I've been so busy having fun, exploring Taiwan and teaching that I forget to update my blog...but that is really what life is all about I guess so be patient with me :)
We have done some really amazing things over the past month. We've visited a local island to lounge on the beach. And drove our scooters to a huge waterfall. We hiked up a little higher so that we were able to swim at the base of part of it! The fresh water was fantastic!
We watched a cultural tradition of burning a boat that took three years to build. We waited on the beach for sunrise in which they set fire to a huge beautiful wooden boat to appease the Gods of the seas. It was nothing like an experience at home. People were standing about 10 feet away from this huge fire. And they stood there for hours waiting for the sun to come up. During that time I took a quick tiger snooze on the beach which left we with a pretty bad cold.
Teaching is going so well! The kids are finally almost over testing my every move and we can actually learn things and do more than just read and repeat! I had my formal observation yesterday which went really well. It could be because I bribed them with ice cream but they did so well! I passed and am now in the clear!
We will celebrate Halloween at our school on Thursday and Friday...the big news this year is that we've decided we wont do any teaching just all fun and games...something that never happens in these kids' lives. They are having a difficult time understanding it! Its no wonder Asian countries are becoming more advanced than America. These kids go to regular school from 7:30-3:00 then they either go to english school or math school and then they go to piano or something along those lines. Then they head home to study and write homework. On the weekends...more studying! Its amazing! So naturally I ensure that we dont take my class too seriously! Their new favorite english saying..."No way Jose!" Its getting to be a bit over used but oh well!
I've also joined a charity bowling league here! Its mostly foreign people and we have a great time. However, its far more serious than I expected. They send out our stats ever week. I'm not the last so all is good!
All in all, life is great here on our little island! Lots of crazy food, lights, sounds, smells and obviously Asians....nothing like home but its beginning to become my home at least.
I'll attempt to keep up with my blog...my bed just seems to trap me every morning!
I hope all is well as you read this! Remember to take care of you and do what you really want. As I've been here and everyone says I wish I could travel...I realized its so easy. Its really just you holding you back. Its not even really about money. It might be spendy to get here but its worth it and once you do everything is dirt cheap anyways. So do something that you dont think it possible. You wont regret it.
