After the "interview" Carly, Cristelle and I went on a hike at Tiger Head. It was pretty nice. The trails are only about a ten minute drive from our house, so it is practically our backyard. There are loads of trails but we took one that circled around and gave some good views of the surrounding cities. Tiger Head is the highest point in Taoyuan County. It was a pretty nice day too, except pretty humid. But at least it wasn't too hot.

At the top of the trail there are a lot of stray dogs. Cristelle went to pet one and we almost had an entire pack of strays attack us. It wasn't quite as close as that, but she whipped them all into a frenzy and then ran ahead so I was the last one back. I was just waiting for fangs to sink into my calf. But thankfully, they ran off in the other direction and more and more dogs could be heard barking. It was crazy.

I had a subbing class at Tung An after that. It was "kindy". The kids were so cute. Two of the girls were hanging around with me during the break so I drew them on the whiteboard. They laughed as if they hadn't seen anything funnier. Haha. So cute!

For dinner a bunch of us went to BBQ again. Carly, Alex, Cristelle, Christine and a new guy, Matt. He is really nice - from Chicago. A little bit later, Amy, Mike and Mike came and met us. Then we went up to the Tiger Head lookout for stars and city lights. It was awesome. On the way to the lookout though, Carly, Cristelle, Alex and I got pulled over at a check point. We thought it was for drunk driving and since we hadn't even had a beer with dinner we weren't worried. But then they asked to see our ID's and I started to panic. I don't have a Taiwanese license so I gave him my California one. He asked if I spoke Chinese and I don't, so I think that is why I got off with nothing. But they told us to be careful because of the ghosts.

Last night was the end of Ghost Month (August). The Chinese people really are afraid of ghosts and believe in them. It's kind of crazy. They don't go swimming, or get wet and they don't really go out at night because of ghosts.

The city lights were awesome. That is one thing that there are loads of here. When the sun sets the cities really come alive. It seems like everyone is out in full force. And there are lights everywhere - signs, street lights, flashing lights, neon signs, cars, scooters. Every kind of light you can imagine is here in Taoyuan. It is pretty awesome to see!

Today I had my regular class at Wu Ling again. I LOVE that class! The kids are so fun and they love class. I taught them a new game tonight and they love it! At first they didn't want to play it and then they were BEGGING me to play it over and over! Haha. One of the kids, Jarry, is so cute. He sits right in front by all my stuff and so we talk a lot. He's definitely my favorite, but don't tell the others. :D

After class, one of the moms (two moms come every week) gave me a little treat. It was a bag of two pastries. Both were kind of weird but pretty good. I thought it was such a nice thing to do. It made me really feel like I'm teaching there, you know. It made my night!

I had a pretty hard time getting to the campus though. Haha. I scooted over and had no idea where I was going really. So I parked at a FamilyMart and then caught a cab the rest of the way. It was such a short cab. After class, I tried to walk back but I had NO idea how to get to where the scooter was. I walked both ways down the street and finally gave up after half an hour. Turns out if I had just walked about 15 more feet, literally, I would have seen the scooter. So annoying that I paid for a taxi because I didn't walk far enough one way and then turned around. Idiot...

But it should be a truth universally acknowledged that you haven't driven until you driven a scooter in Asia. It is a pretty unique experience. Weaving in and out of cars and people, is like playing dodgeball. But at the same time, as long as you are aware, I think driving a scooter is the safest way to go through Taoyuan. Driving a car and walking are pretty harrowing as well. You just have to be on guard all the time!