Sharolyn Peterson

Our Family Christmas Picture

2012-02-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2012-02-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

The pumpkins my mom, dad, and I carved for Halloween. I carved the spider web and spider, mom carved the ghosts, and Dad carved the hawk eye.

Juliette's First Birthday

2012-02-04T08:10:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures from Juliette's first birthday.

Here she is eating her birthday cupcake. She seemed to like it. :)

Happy Birthday to Me

2012-02-04T07:24:00.001-08:00

My birthday was in October. Here I am showing off the things I got for my birthday: A shaved ice machine, a book, a shirt, a skirt, and a watch. I had a birthday party at my sister, Erika's, apartment in Rexburg for friends. I had lots of left over potstickers I had made and frozen. Here I am cooking them.

Erika, Bethany, and Nate were there the whole time. In the background, Andrew is holding up his baby.

My roommate from 2007-2008, Dacia, came for a few minutes and so did Kristi, who is from Firth. It made me so happy to have my friends come.

Nate, Bethany, me, and Erika.

My New Car!

2012-02-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

I bought a new car in August of 2011.

Treasure Mountain Scout Camp 2011

2011-08-19T13:38:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures I took at scout camp this year. It was a great year. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I got to camp a week late because I was still in Taiwan. I landed in Salt Lake and pretty much went straight up to camp. I just stopped at the doctors office to get my physical done for camp and we stopped at home long enough for me to empty one suitcase and fill it with what I needed for camp. I felt like a celebrity when I got to camp. Everyone was so excited to see me. Even those on the Nature Area Staff who didn't even know me. My Nature Area Staff was really good. I enjoyed working with them.
This first picture shows Bryant (a CIT) teaching Geology and Justin and Josh. I took this picture of Jeff. He was showing scouts some of the plants for Rank Advancements.

Spencer was put to work making new signs of the plants we had. I have big plans to be more prepared next year! Spencer was awesome!

This picture definitely has a story behind it. Sometime either in the third of fourth week of scouts the Nature Area Staff and the Scoutcraft Staff started having these battles with wooden weapons. It was quite entertaining and I would just not let them battle during program time. If you got touched with the weapon you would be either hurt or dead depending on where you got hit. I took this picture one Tuesday night. Some of the waterfront staff had come up and joined us. This was Scoutcraft coming down to attack us. I was a casual bystander of course so they let me take a picture of them.

Sam and Zach having fun in the Nature Area!

Zach in the tower that the Nature staff built during Staff week. Zach wanted to act like he was Jack Sparrow.

East End Staff leading the East End Scouts in cheers during battle of the Tetons. I took these next two pictures from the top of the water tower which I went up for the first time this year.

West End Staff members leading the West End scouts in cheers during the Battle of the Tetons.

Jacob and I on the last day at Treasure Mountain.

Chillin' on the docks after the work was done.

All of the staff members who were on the Nature Area Staff. Many were CIT's which were rotated to different areas.

Many of my friends at Treasure Mountain!

Heidi, me, and Andrew.

Sam and I.

Sam before he shaved his beard off, being Wolverine.

Last Pictures from Taiwan

2011-08-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the kids I taught:
Amily: Amily, Me, and Cindy

Andy, Me, Rolland, Derek, Vincent, Emerson,Frank, and Eric

Betty, Me, and Winnie

Barbi, Me, Eilleen, and Andy

Scott, Me, Ruby, and Penny

Kyle, Yvonne, Tony

Louie, Ruby, Penny, Jenny, and Emily

Winnie, Ivy, Joey, me, Eunice, Trevor, Ian

The fruit stand next to our apartment.

The train Station in Changhua.

BBQing Taiwan Style

Goodbye Dinner with Jill, Carlyn, and Brandon.

Me and our secretary, Emily

Me and our other secretary Joan.

Eating my favorite treat: Milk ice- this one is with Mangos

Me and one of the new teachers, Jessica. Eating at a restaurant that served the food in miniature toilets and sinks. We even sat on toilets. It was so funny.

Kiri, Me, Lauren, and Destiny. These girls taught at Berhan and went to the English Branch which is how I met them.

Carlyn and I with our wonderful Relief Society Sisters in the Chinese ward we attended. I loved them!

The sunset seen at the top of Bagua Shan where the big buddha is.

Brandon, Carlyn and I in front of the Big Buddha for the last time.

A picture of the plane that took me from Taipei to Tokyo. On my way home!

Last Week in Taiwan

2011-07-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

Monday was a great day. I went running, then talked to my parents. I am slowly runnin gout of food, but the last few days in Taiwan I ate out anyway. Work went well. We gave certificates to SPE and Basic Reading Students who are moving up to the next level. Afternoon SPEs went well. During the first class though, the power in the art room and that floor went off, so it got hot without the air condistioner on. I found out that Carlyn had tripped the breaker while in kitchen. That made me smile. During SPE time a storm started and it was a thunderstorm. It was the first time I have heard thunder while I have been here. It made me happy. I love thunderstorms.
4A's just did a review worksheet. Then they got a long break for their party. I gave them their notebooks and had them write in mine. I also started reading "Love That Dog" to them. It was still reaning when I left work so I got wet riding my bike home.
Tuesday was a good day. I cleaned my bedroom, bathroom, and the living room. I took out the garbage, which leaked some foul smelling substance. It was so foul that it almost had ma gagging, so I cleaned that up as well and sprayed some air freshener to try to get rid of the smell. I also ran for the last time here in Tiawan so I could do my laundry and pack my stuff.
It rained off and on today. I went into work for lunch and Teachers' meeting, then I came back home to try to pack. But I didn't do much since I did laundry so I didn't have space stuffers. I also repacked my suitcase that I had packed because I figured the stuff I had put in it would fit better in my bigger suitcase. I also had enough money that I could buy a half loaf of bread so I could have bread and jam for breakfast on Wednesday since I used the rest of my cereal. I got paid on Thursday so then I was able to eat a little better.
My 1B class went well. I took a video of them like I did my 4As on Monday. I took the video right before break and during break Amily took a bunch of pictures with my camera. So now I have quite a few pictures of 1B students. :) I love it!
After work Sherry took us out to dinner as a thank you for the semester. It was very good. They had fried oysters, which I didn't eat. Then they brought out a yummy mixtures in a lettuce leaf, that you ate like a taco. It had shrimp in it, but I picked out the big pieces then I couldn't taste it. It was very good. They had beef rolls which looked like egg rolls but were open on the ends, and sliced beef with a really good sauce on it. They also had bread with yummy dipping sauce, which was sweetened condensed milk. It was a wonderful meal! Then we had someone take a picture for us. It was a delightful evening.
Wednesday was a good but sad day. Morning SPE's with Barbi, Eilleen, and Andy went well. 1B afternoon class was sad because it was my last time to teach them. Amily was so cute and was playing with me a lot. She also wanted to sign my goodbye book again and wrote that she loved me. I LOVE Amiuly. I asked Amily is she would be at the school on Thursday and she said she would be, so I would get to see her one last time.
1B evening class was sad and happy. Happy becasue I'm done trying to deal with 8 rambunctious boys. Sad because it was amy last time teaching them. I love them! I will get to see Winnie, Betty, Eric, and Derek again tomorrow at McDonald's Super Student. Also Winnie gave me a card and little gift. The card was so sweet. It almost made me cry. I really love that girl and will miss her terribly.
Tutoring Kevin went well also. He just did the worksheet he missed on Monday.
After work we waited for Brandon and Bree to get home then we had movie night while we waited for the new teachers to come. We watched "The Proposal".
Sherry came while we were waiting for the new teachers and brought a treat for all of us. Since it was so late I saved mine for breakfast the next morning.
The new teachers arrived at about 12:30 so it was a late night. The new teachers' names are Jessica, Mandy, and Phil. Mandy and Phil are married and will be staying a year. They are all really nice.
Thursday was my last day of work here. Things were pretty crazy since the new teachers were there observing. We got paid at 9:30. It was a nice big paycheck since we got our completion bonus. When I was done teaching SPE's to Barbi, Eilleen, and Andy I went to the bank and put all my money but a few thousand NT to spend this weekend and my tithing in my account. Then I transferred everything over to my account in the states. It felt really good.
Afternoon SPE classes were pretty small so that was nice. I had the new teachers take some pictures for me. It was kind of weird teaching with someone watching me, but I was prepared for that through student teaching in the states. I will really miss some of those students.
My 4A class was pretty relaxing. They played Jeaopardy, had a long brak and I read the rest of "Love That Dog" to them. It isn't the most ideal class to observe since it is the end of the semester but I guess they have to since that is when the new teachers get there.
Then it was to McDonald's for Super Student reward. Derek, Andy, Eric, Winnie, and Betty from my 1B class came. While we waited for our food we played 99 with the face cards I had. That was pretty fun. I took quite a few pictures there. I told Winnie and the other students I would miss them. I also introduced Phil to those students since they will be his students.
Also I only got to see Amily for a minute today, but I was glad to see her again. I will especially miss Amily, Winnie, and SPE Emily. They have been my rays of sunshine at work. I love them all. After McDonald's I went and bought cards for Sherry and the secretaries, then I bought fruit at the fruit market. I bought mangoes, pineapple and apples for me to eat this weekend. It was a great day. I am sad to leave my students though.
Friday I kept thinking it was Saturday all day since I didn't work. I got breakfast on food street. I got the egg roll up things. I went to the store that is like Kings and bought a little bowl and soup spoon for myslef. I also ate a mango and cut up my pineapple.
At 10:30 I went to morning market. I took some pictures there and bought a long pair of chopstickes that you cook with that Carlyn calls Harry Potter wands, and some plastic chopsticks.
Then I went and parked my bike by the train station and wandered around the streets until noon. At one time I was walking down the street towards night market and an old buy was coming towards me on his bike. I heard a "Woo, Woo" sound that sounded like an owl. Then I realized the old buy was making that sound. I thought maybe I was in his way so I moved over, but then he moved over. He stopped right next to me and mad the woo, woo sound again so I looked at him and he leaned over toward me a little, then with his withered old lips made a kissy face to me. I gave him a look that was probably a cross between "Yeah right, buddy" and a disgusted look. I thought to myself, "I think I just threw up in my mouth." Jill even asked if he was really Taiwanese. She couldn't believe he was.
At noon Brandon, Carlyn, and I met Jill at the train station and followed her to the restaurant we ate at. Carlyn and I got stopped by a light and lost them but we kept going straight and finally met them wehre they had stopped to wait for us before the turn.
We went to a place that had hot pot and barbecue. One was just a pot and one was a pan with a hump in the middle and we cooked our meat on the hump and there was water around the edges. The meat we had, beef and pork, was think like bacon but had less fat. The sauce you dipped the meat in before you cooked it was so good. Dinner was amazing. Oh and the two pots were just on the table with a gas fire beneath them.
They also had hard ice cream. They had bowls and cones so I put the ice cream in the bowl and put the cone upside down on top like I like to do when I can have both. Carlyn and Brandon thought it was a genius idea since they wanted a cone as well. It was kind of funny.
After lunch we said goodbye to Jill. She said she wouldn't be to church on Sunday because she is going home. I was sad to have to say goodbye to her. I will really miss her. She also got some medicine cream that makes mosquito bites not itch and helps with bruises for me that I paid her for, I have fallen in love with the stuff.
We got done with lunch at about 2:30. I then went to the school (Maryland) to get my goodbye book and to get pictures with Joan and Emily and drop off Thank you cards. I will really miss Joan and Emily. That was another goodbye that was kind of hard.
I then went to Carrefour where I ran into Brandon and Carlyn. It was random and funny. I bought some bags of Hi Chew to take home to share. I then went to shopping street. On the way there I saw a stand next to the road that sold sweet potato fries. It was near a stop light so I pulled up on my bike and got my fries. I see a lot of people on scooters just ordering from their scooters, so ordering from my bike made me feel like I was Taiwanese. :)
At shopping street I just wandered around then I went back to the apartment. I cooled off a little there then I went to the Kings store to pick up one last gift.
I then went to the bakery and got some of my favorite treats. Some of them I will save from my trip home. But I will take pictures of them as well. By the time I got back the teachers were home so I invited the new teachers to go to food street to eat dinner. They just wanted something light and so did I, so we went to the ice place and got fruit ice. I bought their dinner since I have to spend my kuais and then they can save a little until they get paid.
Then I went to show them the round cake place and the lady who own the ice place wa there. This lady has made fun of me for not knowing much Chinese. She knew a little English. I was kind of funny. She said the lady who runs the round cake booth was her friend and so she insisted on telling the new teachers what the round cakes were. She said they were Taiwan tradition. When I tried to explain what they were she stopped me and said, "She is my friend, I will tell." It made me laugh. Then the round cake lady gave us four of them for free. I thought that was very nice of her. She knew what kind I like since I have been there quite a bit. Tawianese people ar so cute.
After we got back Mandy and Phil asked to use my computer to send emails. Then we just chatted for an hour and a half. It was fun to get to know them. I found out that Mandy has also run a marathon. It was great day. And it was nice to have some people to hang out with.
Right before I was ready for bed Brandon and Carlyn came home from their home visit with Barbi and Eilleen. I found out that Bree also went. They had their faces painted at it was quite funny. Barbi and Eilleen came in for a second and said goodbye to me. They are so cute. I will miss them as well.
Saturday was a pretty relaxing day. At 8:30 Brandon, Carlyn, and I took Mandy, Phil, and Jessica to morning market. We wandered around there for a bit and headed back. On the way back was stopped at a pet store that had a big yellow snake in a cage in front of the pet store and we got pictures of that.
We got back to the apartment at about 11 and at noon I took Jessica to the breakfast place which was luckily still open and I introduced her to the pancake roll up things. It turns out they now have a menu with English on it. Just as I'm leaving. It was very good though. When we went up to the kitchen to throw away our garbage, Brandon and Carlyn were there and we talked with them about an hour. It was nice. I also ate another one of my mangoes. Brandon and Carlyn also came and showed off their awful shirts they bought, that are things the Taiwanese people actually wear. It was quite funny. I then just killed time on my computer and relaxed.
At 4:15 Jessica and I headed to Taichung. When we got there at 5:00 we went to Chung Yo and wandered that department store. We even went out front and watched a performance there. There was a group playing some fun music. We went into the bathroom there and it was a posh bathroom. The doors were dark worod, there were a bunch of mirrors. Everything there was dark colored. It even had a vanity type mirror with a shelf. The sinks were back hidden so you couldn't see them right when you walked in.
Then we went to the church. I was able to show Jessica where it was and met up with Desitiny and the teachers from Berhan and also Lauren who teaches in Taichung. We went to the night market that is a block away from Chung Yo. We decided to eat dinner in a sit down restaurant. The restaurant was so funny. You sat on toilet seats for your chairs and our table was a bathtub with a piece of glass over the top of it. It was a smaller tub. It was all very clean and the toilet seats had cute pictures on them. You got your soups in a mini toilet bowl and your drinks in mini urinals. Jessica and I shared a meal. We got Italian Chicken on spaghetti noodles with tomato sauce. That was served on the shape of a sink but it was flat. We got shaved ice with a scoop of strawberry ice cream with strawberries and a couple of thin cookies. That was served in a mini squatter toilet. Both of these dishes were delicious. Then we also had a scoop of ice cream in an even smaller version of a squatter toilet. It was very yummy. It was absolutely hilarious though and I took a few pictures.
Then I said goodbye to Lauren, Kiri, and Destiny and got a picture with them. Then Jessica and I wandered the night market a bit then headed back. We got back about 9:30. I stopped by Free Mason for the last time and got the chocolate truffle things with cream in the middle as a snack on the way home. I was going to buy another cream filled round cake but she wasn't open. Oh well. I then showed Jessica how to order tickets on-line.
It was a nice last night on the town in Taichung and Taiwan. It was fun to see Destiny, Lauren, and Kiri again and to hang out with Jessica.

Last Taipei Temple Trip

2011-06-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

Monday was a pretty good day. I went running, wrote some letters and sent an email to Scout Camp people detailing what I want to happen during staff week in the Nature Area. Work went well. I always kind of dread the afternoon SPE classes, but once I start they go well.
My 4As did a review worksheet for their final on Thursday. It was pretty much their final so they can study. Also, Trevor, Winnie, Ivy, Eunice, and Monica had to do their End of Year Projects again because they weren't loud enough. After library, I took them to 7-11 for their earned party. They will get to go on Thursday as well after they take their final.
I had a nice relaxing evening as well.
Tuesday was the first day of summer. When I went running I could tell it was going to rain, it was so humid. I talked to my parents for two hours. It was really nice.
Work went well. I finished the finals and worksheets and the questions to play jeopardy the last day as a review of the whole semester. And it rained all afternoon. I also mailed 4 letters.
1B evening class went well. I just love my students. Right after their library time Sherry came and took five boys out. I knew they must have done something wrong but I didn't know what. Winnie made the comment, "It is quiet in her." It was break time and it was very quiet compared to how it usually is with everyone there. It was nice to only have 5 studens for 15 to 20 minutes.
After wrok I went to the shaved ice place for dinner. I had the one with mango. It was so good. I know this is random, but I am so bored these days that I have too much time to think. Tuesday while I was thinking, I decided that there needs to be another food group that is imperative in hot places. It is the Frozen Food group. This in an important food group because it helps cool your body temperature which helps you to not sweat your face off. Foods that can be in this food group are milk ice with fruit, slurpy, ice cream, shaved ice, cold drinks (especially water), jamba, and even frozen vegetables or fruits to snack on. I also think it deserves to be on the same level as the fruits and vegetables.
If you couldn't tell, I like my frozen food, especially on a hot and/or humid day.
Wednesday was a good day for the most part. During SPE's with Barbi, Eilleen and Andy my capris got caught on a nail on the chair I was sitting on and ripped a whole in them. Luckily Emily had a needle and thread.
1B afternoon class went well. They studied for the final and did their End of Year Projects again.
1B evening also did their End of Year Projects again and studied for the final. Some of the boys had hard time doing what they were supposed to though.
Tutoring Kevin was easy since he just took his final and that took the whole hour. It was a good day. I never look forward to Wednesdays since it is my longest day, but once classes get going, it goes by pretty quickly.
Thursday was a pretty good day. SPE's with Barbi, Eilleen and Andy went well. During my morning prep time I jsut read my book since I have nothing else to do. Afternoon SPEs went well as well, though I didn't have a lot of patience.
My 4A class was easy. They took their final and I read my book. We also corrected the test. Then I took them to 7-11. Ian and Trevor thought they could just take the 30 NT I gave them to buy something home. I told them they either buy something or I get my 30 NT back. So they bought something.
It was my turn to choose the movie for movie night. I chose "Thoroughly Modern Millie." I thought I had only seen parts of it, but as we watched it, I remembered a lot of the movie. I like it. It is a musical though, so of course I like it. It is pretty cheesy though. :)
Friday was the last Friday I will work. I can't believe it is coming so soon. I'm excited to go home. I will really miss some of my students though. I will miss Amily, Winnie, Betty, Rolland, Andy, Frank, SPE Emily, Yvonne, and Ruby. I will also miss the secretaries Joan and Emily. I love them all. I will be sad to leave them. Next week will be bitter-sweet. Bitter because I am leaving some many people I love and sweet because I will be able to go home and I will be done with my job here.
My 1B afternoon and evening classes took their final and went to 7-11. When we got back from 7-11 I had Emily take pictures for me. It was an easy day for me and I finished my bookI have been reading, "The Lighthouse Keeper," It is a very good book. It was a really good day!
Saturday was a great day. We left for Taipei at 7:30 am. First we went south to Yuanlin to pick up members from that ward, then we went north to Taipei. We got to Taipei at 11:30. Brandon, Carlyn, Jill and I then went over by the college. We got potstickers for lunch. Then we got a mango smoothie that was very yummy. We also got a big crepe. I got one with strawberry and blueberry jam. It was so yummy. We went to the 1:00 session at the temple. It was so nice to go to the temple again. I had Jill take a picture with me in the front of the temple since it is my last time going to the Taipei Temple.
On the bus, Jill helped me translate my cookbook that has only Chinese in it. She also told me that she didn't translate for the other teachers when they went to the Chinese Ward. Someone else did. She also said that we are the first English Teachers that have regularly attended that ward since she has been here. She has been here 3 years.
She also invited Brandon, Carlyn, and I to have a farewell lunch with her next Friday at noon since we are leaving in a week. We are going to a barbeque place. I'm excited to try that as well as have a time to hang out with Jill again. It really will be a happy and sad last week in Taiwan. Happy to go home and to Scout Camp, sad to leave some friends and students whom I love.
Sunday was good. Church was good as usual. Right before Relief Society, I said to Carly, "We only have one more Sunday here after today." She said, "I know, I'm so excited!" But when she said this here gum fell out of her mouth. She said, "I'm so excited I spit my gum out." She went to throw it away. I was laughing so hard I was starting to cry. I don't know why I was laughing so hard becuase it really wasn't THAT funny. It entertained me though. And Carlyn also told me about their awkward home visit on Saturday. It was quite humorous.
As we were leaving the Relief Society room after church, one sister told us goodbye and wished us luck. She is a cute woman. Her Sunday School lessons are always so good. She always has really good visual aids. I love watching her teach and I don't even know what she is saying exactly until Jill translates for me.
The lunch after church was very good. After church I did my usual emailing. I ate some more of my Lychee that Jill gave me as well. It was a nice relaxing Sunday.

Afternoon with Jill in Changhua

2011-06-20T20:19:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday my friend, Jill, spent the afternoon with me. First we went to eat lunch at a restaurant that had hot pot. Hot pot was so good. They brought out a mini pot with soup (mostly just broth) in it. Then you went (buffet style) and got the vegis and meat that you wanted to put in your soup. I loved it. Mostly because I could choose what I wanted to put in it, and Jill was there to translate. They also had a dessert bar where I was able to get an ice cream cone. The hot pot with my bowl and plates next to it.

Then we went hiking around a path on a hill. It was beautiful and it was full of fruit trees.

I thought the trees behind me were interesting. They were a bush and a tree all rolled into one.

Eating my first Lychee. They were growing everywhere. It is obviously their season. They were pretty good. Very interesting.

Walking on the path.

Jill said these were the king of fruits. I love that they are as big as my head!

Hot Pot

2011-06-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

Monday I had a hard time convincing myself to run because of how hot it was, but I did it. Mondays always seem hard because I'm not quite ready for my weekend to be over, but once classes start it goes by quickly. SPE afternoon classes went well. My 4A class went well. They just practiced their projects. At the end of class I asked them what they wanted since they got 200 points. They decided they wanted to go to 7-11 and I give them 30 kuai. I wrote the kuai sign wrong on the board and Ian came up and fixed it for me. It made me smile. They also asked for a longer break next Monday which is very doable since they will just be reviewing for their final anyway.
The rest of my evening went well.
Tuesday work went well. I didn't finish my finals so I have something to work on during my prep times this week. We found out the names of the new teachers coming. Also Carlyn told us that we will do the last Super Student McDonald's outing on the 30th and the new teachers will be able to come along.
1B evening class went well. During break I asked them to help me translate the menu for the shaved ice place on food street. They were able to do quite a bit. Some of them seem to like translating for me, it is almost like a game. They know what it is in Chinese but sometimes they don't know how to say it in English. They translated enought that I have some options when I go next time.
Wednesday was Brandon's birthday. He liked my present to him. I wrote him a pretend letter terminating his employment here as of June 30th. It was quite funny.
1B afternoon class did their presentations in front of the camera. They did well. 1B evening class practiced their presentations again and they will do them in front of the camera on Friday. I really love most of the 1B students. Derek has even settled down a lot. He is still very ADD but isn't rude or disruptive anymore, which I am grateful for.
Winnie was so cute and organized the mess on my desk. It will get much cleaner after the presentations are all done and I can get rid of those papers.
Tutoring Kevin went well. He did his presentation for the 2nd time and did well. Also since he wouldn't be there on Thursday when the 4As were supposed to go to 7-11 I took him Wednesday. It was also nice to only have to tutor for an hour instead of the hour and a half that I had to do for the past two weeks to make up for the time he missed his tutoring session.
Thursday SPE's with Barbi, Eilleen, and Andy went well. During my two hours prep I mailed my Grandparents anniversary letters and worked on my finals some more. I should be able to finish them by the end of Tuesday which will be nice. It will be nice to have something to do.
Afternoon SPE's went well though we did get locked out of the art room and so I ended up doing the last art SPE in my classroom. It was kind of funny.
My 4As didn't get to go to 7-11 because I didn't have enough money to pay for them and SHerry had forgotten it was payday. It was a good thing I asked her about it because we still got paid, just too late to take the 4As to 7-11 so I will take them on Monday.
Our movie on Thursday was "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." It was pretty good.
Friday was a good day. SPE's with Eilleen, Barbi, and Andy went well. During my hour prep time before lunch I went to Cave's bookstore. I bought the other two Bill Peet books (which I couldn't find at first so I was afraid someone else had taken them, but then I found them) and a Chinese instrumental CD and notebooks for my kids presents from me. The lady gave me a discount on the notebooks which was very nice so technically I got 2 for free.
After I ate lunch I put my savings in the bank again.
All of my 1B kids in both afternoon and evening classes were crazy. At one time Amily was working on the letter I had them writing. She had come up and was writing on her paper on the board. She made a mistake and grabbed the dry erase eraser and went to erase the pencil on her paper. Then she realized what she did and she fell on the floor laughing. Which of course made me laugh.
My 1B evening class did their End of Year Projects for the first time. A lot of them need to be louder though. Most of them did well in having it memorized. It was really a good class perod, even if they were off the wall. Winnie organized my desk again. I'm excited for the next two weeks because it is just review weeks and taking the final.
Saturday morning I packed up one of my suitcases. In a week and a half the other one will be ready to go. I have to be packed up by the time the new teachers come on the 29th.
Jill picked me up at 12:30 and we went to lunch. The restaurant I wanted to go to was closed so Jill took me to a hot pot place. It was good, and I hadn't done hot pot yet. They bring a soup to you in a sort of pot that sits in the table and you get vegis, meat and such that you want to put in (buffet style) and then you heat it up and cook it, then eat it. They also had other stuff you could get. I had a lot of fruit as well. All of it was so good. I really liked it because you got to put whatever you wanted in it, so there wasn't much fear of hating it, especially with Jill there to tell me what everything was when I didn't know from the look of it. Tey even had a dessert bar. I got a hard ice cream cone with a sugar cone, and little piece of cake. It was alls o good. I forgot my camera, but Jill was nice enought to take pictures for me and email them to me.
After we were done with lunch at about 3 we rode her scooter to the other part of the university that is on the other side of the hill. There was a trail here so we hiked around on this nature trail. It was beautiful. I even tried lychee. It was growing on trees everywhere. The shell on the outside is hard. The meat is almost Jello-like. If you pinch it together at the top it just splits open. We walked around for almost two hours. It was a lot of fun. It was a good afternoon. Jill also gave me a bunch of Chinese songs on a file on a CD. SHe had almost 70 songs. Now I won't buy one. Jill is so nice, but then again, a lot of people are.
For dinner I just went to the shaved ice place on food street with my translated menu (thank you 1B evening class). I got ice with a strawberry jam and sweetened condensed milk. It was yummy and a good light dinenr after the big lunch I had. It really was a great day.
Sunday right before church Jill stopped at our apartment and had a bag of lychee for me and a bag for Brandon and Carlyn. Church was at 9:00 because of ward conference. For their ward conference they had an hour and a half sacrament meeting then a little break, then Relief Society. No Sunday School. I got to play the piano again in Relief Society.
The last few weeks I have been staying for the lunch after church. It is nice to not cook lunch on Sundays.

A Relaxing Week

2011-06-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

Old Street in lugang. It is one of the buildings. Here is a picture of the street in general. It has shops all along the old street and there are quite a few people since it was Dragon Boat Festival.

One of my favorite things to eat. Shaved ice with Fruit and Sweetened Condensed Milk. You can't see the fruit very well because they put more ice on top of it, but it was yummy. This one was Mango.

A look at how close together some of the shops were set up.

Johan and I at that night market in Changhua. He is doing the "I'm handsome" sign with his hand and I'm doing the "I'm beautiful" sign with my hands. So funny.

Johan and I at the round about near the Changhua Train Station.

The Changhua Confucious Temple.

I am in front of the Confucious Temple.

The sign at the Confucious Temple said, "The Changhua Confucious Temple was erected by County Magistrate Zhang Hao in the 4th year of Yongzheng of the Emperor the Qing Dynasty (1726) and underwent repairs in the years of the Emperor Qianlong, the Emperor Jiaqing, and the Japanese colonial domination and eventually in 1976 and 2008. Today, the key elements of the Changhua Confucious Temple consists of the Lingxing Gate, the Ji Gate. the Tacheng Palace, with its east and west rooms on the sides and the Chungsheng Shrine on the rear. The layout of the building is rectangular with the width of five bays. It is situated on a platform and surrounded with colonnade. The double-eave roof makes the building more extended and dignified. Its mountain-shaped roof has a ridge with elevated extremes and the brick-laid base features traditional figures, with a stone platform in the front when performing the Yi dance at the ceremonial ritual. A pair of Quanzhou white stone dragon columns of identical sculptures are available in the open room, the overwhelming style makes the site a masterpiece in Taiwan.

Book Store

2011-06-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

Monday I didn't have to work which was so nice. It was Dragon Boat Festival. I cleaned the kitchen a bit after I ran and got ready for the day. I left at about 10 to go to Lugang. At Lugang, I picked up my last fan and wandered around a bit. It was crowded since it was a holiday. It kind of reminded me of a fair except no rides or animals and not dusty. But a lot os hops and food stands. I got sweet potato fries and Mango Milk Ice which were both so good. The milk ice was wonderful just because it was 86 degrees out and the sun felt especially hot. I got home about one. In those few hours I got a little burned. I spend the rest of the day reading Princess Bride, which I finished. I am now going to start Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. I'm pretty excited tor ead it and see how much it is like the movie Secret of Nimh. I didn't even know it was a book. It was a nice relaxing day.
Tuesday I forgot to set my alarm again so I didn't wake up until 6:30 so I just ran 1/2 mile on the track but still ran there and back so it was almost a mile. I talked to my parents and then bought candy for my 1B evening kids as a part of their party. Work went well. I now have everything done that i need to have done except my final and I saved that for next week so I would have something to do then. I still had plenty of time to read some of my book too.
Shelton, our lizard (gecko), scared me as I walked up to my classroom. He ran up from behind the handrail. Of course, I jumped.
1B evening class went well. They took their test and did their spelling stuff. They earned their party so for the last hour we went to 7-11 and I gave them some candy and read their book. Four of the boys had lost their party though and didn't come with us. After work I worked on the cross-stitch I am doing. It was a good day.
Wednesday was a long day, but pretty good. I went running and then wrote my dad's Father's Day letter. SPE's with Barbi, Eilleen and Andy went well. During our break between lunch and classes I went to the Post Office to see if I could get a box big enough to mail the wooden swords I got home just to be sure they wouldn't take them away at the airport. I got the biggest size they had but when I got home it wasn't big enough. But the smaller swords fit, just not the bigger ones so i will sent the little ones home. 1B afternoon class went well. In my 1B evening class we went down to the gym for about a half an hour as a part of their party. So that was fun.
Tutoring Kevin went well. Emily came and recorded him doing his End of Year Project. He told the story of the 3 Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. He did really well. When we were done with what I needed to do with him I just let him work on a word search that has spelling words in it.
I got a headache tonight. I don't know whether it is from eating too many sweets since my kids have had their parties or if I'm not drinking enough with how hot and humid it is, since I am sweating more. Even though I try to drink a lot. It was a pretty good day overall.
Thursday I was kind of nauseous. It think it was partly from the heat. I mailed the package home. It cost a lot so I really hope it gets delivered.
SPE's this morning went well. I also mailed my dad's Father's Day letter.
I had no energy today so afternoon SPE's seemed to go on forever. My 4A's (I found out they are still A and not B until next semester) did their End of Year Projects. Ian was the only one who had his memorized so all the others have to do theirs again in a week.
It was a pretty good day. Even if it felt long. Brandon chose Two Towers as the movie for movie night so I didn't go to bed till 11.
Friday I woke up and ran then just chilled until work at ten. I chatted with Sylina which was so nice. SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen and Andy went well. During my hour prep time I did the 3A newsletter for July that was somehow missed.
1B afternoon class was kind of a lazy day since I just had them practice their End of Year Projects. It was kind of nice for me though. 1B evening class I just listened as each of them did their End of Year Projects. Some don't have it memorized still, but I let them struggle up in front of the class to show how serious it is getting since they do theirs on Tuesday.
During that class Sherry came in to tell me that Johan had called and that he would be at the train station at 7:15.
I met Johan at 7:15 and we walked about a mile to night market. We walked around then we got dinner there. We got beef steak with noddles and and egg. They brought it out still bubbly with heat on the little pan type plate on wood. It was so yummy. And it only cost 100 NT. And it filled me up. After we ate we got some pictures then headed out. Before we left the night market I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around and saw a woman and she motioned to a little boy. He looked at me and I saw that it was Kyle, who is in the afternoon SPE class. I guess either Kyle had mentioned to his mom that I was his teacher or she has seen me at the school. I have never met her before. It was funny. He acted like he didn't know what to say and looked at me kind of funny like he didn't know why I was there. I just didn't fit into that part of his life. I did convince him to say "Hello, Teacher." It was fun to see a student outside of class.
Then Johan and I walked back toward the train station. We stopped at McDonald's for ice cream then walked the rest of the way to the train station. We went to the center of the round about there and had a buy from Vietnam take our picture. Then Johan left. I really was fun to hang out and do something besides just hanging out at home.
Saturday was a good day. I did laundry and did pretty deep cleaning in the kitchen. For breakfast I went to a place on food street. I got egg pancakes, that is my name for them. They pour scrambled eggs ina circle then put a tortilla type thing (a little thinner ) on the eggs. They let the eggs cook then flip it over so the tortilla cooks and the eggs through it. Then you can put something on it.l I just got cheese, then they put some sweet soy sauce on it. Then they fold it in thirds and cut it in 1-inch strips. I really like it. I would have liked it more if it had good cheese and not he single squares, but I really liked it and will make it when I go back home.
At about 12:30 I went to Cave's Book Store. I looked for and got a book for Carlyn and listened to the CD selection they had to see if I could fin one I wanted. While I was doing that I noticed that they had three Bill Peet books. I got one and will go back next week sometime and get the other ones. Bill Peet books seem hard to find sometimes.
Then I went to the Changhua Confucian temple and took some pictures there. I got a 7-11 slurpy because it was so hot then went home. I then emailed my mom some things to get ready for Scout Camp.
At 5 I went to food street and got shaved ice with Fruit. It was good and that was my dinner. I didn't eat much today. I then worked on my cross stitch. It was a good relaxing day.

Day with Jill - Pictures

2011-06-05T01:40:00.000-07:00

The Hakka food wrapped in Bamboo leaf. So good! The area above Nanjuang Village. The lake is called something like Lake That is towards Heaven. It was beautiful. Brandon, Carlyn, Me and Jill. I like how we liked up in order of height but didn't even mean to.

Jill and I

Picture of my by the lake.

Jill and I again.

More pictures of me by the lake.

The post office in Nanjuang village that was built during the Japanese Occupation era.

You can tell in the picture but these tables were very short. I don't think they even reached my knee when I was standing. This is where we ate our shaved ice.

I think this was what Jill called the egg flower at the floral shop.

Our Chow Mein that Jill and I shared. It was pretty good.

All of us enjoying our Chow Mein.

Carlyn seeing how many cards she could get to stick with her because she was so sticky from the humidity.

Trying to show how little Jill's cards were. They were so cute.

Day with Jill

2011-06-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

Monday morning I ran then talked to my parents. Amy and the girls were there, as well as Nate and Bethany and Tom and Arianne. It was pretty nice. I got to work at eleven. Afternoon SPEs weren't too bad. The first group I have is the one that drives me crazy so I'm glad I can get them out of the way first. Some of my favorite SPE kids are Yvonne, Emily, Ruby (Speaking of Ruby - we hear her reading a lot in Chinese between lunch and classes so I recorded her), and Louie.
My 4B class was good. We didn't get a new newsletter so we didnt' do any of the normal things. I gave them a project to keep them busy then worked one on one with them on their End of Year Projects since they are doing them next week.
Tuesday was a pretty good day, but Monday night was a long night. I woke up at four in the morning with my arms itching like crazy. I scratched them a little until I woke up enough to realize they were mosquito bites. I had four or five on my arms. So I got up and put some bug spray on. But silly me, I forgot to put some on my back. While I was sleeping my shirt came up a little baring my lower back. I woke up and I had another big bite on the small of my lower back. I woke up with vengeance in my heart for the pesky mosquito.
I did some cleaning on Tuesday as well. Work was good. I got a lot done. I now only have some Progress Reports and the 2 final tests for my two classes, then I will be done with everything I have to do. We also finally got paper to put on our bulletin boards in our classrooms so I put that up.
1B class went pretty well thought they were kind of wild. I had fun with them and teased them a lot. Also the guy who painted fans for me called and he brought them to me. I thought that was very nice of him. Sherry had to watch my class while I went down and paid him. When I got back Sherry told me that she told them I would put them in a seating chart. The problem is, that it doesn't really matter who I put some of them next to or near, they will still be obnoxious. But I will make a seating chart. The fans turned out beautifully. He is so talentd. In fact I told him I wanted one more and I will pick it up on Monday when I don't have work. I was glad Emily was there to translate. It made things a lot easier. It was a really good day.
Wednesday was June 1st. I can't believe I only have one month left of working here. I am glad for many reasons, but I will really miss some of the kids I work with. I started feeling sick yesterday and was still feeling sick this morning so I didn't run and I didn't run for the rest of the week to try to keep the sickness from getting too bad. Wednesdays are my long days now and being sick made it so I didn't have very much patience.
Emily filmed me doing the gym SPE with Barbi, Eilleen and Andy (who moved from afternoon SPEs). It was a little nerve wracking but it went pretty well. 1B afternoon class and evening classes went pretty well. I tried to get through as much stuff as possible so I could dedicate Friday's class to working on the end of year projects with them one-on-one.
I had to tutor Kevin for an hour and a half since he missed last week. It was a long tutoring session but I helped him to finish memorizing his end of year project. I wouldn't have been able to fill the time very well without that to work on.
Thursday was an okay day, the put it like the kids do, it was so-so. I had almost no patience with the afternoon SPE kids. I think I was just ready for the weekend. Last night someone sent a text, then that same person called me 5 times, leaving a voicemail twice. It kept me up for almost an hour with it ringing every so often. It woke me up near midnight and I wasn't able to go back to sleep until about one. Maybe that was why I didn't have much patience as well, because I am being sleep deprived. I have been awakened in the middle of the night twice this week. First by a mosquito, then by an unknown caller. I can't even check the messages until I get back to the states on July 4th.
Thurday night I went to food street and they have turned it into a mini night market. It was pretty fun.
Friday was a pretty good day. Amily finally told me how she got her leg all scratched up. I noticed it on Monday and Emily told me on Friday what she thought happened and I asked Amily and she said it was true. She was on the scooter with her dad and they crashed somehow so the scooter tipped over and thus threw Amily off and she top up her leg pretty good. She had a bandage on her foot for most of the week. It was off on Friday and there was a pretty good chunk of skin missing near where her foot meets her leg, but not by the ankle bone. I understand now why she was pretty subdued on Monday. She was still suffering a little from the trauma of it. Amily is one tough cookie though and on Friday she was limping around still but having fun int eh park and doing much of what she would normally do. She just couldn't do it as fast and was still favoring the leg of course. I felt really bad for her though.
SPE's Friday morning went well. In my 1B afternoon class I worked with them for an hour on their End of Year Projects then we went to the park and 7-11 for their party they earned. They also played Bingo. It was pretty fun and really relaxing for me.
In my 1B evening class I just worked with them on their End of Year Projects. They earned their party so they will have their party on Tuesday.
Right after work Carlyn, Brandon, and I went to the university to "Sport Broadway." Itw as fun and pretty entertaining. I enjoyed myself and used up all the memory in my camera taking videos so when I got home I took all the videos off my camera and onto my computer so I could take pictures on Saturday. The name of the University is NCUE which is National Changhua University of Education. It focuses on Education majors from what I understand.
Saturday morning Brandon, Carlyn and i met Jill at the Changhua train station. We rode the local train (which stops at every stop because it is electric) to Zhunan which is next to the town that Jill grew up in. We went to her house, her mom picked us up. Her mom is way cute. They gave us a kind of Hakka food (Jill is Hakka). It was rice wrapped in Bamboo leaves. It was pretty spicy but really good. I don't remember what it was called. But they are famous food at Dragon Boat Festival time (which is this weekend). I have already seen Bamboo leaves laying around from them. We drove up into the Mountains. We went to Nanjuang village which is in the mountains. We walked around up above the village around a lake whose name means something like lake up toward heaven, since itis at the tops of the mountains almost. It wasn't a lake you could swim in, though none of the lakes here seem like you can swim in them. We took some fun pictures thogether there. Then we drove back down to the village and walked through the shops. We got ice cream and shaved ice and milk ice. It was all so yummy and so good to eat on the hot day. I got little servings of each so I could have them. We also saw an old post office that was built during the Japanese Occupation. It had a fun little shop in it as well.
We then went back to the train station in Zhunan and took a train to Hsinchu. We walked around the Sogo department store and the streets. We ate some Japanese dish that had animal products mashed together and some kind of good sauce (It didn't really taste like hot dogs though). It was pretty good. Then we had Chow Mein in a shop that is under the temple there. There were all sorts of places we could eat at there. We went to the Chow Mein place because that is where Jill and her family usually eat. Chow Mein of course is Fried Noodles, but they aren't hard like the once in the states that you think of. It reallyw as a pretty good dinner. We then went to a square near the train station and sat for a while. Then we played a card game Jill taught us with her mini cards. The cards were so cute. The game we played was called "13".
It was so fun to spend the day with Jill and Brandon and Carlyn. When I finally looked in a mirror I saw that I got a little sunburned, but it wasn't bad.
One time while we were at a floral shop in Zhunan (outdoor floral shop), the mosquitos were so pesky. We were there maybe 15 minutes and byt he time we left I had seven bites on my legs. Luckily Jill had a cream to put on the bites that made it so they didn't itch. It was really nice. I really enjoyed the day, it was fun and relaxing and it was fun to be able to hand out with Jill outside of church.
I thne ended up staying up until midnight doing my laundry because I don't like to do it on Sunday, so by the time I went to bed, I was very tired and fell asleep almost immediately.
Sunday I let myself sleep in until eight in the morning since I went to bed so late. Jill wasnt' there, but we had known she wouldn't be, becuase she was staying the rest of the weekend with her family. So during sacrament meeting I just read my scriptures. During Sunday School I read the lesson and a guy next to me told me what they were talking about a couple of times. That was very kind of him. During Relief Society I read out of the Gospel Principles manual.
I did my usualy emailing and updating my blog after church. I am so glad I don't have to work on Monday. I need an extra days break.

Lugang

2011-05-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

Monday I ate my first Mango ever! It was very good. Monday morning I ran in the rain, but only for 10 minutes. Then I looked up how bad the acid rain was and it said it averages around 5 on the Ph scale. But it is better than that when it is not monsoon season. The acid raid comes over from China. It said to wear a hat or have an umbrella so your hair doesn't fall out. Needless to say I decided not to run in the rain anymore. I will just clog if it is raining on one of my days to run.

Work went really well. The afternoon SPE's wore me out so I'm glad I only have to do them twice a week. My 4B class went well. They can me me giggle with their sarcastic remarks or what they write. They are funny sometimes. When I got home there was a huge bug on our ceiling in hte kitchen. It looked familiar and then Carlyn said it was a big squash bug. It made me nervous on the ceiling though. I didn't want it falling on me. I worked a little on my cross-stich as well.
Tuesday morning I ran, since it wasn't raining, and talked to my parents. I decided, Carlyn gave me the idea, to type up all the tests for the rest of the semester except the final so that is what I did during my time between teacher's meeting. I also finished the July lesson plans for the new teacher for 1A evening class.
One fun thing happened during our time between Teacher's meeting and my 1B evening class. Carlyn and I heard a weird chirping sound and we turned around and there was a lizard on the wall! It made Carlyn and I so happy. Emily said it was normal for a lizard to be in a building or in the house. Brandon named him Shelton. Shelton kept us company the rest of the afternoon. It was great, he even talked to us a few more times as well. At one time I thought he was behind some pictures in frames on the wall. Then all of the sudden he appeared from behind the book shelf on the wall behind the computer I was working on. I jumped and said, "Shelton, you can't do that to me." Carlyn thought that was funny when I told her about it.

1B class was pretty good. Sherry had a long talk with Derek and it seemed to help. He didn't act out as much. Overall it was a really good day.
Wednesday morning I didn't wake up until 6:20 because I forgot to set my alarm again. So I only ran a mile on the track, but I ran there and back which totals close to another half mile. I got to chat with Sylina again as well.
SPE's were a long two hours with Barbi and Eilleen. 1B afternoon and evening classes went well. Amily made me giggle again. She is so funny. She entertains herself while Cindy takes the test that Amily took on Tuesday and when she messes up or something, Amily said, "oh". It is just so cute. In my evening class we played Bingo. They really enjoed playing a new game.
Kevin didn't show up for tutoring so I went home at 7. I was talking to Carlyn and we were talking a little about what we will miss when we leave. Also, after this Monday we have the next Monday off so we get a four-day week. Then we only have three more Monday's. That makes it seem like an even shorter time. We also talked a little about the students we will miss and the ones we won't. It will be a happy time to go back to my family in the states. But there are a few things and people I will miss.
Thursday was a good day. I got to work by 9:00 and had SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen for an hour, then had two hours of prep time.
Afternoon SPE's drained me but they went well. Little Emily is so cute. I love her. She just has a little angel face to match how she acts.
My 4B calss went well as well. During break they were throwing a paper ball and it hit me a few times. I picked it up and threw it back at them. They thought it was great that I was playing with them a little. I felt like we had some fun.
When I got out of work the sky was pretty light still. It has slowly stayed lighter for longer. The sun was down at 6:45 but the sky was still quite light that you could see pretty well. Almost light enough that the cars didn't need lights. It was just about dusk. It was great. It made my day to see that it was still light outside. For movie night we watched Ever After.
Friday after SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen I mailed Nate's birthday letter. For lunch Barbi and Eilleen's dad brought lunches for us. I guess it was a part of the mom and baby coming home from the hospital tomorrow. A kind of celebratory lunch. The lunch was pretty good, but ther was squid in it that I picked out, but it made it smell. I hate the smell of squid. It is almost as bad as stinky tofu.
1B afternoon class went well though the stuff I had didn't take up very much time. So they played spelling games. They will also earn their party next Friday so we talked about what they wanted to do. 1B evening class went pretty well though 2 boys lost the priviledge to participate with us when they earn their party.
After work I did some cross-stitching
Saturday was a pretty lazy day. I didn't wake up until 6:30. It was nice to sleep in a little. At nine I left to go to Lugang. After a bit of searching I was able to find the fan shop where the guy hand paints fans for you. I knew I had found the right place when I entered and I looked to the right and there were many pictures of missionaries. Britta had told us about this place. The guy who owned the shop pointed to them and said, "Mormon." He didn't know a lot of English, but he knew the work 'mormon'. I then pointed to myself and said, "me too." I told him which pictures I wanted on my fan.
After that I went to another shop and got an authentic Chinese blouse. I felt weird to have to get a 2X size shirt though. I also found another shop and the wooden swords caught my eye. I bought some of those for pretty cheap for some Scout Camp friends and for the Christmas in July. I also got some wooden tops. It was kind of fun to shop around. Then I headed home. I was home just after noon. The rest of the day I cross-stitched, worked on writing one of my novels I'm working on, and read "The Princess Bride."
I also got a frozen slushi thing that had frozen cream (milk flavored ice cream or frozen whipped cream tasting) on it. It was strawberry flavored and really pretty good. It was a good relaxing day.
Sunday, church was reallygood. During the combined class for 5th Sunday I volunteered to lead the opening song, but it seemed like the brother in charge was pointing behind me so it took me a minute to realize he was saying for me to come up. So I led the song. The lesson was on the New Family Search. That was exciting for me even though I didn't understand what was being said. I just knew what they were doing for the most part.
I also asked Jill how to write her Chinese name. She also told me that for my name Ro Xue together means like snow, but Ro by itself means if. If you don't remember my Chinese name, it is Lin Ro Xue.
This Saturday, Brandon, Carlyn, and I will go with Jill to Miaoli area where she is from. It will be a fun day. I am excited for it.

3rd Week of May

2011-05-21T23:53:00.000-07:00

Monday was a good day. I had the morning without teaching so I started making up clogging dances. It made me happy to clog again. SPE afternoon classes went well. I enjoy most of the kids in those classes. My 4B's earned their 7-11 trip. At the start of class Secretary Emily said if it was still raining they wouldn't be able to go. It was really pouring during the SPE time. It stopped at the time we were going to go so they go to go to 7-11. My classes went really well. We also got paid, which is always a bonus.
For dinner I finished my instant mashed potatoes I made on Sunday. It was so nice to have a small change in diet for a couple of days.
Tuesday was a good but kind of long day. I talked to my parents in the morning. That was really nice. I always enjoy talking to them. I also found out that at camp we will probably just be teaching the regular merit badges. That makes it so I have less planning to do. Most of my planning will happen close to the middle of June when I email my staff to tell them which merit badges will be taught and what needs to be done during Staff week. I will also email Sterling my choices of CIT's for the first two weeks.
I got to work at 11 and made my 1B test. Teacher's meeting went well. The hours between teacher's meeting and my 1B evening class seemed to last forever. I got quite a bit done though.
My 1B class was kind of wild today. During break time Winnie asked when Iw as going home. I told her July 4th then I asked, "Why, are you excited for me to leave?" (teasing her). She smiled and shook her head and said, "I don't want you to leave. I don't want you to go back to America."
I said, "I have to. How about I take you to America with me?"
She smile and said, "yeah. Then I will teach you Chinese and you can teach me English." She is so cute.
Then I told the class that the new teachers woud come on June 29th. They asked me if I knew their names, but I told them no. Then Winnie said her new teacher will be "New Teacher Sharolyn." It made me happy that she will miss me becuase I will miss her. It was a long but good day.
Wednesday was a pretty good day. My eyes were kind of hurting so I decided that it was time to change my contacts. Also I was feeling slightly ill Wednesday so I took some extra vitamin C Wednesday night. SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen went well. 1B afternoon class went well. Poor Amily gets pretty bored since I have to repeat what she learns on Tuesday for Cindy. She handles it pretty well though. She entertains herself while Cindy takes the test and such.
My 1B evening kids were even crazier than they were on Tuesday. I think they have started taking hyper pills. Or maybe it is because summer is here, and who wants to be in a classroom. It went pretty well though.
I tutored my 4B Kevin for the first time Wednesday night from 6:50 to 7:50. It went pretty well. We focused half of the time on memorizing his end of year project. He got pretty far on it.
Thursday was a good day. Three SPE afternoon kids were gone so Carlyn and Brandon told me I could have the afternoon off. That was really nice.
My 4B class was loud as usual but it went well and I was able to get through what I needed to. It was my turn to pick the movie for movie night. I decided on "Newsies." If was fun to watch it again. I've got almost three clogging dances done. It has been fun to clog this week.
Friday was a good day. Thursday night I was awakened twice with a Charlie Horse in my calf. I also forgot to set my alarm so I didn't wake up until 6:20 a.m. so I only ran a mile.
When I ran at 6:30 it was almost a completely clear sky. By the time I left for work at 9:30 it was cloudy. It amazes me how quickly the weather can change.
SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen went well. We made the things that you have a color on the outside. And you move it back and forth, it kind of looks like it could be a mouth if you hold two of the sides together. Then put a number and something nice in the very inside fold. They loved those. Though Eilleen had a hard time coordinating her fingers to move the right way.
1B afternoon class went well. My 1B evening class was pretty good. After work I went to Free Mason to buy a new water bottle because mine is getting gross. Overall it was a good week. It went pretty quickly. It is funny because on Tuesday the weekend seems so far away then before I know it, it is the weekend. I love weeks like that.
Saturday I caught a train to Chaiyi at 6:20. When I got there a woman asked if I was going to Alishan. I said yes, so I rode a van to Alishan for 200 NT which was really good considering my bus ticket back was 290 NT.
When we got to Alishan at about 9:40 a.m. I had to pay to get in the park. At first the driver just said, 'ticket." I was very confused because I didn't have a ticket. After a minute I understood that he wanted money to pay for a ticket for me to get in.
After wandering around a bit I finally found the road I wanted. It was beautiful in Alishan. It was in the 60's and cloudy. And the scenery was superb. I loved being in the mountains.
I saw 3 generations tree which seems to have been dead and revived two more times in a row on the same spot and sharing the same root system. The truth is that the big chunky roots lying on the ground are the real roots of the first generation tree, which was alive back to 1500 years ago. When that died a new seed started growing in the same place. Then another, making three different trees. Each alive at different times but growing in the same spot. I also saw and walked the Giant Tree's trail. It wasn't like the Redwoods I've seen since not every tree is giant, but it was very impressive. I saw the magnolia garden, only a few magnolias were in bloon. I also saw Two Sisters pond. The legendary story goes like this: Once upon a time, there were two Aboriginal sisters falling in love with one special man but neither of them wanted to break their own sister's heart while herself not being able to say no to the same handsome fellow. So they each jumped into one of the lakes to end the story. People were deeply touched and called these two lakes Sister Ponds. I also saw the 1000 year old tree, and the sacred tree pagoda.
I had seen all I wanted to see by one in the afternoon. I didn't hike the longer trails because I didn't want to do it by myself. I wandered through some shops and bought some of the Japanese mocha which is a sweet rice dough around different fillings. I got a brown sugar and a strawberry kind. They are pretty good.
A guy talked to me a little while I was near the Two Sisters Ponds. When he found out that I traveled by myself he told me I was brave. I've had a few people tell me that.
The bus ride back to Chaiyi took just over two hours. I took some pictures of the beautiful scenery. At least an hour and half of the drive was on switchbacks down the mountain. I got home at 6. I got some groceries and some fruit.
It really was a good day. It was great to enjoy neature in tolerable weather. I loved it. It actually started raining just as I got to the bus stop at the 7-11 in Alishan. I may go when the teachers from Berhan go if they are planning on going on the longer hikes.
Sunday was a good day. Church was really good. At one time during Relief Society Jill asked us what we call it when the tricep moved or was flabby. The Chinese verson of that translates into Butterfly Sleeve. I thought that was fun. I got to play the piano in Relief Society as well. At one time they said, "yo yo yo yo" but with the right tones. I started to giggle because it sounded so funny. Jill explained that it means "the swimming place where you swim." My Sunday afternoon was spent reading more Ensign articles, making pancakes for the week and writing emails and updating my blog. I put the pictures on my blog Saturday night but I had to add the words. I also worked on the cross-stitch I'm working on since I haven't worked on it much this week.

Alishan

2011-05-21T05:12:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful day the day I visited Alishan, also known as Mount Ali. It was only 60 degrees, which was a blessed relief. I love these flowers. I thought they were beautiful.

It was cloudy but it made for some pretty cool views to the other mountains.

Alishan was beautiful. So green. I loved being in the mountains.

Three Generations Tree. I thought it was a pretty cool looking. The sign for this said, "Three Generations Tree: This is a three-generation tree seemly having been dead and revived two times in a row on the same spot and sharing the same root system of the poast that it is quite interesting to be called a Three-generation Tree. The truth is, however, that the big chunky roots lying on the ground are the real roots of the first generation tree, which was much alive back to fifteen hundred years ago. Two hundred and fifty years after it wilted and died a seed happened to land on it and took the nutrients our of the decaying old log to grow into the second-generation tree. The latter ran through its natural course and eventually became old and hollowed in time. Then it took another 300 years before the third-generation tree started its turn. Now this third-generation tree is at its prime with profuse growth."

Right near the Three-Generations Tree is Elephant Trunk Tree. The sign here said, "Elephant Trunk Tree: It is actually the stump of an old cypress tree. But when you look down at it from the nearby walkway, you will notice that it resembles an elephant head, with eyes and a big trunk in the right places."

It was pretty cool.

Some of the trees had grown and weathered some hard times whether man-made or weather-made.

Here is one of the Giant Trees on the Giant Trees Trail.

Here I am next to one of the Giant Trees on the Giant Tree Trails.

Scented woods and arch bridge. "There are emerald green mountains, luxuriant and well-spaced trees, arch bridges and flowing water. As you stride across the stream and look back, you would feel like you are in Kyoto, Japan."

Magnolia Garden. The sign that accompanied this place said, "Magnolia Garden: In tree taxonomy, all belonging to the genus Magnolia generally can be referred to as Mo Lien, Hsin Yi, or Mo Lan. In A Li Shan area, varieties we have are Yang Yu Lan, Tsu Yu Lan (purplish red flowers), Japan Hsin Yi (Magnolia kobus, with white blossoms), Su Lang Gee Yi, Yu Lan, etc."

You can kind of see the magnolias on the bush.

The Four Sisters tree. The sign with this said, "Four Sisters: On top of one big stump of cypress tress after its falling, four natural seeds of the same species happened to be air-delivered there and grow to four rather closely gathered threes reminding people of the four end endearing sisters."

Here I am in front of the Four Sisters.

I also saw many Stumps and there was a sign near a couple that said, "Old Stumps: Those are the remaining parts of the magnificent and precious red juniper giant trees fallen by people during the Japanese occupation era. They are proofs of the glorious past of Alishan forestry. Be advised not to carve or trash on them during your visit." (I had to put that last sentence because some of the ways they traslate are pretty funny.)

This picture was fun to take a picture next to. It just shows how big some of these trees are.

The next pictures are of Sister Ponds. The sign with these said: "Sister Ponds: These refer to two high mountain lakes in the Alishan area. The legendary story goes like this: Once upon a time, there were two aboriginal sisters falling in love with one special man but neither of them wanted to break their own sister's heart while herself not being able to say no to the same handsome fellow. So they each jumped into one of the lakes to end the story. People were deeply touched and called these two lakes Sister Ponds."

Pictures near the shelter which was on the Older Sister Pond. It was fun to take pictures near.

These trees form to look like a heart. The sign said, "Forever One Heart: Two old cypress tress have grown into a wonderful big heart shaped by the joints of their roots and tops. It is absolutely an ideal spot for love couples to take pictures to remind themselves of their affection in many years ahead, won't you say?"

This is another picture of the Three Generations Tree. You can see the tree growing on top a little better in this picture.

I also saw a log stump that looked like a pig. The sign with that said, " Happiness from Golden Pig: The happiness that shows the edge of Hinoki old tree, such like a model of a head of Golden Pig, after having passed through the natural yesteryear."

Below is the Thousand Year Old Tree. The sign in front of it said, "Thousand Year Cypress: Also a red cypress giant (not part of the Giant tree trail though), it has a circumference of 11 m at the chest height. The tree is about 35 m tall and is estimated at an age of about 2000 years old. During the era of Japanese occupation, it was called Myriad Year Juniper (supposedly due to the appearance of the tree somewhat just like one person throwing up his both arms and hallering long live the emperor). After repatriation of this island province in 1945, however, the authority changed its name to the current on based on the fact that this tree was not even close to a myriad years old."

I also saw the Tree Spirit Pagoda. The sign with it read as follows: "Japanese erected it in 1935. The reason behind it was that they had been logging the surrounding mountain ranges on a great scale and they believed all organisms should possess spirits of some sorts. The pagoda was supposed to offer wishful comfort toward those hurt tree spirits suffering from their ruthless logging behavior. The base ground of this building was decorated with many symbolic concentric circles that represented the annual rings (500 years for each ring) of a tree. On its surroundings there are some cutting imprints denoting the impression of sawing into the wood."

The Dr. Kawai monument Memorial sign read as follows: "It was erected in 1933 to pay tribute to Dr. Kawai Ichitaro for his contribution to the local development. He was a foremost Japanese forestry authority at his time who came to Alishan to start the survey work back in 1903."

Pictures of the view as we drove back to Chaiyi. It was cloudy so the pictures aren't the best, but you can see the kind of view I had during the drive to and from Alishan. It was beautiful.

May Temple Trip

2011-05-15T00:28:00.000-07:00

"Adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience job." (Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Young Women General Conference, April 2010).
Monday I read this talk and I just thought it applied to me as well and gave me extra encouragement. I talked to my parents and family. I also was able to chat with Sylina. Most of the day, since I didn't have to work, I updated my blog with my Green Island pictures. I went to Carrefour to get the last box of pancake mix I will get here and one more bottle of syrup. I then went to Free Mason and got some peanut butter. I twas definitely a lazy day. Last Friday I received a package from my mom with a couple of packages of instant potatoes and a cross-stitch for me to work on. I started the cross stitch on Monday. It was a really good relaxing day. When I went to Free Mason they gave me a free bowl. I guess they are having some sort of promotion. It was fun to get something for free.
Tuesday, Carlyn told me the ward temple trip was changed for this weekend. I was grateful for this change. I really needed to go to the temple.
Wednesday was much better than Tuesday. I got emails from my mom and she said that she will email one chapter a day from Micheal McLean's book M2B Happy. I hope this helps me continue feeling beter. I also told myself everything I could remember from my "You are Special" list. My mom said I just need to start believing in my heart what I know in my head. He email really helped me. So far I have really enjoyed reading each chapter of Mission to Be Happy. I don't know if I would say I was really happy today, but I was more content. Amily was able to make me smile as usual. I had to reaise my voice in 1B evening class but I didn't feel angry, just worn out and tired. I also found some art projects for SPE arts and crafts that will hopefully last until close to the end of the time here.
This morning I also received an email about scout camp with a more detailed staff list. I have four staff members. I am so excited. I told my mom that maybe I could do more of my director's duties and just teach an easier merit badge. It was really good day. My mom and dad are such a comfort and help to me right now.
It was kind of funny. Frank, Derek, and Emerson were kicked out of class. When Sherry brought them back in she made them stand inf ront of the classroom, bow three times, each time saying, "Teacher, I'm sorry." I had to take a drink of my water to hide my smile and keep from laughing out loud.
I also think part of my becoming more happy is accepting me for who I am. Knowing I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me and he made me who I am for a reason. I can continue to strive to become a better person and also accept that being who I am is awesome! I need to focus on loving me as well as those around me. I need to believe I am doing the best I can.
Thursday was a pretty good day. In fact I felt pretty happy after the afternoon SPE time. Which is pretty impressive since they aren't my favorite classes to teach. My 4B class went well as well. I skipped some stuff just because I had to fit two days worth of stuff into one day but it was good.
For movie night we watched "The Blind Side." I really like that movie. Brandon and Carlyn also bought a cake to celebrate my half un-birthday. Bree, Carlyn, and Brandon's birthday's are all during the six months we're here so they decided to celebrate my un-birthday for me. It was kind of funny. It made me smile to be sung happy birthday to when it wasn't my birthday.
Friday was Friday the 13th. That made me happy. :) It was a really good day. It has gotten really hot and humid these last few days though. Park with Barbi and Eillen was hot. It was too hot for Barbi and Eilleen even. We spent a pretty good chunk of time sitting in the shade on a bench swing. They said they didn't want to go to park anymore so I might not have to do park anymore and we will just do normal SPE's.
Both of my 1B classes went well. Amily manages to make me laugh almost every time I see her. She is one of the students that is just my breath of fresh air. She is one that I will really miss. When I got to our apartment after work, a little girl about 3 years old said, "Hello." So I said hello. She then said, "I love you." It was so cute. It made me so happy. :)
Saturday I got to go to the temple. It was a much needed trip. We headed on a bus to Taipei to go to the temple at 6:30 a.m. Our session in the temple started at 9:30ish. It was wonderful. I felt such peace and happiness there. It was definitely needed. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to go to the temple. Not being able to go every week or two weeks will make me appreciate the opportunity to do so when I get back home in the states. I love the temple. While it blesses me it also blesses others on the other side of the veil waiting for their work to be done. I love this gospel!
Right when I got out of the temple I was walking over to the church office building. It was raining (all day) and there must have been a funeral and they were coming out of the church office building so I waited for them. While I was waiting an Elder came up to me and siad, "Who is this lady standing in the rain?" He introduced himself at Elder Porter and I told him my name. He asked where I was from and when I told him I was from Idaho. He said, "No way, I'm from Rexburg." So I told him I was from Firth. He then told em an Elder Shumway had just gone home who was from Idaho Falls. He also asked me why I was in Taipei and I told him I was there to go to the temple. It really is a small world. I then went to Bountilf living and got some things there. I also went to the Distribution Center and got a picture of th Taipei temple. While I was sitting in the church office building waiting for the time to go home a lady started talking to me asking me what I was doing in Taiwan. She was Taiwanese but was an English teacher as well. She actually started by asking if I was serving the church. I thought she meant as a missionary so I said no. She asked why I was in Taipei. I said I was there to go to the temple. Then she asked, "Which temple?" It was then that I was sure she wasn't a memeber of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She asked why I went to the temple. I said, "Because it gives me peace." then the sister missionaries came and she went with them. I think that was the first time anyone has asked me about the church in that way. It was interesting and exciting at the same time.
Amy Wu then found me and asked me if I wanted to go to lunch with her. She was in Taipei for an Avril Lavigne concert. So we went to a little restaurant next to Bountiful Living. I had fried rice with beef in it. It was pretty good. We left Taipei at 2:30 and got to Changhua a little after five. I got some potstickers from food street for dinner. It was a really good day. So wonderful.
Sunday was a good day. We are half way through May. Jill was at church today so we ahd a translator which was nice. I must say I love our Relief Society. The women are all so cute. When I got home I made the other cake mix I bought a few months ago. Mostly because it will expire in a month and to kind of celebrate my half way through May day. It was a good Sunday. It will be a good week. I also made a package of the instant potatoes. They tasted wonderful.

Green Island

2011-05-09T00:20:00.000-07:00

Bree and I on the ferry ride to Green Island. Leaving Taiwan in the distance.

Riding on top of the ferry. It was so awesome and beautiful.

Green Island in the distance.

Pictures from the glass-bottom boat tour. There a few fish right beneath the big rock.

You can kind of see the angel fish in the middle of the picture.

A picture of the bottom of the ocean floor.

I loved the glass-bottom boat tour.

Inside the boat.

A picture of the glass-bottom boat.

Green Island Human Rights Memorial Park

A brochure I got said, "The park area was originally home to two prisons built to accommodate political prisoners during the time of teh White Terror. First was the New Life Correction Center (1951-1965), operated by the Taiwan Security Command, reflecting Taiwan's isolated position in the global Cold War. Later came the Ministry of National Defense Green Island Reform and Reeducation Prison (1972-1987). It was also the time of the rising tide of the human rights movement, when overseas human rights activists came to the rescue of Taiwan's political prisoners. The postwar history of teh repression of human rights in Taiwan finds its concrete expression in the relics and exhibition activities of this park.

"Human right history, island ecology, peace culture: Martial law was declared by Kuomitang regime on 19 May 1949 and went into effect the next day. It was the law of the land until 15 July 1987 - 38 years of rule by White Terror, where people lost their lives and property, and were deprived of their rights and freedom.
"This is a memorial park commemorating the suffering of the people under the long period of martial law. More than showing the history of human rights, it is concerned with ecological consciousness.

"Based on the history truth of the people's pusuit of democracy and freedom, the park makes use of museum activities - collection, research, schibition, communication with the public, and interpretation - to manage the historical relics of the political prisons operated during the era of the White Terror, to interpret and research Taiwan's modern history, to promote human rights and environmental education, to enhance the human right consciousness of our fellow citizens, and to further peace culture exchange internationally.

"When it comes to the mean by which democracy is protected, all citizens must be aware that they can become human rights workers, caring about the existence of our environment and striving to create a more beautiful future.

"Forbidden Territory: the White Terror Prison System: During our country's 38-year-long period of martial law, where civilians were tried under the martial law system of military courts martial, political prisoners were to go through arrest, interrogation, torture, trial, and carrying of of sentence, release, and social curveillance. Then, since 1986, came the social oppression to martial law, social movements, the movement to end martial law, the movements for decocratization and direct election of the president, and the people's liberation struggle to gain their freedom, social rights and economic rights. All this formed Taiwan's human rights history of the postwar 20th century."

A sign in the Green Island Lodge Museum said, " The Museum for Peace in the World: Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University Professor Ikuro Anzai suggests that peace in the present age is defined, not as "absence of wars and conflicts", but as "absence of violence which obstructs actualization of potential capability," and that violence is categorized into direct violence such as wars and military conflicts, structural violence such as starvation, dicrimination, suppression of human rights, environmental destruction, underdevelopment of education and medical care, and culture violence such as that enchances or justifies direct and structural violence. International Network of Museums for Peace hopes to develop cooperative relationships with not only so-called "peace museum" devoted to direct violence such as wars and conflicts, but also with "museums for peace" which are dispatching peaceful values in a broader sense of the word by dealing with structual and/or culture violence, and also with those museums which have a corner dealing with peace issues or occasionally organize special exhibitions for peace, thereby deepening and broadening activities of the Network in collaboration with more and more peace-related museums including folklore museums, are museums, libraries, etc."

The prison was cool and eerily silent.

The brochure also said, " New Life Correction Center: The New Life Correction Center, initially comprising only cell blocks and guard billets, was the largest labor camp for political prisoners in the early 1950's. Inmates spent as long as 15 years here doing hard labor and undergoing thought reform. Peak prison population was 2000 prisoners, divided into 12 squadrons. From 1951 to 1954 there were nearly 100 women, as well as some prisoners captured off mainland China. With administration and staff included, there were 3000 people. Early-era work included going to the mountain to fell trees, and to the beach to break up reef rocks, and the construction of the 'Overcoming Adversity Shed'.

"In the beginning the conditions were harsh. At the end of the Korean War, prisoners on Green Island were forced to 'voluntarily' show loyalty and have themselved tattooed with the slogan 'Oppose the Communists, Resist the Russians." The campaign failed. Satatistics of the administration later revealed that 14 prisoners were executed in July 1953 for 'recidivist incidents.'

"If in the opinion of the administration a prisoner 'had not reformed his thinking' at the end of his sentence, he was transerred to Siao Liuciou to do hard labor. The New Life Correction Center typified the sort of reform concentration camp spawned byt eh East-West Cold War.

"Rescue: Political prisoner rescue efforts, both within and outside of Taiwan, spanned decades since their inception in the 1960's, with countless individuals and groups participating, including overseas Taiwanese, church groups, foreigners, Amnesty International, the media, and academia.

"In the late 1960's, the issue of human rights gradually became of prime concern of the international community, with overseas support of political prisoners becoming ever more organized and diversified. From 1976, when President Carter's foreign policy brought the human rights issue into the international political arean, the KMT authorities' records of human rights abuse drew worldwide concern. In 1969 Hsieh Tsung-min and Tsai Tsai-yuan cooperated to compile a list of political prisoners, which Peng Ming-min handed to the US Ambassador. In 1970 Tasi Tasi-yuan passed a list of 237 prisoners to Japan, where it was published in Taiwan Changlian, the first time sch a list came to public light.

"In 1970, jailed dissidents such as Tsai-Tsai-yuan and Chen Chung-tung, with the cooperation of people outside, like Roger Hsieh and Tsai Chin-keng, compiled detailed information of 214 political prisoners, which they passed on to Amnesty International. This information became a vital reference for subbsequent international aid efforts for Taiwan's political prisoners. After the Kaohsiung Incident of 1979, the KMT vigorously arrested opponents, an act that evoked concern aroundt he world. Pressure from the international community created the environment for resistance against KMT oppression both within and outside Taiwan.

"End of Martial Law and the Democratic Movement: The number of people killed in the 228 Incident of 1947 is beyond calculating. The long period of White Terror, with countless native Taiwanese and mainlanders dying at the Machangting, brought on a struggle for human rights. Forty years later, Cheng Nan-jung, who was born in that year, promoted a redress movement. On a speech-making tour of the island, he was surrounded by riot police everywhere he went. To medicate and rebuild the collective soul of the Taiwan people will require effor, so that the dark authoritarian shadow may be erased in all aspects, political, economic and cultural.

"Potential Worl Cultural Legacy: Here is to be found the visible evidence of the sort of suffering endured during the COld War. It is also a significant representation of the successful democratice transformation into a model democratic country despite one of the longest martial law periods in the last half of the 20th century. Within these grounds were once locked up people from every province in China, from overseas, and from all regions of Taiwan, leaving in ther wake intangible cultural assets. More than 20 prisoners seved sentences of over 30 years here, perhaps a world record for an island prison. The park's case list presents a legacy of tragedy, or "negative heritage," comparable to that of sites on teh World Heritage List, including remnants of tragedies such as Auschwitz in Poland, the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima dn Robben Island in South Africa, symbol of the pursuit of freedo under the policy of apartheid."

An anient dwelling.

Views from near the ancient dwelling.

Entrance to the Guanyin Cave.

The actual Guanyin cave.

A sign here said, " Little Great Wall: When seen from a distance, this 300-meter stone stairway climbing from the seashore to the top of the hill, resembles the Great Wall of China. You may enjoy the unique and beautiful coastal landscape while climbing up the stone stairway. The pavilion on the way up is a great place to rest and take in the panoramic view, including Youzihhu to the north and Sleeping Beauty and thePekinese Dog to the south. It is also one of the best places on Green Island to experience the sunrise."

This mini Great Wall is called Hsiao Chang Cheng.

Below is the Sleeping Beauty Rock. This one is not too hard to see into their imagination.

A view from the pavilion at the end of the Mini Great Wall

Green Island was beautiful.

Here is Tapaisha Beach. As you can see, it is not much of a swimming beach. Just snorkling beaches here on Green Island.

In the Chaojih Hot Springs. One of the three Salt Water Hot Springs in the world!

These ones closest to the ocean looked like the bottoms were just the ocean bottom. It didn't touch the floor but that is what it looked like.

A beautiful view in the morning.

The sign near the Lighthouse said, "Green Island Lighthouse: In 1937 the American liner Hoover Presidential Cruise hit the reefs close to Gongguanbi. The islanders risked their lives to save the passengers and salvage the ship and the next year the U.S. provided funding to the Japanese government to build a lighthouse memorial through Red Cross donations in the name of international maritime safety. The 33.3 meters tall light house with lamp height of 48.2 meters, damaged in part during WWII, was rebuilt in 1948."

I posted a few of these pictures so my mom could see the lighthouse I saw. It was beautiful especially in the morning light.

More morning pictures of a place near the lighthouse.

The Human Rights Memorial Monument. Names of Prisoners who suffered at the prisons here during the White Terror.

Pictures at the Memorial Monument.

The rock in the distance looked like a dog laying down to me.

The back wall of the main room in the hotel I stayed in.

The ferry I rode back to Taiwan in.

The Beautiful scenery I saw on the train ride home.

McDonalds with our Students- May

2011-05-09T00:10:00.000-07:00

My 1B students Rolland and Winnie playing with the paper cups I brought. Winnie making a face at me.

I had to surprise them a get a picture when they didn't know I was taking a picture or they would hide from me. This is Emily, an SPE student.

Emily and Ruby (another SPE student) stacking the cups.

Winnie, stacking the cups. It didn't fall until she had put the last one on.

This night was so much fun. I love playing with these kids at McDonald's. I just get to play with them and get to know them that way instead of worrying about whether they get a concept in the grammar lesson and such. I love these kids!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

Monday when I got to work Emily told me that Minnie will only come on Wednesdays and Fridays from now on so I will probably help with SPE's on Monday and Thursdays since they have so many kids. In Pre-K I had a new students. His name is Jonathan. He was pretty good and Mina was good at including him. He cried a bit and had to leave for a bit before his mom convinced him to come back. During my time between lunch and my 4B class I finished my 4B lesson plans- changed to ILP standard. My 4B class went really well. With these new lesson plans, time went by really fast and I didn't really have a time I didn't know how to fill the time. The marker leaked on my shirt though, so it will be another shirt I leave here becasue the ink doesn't come out. i may be going clothes shopping when I go home becuase of all the clothes I end up leaving here. Not that I will mind doing that. Clothes shopping can be fun sometimes.
Tuesday I talked to my mom and dad. It was nice to talk to my parents. They told me they thought I was doing great. Dad reminded me that the Atonement is for me to help me through any trial as well as for sin and that I need to remember I am a child of God. Teachers meeting went pretty well. We got a new schedule because I will be doing SPE's on Monday and Thursday since Minnie won't be here. Then Sherry took us to visit Sandy (Barbi and Eilleen's mom) and her new baby boy in the hospital. The little boy looks just like his sisters. He has the same face. Sandy told us she can't go outside or wash her hair for a moth and that she can't eat ice cream. So weird. She will also stay in the maternity hospital for 2 or 3 weeks. I would go crazy being in a hospital that long. I would do it if I had to of course. I go a slurpy after working on review word searches for the final. I can get a slurpy (which is like a slushy) at 7-11 for 20 -25 NT. Orange is the kind I get. I also got some M&Ms. 1B evening class went well. I made it a goal before class that I would not get mad at Derek and Emerson, I would not let them get to me. About 25 minutes into class they said a swear word that I will not have said in class. I didn't get mad but I calmly told them to leave the classroom. I told them they couldn't come back until we went to libarary (library was a half an hour away). One time they tried to come back in but I told them no. They looked kind of lost, it was kind of funny but I didn't let them in again until libaray. After that they still didn't pay attention but they were less disruptive and I made my goal of not getting mad. It was wonderful.
Mom and dad both told me I'm doing great and I'm being too hard on myself so at the end of every day or whenever I need it, I tell myself that I am doing great and I am doing my best.
Wednesday morning I talked to my mom again because we didn't talk long on Tuesday. We mostly talked about Scout Camp.
I now have park with Barbi and Eilleen. It is so hot though. I will definitely remember to take my water bottle from now on. The other morning SPE's went well. My 1B afternoon class went well, though it is now 3 hours long since we don't do the SPE time anymore and they only come 2 days a waeek. I was able to fill the time though. My 1B evening class drained me. I didn't get mad at all and I ended up kicking Derek and Emerson out because they would not listen to me, but I didn't get mad. After work I went grocery shopping for my weekend trip so I wouldn't have to buy food on Sunday. I don't think I drank enough water because I had a headache.
Thursday morning I hda to be at work at 9 am. I work for an hour then had 2 hours prep time before lunch. I worked on the binders for 1B and 4B levels for next semester's teachers. I did afternoon SPE for the first time and it nearly drained me. I'm glad I only have to do it twice a week and on the days i have 4B and not my 1B evening class. I also found out that Minnie dropped the program so I will never see her again. I was very sad when I found this out. I really loved Minnie. My 4B class went pretty well. They practiced their end of year project for the first time. They have to make them longer so I told them they had to add 200 workds to it. When I got home I counted the number of times I have left that I have to do the afternoon SPE, shows you how hard it was on me. I only have 13 more times I have to do it. For movie night Bree invited our secretaries Emily and Joan (Joanne) and we watched "Princess Bride." I really like that movie. This week seemed to go by pretty quickly and I am grateful for that.
Friday was a really good day. I had park with Barbi and Eilleen and it wasn't as hot as it was on Wednesday. We jumped rope and I taught them the "Cinderella, dressed in yellow" chant. They seemed to like it, in fact they wanted to sing it as a song as we were walking back to the school. Carlyn came and observed me for a while and she said I did okay. I mailed my brother, Derek's, brithday letter during my lunch break. 1B afternoon class went well, but it always does with Amily to entertain me. It does get kind of long now that we are in class 3 hours instead of two since Cindy only comes twice a week. 1B evening class went extremely well compared to what it has been. Derek and Emerson didn't give me any problems and maybe it was because they knew they wouldn't get to go to 7-11 with us. Their End of Year Projects weren't long enough so I had them add to it. I took everyone to 7-11 except Derek and Emerson since they lost the privilege. It was a nice break from the norm. We barely got everyhting done we needed to but it was a really good class.
Right after work we rode our biked to McDonald's for our Super Students reward. My students that came were 1B Winnie and Rolland. I also had SPE Emily and Ruby at my table. I brough paper cups to keep them entertained and it was amazing how well that worked. At one time I put my ring under one cup and moved the cups around and they would cheat by putting a finger on the cup with the ring. It was so funny. While we were eating our McDonald's meal, Winnie said, "This is a good day. We went to 7-11 and I got McDonald's." She is so cute. She acted like a little adult asking me what my plans were for the weekend and such. Rolland was his usual silly self. I just love that kid. I wasw able to get some pictures but they liked to hide from my camera. Emily (SPE) is a little girly girl and is so cute and quiet. Ruby (SPE) is more outgoing and still so cute. After we ate I played tag with the kids in the play area. It was a lot of fun. Carlyn told me that Sherry told her she was excited that I looked so happy. I thought of course I am happy, I just get to play with the cutest kids. I have done better this week on being happy.
Saturday I woke up at 5 am to get ready and started walking to the train station at 5:50. Walking at a fast pace I was able to get to the train station at about 6:10. My train to Taitung left at 6:20. It was a long train ride. Bree came with me. We got to Taitung at 12:30 in the afternoon. I had been told that a driver would have a sign that said, "Shar". He was supposed to be there at 12:35. He wasn't there and I wandered in front of the train station a little wondering if I had missed him. Then i saw someone holding a sign walking up to the train station. I thought I saw an 'S" on the sign though I didn't see it well. I walked quickly up to him and sure enough he was our ride to the Ferry Harbor to Green Island. He took us to where the ferry was and got our tickets for us. Our ferry left at 1:30. Our return ticket was for 10:30 am on Sunday which was okay with me since I wanted to catch an earlier train to Changhua. We got on the ferry and were able to stand on the top. It was a beautiful ride. The sea wind on my face and seeing Taiwan fade away and see Green Island get closer and closer. It took us about 50 minutes to get to Green Island. When we got to Green Island we started to wander up to the main road hoping to see some sign that indicated where we were to go. Soon we saw "Shar" on another sign and I said, "There it is!" I was so excited to know I would soon be settled. The driver who picked us up was the owner fo the hotel we stayed in. It was called Jack's Boutique Hotel. It was a pretty nice hotel. Soon after he was going to take us snorkling but I told him I wanted to do a glass bottom boat tour instead so he took us to have a glass bottom boat tour. We went onto the boat and went down steep stairs. At the bottom there were benches next to the side windows. When we first started all you could see were bubbles form the boats movement, but it soon cleared and we saw some sea life. I really liked the tour. It was fun to see a small part of the world underneath the surface of the ocean. I took quite a few pictures and I just hope a few turn out. After the tour Jack picked us up and took us to get our bikes. As soon as we got our bikes I headed to the hotel and got my swimsuit on and put my capris and shirt over top. I then started to bike clockwise around the island. the hotel is at the top of the island. First I saw the Human Rights Memeorial Monument. It was built to commemorate those who suffered at the Green Island Ladge. 600 names are carved on the monument but some former prisoners believe another 20,000 names should be added to remember all the prisoners. I then saw Green Island Lodge whichw as a prison and is now a museum. During the period of Matial Law many dissidents were sent here to wait out their time - some waiting more than 30 years to be released. The prison was kind of cool and since I was alone it was eerily quiet. I then rode my bike to a place where you can see an ancient dwelling and a great view. So far my bike ride had been mostly uphill. I had to walk most of the way. Then i rode my bike to Kaunyin cave. It was cool but I didn't go far in the cave. The line from "National Treasure" - "Who wants to go down the creepy tunnel first" came to mind. I did get some pictures. Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty, a fisherman became lost at sea and a fiery red light came down from the sky and led him to safety. The fisherman believed the light to be the goddess Kuanyin and the stalagmite in the cape (in the cave) is to resemble the form of the goddess.
I then rode up to Hsiao Change Cheng which is a stone path that is like a very miniture Great Wall of CHine, and from here I also saw Sleeping Beauty Rock which looks like a woman laying in the water. Hsiao is pronounced (Shee-ow). I saw Tapaisha Beach then went back to Chaojih Hot Springs. The beaches here aren't for swimming, they are for snorkling. The beaches are very rocky and not really sand. Also by this time I was biking down hill. I would get going so fast that I had to keep my brakes on so I wouldn't kill myself going around the sharp turns. Chaojih Hot springs are one of the only three salt water hot springs. I even tasted the water on my fingers and it definitely was salt water. The other two salt water hot springs are in Italy and Japan. Three circular pools are right at the beach and have coral or lava rock bottoms. I met Bree at the Hot Springhs. We spent over an hour in the many different pools they had there. It was very relaxing and while we were sitting to the one closest to the ocean you could hear the waves crash against the rocks and we watched stars slowly appear. It was wonderful to be able to see the stars. Normally in Taiwan I am lucky if I see one or two stars.
We didn't feel comfortable riding back to our hotel in the dark since there were no street lights so while I ran dwon to take a picture of the hot springs Bree found someone to give us a ride. We paid 300 NT each for a guy to take us and our bikes back to our hotel. It was nice to not ride our bikes in the dark in unfamiliar territory. When I first got on my bike I pushed the brakes too hard and stopped very suddenly since I am used to my bike whose brakes don't work very well at all. I let Bree shower first when we got back to our hotel because she was wanting to get food. I was in bed by just after nine though it took me a while to fall asleep since I was in a strange bed and hearing strange sounds.
Sunday I woke up with the light in the window. I got up and looked at my watch and saw it was only 5:30 am. I was up though so I just got dressed. At 6 am I rode my bike to see the lighthouse. I couldn't get closer than 500 feet thought I was almost tempted to jump the fence. It stands in the northwestern corner of the Island and it is on rising that drops off to a cliff to the ocean. The lighthouse was built in 1937 under the Japanese after the American ship President Hoover struck a reef off the coast of Green Island and sunk. The KMT refurbished the lighthouse and changed the original gas lantern to an electric light. I took a tone of pictures. It was beautiful, especially in the morning light. I then rode back to the Human Rights Memorial Monument and took more pictures there. I got back to the hotel just after 7. That was when Jack had told me breakfast started so I asked the receptionist about breakfast and she went and got my breakfast. I was glad breakfast was included so I wouldn't veel like I needed to buy anything other than my train tickets on a Sunday. The breakfast was really good. It had a salad (which I have never had for breakfast before), guava slices, hashbrown things, hard-cooked egg, bacon,a ndt wo pieces of toast. It was really good. i didn't have anything else to do until I left so I read my book, "Count of Monte Cristo" which I would really love to be able to teach to Juniors or Seniors. There are so many good themes I could cover. It is a really good book. Jack gave me a ride to the ferry. The ferry I took left at 10:30 am, Bree stayed longer. I took a nap on the ferry ride. The rocking of the boat just lulled me to sleep. I got to the train station. The same taxi driver that picked us up from the station took me back. I got to the station at almost noon. I asked for a ticket to Changhua but the lad said the train that went to Changhua didn't leave until four so I got a ticket to Kaohsiung and changed trains thee. My train to Kaohsiung left at 12:48. I read an Ensign on the train. I had packed an Ensign that I hadn't started to read and read the whole thing on the way home. At Kaohsiung I got a ticket to Changhua. There were no seats available so I had to stand. I got to Kaohsiung at 4:00 and my train left at 4:30. I go to Changhua at 6:50 pm and walked back to my apartment. It really was a good trip and I was glad I didn't have to work on Monday so I could relax and put my pictures on my blog and such. This last week really was a good week.

Taipei and Keelung

2011-05-01T02:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the High Speed Train that I took to Taipei.
Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. This was the building the statue of Chang Kai-Shek was in.

The Chang Kai-Shek statue. I included the ceiling because I thought it was pretty neat.

When I first walked up to the statue I really thought the guards were statues. That is how motionless they were being. I don't even think I saw them blink.

I am on the stairs in front of the building with the Chang-Kai Shek statue. the ground behind me are part of the Memorial Hall.

More of the grounds at the Chang Kai-Shek Memoral Hall.

Here I am in front of the Chang Kai-Shek building.

The front gates to the Memorial Hall.

More pictures of the grounds.

Taipei 101 tower.

Certificate from Guiness World Record saying " The world's fastest passenger elevators were installed by Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation (Japan) in Taipei 101, Taiwan and have the maximum speed of 1010 m/min."

A few pictures of the city from the 89th floor or Taipei 101. The orangish square building is the Sun Yet-San Memorial Hall.

Here I am in front of a window overlooking the city.

Coral Reef gems art work. I didn't know there was such a thing as Coral Reef gems.

My favorite snack at Taipei. The big crepes folded with jam or meats inside. This one is blueberry jam with a chocolate sauce.

Taipei 101 behind the Sun Yet-San Memorial Hall building.

Statue at Sun Yet-San Memorial Hall.

The first place I went in Keelung. The fairy cave. I was kind of disappointed in it but it was fun to see.

The sign at the entrance said, "The area around the Cave used to be an important fortress during the Ching Dynasty. In the Sino-French War, the French troops attacked Keelung from this spot. Listening to the tide of Fairy Cave is one of the eight major sceneries of Keelung. The natural stone cave was named Fairy Cave because it is said that a fairy once lived inside. No one knows when the small shrine inside was built. The Buddhist statues, left over from the period of Japanese rule, are still worshipped in the shrine. Many intellectuals used to write or carve their poems on the wall inside the cave. The wiggle path inside the cave is narrow: after walking for a while a great view can be seen. It is one of the most welcome tourist spots in Keelung. A famous antithetical couplet was written in praise of its amazing scenery."

Sadly I could not fit very well in this narrow passage so I didn't get to see the great view referred to. Too tight of a fit for my liking.

A carving in the side of the wall in the cave.

A closer view of the outside of the cave.

A view of Keelung.

It was very hilly here, I hadn't realized that the mountain range went from the very north of Taiwan to the very south of it.

Baimiwang Fort. One of my favorite spots I visited in Keelung.

There was a great view of the ocean at the fort. It really was beautiful.

The landscape is amazing and so beautiful. I was glad that I made the walk to the Fort.

The sign here said, "Command Post: The command post is built on the west side of the fortification. It was the main command post as well as the observation post of the left wing. The command post built during the Meiji Era, includes the cylindrical shape and a horseshoe shape. Steel protection was installed in the upper walls. The three concrete pillars below were the triangular foundation for the distance-measuring machine."

Here I am behing the 'triangular posts'.

The stairs I had to climb to get to the Observation Post (Firing command post). The picture is looking up the stairs.

The sign said, "Observation Post (Firing command post): The observation post is built on the east side of the fortification. It used to be the firing command post of the right wing of the gun emplacement, for observing the location of enemy ships and the target zone. The style and the material used to build this observation post differ from the materials usually used during the Japanese Occupation Era. It is possible that the observation post was built during the Ching Dynasty."

The view down to the sea from the Observation Post.

I put this picture in because it showed how sweaty I was. It was very humid. I say I am doing more than glistening. This is why I kept my backpack on for all the pictures, because I was pretty sweaty where my backpack was.

The sign talking about the fort said, "Baimiwong Fortification: Sitting on the left wing of Keelung Harbor. Baimiwong Fortification views the entire harbor. Its history can be traced to Dutch Formosa. The fortification was then built up by the Ching Dynasty between Anglo-Chinese War and Sino-French War. The present facility was built by the Japanese troops for the Russo-Japanese War, based on the foundation left by Liou, Ming-Chuan. The fortress was under the command of the Keelung Fort Command. The facility includes cannons, ammo storage, command post, observation post, pill boxes, barracks, toilets and guard posts, etc. At first, the Fortification was equipped with four 8-inch cannons. The war-time ammo storage area was built at the front wall. The arch-style ammo storage is below the fortification for transporting the ammo to the cannons. The observation post was built to the right of the guns, to better observe enemy ships and the target zone."

I loved that the houses were built on the side of this pretty steep hill.

Seeing this miniture statue of liberty on the building made me smile.

The entrance to JungJeng Park. The sign here said, " The mountains close to Jung Jeng Park Martyrs' Shrine were called Little Keelung Hill during the Qing Dynasty and at the beginning of Japanese colonial period. In Meiji year 44 (1911), Japanese government built a jinsha (temple) to worship Ohmono-nushi and Emperor Sutoku. Preliminarily named as Keelung Kotohira Jinsha (the guardian of navigation safety). After the 3rd year of Taisho (1914), Amatarasu-omikami, Zouka-no-sanjin, Prince Kitashirakawa Yishihisa were also worshipped the the Jinsha and it was renamed as Keelung Jinsha. People still refer to th etop of the hill as the Jinsha Top. After the war, the city restored its appearance and changed its name to Martyrs' Shrine. Now it worships our ancestors and sacrificed martyrs. A spring offering was held every year before Tomb Sweeping Day, and an autumn every year on September 3rd.

JungJeng Park Monument was the gate of Keelung Jinsha during the colonial period. After the war it was renovated to a Chinese style. The two gates and the stairs were the gateway into the Jinsha back then."

These were not at the top of the hill, but about half way there.

If you look closely you can see Keelung on the side of the hill. This was the first time I saw the name of a city on the side of the hill here.

Keelung. The view from up in the Guanyin Statue.

Here is the Guanyin Statue with its two weird looking lion guardians.

Another view of Keelung on top of that hill.

This is just showing what I was talking about when I said they build townhouse style. A lot of times there will be a store or restaurant on the first floor and the next three or four floors will be their house.

Just showing how sweaty my back got carrying around the backpack. It was pretty sick. Not the greatest picture since I'm not very good at taking pictures of my own back.

Soccer at the Park with Basic Readers and 1B students

2011-05-01T01:54:00.000-07:00

For our park activity this last Friday the kids played soccer. They are not used to playing on such a big field. It is was fun to watch. Here Flora is trying to control the ball and Amily is looking on. Amily and Flora were on the same team. Here Amily is going for the ball.

Mimi is giving it a try.

Jeremy and Kerry.

Jimmy is throwing the ball in. Amily, Kerry and Flora are all ready to receive the ball.

Two Months Left

2011-04-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

Monday morning I got up 15 minutes earlier, so at 5:45, to run. I decided to get up this early everyday I run, which is now 4 days a week. I got to chat a little with Sylina which was really nice. For Pre-K I just had Alex. He did pretty well but everytime his grandma shut the door he would cry and run and yell at her. Ther was a couple of times where he was telling me what he wanted to do but he was saying it in Chinese so I told him, "I don't know what you are saying." He got frustrated and started crying and yelling at me what he wanted like I couldn't hear him. I kind of felt bad, but I don't speak Chinese.
1B afternoon class with Minnie went well. During my break I went to the train station and picked up my ticked I ordered to Taitung for the weekend I go to Green Island. I also asked Emily if there was a High Speed Rail in Xinwuri just to make sure. She said there was and asked wehre I was going. I told her Taipei. She said I could take the normal train and it was cheaper. I just told her I wanted to experience the High Speed Train once during my time here.
My 4B class went well but Sherry had to print my tests because we still don't have our printer and messed up on a lot of them. It was pretty funny.
Tuesday morning was good. I woke up ten minutes before my alarm. So I was awake at 5:35 am. When I saw there was only ten minutes left before my alarm went off I decided to just get up and get ready to run then instead of waiting 10 more minutes.
I also got to talk to my mom and dad. Which was really nice. I went to work at 11:45. Teacher's meeting went well, but we also had one on one meetings with Sherry. I was last. When Brandon got out of his meeting he told Carlyn (and I was there) that Sherry told him that because of his not liking working at the school and his negative attitude toward work that soon Carlyn will not want to be with him anymore.
Then I went to my meeting and she told me that being a teacher will help me be a better mom and I thought that if this is what is like to be a mom then I don't want it. She then said, "At the beginning of the semester I said all I wanted was for you to be a good teacher." I then said, "I am doing my best." She then told me I needed to concentrate on individual students, she said it in a way that made me feel like my best obviously wasn't good enough for her. Individual time with students will not happen with 10 or 11 students in the class. She also mentioned the fact that my mood has been up and down. I told her it was because of homesickness because i knew it would do no good to tell her it was because I didn't like my job. There has been some homesickness though. She then said, "What will you do when you get married?" I was confused at first as to what that had to do with anything, then I said, "I won't be lonely then." She then told me I should be making friends here. I said that since I get off work so late I don't have time. When I get off of work I jsut want to go home and relax for a little bit before I go to bed. She is very good at lecturing and I'm getting ot where I just look at her and nod but don't really listen or take in what she says because a lot of it deals with how I'm not how she thinks I should be so it is quite negative, so my defense mechanism is to just ignore most of what she says and say as little as possible during these meetings so I can get out of there as soon as possible.
During our prep time I re-did my lesson plans so they are more how they should be for ILP, not how other teachers and how Sherry thinks we should do things. I just kept in her tests. I didn't get it all done. It took me the rest of the week to finish my 1B lesson plans. I didn't finish the 4B lesson plans. I want to start implementing these new lesson plans next week.
My evening 1B class drained me. I had no patience by the end of class and I went home very angry. I really try but I just can't keep patience with them as they are being rude and don't listne to a thing I say or tell them. We went to gym the last 20 minutes of class because as a whole class they had earned it, but since Emerson, Derek, Vincent, and Eric were so bad during class time they brought their exercise books, pencils and erasers and sat against the wall and wrote sentences. Next time I will just leave them in Sherry's office.
Derek and Emerson aren't learning because they don't want to be there and I can't make them.
Wednesday I ran. I twas really humid though. Sylina caught be before I went to work so I was able to talk and vent to her about Emerson and Derek. It was nice to be able to chat with here again. SPE with Barbi and Eilleen went well. During our lunch break prep time, Sherry told Brandon and Carlyn that Sandy (Barbi and Eilleen's mom) wanted to change a part of Barbi and Eilleen's SPE. Carlyn told Sherry she needed to get approval form ILP. I was proud of her for standing up to her.
During my 1B afternoon class, Minnie and Amily made me smile. They both are just so cute. Bree came in a told me to make my kids stop hitting the wall and as far as I know they weren't hititng the wall.
In my 1B evening class, I did something that isn't relaly a good disciplinary action but it kept me from losing patience and getting angry because of it. I pretty much ignored Emerson and Derek. I pretended for the most part that they weren't even there. If it's attention they want they aren't going to get any from me. I told my mom about it and she said that if it keeps me sane then go ahead and do it. At the beginning of class I told the class that Emerson and Derek wouldn't be able to go to 7-11 with the class when they got the points to go because I am no longer taking points away for the actions of Emerson and Derek because I figured it wasn't fair to punish the whole class for the actions of those two boys. So the class can still earn behavior points toward getting to go to 7-11 but Emerson and Derek get to stay behind when we go.
Rolland, one of my 1B boys in that class is so cute. He loves video games and Wii. On Tuesday I teased him that he never writes about anything other than that. Today we were talking about what toys they liked and when I asked Rolland, I said, "I know what you are going to say." He smile his cute smile and said, "video game." Rolland is my favorite boy in that class.
Thursday morning I didn't do much before work. I had Pre-K. There was a new student named Kyle. He was a joy. He was willing to do whatever the activity was. Luis made it through the class for the most art, but he would look at the door randomly and then start to cry, but do he would cry silently for the most part and I would tell him, "You're okay." He acted like he was trying to be brave. Alex's mom tried to get him to come in. She even dragged him into the room. I could tell she was getting frustrated. Alex didn't participate in the class at all today.
My mom emailed me back this morning so I sent her an email. I told her that part of the reason I don't like my job is because Sherry is always putting us down, telling us everything we are doing wrong and little of what we are doing right. After a few months of that I just don't like to talk to her at all. I don't tell her about problem students because she doesn't do anything about it. When I sent kids to her office they would come back and be just as bad or worse then when I sent them. Carly said it was because she just loves them when they go there instead of any sort of punishment.
Sherry paid us today because she thought it was Friday so that was nice. I now have my money set aside that I will need for my next three weekends of travel.
My 1B afternoon class went well with Minnie. For the last 20 mintues we colored Easter pictures. minnie does this thing where she closes her eyes to pick a color then colors with that color. She likes to show me new things that she finds entertaining. One time when we were coloring she colored four or five different colors rainbow style pretty dark then colored black over top. She then scraped the black off with a Popsicle stick that was in the room and said, "Teacher, you look." She was proud of the fact you could see the colors under that black she had scraped off. She thought it was a pretty neat trick. She will also color fish or something and will try to trick me by coloring a white one so I can't see it and ask how many there are. She tricked me the first time but then I caught on to her game.
During my break I worked on my lesson plans so more. My 4B class went pretty well. While I was reading the students' homework, Monica (4B) had written that she thought I was mean and Emerson wrote that I was mean and stupid. It was kind of depressing. For movie night we watched the "real life" version of "Peter Pan". I had never seen it before. At least I don't remember ever seeing it. It was pretty good. Not my favorite but pretty good.
Friday was more humid than usual because there was rain in the air. So when I ran I was pretty wet by the time I was done running. Pre-K went pretty well. Alex didn't scream the whole time and he even participated when we bowled and did ring around the rosies. When he joined Mina and I for ring around the rosies ( was was out of the room when we started it) I had to make Mina let go of my hand. She held Alex's for the first time we did it, but then the next time she refused to hold his hand. It was pretty funny. I absolutely love Mina. She is adorable. She is pretty quiet but she likes to play with me and has the cutest smile. This morning Bree told me that Alex doesn't like me, that is why he screams so much when I'm the teacher. I probably traumatized him when I made him stay in the room one time about a month ago. So I have three students who I know don't like me or think I am mean.
My 1B afternoon class was fun. After break we went to 7-11 because they had earned it and go the points needed. That was a fun break from the regular routine. To day for our SPE time the kids played soccer at the park and Bree and I watched. I also took pictures. It was fun. Amily gets so sweaty at park. It is so funny. She really is a tomboy. She is really pretty talented at any sport she plays and she is really smart. I love Amily.
My 1B evening class I gave Derek and Emerson the chance to be good and nice, but that didn't last long so I ignored them again. Right before break they started making noise on their desk so I took their desk away and moved it away from them. I also took their bags away because they kept throwing things at the other students. I didn't say anything just did it.
It was Winnie's birthday so I taught them the Scout Camp happy birthday song. That was fun.
Saturday I woke up at 6 and I was at the train station at 7:20 am. I got a ticket to Xinwuri though it said Wuri, it still let me through at Xinwuri. Xinwuri station is connected to the Taichung High Speed Rail Station. This station and the Taipei station remind of more of airports in a way with the many restaurants in the station and there are a lot of chairs available as you wait for your train. I rode the High Speed Rail train to Taipei. That was a fun new experience. It got me to Taipei in an hour rather than the near 3 hours it takes on the regular train. At onepoint the sign up at the front of the car I was in said we were traveling at 251 km/hr (about 150 mi.hr). The train itself was bigger as well, it had five seats instead of the four like on the regular train. And there was a little more leg room and even a little try that folds down like in an airplane. I got a non-reserved ticket, which meant I didn't have an assigned seat and had to sit in cars 10-12. I still was able to sit in a window seat so I was happy about that and it saved me 25 NT to get a non-reserve ticket.
I got to Taipei at 9am. When I got to Taipei I took the metro to the Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. The Memorial grounds wer at least four city blocks, probably 1/2 mile across the long way. It was pretty impressive even though he was a pretty brutal dicatator from what I hear.
I then took the metro to the Sun Yet-San Memorial Hall which is probably a quarter to half-mile away from the Taipei 101 tower. It was cloudy but since I didn't think I would have another chance to go up I paid the 400 NT to go up the tower. It went up pretty fast. They ahve a certificate for the fastest moving elevator for the Guiness World Record. I think it went from the 5th floor to the 89thg floor in less than 30 seconds. My ears were popping the entire ride up. The elevator ride itself was pretty cool. When we started our ascent it went dark and played some kind of fururistic music and had light for stars and the milky way on the ceiling.
They only took us up the the 89th floor which is the indoor observatory, the 91st floor, which is the outdoor observatory was closed for some reason. It was cloudy so I couldn't see very far but I could still see the city below which was pretty neat. On the 88th floor they had a display of coral gem art work. I didn't even know there was such a thing as coral gems.
When I cam out of the tower I went to the food court of Taipei 101 mall and got an ice cream cone. I didn't realize it was only 10:30 am. I got a lemon scoop and a strawberry scoop in a cone. It was really good. It was hot and with the clouds and rain predicted it was very humid. I then went to the place the sells the big crepes with fruit jam and such in it. I got blueberry. I had asked for bananas with it, but the girl must have misunderstood me because they put chocolate in it instead. It was still good. They also put things like bacon and all sorts of meat and vegetables in it but I like the jam ones.
I then went back to the Sun Yet-San Memorial and saw some of the grounds there. It was interesting that at both Memorial's buildings I say younger poeple (my age and younger) dancing on the "platforms" around the buildings.
I then took the metro back to the train station and got a ticket to go to Keelung. I took a little nap on that train ride. I got to Keelung at about 1:30 pm. I caught a bus to go to what is called Fairy Cave. It was interesting, there were all sorts of statues and relics in it. There was a tunnel that led to other places int he cave but it was too small and too long. I could barely fit in most places and started to feel slightly claustrophobic. I was disappointed in it, but that was made up for at my next destination. I walked about 1.5 km to Baimiwang Fort which was 'once an importaint Qing dynasty military base. The concrete and steel fort is in great shape and, as it faces the sea, there are stunning views of the ocean and Keelung port.' I found that what the guidebook said was true. Byt the time I walked there I was dripping with sweat. It was pretty disgusting. With teh heat and humidity just walking and hiking upstairs had me sweating like I had just run a few miles. The fort was much more than I expected. I had expected a huge building, but it was more like small fortresses on top of the hill that overlooked the ocean. It did have a stunning view of the ocean. I think this was my favorite spot I visited this weekend.
I then caught a bus back to the center of Keelung. It walked to JungJeng Park and the Guanyin Statue. It was a little hike up a lot of stairs to get to it. I hadn't realized that this part of Taiwan was so mountainous/hilly. I even went up the inside the statue. There was a pretty good view of Keelung up where the statue was as well as some people running carnival-like games.
I then walked to where the night market street was which is known as Keelung Night Market or Temple Street Night Market (there is a temple on this street). I bought my first fruit mix drink. there were plastic glasses with fruit in them. I pointed to what I wanted and he made a shake type thing. It was really good. It had kiwi, strawberry, pineapple and banana in it. It was quite refreshing on a humid day like Saturday. I also bought some bakery goods for my dinner. Not really healthy I know, but it was enough to keep me going. I definitely didn't eat very healthy things on Saturday. I also stopped at KFC and go a little box of popcorn chicken to give me some protein.
I then walked back to the train station and got a ticket home. The woman selling my ticket tried to ask or tell me something and I was afraid she didn't understand where I wanted to go so I pointed to the characters of Changhua on a screen that had the different trains leaving Keelung and where they were headed. She again pointed to the first one and I understood that she was asking if that time was okay, so I nodded yes. My train left Keelung at 6 pm. On my way home I ate my bakery goods and some dried mangoes I had packed and read mroe of my book I am reading, "Count of Monte Cristo." My train arrived in Changhua at about 9:35 pm. I dropped off my bike at the apartment and walked to the store to get milk and some cereal. I also went to 7-11 and got some popcorn because it sounded like a good snack for Sunday.
Sunday was the first of May! YAY! Two months left to work. It is so exciting. When Carlyn and Brandon got to church the first thing Carlyn asked me was, "So how did you survive the earthquake?" I said, "There was an earthquake? Where?"
"In Keelung," she said. So there was an earthquake where I was yesterday and didn't even feel it. That was kind of disappointing. Jill wasn't at church but Yulene translated sacrament meeting for us. I got to play the piano in Relief Society again. That was nice. The Relief Society President just waved me forward and I knew that she wanted me to play.
I also found out that one of the member's wife went to America to have her baby so that the baby would be a U.S. citizen. I couldn't believe it. To make that trip and then have your baby without family around and not speaking the language very well and having a doctor who doesn't know you or What has happened throughout your pregnancy deliver your baby. It is crazy.
We also had a baby blessing in church today. It was the first I have seen since being here.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!
Monday started out pretty well. I ran then talked to my family who were all at Derek and Amy's. I talked to mom, Bethany, Nate, Amy, Derek, and Dad. Pre-K went well today. Only Mina came so I ahd no screaming kids which was wonderful. I wrote an email to my parents telling them I was kind of lonely here in Taiwan. Writing this got me crying so the rest of the day I had to work on controlling my emotions. My 1B class with Minnie went well. I had gym for the SPE part and taught them the Ninja game where you try to hit other people's hands to get them out. For the most part they really liked it. It was a lot of fun. Then during my break I went to the bakery and got some treats. My 4B class went well, though Sherry came in an made us do the bowing thing. After I had my dinner I went and bought some red pens and bought some cream-filled round cakes on food street. Yes, I tend to indulge a little when I am feeling emotional. I then read my book for an hour and went to bed.
Tuesday I woke up with swollen eyes because I had cried myself to sleep. I went running and just kind of hung out, still crying some, reading my scriptures and my Ensign. I went to work when it was about noon. After lunch and teachers' meeting Brandon gave me a blessing. I finally let go of my pride and asked for a blessing. Also during teacher's meeting Carlyn told us we don't have to bow at the end of class but the students need to stand and say goodbye together. Bree and Brandon went home during our time in the afternoon to do planning. I typed up the Students' End of Year Projects. Also one of Carlyn's student's dad died so Sherry took Carlyn, and I went along, to I guess you could call it a viewing, but not really.
We went to this place and in a dimly lit hall/building there were these cubby/stalls that looked like cubicles. On a chair in front of the cubicle for Joan's (pronounced like Joanne) dad was an outfit. On the table part was a plate fruit, flowers, and the thing you put the incense sticks in. On the wall at the back of the cubicle was a picture of Joan's dad. Joan's mother gave us incense sticks that kind of look like sparklers but they burn slower and just have a glow as they burn, no fire. We took our incense sticks and bowed three times to the father's picture. I don't know why but they always bow 3 times. Before we left we gave Joan's mother a hug. Sherry said that the funerl would be early Sunday morning. Since the dad was younger they do the funeral early because it is sad when they die young and the cemetery is less crowded so it is more private. But if the person is old when they die, they have the funeral later in the day, around noon, because it is happier because they lived a full life. Sherry said at the funeral they have everyone walk past the casket (viewing) then they bury them, or place them in tomb.
On the way back to the school, Sherry bought us some fried sticky rice. It was pretty good. My 1B evening class actually wasn't too bad. I don't know if it was because I was exhausted emotionally, that I just didn't care or what. But it went pretty well.
I finished my book, "The Curse of the Blue Tattoo." I was quite disappointed with the ending. Overall I really liked it, but I really didn't like the way it ended. My next book I am going to read is the abridged version of "The Count of Monte Cristo," which is still 500 pages long. Having a blessing was very helpful. I am glad I had the courage to ask for one.
Wednesday morning I ran and before I went to work I looked at school websites to see if any other openings had opened. Madison School District had two English teaching positions open so I filled out the online application for them. One was only a part time teaching position but that would be good to have to get some experience.
SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen went pretty well. my afternoon 1B class went well, though iw as really tired for some reason. I also got my Mom's Easter package. That made me happy. Brandon told me I was good at waiting since I didn't open it until I got home from work. My evening class went really well. I don't know if I have more patience or if they are better or if I'm not letting what they are doing get to me.
I opened my package when I got home and it had Easter chocolate, jelly beans, Easter decorations, and an egg decorating kit. SHe also sent a thing from I think the Friend that details with scripture references the last week of Christ's life. Since I missed the first few days. I read up through Tuesday's scriptures. It is good to remember the reason we celebrate Easter. Especially since Easter isn't celebrated here by most Taiwanese. She also had sent the most recent pictures of my nieces, Juliette and Charlotte. They are so cute. I have the pictures propped up on my desk so I can see them everyday. After I ate, I bought eggs to dye on Sunday and some fruit.
Thursday was a pretty good day. Wednesday night Brandon came home and told me that it would cost $275 to change my plane ticket. Thursday morning I decided that I would still change my ticket to go home for the 4th of July. For Pre-K only Luis showed up. It went pretty well until 20 minutes to the end when he decided he was done and I tried to keep him occupied with bubbles. Everything else I asked if he wanted to do he would say "Bu Yao" which means I don't want. After Pre-K I talked to Sherry about changing my ticket and she gave me the travel agents email address so I can ask her how to go about paying for it. So I emailed the travel agent. My 1B class with Minnie went well. During my break I let myself go the the bakery. I tried something new. It had a sort of mousse in the middle of the bread. It was really good. I also got a lemon cake (they are pretty small) mostly just in case I didn't like the mousse thing. They were both wonderful though. My 4B class went well. For movie night we watched "Joseph Smith - Prophet of the Restoration." Such a good movie. It actually wasn't working on the Mormon channel site so we watched it on YouTube. It was so good. I didn't cry too much.
Friday morning I got an email from the travel agent and I emailed my information to pay for the change in ticket to her. I also went running. I ran 4 times this week. I am so proud of myself. Pre-K I only had Mina so it went well. Right after Pre-K I checked my email and I had my new flight Itinerary. I must have emailed her right before she left for the day. My new flight schedule is as follows: I fly out of Taipei at 9:35 am of the 4th of July. I have a two-hour layover in Tokyo. Then I fly right from Tokyo to Salk lake City. One less lay over than I was going to have. I fly into Salt Lake city at 11:35 am on the 4th of July. I didn't think I was going back in time, but now as I think about it I leave Tokyo at 2 in the afternoon or something like that. So I guess I am oging back in time from Tokyo, just not from Taipei. So I get to Salt Lake City at least 4 hours earlier in the day than I was going to if I hadn't changed it. I may be able to make it to camp for the Monday night campfire. It absolutely made my day to know I am good to go home on the 4th of July.
Afternoon 1B class went well. Instead of SPE's at the end we went to the park and played kickball. It was a lot of fun. As long as the kids pass their tests we will take them to the park on Fridays for that last hour.
1B evening class was a little crazy. The students have a hard time not tipping their chairs so I decided to take to heart what I learned in education classes, natural consequences. So if I had to tell a students three times to not tip their chairs, they had to kneel or stand or sit on the floor without their chair. I did warn them that they would lose their chairs if they tipped it. Three students lost their chairs. i think they were pretty uncomfortable by the time class ended. Maybe they will learn. When I got home I ate dinner and I got everything ready for my Saturday trip so I wouldn't have to worry about it in the morning to save me some time. I went to bed early since I was going to get up at 5 am.
Saturday I woke up at 5 am and was headed to the train station at 5:45 am. The traffic was really light and most of the lights were just blinking yellow so I got to the train station pretty quickly. I got to Kaohsiung at about 8:40 am. I was walking to the bus station when a lady asked if I was going to Kentin. I told her I was and she sold me on the idea of going by van. It was 300 NT and the bus ticket was 290 NT. So I actually got to wear a seat belt so I felt safer while driving. I got to Kenting at about 11:30. I knew I wouldn't do much since I didn't have my own transport but I started walking down the street. there were a lot of shops taht I though I would check out on my way back. I found a beach, I think it may have been Kenting beach. It was pretty crowded so I just took some pictures. I figure my day to swim will be the Saturday I am on Green Island. I continued walking for 20 minutes but saw nothing of interest so I found a bus stop and waited for a bus to come. Two guys were also waiting. One spoke English and asked me where I was from; why was I in Taiwan; wehre did I live in Taiwan. He also asked if I spoke Chinese. He said it in Chinese, and I said no. A bus came and took me back to the little city of Kentin. I went to the different shops. I bought a sundress, flip flops taht don't have the thing between your toes. I also bought a T-shirt that has Kenting in Chinese on it and a little magnet of Taiwan. There were all sort of shops and hotels, definitely a tourist town. Half of the shops were surf/swim shops that sold swim wear, flip flops, sundresses, and T-shirts and shorts. It was interesting to see. You could tell that the people knew why a lot of people come to Kenting. I decided to find a bus stop to go back to Kaohsiung at about 1:30 pm. At one point a taxi driver told me he'd take me there for 400 NT. He said the bus would cost 390 NT, but I was pretty sure it would cost 290 NT. I told him no, but he was being pretty insistent so I walked away from that bus stop and walked back to the main part of town and found another bus stop. I found out I could buy a ticket at the desk of the hotel that the bus stop was in front of. The hotels on that main street looked like any of the building in Changhua. They were built together almost twon house style with shops and building and restaurants in between. I got on the bus at about 2 pm. We got to Kaohsiung at 4:15. I saw the country on the way home and the country down south had a lot of banana trees. It was fun to see their country compared to the country I know in Idaho.
The train ticket I got said my train to Changhua left at 4:56 pm so I stopped at the McDonalds there and got a small fry and small ice cream sunday for 50 NT. I also got a honey sponge cake from 7-11 and that pretty much served as my dinner. It was pretty good. I go back to Changhua at 7:15 pm. I dropped my bike off at the apartment and went to the bakery and bought Carlyn a piece of cake since it was her birthday. While I was walking to the bakery a group of guys yelled, "Hello, you are beautiful." Boys. I also got some more cream-filled round cakes which were so good. I was going to get some sweet potato fries but they weren't open. That was sad. I then went home and boiled 9 of my dozen eggs to dye tomorrow for Easter. The other three eggs will be saved for when I make my last cake mix near the middle of May to celebrate getting halfway through May. I then put the few pictures I took on my blog. It was an enjoyable day even if I could only see the town of Kenting for the most part.
Sunday I was kind of disappointed at church because they didn't talk about Christn's atonement and resurrection at all. When we told Jill "Happy Easter", she said, "Oh that is today." They really don't celebrate Easter here. It was kind of sad. I got to play the piano in Relief Society. It was fun. When I got home I dyed my eggs I had boiled. I was glad we had some vinegar because I had forgotten that you need it for dying eggs until I was at church on Sunday. I also got my Easter candy my mom had sent me and gave a piece to Bree, Carlyn, and Brandon.
I also spent the afternoon emailing and reading the scriptures in the 4 gospels that deal with Christ's atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection.
Also in an email this week my mom asked if Carlyn and Bree hated Taiwan. I had to clariy that I don't hate Taiwan. I actually love Taiwan. I don't like my job here. I love a lot of my students. I love traveling and seeing the country. I love the people and I love my ward. I love the food and how easy it is to get food. the only thing I don't like is my job. I am getting to a point where I am ready to go back to the states and my family but that doesn't mean I hate Taiwan. I just thought I would clarify that.

Kenting

2011-04-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

I don't have very many pictures just because I mostly stayed around the town, but here are some of the pictures of the beach I walked on a little.

These flowers are so cool. The petals look more like colored leaves stuck together.

A lot of the shops in Kenting sold swim wear, flip-flops, sundresses and T-shirts like this shop.

Here is a little park near the ocean.

The beach near this same park.

Another view of that same beach.

A view of the countryside, Taiwan style. I saw a lot of banana trees growing on the bus ride back to Kaohsiung.

Midway through April

2011-04-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

Just to clarify my last written post. It has been in the 70's and 80's off and on since February. It has not even been colder than the low 60's during the day. But now it is consistently in the 70's and 80's and doesn't get more than 5 or 10 degrees over night. The humidty is coming on strong. It usually only gets down to 65-68 degrees over night. So when I run in the morning it still feels like I am running in the middle of the day. Monday morning I ran and even at 6:30 like I just said, it is quite warm and humid. It talked to my parents this morning which was wonderful. I mostly talked to my mom because my dad was at a meeting but I was able to talk him for a short time. Pre-K did not go well. Alex wouldn't come in so Sherry said we had to let his mom come in and sit at the back wall. So Alex sat next to his mom the whole time and didn't participate which totally defeats the purpose of Pre-K. Our only goal is to get the kids used to being away from mom. So frustrating. I really don't think Alex is emotionally ready to come to Pre-K. Ula and Mina do very well for the most aprt. My 1B afternoon class went well. I decided to make a paper count down chain and put it up so I can take a chain off at the end of every day. I will then be able to visually see that I am making it to the end. It will also give me some satisfaction tearing a chain off at the end of the day. I even made chain links for the weekends so Monday morning I will be able to rip off two. My 4B class also went pretty well. My evening was so nice, I may have eaten too much because some of my bananas were getting a little ripe so I had to eat them and there were a few. But it was a relaxing evening. Tuesday morning was wonderful. I didn't have to be to work until noon. My friend Sylina was online so I chatted with her for a few hours. It was wonderful. Talking to my parents helps me feel like I can make it through the week, and talking to my friends for a while buffers me even more. Teachers meeting was frustrating just because Sherry told us we had to change our tests again. They will have less questions but that means the students may not pass becuase they have to miss less in order to pass. When talking to Sherry I told her the 183 days needed for the tax break was on the 2nd of July so I could go home on the 3rd or 4th if we could get my ticket changed. She said she would talk to the travel agent and see if it would cost extra to change and how much it would cost. So I might be able to go to the states a day early. YAY! A pretty interesting thing happened when I was done with meeting with Sherry. Brandon, who really hates working here, was looking at our contract because he is trying to find any way to get home early. He and Carlyn figured out Sherry may be committing a breach of contract. It may be too small to really do any good but he is trying everything he can. It says that the host school (Maryland) should follow the guidelines of ILP unless they have written permission from ILP to do otherwise. There are mnay things happening at the school that are not in accordance with ILP standards. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. During our three hour time before my class I made block letters for our bulletin board for Carlyn and then just read my book, "The Curse of the Blue Tattoo" until my 1B class started at 4:45. The book is pretty good. Class went okay. They were wild as usual. the good kids probably think I'm a very mean teacher because I am constantly getting after 3 or 4 of the boys in that class. It really is awful. I love the good kids though, and bless them for being such good students. Their are a part of the kids that I have to get after that I like, but they are so insolent that it drives me crazy. Wednesday SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen went well. It was kind of funny, they asked to do the "Princess Pat" song. It made me smile. I figured out how many days I have left. As of Wednesday I had 78 days left, counting weekends, until the last day of work, not until I go back to the states. Also Brandon and Carlyn received a reply from ILP asking for details, so they emailed them a list of what the school is doing that is against or contrary to ILP standards. My 1B classes were pretty good. I know I was never meant to be an elementary teacher though. I made it through the halfway day of the week. Also this morning I got what felt the same as a kink in your neck, except it was down further and behind my shoulder. I gave me problems all day. It hurt all day and it made it hard and hurt to turn my head. Thursday Pre-K class was pretty awful. Luis cried most of the time which made Ula start crying (she only cries when another child is). It was so draining. My 1B class went well with Minnie, Thursday's are usually pretty chill with her. We just do a Question of the Day to help with writing skills and then color pictures or do another art project. In my 4B class I accidentally made Trevor cry. It was 15 minutes before the end of class and we were going to play a game so I told them to put everything in their bags. Trevor didn't, so I told him again. He did but then got stuff out again so I told him to put it away then put his bag away from him. He then said I would steal something and i told him I wouldn't. He did what he was told and put his head down and started crying. I felt bad but hopefully he learns to do what I say. Also, I am happy to report that Carlyn and Brandon won't be quitting anytime soon. (They were oging to to home if they possibly could, as soons as possible). I didn't want any trouble and I want to be able to stay and fulfill my contract and of course get my bonus of 2000 U.S. dollars at the end. I was afraid that if they went home I might have to go home because the school wouldn't be able to run with only two teachers. ILP emailed Brandon and Carlyn and told them they can call Sherry, but it will be after they get back from China on the 26th of this month and they probably won't be able to get them home, but we might get it changed to ILP standards. But whatever happens, happens. I plan on staying and fulfilling my contract. For movie night we watched UP. That is a good movie. It was only the second time I've seen it. Friday was a pretty good day, but Friday's usually are just because it is Friday and practically the weekend. At 9:30 when my Pre-K class is supposed to start, no one was there, but Ula eventually came, 15 minutes late. So it was just Ula and me. It was pretty good, there was no crying or coaxing involved. So much easier. After lunch we had cake as a going away treat for Penny, one of our secretaries. I will be sad not to see her anymore. We took a few pictures together. 1B calss went pretty well and for the SPE part Bree and I took the Basic Readers and my 1B class to the park and we played baseball. Or rather, they played baseball and I took pictures. I took a lot of pictures. 1B evening class went how it usually goes. Sherry came in toward the end of class and said that she wasnt us to stand and bow to each other before they leave as a sign of respect. I figure I can humor her and do it though I feel weird doing it and kind of awkward. I also asked Sherry if she got a hold of the travel agent about changing my ticket to the 4th of July. She said she was still waiting to hear back from her, but I was glad to hear something was happening about it. Friday night there was some kind of Matsu celebration which could have kept me up. The streets were kind of crowded as I came home from work with people walking for the celebration and setting up their little street vendor shops. I also got a surprise, Friday was payday. I was thinking that anytime the payday falls on a weekend we get paid the next Monday, but I guess if it is on Saturday we get paid on Friday. That was nice, so I did some light grocery shopping. I also ordered my ticket to Kaohsiung. Friday night, well early Saturday morning at 3am, I was awakened by the fireworks for the Matsu celebration. I just covered my ears and was able to fall asleep a half an hour later. Saturday was a pretty relaxing day. Saturday morning I ran. It is so hot when I run at 6:30 or 7:00 that I sweat quite a bit so by the time I'm done running my clothes are pretty damp. Its pretty gross. I read my Ensign and book. At noon I walked to the train station to pick up my ticket to Kaohsiung next weekend and to meet Jenny Dompier. For some reason the train station didn't have my ticket that I booked so she asked the day and time and just got me another ticket. So it worked out. At about 1:15 Jenny and Betsy showed up. They both worked in Berhan which is in Fongyuan. We went back to the apartment and I showed them the apartment and the stuff I've purchased so far. I also changed shoes. I had my sandals and I was starting to feel like a blister might be forming. my sandals weren't meant to walk a long distance. Before we went to my apartment we walked down Morning Market, which was starting to shut down. We then went to the Big Buddha. On the way there I had them take a pictures of me in front of the track I run on at the University. Once on the hill that the Big Buddha is on, there is apath that they call the fitness path. In this cement path there are rocks of varying size sticking out. You can stand on it barefoot and use it as a massager. The rocks in one stretch of the path are the same size then they get bigger then small again. But many of the English teachers have walked part or all of the path. I was going to walk the whole path but after I had walked 2/3 to 3/4 of it my feel couldn't handle anymore. It was quite painful. I couldn't convince myself to take one more step barefoot on those rocks. It hurt bad enough that I didn't feel bad about not finishing it. We then went to the Big Buddha. While there we had guys say, "Hello. You are beautiful." Then they watched us for a while. Kind of creepy but it is always nice to be told you are beautiful. While near the water show we wat and rested for a while. My feet were still hurting from walking the rock path. The place where I may get a blister was pretty tender. We watched the water show, which is kind of relaxing with the sound of the water. We then walked back to my apartment. I put a band-aid on my heel where a blister may appear to keep it from rubbing anymore. We then went to food street and got some pot stickers and dumplings for dinner and sat there to eat. They were quite good. Then we stopped to get the cream-filled round cakes and sweet potato fries. They were so good. It was my first time buying sweet potato fries. I've had them before, but this was my first time I've bought them. They were so good. I love them. Then they left to go home. I put all my pictures from the week on my blog. It was a really good day. Betsy and Jenny were fun to hang out with. Sunday I went to Taichung to the English Branch so I could say goodbye to the Greenes. I won't go back to that branch now. I plan to meet with Jenny and Destiny (another teacher in Berhan) a few times in May and June. It will be nice to do stuff with them. Church was good. On the way I trusted that the buses the teachers before us had told me still went to Chungyo (the department store near the church). I got on a bus and sure enough I ended up in the right place. It was nice seeing Elder and Sister Greene again. It was also fun to see Destiny and Jenny again. I got home at 2 in the afternoon. I ate lunch and some Brazilian grapes. Jill gave them to me, she said they were from Brazil, but Brandon, who served his mission in Brazil, never saw them. They were good wherever they came from. Jill said to eat the inside and spit out the skin. I could have ewatn the seeds as well, but they were too bitter for my taste. I then emailed my freinds and family and worked on my life history.

Big Buddha with Jenny and Betsy

2011-04-16T05:39:00.001-07:00

Jenny, me and Betsy inside a small plane that was there at the top of the hill that the Big Buddha was on. It is our landmark of where the trail goes down to the University. Here I am walking the fitness path. It is little rocks raised out of cement. It was pretty painful. As you can tell as I am flailing my arms everywhere. I was going to walk the whole thing, but my feet rebelled when I was 2/3 or 3/4 done. I just could take one more step on those rocks. My feet hurt from it the rest of the day. But I can say I walked on it.

You can kind of see the pained look on my face.

Smiling for the camera, even though my feet hurt like crazy. It hits all sorts of pressure points as you walk on the rocks.

Jenny and Betsy, being smart by walking it in their shoes. It feels pretty good in thinner shoes. Kind of nice massage.

Sitting on a very skinny bench they had on the sides of the path. They even had a little board that could serve as a table.

The pagodas and the temple that are behind the Big Buddha, but coming up from the University, you see them first.

A waterfall that feeds into the pool with the really big fish that is close to the back of the temple.

Elephant statue in front of the temple.

The view of the temple out the top floor you can go to in the Big Buddha.

Jenny and I in front of the Big Buddha.

Betsy and I in front of the Big Buddha.

The water show.

What is missing. This is going into the street at an intersection...

... I'll give you a hint. It has eight sides and is red. That's right a stop sign is missing. There are no stop signs in Taiwan. There is even a pretty busy road where there is no lights but also no stop signs. You just kind of go when you have the opportunity and the other cars slow or go around you. It is pretty crazy.

This is a picture of the basketball courts that are at the University, but the thing is, they are on top of a building. The building is right next to the track.

Here I am in front of the track that I run on in the mornings. The building behind the light you can see is the building with the basketball courts (it also has volleyball courts) on top of it.

Baseball with the kids

2011-04-16T04:03:00.000-07:00

We took the 1B and Basic Reader Students to the park for our SPE time as a kind of reward for doing well on tests. Here are some pictures of the kids playing baseball. It was quite hot so everyone got pretty sweaty, but they loved the change of scenery. This is Ray up to bat. Minnie is standing behind him. This is a general picture of the outfield.

Amily batting. Amily is one of my 1B students. I love her.

Kerry batting.

Jimmy pitching. He looks like he is getting into it. Jimmy is a pretty entertaining kid. I love him.

Minnie manning third base. Minnie was my other 1B student. I only had two. My afternoon class is very small compared to my evening class.

Jimmy getting ready to bat.

Mimi, Amily, and Jimmy all running for the ball. The whole outfield ran to wherever the ball went it was kind of funny.

Joe up to bat.

Kerry pitching. You can see we didn't use a real baseball, even though we had a metal bat.

Waiting to bat. Left to Right: Joe, Jimmy, Ray, Sherry, and Minnie.

Amily's turn to pitch.

Jimmy batting.

Joe running into home to score.

Jimmy running into score.

Sherry's turn to bat. She is so cute and so quiet.

The kids waiting to bat goofing off a little.

Flora batting. She was so afraid of the ball hitting her, even though it was not a hard ball. It was a plastic hollow ball.

Ray pitching. (Bethany, he looks like you do when you bowl. :)

Mimi batting. She was so cute. Mimi and Sherry didn't really want to play baseball but they were good sports about it.

Amily, avoiding getting hit from the ball. The pitchers pitches were never right over the plate, or if they were it was high, but they managed to have a good game even with bad pitches. It was just a good thing that they still hit the ball, even if it wasn't a good pitch.

Joe pitching. He didn't last very long. He realized that he wasn't pitching very well and just gave up.

Amily running into home. Kerry was excited to be up to bat and didn't bother to wait for everyone to run in before he went for the bat.

Penny's Last Day

2011-04-16T03:54:00.001-07:00

It was our secretary, Penny's, last day of working at Maryland. So we took some pictures during our lunch break. In this picture Left to Right: Brandon, Carlyn, Bree, Me, Linda (our cook), and Penny is in front of Carlyn and Brandon.

Eilleen decided to join our pictures. She is pretty cute. Barbi joined and Brandon and Carlyn held Eilleen upside down. She loved that.

Then it was Barbi's turn to be help upside down. Sherry was pretty nervous about them holding them upside down.

Holding Barbi high.

Summer is Here

2011-04-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Summer is offically here I think. Today it was 75 degrees and was quite humid. Monday I didn't have to work. It was wonderful. It is designated at Children's Day in conjunction with Women's Day. The holiday dates back to 1931 and since then schools have often held special activities in order to celebrate the occasion. Because of pressure from parents that demanded to accompany their children in the celebration, the ROC government celebrated Women's Day together with Children's Day on April 4, 1991. Since then, April 4 has been known as the combined holidays of Women's Day and Children's Day. The Legislative Yuan announced that this holiday will be a national holiday of the ROC starting in 2011. So I am witnessing the start of it being a National Holiday. I didn't do much on Monday. At 10:30 I went to the Morning Market to see if I could find a scarf for my Grandma Walker, but didn't have any luck. I also went to Carrefour and go some maple syrup, which Brandon told me they had (and which I am very excited for) and more pancake mix. Then I went home and watched the Saturday morning session of conference online. It was so good. As I was making my dinner we sang Happy Birthday to Bree and had cake Carlyn and Brandon had bought. I then filled out more teaching applications online. Tuesday I didn't have to work again. It was so great. Two days without work on days I normally work. It was Tomb Sweeping Day. It is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the Winter Solstice, usually occurring around April 5th. It is known as the Qingming. Its name denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime and tend to the graves of departed ones. It has been regularly observed as a statutory Public Holiday in Taiwan. It is an opportunity to remember and honor ancestors at grave sites. The young and old pray before their ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food and other stuff to their ancestors. Tuesday I was really lazy. I still got up at 7:15 am. I talked with my parents who were at Derek and Amy's so I was able to see them and Charlotte and Juliette as well. It was fun to talk to them. The rest of the day I watched the Saturday afternoon session of conference which was really good as well. I also did some research in case we get to teach Bird Study at Scout Camp. At 7 pm I went to the night market to try to find a scarf again. I didn't find a scarf so I will try again in a few days. I did find a cute hand purse that will repalce my small one I have from the states and is falling apart. I also tried my first papaya. It was pretty good. Wednesday was okay. Okay, it was a bad day. I just didn't want to be at work. It was harder since I had had such a long weekend. I really don't like my job, especially the Pre-K. But I have less than three months before I leave, so I can make it. I think a small part of it being a bad day was affected by the fact that I was feeling a little homesick for some reason. Thursday work was a little better. Penny told me there wasn't going to be a Pre-K, but Ula came 15 minutes late, but I still ended when it is supposed to. It wasn't too bad, though Ula was sick so I washed my hands well after class. Hopefully I dont' get here sickness as well. 1B afternoon class and 4B class went well. I also got a package from my mom with Vitamin C and cough drops in it. I'm glad to have Vitamin C again. After work Carlyn, Brandon, and I went to one of my student's, Winnie in my 1B class, house for a home visit. They served us dinner. It was a lot of fun. Winnie is so cute and they have the cutest family. She has a two year old little brother, who was so cute, and an older sister, Sophie. Her cousins, Irene and Julia were also there. Julia spoke English very well. Dinner was wonderful: goose, rice, broccoli. They also had fish but I didn't eat any of that. After the meal they brought out some fruit: pineapple, bananas, and strawberries. It was so yummy. They also gave us some jelly, red bean stuff. I got the pineapple flavored kind which ended up being pretty gross, but I finished it. After dinner, Julia, Winnie, Sophie, Brandon, Carlyn, and I played Go Fish. That was fun, just to hang out. It was a great experience. After they took us back to our bikes at the school I went over to the night market that is on the same street as Carrefour, to see if they had any scarves, but they didn't. It was a good evening, very enjoyable. Friday was pretty good, just because it was Friday. Pre-K was a struggle. Ula and Mina were fine, but when Alex came (about 10 minutes late) he cried for about 30 minutes. I had to hold him for the first 15 minutes to make sure he didn't run out of the room. He would try to break free, I just told him, "I'm stonger than you." Not that he understood me. Finally he decided he would sit without me holding him. 15 minutes before the end of the class he told Penny he had to go to the bathroom, and he never came back. Carlyn told me that he and his mom showed up to play with them at the park. I also got an email from my mom and she and I decided we would help motivate each other to write our life histories. I wrote mine at one time, but then I don't know what happened to it so I will write it again. My 1B classes went pretty well. After work I went to the night market again. i took pictures of it, just because I hadn't yet. I found one scarf, and I bought a piece of pie. Then I decided to go to shopping street, which is next to Tasty restaurant, which I call the outdoor mall. I found some scarves there, and they were actually cheaper than the one I got at the night market. Oh well. I'm glad I found some though. We also finally convinced Sherry we needed new beds and we got them today. I took my old matress upstairs to the second floor where the spare bedroom is. this was not an easy feat by myslef, but I did it. It was very heavy. It felt wonderful just to sit on the new mattress compared to the other one. I swear the other one was just wood with fabric covering it. It really was hard. It had no give at all. It just proves that if you complain diplomatically about one thing enough, you might just get what you want. I also learned that Penny's (one of the secretaries) last day is on the 15th of this month. The pie I got at night market was so good. It had strawberry flavored filling with a sort of light white cake one top of that, whichw as topped with whipped cream and a strawberry and a slice of kiwi. It was a very good slice of pie. I haven't had pie in a long time. Saturday was a wonderful day! I got up at 6 in the morning and Carlyn, Brandon and I met George (Kitty's dad) in front of our apartment. Kitty and her mom didn't come because Kitty was sick. We went to Nantou area. We drove upf or about 15 to 20 minutes. To get to the bridge we walked down a lot of stairs and down some parts that were just dirt trails. The suspension bridge was pretty cool. It starts a lot higher (100 to 150 meters) than it finishes across the gorge, so it had a downward slope when we crossed it going down. The scenery was beautiful! I loved it. We hiked past the Sky Ladder and went to a place where a lot of huge boulders have fallen into a stream making a pool and small waterfalls. George told us this part of Taiwan is unstable geologically. We then saw and went across a smaller suspension bridge that went over a narrow but very deep gorge, it was a pretty cool view. We then hiked most of the way out. it was very warm - 75 degress plus humidity. I was sweating so much. It was quite the workout hiking up all the stairs. A good workout for my thighs which were pretty sore when I went to bed. There was a place just at the bottom of the first set of stairs into the hike that sold Taiwan jello. So on the way out we stopped here and had jello which was made out of some kind of plant and is all natural. There was a bit more liquid than in our jello but it was delicious. I got the lemon flavored kind. We also ate our lunches we had packed. I packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich of course, and a banana, and dried mangoes. Then we finished hiking up. It was way fun. George then took us to a pineapple cake factory and I had a taste of the best pineapple cake I have ever had. I also saw a pineapple plant for the first time. We got home at 3 in the afternoon. I spent the rest of the day putting my pictures on my blog. I got a lot of sun and didn't drink enough so I had a bit of a headache so I went to bed early. I have a nice tan line on my ankles from the sun I got. I also mentioned while we were driving home that I never see the police pull someone over. George said they don't pull people over, they jsut take pictures and send citations in the mail. So you don't know you got a citation until you get it in the mail. The only time a police officer might pull you over is if you make an illegal turn at a stop light, because it is easy to catch you then. The police cars always have their flashing lights on, so when you see flashing lights, that doesn't mean they are trying to pull you over. We also drove over the longest river in Taiwan, which isn't very long comparatively, but Taiwan isn't a very big country. It is called something like muddy river that goes to the ocea. Or maybe it was just muddy river. Sunday was our day to enjoy General Conference. So there was no church today except to watch conference. I decided to stay at home and watch it online. Before I watched conference I ate breakfast and made the last muffin mix my mom had sent in her package at the beginning of February. It waso good. It was a mixed berry kind. I also watched the Joseph Smith movie that is now available to watch online. Of course I cried. It is such an inspiring movie. Then I turned on the first session of conference (Sunday Morning session). I started it at 10 am which would be the time I would have watched it if I were at home. The picture didn't work but the sound did so I listened to it. It was so good. I have a new resolve to try to bear my trials and afflictions with patience and faith, and to try to do better about listening to the whisperings of the spirit and follow what it says. The Sunday morning session was so good. I love conference and I love reading them in the Ensign. The new beds by the way are really nice compared to the boards we were sleeping on before. I have slept through the night for the most part. My dreams are the things that wake me up now, not an aching in my limbs from lying on a hard bed. After I watched the Sunday morning session of conference I made lunch then watched the Sunday afternoon session. It was wonderful to be uplifted and edified through conference. Even though I don't like my job here, I know I am here for a reason. Even if that reason is to help me grow in some way or to touch somone's life, even if I never know whose life I touch. I pray I can be an instrument in His hands and that I can have the strength to endure the job for the rest of the time I am here.

Sky Ladder - a suspension bridge

2011-04-09T01:05:00.000-07:00

The view as we drove up to the trail head to hike to Sky Ladder. Sky Ladder was in the Nantou area. This is the view near the trail head.

Brandon and Carlyn hiking down the trail.

Hiking down to Sky Ladder.

Sky Ladder- the suspension bridge. It is actually quite a bit higher on this side than the other side, so you walk down (or up) depending on the way you are walking.

I ready to walk across the bridge.

We are walking down the bridge.

The view from the bridge.

You can see how much you walk up while on the bridge.

A view looking down to the ground below the bridge, you can't really see how high up it was, but it was pretty high.

We went to a place where many rocks had fallen (big rocks). George (the guy who took us here) said that this place is very geologically unstable. It changes a lot. There were some little waterfalls and a stream that went to a pretty cool pool that was below the rocks.

The sign says that you are not supposed to go past the fence, but hey, I can't read Chinese. :)

Some of the hike (very little of it) was on a trail kind of like this....

the rest of the hike was going up and down stairs like these.

This is the gorge under another, smaller suspension bridge. It was very deep.

A view from above me looking down the gorge.

The view from the smaller suspension bridge.

Carlyn and Brandon walking across the smaller suspension bridge.

We hiked to this cute little water fall.

The scenery really was beautiful.

Hiking back up, it was a really hot day, I was glad I did my hair up like I did. It was about 75 degrees, but it was quite humid. I'm not used to humidity so much. But It was a great day, and a great hike.

Taiwan Jello. It is all natural. The stuff the jello is made out of is a kind of plant. This is what little was left of mine when I thought to take a picture. There is quite a bit of liquid in it as well. I got a lemon flavored jello. It was pretty yummy.

Night Market adventures in Taiwan

2011-04-09T00:54:00.000-07:00

A picture of the night market. You can find a lot of randome things here. Here is the "food court." In the middle of the area where the market is, is a whole bunch of people with food booths set up and tables in the middle of it all.

They even have random blow up toys to play on and little arcade type games.

Maryland Language Institute- where I work

2011-04-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the front of the school. Here is our "gym".

The reception desk and Penny.

Teacher's Area. Where we are most of the time if we aren't teaching classes.

My classroom. The view from the door.

The kitchen where we have kitchen SPE's.

Little Liuchiu Island

2011-04-03T03:47:00.000-07:00

My ferry ride over to the Island.

Lingyun Temple.

A sign said: "Guide to Flower Vase Rock Trail - This trail runs all the way from Flower Vase Rock to Beauty Cave. Mountain-building movements in western Taiwan pushed Little Liuqiu above the surface of the sea, make it the only one of Taiwan's many offshore islands composed of coral. The clean, clear water surrounding the island, affected by the Japan Current, contains an abundance of marine resources. As you walk along the Flower Vase Rock Trail, undisturbed by vehicular traffic, you can enjoy in tranquility the beautiful sea views and coastal plants that line the trail."

Below is Flower Vase Rock.

Here I am near Valentine's Platform. The sign here said, " Valentine's Platform is located amidst the limestone cliffs; because of its secluded environment it is popular with lovers, hence the name. Here you can enjoy the sight of the surrounding coral rock formations. Look carefully and you will discover odd forms in the coral rock: short round pillars, chrysanthemum shapes, and clumps of feathers. These are the fossilized skeletons of different kinds of coral that have been uplifted from the bottom of the sea by the movement of the earth's crust."

It really was beautiful scenery. Even though I rushed through some of the sights since I wanted to go all the way around the island.

Another sign said: "Net-cage Aquaculture - Taiwan's aquaculture industry is quite well known. What you see before you is a net cage aquaculture; nets are stretched around frames and fixed in the sea with anchor cables, and cobia and other saltwater fish are raised in them. This avoids the traditional problems of aquaculture on land, such as soil salinization and land subsidence. The Japan Current flows through the seas surrounding Little Liuqiu; and this, plus the cleanness of the seawater, makes the area perfect for the development of net-cage aquaculture. The main produce of these cages is cobia and other fish of high economic value, which have become popular exports to Japan in recent years. In addition, in the inshore waters you can sometimes see sea turtles rising and disappearing amidst the blue waves."

Another sign said: "Beauty Cave Trail is located in the northeastern part of Little Liuqiu, where it is cut into two parts by the round-the-island road. The trail is 700 meters long. Coral rock that was once at the bottom of the sea was pushed above the surface by crustal movements, leaving a terrain made interesting by its infinity of change. The trail passes by A Thread of Sky, Bat Cave, Spring of the Immortals, Valentine's Platform, Sweet Spring Cave, Winding Mystery, Another Heaven, Seaview Pavilion, Beauty Cave, Yiran Garden, Enchanted Array, Banyan Rock Valley, and Tranquility Pavilion, the name of each giving an idea of its special nature. On many of the coral rocks you can see lovely patterns of coral fossils and barnacles like little volcanoes, providing proof of the crustal uplifting. The trail also goes through populations of birds and butterflies that add extra life to your visit."

Above was a camping ground.

Below were the grave sights. These cemeteries were pretty cool.

Another sign: "Guide to Shanfu Ecology Corridor - The Shanfu Ecology Corridor runs for more than 400 meters between Duzaiping and Shanfu Fishing Harbor. In the old days its entrance was a restricted gun emplacement; military control has been removed now, but the space inside is still well preserved. The trail follows the seashore all the way, giving visitors access to all kinds of special sea-eroded landscapes such as pillars, notches, and potholes. The path is lined by thick coastal vegetation such as the beach morning glory, necklace pod. Timor allophylus, silvery messerschmidia, and beach naupaka, which not only add color to the sea-eroded terrain but also attract all kinds of insects. When the tide is out this is an excellent place for observing intertidal life including crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and waterfowl. In addition, the trail faces to the west, making it perfect for watching the sunset from Little Liuqiu."

And another sign: " Old Artillery Emplacement - When you walk into the Shanfu Ecology Corridor from the entrance plaza, the steps are lined on both sides by high walls. They are made of coral rock, but from the painted camouflage you can see traces of military occupation. This was once an artillery emplacement, and the old facilities are still here; an assembly hall, armory, storeroom, and sleeping quarters, as well as two artillary emplacements with guns pointed toward the Taiwan Straits, giving rise to thoughts of the tense situation in the old days. Do you notice the holes shaped like plum blossoms in the ceiling of the emplacements? These are acoustic holes, designed to reduce the sound of the guns. The military slogans on the walls, and the firing-angle charts, are symbols from the past."

Another sign: "This scenic spot is located near Shanfu Port on the west of Liouchiou Islet and has many unique geographical features fromed by marine abrasion such as concave walls and potholes. There are mushroom-shaped rock pillars in the sea that, just like Vase Rock, have been eaten away at the bottom by the eroding effect of the seawater over a long period of time. Sea-eroded potholes refer to those round or irregularly-shaped caves with a concave middle part on the wave-cut platform.

"The potholes are formed by the flow and pounding of the seawater plus the effect of repeated dry and wet salt abrasion. Crystallized salt can still be seen around seom of the potholes."

A sign about Sanfu Fishing Harbor: " Shanfu is one of Little Liuqiu's three fishing harbors. It is a natural harbor formed or coral rock and is a major port for the island's fishing boats. The nearby coastline features numerous unique sea-eroded sights such as marine pillars and potholes; go to the intertidal zone on the south side of the harbor and you will see several marine pillars that look like mushrooms, their stems worn thin by long-term sea erosion. The marine potholes occur on sea-eroded platforms and are round or irregular in shape, the result of long-term action of the seawater flowing, swirling, and beating against the rock."

Here I am at Sunset Pavilion. The sign at this pavilion said: " Sunset Pavilion, Yesterday and Today - Sunset Pavilion is located on the western side of Little Liuqiu, facing the mighty Taiwan Straits, and is a great place for viewing the setting sun. As we enjoy the beautiful colors of the sunset, it is difficult for us to imagine that this place was once a garbage landfill that frequently smoldered and covered the area with smoke. Then it was developed into today's pleasant aspect, under a program to restore and reuse landfills, with a subsidy from the Environmental Protection Administration. Every time the sun inclines to the west, visitors and local residents alike gather here to watch the spectacle, making this one of the most popular places on the island. Besides the splendors of the setting sun, below Sunset Pavilion you can see the beautiful coral-rock coastline which the constant wearing of the waves has sculpted into a myriad of enchanting sights."

Houshi Skirt Reef

Riding on a scooter with a stranger who wanted to give me a rid. They didn't like seeing me walk. It was hot so I was grateful I didn't have to walk the rest of the 3 or 4 kilometers around the island.

Biyun Temple.

Sunrise Pavilion

Sanlong Temple

My ferry ride back. My face looks white because of the sunscreen. It didn't rub in very well. It was gross sunscreen, but it worked. I didn't get burned where I put it. Sorry for forgetting to put it on my neck though.

Some Pictures of the kids I teach

2011-04-03T03:36:00.000-07:00

My 4 B class. From left to right: Me, Monica, Eunice, Winnie, Ivy, Ian (in back), Joey, and Trevor. My 1B afternoon class. From Left to Right: Minnie, Amily, me, and Cindy.

And my crazy 1B evening class. In the back row left to right: me, Derek, Rolland, Leo, Vincent, Frank, Betty, and Winnie. Sitting in front left to right: Emerson, Eric, and Andy.

Pictures of my apartment

2011-04-03T02:29:00.001-07:00

Here are pictures of the inside of my apartment here in Taiwan. Here is our laundry room. It is on a balcony. You can't see out because there is so much laundry hanging, drying. But this picture does a good job at showing the width of our laundry room.

Here is a picture of my bathroom. It is very tiny. No bathtub, just a showerhead on the wall.

Our living room. The glass sliding front door is behind the curtains.

Our bookcase and couch.

The loveseat and the hallway headed off in the back.

The hallway from the living room to my bedroom and bathroom and the stairs to the two other levels.

The doors to my bedroom and bathroom.

My cluttered bedroom. I have all my gifts and stuff I have gathered so far in the corner. I use one suitcase as my laundry basket and the other as a night stand.

The stairs leading to the second floor where Bree's room and the kitchen were, and the third floor where the laundry room and Brandon and Carlyn's two rooms were.

The hallway to the kitchen.

The kitchen. Here are the microwave, toaster oven, and refrigerator.

And our stovetop and sink.

Half Way Celebrations

2011-04-03T02:10:00.001-07:00

Brandon and Carlyn enjoying their hamburgers at Max Burger. So yummy. Bree and I enjoying our hamburgers at Max Burgers.

Burning an article of clothiing. I am burning my shirt.

Our burning clothes. :)

Happy Half Way Point!!

Half Way Done

2011-04-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

I was able to get a blessing Sunday evening and it was fun just because the guy who did the anointing did it in Chinese. Monday morning I still felt pretty sick. I still went into work to try to do my Pre-K class but Bree was there when Alex got there and Alex's mom didn't want me in the room with him so I got kicked out. Sherry came right before lunch and took me to the doctor. I only had to pay 100 kuai, but it was an interesting doctor visit. We went into his office (it looked like) and he asked me what was wrong. I told him my symptoms, he checked to see if I had a fever and he looked in my throat and that was it. Not a very thorough examination. He said I had an Upper Respiratory Infection and gave me four different medications. He is an ob/gyn so he can only give 3 days worth of prescriptions for things not related to his field as per the health insurance (which paid for all the medication cost). They had all the medications there so I didn't have to go somewhere else to get the medication. The experience made me appreciate doctors in America, even if they are expensive. After I got back from the doctor, Carlyn told me they were going to cover my classes for me and that I needed to go home. I got everything ready for my classes and came home at two. I watched a couple of movies as I lay on my bed and slept off and on. I went to bed at about 8:30. It is so hard to get a good nights sleep because the beds here are so hard. I wake up at least four times every night to change positions. I don't think I've had a really good nights sleep since I came to Taiwan, which is hard, but I have survived three months, so I can survive three more. Monday night Carlyn, Brandon, and Bree did the first celebration of the half way point without me. They burned notes (things we were irritated with) on our gas stove. But I needed my sleep. Tuesday I had set my alarm for 7 in the morning, but I slept through it until 7:30. So I was still eating breakfast when my parents called. We had a good chat and I spent the rest of the morning laying down. I went in to work at 11 am so I could type my 1B midterm. After lunch and teachers meeting I went home to lay down until about 4:00. I made some hot lemon and honey and without thinking I ate what was left of the lemon. Not a smart things to do with a sore throat! My throat burned for a while after that. I went into work again early enough to scan my school transcripts so I can attach them to my teaching application. My 1B class went okay, though one of my boys drew a picture of me that wasn't very nice and it said I was fat and ugly. He got in a lot of trouble for that. was glad Wednesday was a testing day. Not my sickness was to the point where the side effects of the medication made me feel worse than the actual sickness made me feel. For our halfway week celebration Tuesday we went to a place called Max Burger. It is over near the University. It is a pretty good burger joint. It was a thick hamburger. Not in meat, but it had about a half-inch thick chunk of lettuce on it, then tomato, cheese, bacon, and onion. I had the bacon cheese burger. It came with fries. It really was pretty good. Wednesday I didn't feel too bad. I slept until 8 am though. That isn't something I do very often, but I am waking up a bunch during the night. During SPE with Barbi and Eilleen I recorded them doing the "Princess Pat" song. I do it with them once a week. It was pretty fun. My 1B afternoon and evening classes were pretty easy as they gook the first half of their midterm. Wednesday night's halfway celebration was burning an article of clothing. I had a shirt that came from the girls before that I won't ever wear again, so I burned that. It was pretty fun. The guard came and asked what we were doing. Thursday was a pretty good day. Pre-K was a little rough, but it went okay. I was feeling a lot better, but I still didn't have much energy. In my afternoon 1B class, I colored with Minnie, then let her make sentences for categories (like wheel of fortune) and I guessed. My 4B class was really easy as well. They finished their test then I made them take a picture with me and then they just chilled and played games until the end of class. It was really nice. After work I went to 7-11 to buy popcorn for movie night and Carlyn made a pasta dinner of spaghetti and garlic bread and salad. It was so yummy. Brandon picked the first Transformers to the movie. I really like that movie. It was also the last day of March. We officially reached our half-way point. I'll be kind of sad to leave Taiwan, but I won't be sad to leave the job, just maybe the kids. And I will be a lot happier to return to the USA than I will be sad to leave. Friday was April Fool's Day. I didn't do any tricks to my kids though. I felt a sort of elation knowing I am now on the down hill side of my time here. I was thinking about it, and the 180 days needed to get the tax break is up on July 1st. I'm going to talk to Sherry sometime soon to see if it will be possible to leave earlier than the 5th, like the 1st or 2nd of July. That way I will be at Scout Camp the whole first week of scouts instead of coming in the middle of that week. It might be a little easier, but we will see what happens. Classes were easy today since they were just finishing up their midterms. I also had their candy they earned for them. I also took pictures with them. I went to Kaohsiung for the night, so I could get to Little Liuchiu Island as early as possible. I got to the International Friendship House at 11 pm because my train was delayed and I started walking the wrong way after getting off the metro. But It was good, since I figured out that I was going the wrong way pretty quickly. A girl that was there during Chinese New Years was still there, she found some jobs and she was just waiting until she got paid so she could get a place of her own. It was kind of fun to see her again. Saturday I started my day at 5:15am. By the time I got outside at a quarter to six it was already pretty light out. I went to the train station, got my ticket to Pingtung, and got some pancakes at McDonalds that was in the Kaohsiung train station. I got to Pingtung at about 7am and then found the bus station, which wasn't far from the train stations, and got a ticket for Donggang. When I got to Donggang I asked someone at the 7-11 the bus dropped us off at how to get to Little Liuchiu Island. They told me which way to go and I walked to the port where the ferry takes off. It was a 30 minutes ferry ride. I got to the Island at about 9:15am. At the Island you can't see the mainland of Taiwan. That was pretty interesting, heading into the unknown waters. I started walking around the Island. I saw Flower Vase Rock, the Lingyuan Temple, the Sea-viewing pavilion, and the Houshi Skirt Reef. There wasn't a lot of stuff to see that wasn't natural. I walked 7 Kilometers and was a little more than halfway around the island when a couple and their friend on scooters stopped and insisted they give me a ride. By this point I was grateful becuase it was hot and I was getting tired. While rideing with them I saw Sunrise Pavilion, Biyun Temple, Sanlong Temple. That half of the island was a quick tour, but it was okay since there wasn't a lot to stop and see anyway. After they dropped me off near the ferry they gave me some corn on the cob, which I ate a little of, but it was old tasting so I threw the rest away. I bought some little trinkets, a soft ice cream cone and a little bowl of shaved ice with strawberry jam and some sweetened condensed milk. It was a warm day, and I didn't feel like walking anymore. I got back to Pingtung at 3:45 pm and got a train ticket back to Changhua. The train left at 4:30 and got into Changhua at 7:15. So it wasn't too bad of a train ride. It was kind of funny when I was riding around on the scooters, they go lost a few times after I told them I wanted to get back to the ferry. They didn't speak much English, so it was a good thing I had the map on the brochure so I could point to where I wanted to go. I saw some of the things I had already seen as well, but it was fun. I was thinking about going back to Hsinchu on Monday to see some of the things I didn't before, but I decided I don't want to spend my money just to see a few things I didn't see. I decided I don't really care if I see those things. This next weekend I guess George, Kitty's dad, and family are going to take us hiking somewhere. That will be fun. And I won't have to plan anything. I also decided I would go somewhere twice a month and a temple trip. So I hope to save a little extra money. I burned my neck today because when I put sunscreen on I forgot about my neck. Sunday, churchw as nice. Jill wasn't there though so we didn't have an interpreter for Sacrament meeting and Sunday School. Yulene was able to translate for us in Relief Society. After church I made chocolate chip cookies and a broccoli recipe in one of my Chinese Recipe books. It was pretty good. I am excited to have two days off of work. It was weird not having General Conference. I will watch it online this week and next Sunday, the wards will also have it rebroadcast next Saturday and Sunday. I will probably just stay home.

Ward Temple Trip

2011-03-27T03:45:00.000-07:00

Monday wasn't too bad. Pre-K class went pretty well. 1B afternoon and 4B classes went well as well. I got to come home at 7 which was so nice. I got a real dinner. Sunday night I was so tired, I went to bed at 8:15. Last week must have really exhausted me. I love that these next two weeks are just review and taking midterm weeks. It will be an easier two weeks of work. Tuesday morning was so nice. I talked to my parents, did laundry, and went to work at 11:30. After teacher's meeting I bought some wetting drops for my eyes when I'm wearing my contacts. I also mailed two teaching applications. I got quite a bit done during our 3 hours before my 1B evening class. We also decided that we are going to celebrate our half way point all week next week. We have little things to do each night to celebrate. I'm excited for that. During my 1B class, I was giving them the spelling part of their test and I said a word and Brandon came in and said the word and used it in a sentence. It was pretty funny and all my students looked a little shocked at the sudden change of events. Wednesday was a pretty good day. I hda the last hour of SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen. My classes went well, though my evening 1B class was a little wild, but they settled down and did their worksheets to practice their grammar. It was also nice to be able to go home after that, since my 4B class is changed to Monday and Thursdays. It is nice to have a couple of hours in the evening to relax and unwind. Wednesday morning I got an email with the staff list so far for Scout Camp. That got me excited for camp so I wrote which merit badges I want taught and made a schedule so we could teach all the merit badges I wanted even if I don't get many staff members. I want to add Bird Study and Insect Study, now I just have to wait and see if Scott and Sterling want that for camp. I just think it would be fun to have some other merit badges to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Treasure Mountain. It just made me happy knowing Scout Camp is getting closer. Thursday was a pretty good day, though in Pre-K I wasn't able to convince the moms not to come with their children into the room. 1B afternoon class went well with Minnie, and my matching game went well with my 4B's so I will do it with my 1B's tomorrow. For movie night we watched "Hook". Which is always a good movie. Friday I had Pre-K class at 9:30. I put my foot down today and said mom couldn't come in and stood in the doorway, and said we couldn't play if mom was in there. Alex wouldn't come in the room so I finally picked him up and carried him in. He cried for the first 15 minutes and he had periods of whimpering the whole hour. Penny (one of the secretaries) had to be in there for nim not to cry, but that is an improvement over having his mom in there. The goal of the Pre-K class is to get the students used to being away from parents so it is defeating the purpose of the class if moms are in the room with them. The rest of the classes went pretty well, I started getting sick though, so i had no patience in my evening class. After work I had dinner and bought some Vitamin C drink to try to help me since I started getting sick. Saturday I got to go to the temple. The last Saturday of each month is the temple trip day for the ward. It was so nice. It was a much needed trip even if I had a headache a lot of the teim and was coughing. We got to Taipei an hour and a half before our session so Jill and another guy in the ward, I think his name might be Steve, took us to a fantastic little restaurant where they served the shaved ice with fruit and sweetened condensed milk. Jill laughed at me for only getting that, plus it was a rainy and kind of cold, but it was so delicious. I also bought my own Chinese Hymnbook with the pinyin in it, so I can sing along in church without having to borrow Jill's book. The temple was so nice. I love the temple. On the way home Jill and I had a pretty good chat talking about what we want to do next; me after Taiwan and Jill after she graduates with her master's in June. She also told me about when she joined the church. She is so great. She also said that I looked like I has served a mission and complimented me along with Carlyn and Brandon (whom she calls the Brandon's when talking about them together) about our great faith. I love Jill. I went to bed early becuase of this sickness, it kind of feels like a chest cold. I'm coughing and my head hurts. It was a really good day thouh. Also on the way home we heard that there was an earthquake (3.1) in Hualien, which is where I would have been this weekend if I had not changed my Toroko Gorge trip. Sunday I wasn't able to go to church. My sickness got a lot worse over night. I almost passed out when I first got up and I get hot and then cold. I got a blessing from Brandon and another guy in our ward. So the annointing was done in Chinese. That was kind of fun. I hope I get better soon. If I'm not any better by Monday then I will probably go to the doctor. I almost passed out during the blessing.

Change

2011-03-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

Monday morning I talked to my parents which is always nice. While I was running Monday morning I had horrible shin splints so I talked to my dada bout how to help them so hopefully I will get them better. My 1B class with Minnie went well. During my two-hour break I cam home, bought some more guavas and some strawberries. I bought some paper cups so I can ice my shins. Something funny happened during my 4B class. I was giving them spelling words for their quiz and they were saying they didn't know what part of speech one word was, so I showed them how I sometimes figure out how I figure out what part of speech a word is, by diagramming it. So I diagrammed the sentence but I used their spelling word so I wrote their spelling word on the board. They immediately said, "Oh, you wrote the answer!" I said, "oh man, I did, well you ge a free be." It was pretty funny. I also learned that our schedules changed and were effective Tuesday. This new schedule put me working: Monday: 8:30 am - 8:50 pm; Tuesday: 8:30 am - 6:45 pm; Wednesday: 8:30 am - 8:50 pm; Thursday: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm; Friday: 11:00am - 6: 45 pm. These are some long days.
Tuesday was a hard day, not in terms of teaching but I have been feeling frustrated because I really don't like my job and I feel bad about it. I am pretty much just living for my weekends. I love my kids and I have decided if nothing else keeps me going it is the kids and I need to just concentrate and doing all I can for them. But if I had don't this before I got my teaching certificate I would have been convinced teaching wasn't for me. I also bought contacts on Monday and I tried them out for the first time on Tuesday. My eyes felt dry all day, but my dad said that was normal so I felt better about it, but I will probably try to wear them on my shorter days and try to get my eyes used to them. It took me over a half an hour to get them in. My 1B class went pretty well. After work I ate dinner. I was so proud of myself, I resisted going to the bakery. I packed some dried guavas, which I wanted to try. I like them but I like my dried mangoes better. I ran Tuesday morning as well to make sure I would still have time to run with my new schedule.
Wednesday was a roller coaster ride. I ran a mile and a half- my knees hurting the whole time so I have to start icing my knees as well as my shins. I got to work and Sherry told me I was doing a lot wrong after the first hour of teaching. I took Barbi, Eilleen, and Alex (who is technically a Pre-K students and speaks very little English) to the park, which was interesting. It was okay, but Barbi had a melt down when it was time to go back to the school because she wanted her mom to drive us back to the school, so she was mad the whole walk home. I had to ask Eilleen what was wrong with her because she was speaking Chinese to her mom. During my little break before lunch I went to the bank to deposit the money for my Green Island tour then I transferred it to the Green Island Tour account. I got a message the next day saying they got the money. I went home to take out my contacts after lunch, which only took me 20 minutes to put in this morning. I then went back to the school and broke down and cried telling Sherry that my 4B's would not have fun when I didn't want to be there by the time it got to their class, working 12 hours. My 1B afternoon class went pretty well then during my 1B evening class, Sherry came in during their break and told me she got my 4B class changed to Monday and Thursday from 4:45 to 6:45. I had asked her if we could change it since my 1B evening class had changed. So I now work every day til seven, so that was good news. Wednesday was also payday which is always good. With my 4B class changed, I also might get to teach one of the night University classes, if the class on Monday actually happens. I guess my melt down helped Sherry move into action to get the class changed. I am trying to be happier about being at work though I don't really like my job working with elementary aged kids. So Wednesday was my last night of being at the school until nine.
Thursday was St. Patrick's day so I wore green. I observed Carlyn in Pre-K because I will be teaching it at least once a week. Also on Wednesday I learned a new phrase "bu yao" (boo yeow) - it means "I don't want." I learned it becuase when I took the kids to the park, Alex kept saying it to me so I asked my 1B afternoon class what it meant and they told me. They are so good about translating for me, I love my 1B's. My contacts were weird on Thursday. They were fuzzy and I wonder if it is because of all the handling I do trying to get them in my eyes, so I couldn't see very well, and so I had a horrible headache. So my 1B class seemed to last forever because my eyes/head hurt so much. After my 1B class I didn't have any more classes, but this will be the last week since my 4B class was changed. I went to the bakery (my first time this week...I did well. I will try not to go at all next week). I got a blueberry-type (looked like a cinnamon roll except with blueberry jelly and no cinnamon on it) and the chocolate mousse thing. For dinner I cut up the strawberries I got and had some fried rice as well. It was a nice relaxing evening. It was my turn to choose the move for movie night. We watched Nightmare Before Christmas. Bree shared pizza with us and Brandon and Carlyn shared some popcorn. We also got a new schedule which looks a lot better than the one I lived this week. My new "final" schedule is as follows: Monday 10:30 am - 9 (only if I end up teaching the University calss, if not then I get off at 7); Tuesday: 11:30 am - 6:45pm; Wednesday; 10:00 - 6:45; Thursday: 9:30 am - 6:45 pm; Friday 9:30 am - 6:45 pm. These hours definitely will make it a little easier for me to be happy about going to a job I really don't care for. This new schedule was effective Friday. I found out about the schedule Thursday right before I left to go home. The Taiwanese seem to like to do everything last minute.
Friday I ran 1 1/2 miles. I did my first Pre-K class this morning. It was only Alex and it went pretty well and I guess his mom told Sherry that I was a good teacher. But the mom had to be in there the whole time because Alex wouldn't let her leave. I was so glad when Friday finally came. This week seemed to last forever. It was a very LONG week. I still dont' know if I am going to be teaching a University calss on Monday or not. It rained all day on Friday as well so I decided it was okay to have hot chocolate. :) I was so tired and exhausted that I didn't have any patience half the time, and just didn't care the other half. It was a pretty long day.
Saturday I woke up just before six o'clock. I got a train to Yingge (Yeeng -ga) at 7:42 am. I finished the book I was reading, The Sound and the Fury. It was definitely an interesting book. My next book I am going to read will be Peter and the Shadow Thieves. It seems pretty good. Yingge was a delightful town. The guide book wasn't lying when it said, "Yingge is for ceramics." I probably saw at least 10 stores selling ceramics walking the half-mile to mile to the ceramics museum. The ceramics museum was fun. There were some fun ceramics art. They even had a room where you can do your own ceramics but I didn't take the time or money to do that. I bought some cheap but fun ceramic bowls in the gift shop. A couple more presents as well. It hink Yingge and the ceramics museum was the highlight of this trip. I went back to the train station and got a ticket to Hsinchu (Shin choo) Which is on the way back to Changhua. Hsinchu was fun. I saw the old Easter Gate, which is preserved in the middle of a round about. I also went to Hsinchu Park and the Glass Museum, which was fun. A cute old man who worked at the museum gave me a short tour because he spoke some English. He actually came up to me to ask if i wanted a tour. Since the week was so hard I decided to come home early and I got home at 4:30 pm. I then went grocery chopping and got a bunch of food that should last me a while. The rest of the night was spent putting my pictures on my blog and I made more fried rice for this week. It was a really good day. Bree also told me that Sherry stopped by and there will be no University class on Monday, so I might just be helping Carlyn if she wants in her University class on Wednesdays.
Sunday was a good day. Churchw as good, Carlyn adn Brandong weren't there because they were in Taipei so it was just me. I was glad Jill was there to translate for me. And as a side note, my Chinese name, the xue part is pronounced like the first part of my name "sha". A brother in the ward spoke in sacrament meeting returned from his mission not too long ago, he served in the Taiwan, Taipei mission. I think it would be weird to serve so close to home. For the meal after church they had Chicken Curry which is always good. It was a really good day.

Yingge and Hsinchu

2011-03-19T03:58:00.000-07:00

This was a ceramics shop in Yingge I saw on the way to the ceramics museum. The ceramics museum. Most of the pictures are in this ceramics museum in Yingge.

This was the place where you could do workshops and make your own ceramics.

These ceramics were supposed to represent the plants in the sea.

These are pretty cool displays. The display cases are also made from ceramics.

One sign said: "Ceramic Shapes and Forms - Ceramics show up in many guises. Cermic objects are named according to their uses and shapes, they include pot, bowl, urn, basin, and vases.

"Ceramic objects take on different shapes and forms through the ages. Bowls, jars, and urns were used in ancient times and are still used today. Their shapes and forms have undergone little change, but a ceramic wok, common in the ancient times, is rarely seen today, revealing our changing habits, lifestyles, and society."

Another sign said: "Temperature is the magic - After clay is made into shape, it must be fired before it becomes ceramics.

"The clayware has to be half-dried before it is sent into the kiln for firing. The type of the kiln and the temperature chosen are important in final outcome of the pieces. Usually the higher the temperature, the harder the result.

"Firing methods have constantly improved, from the earliest open-air firing to pit firing, snake kilns to our modern gas and electric kilns. Unearthed fragments are usually soft suggesting that they were fired in low temperatures."

I thought this display was a fun one. Yes all the purses are just ceramics.

Another sign said: "Life Ceramics - Ceramic technology not only enriches our lives, by the improvements it allows in the medical it helps to perfect our standard of living. When we feel sick, it is the ceramic stethoscope which is first used to diagnose our ailments. The ultrasonic diagnostic set, made with piezoelectric ceramics, helps us investigate the diseases hiding in our bodies, and it can be used to determine the baby's growth and sex.

"Ceramic materials can mimic certain parts of the human body. Sometimes the best replacement parts are made of ceramics, in fact. For instance, a realistic ceramic tooth; ceramic bones and joints, pacemakers to drive the pulse, hearing aids to connect people to the sounds of the world, and so on.

"Nobel laureate Richard P. Feynman used to predict the coming age of microchips and micromachines. Someday we will have ceramic silicon chips that are finer than human hair, which can control such micromachines. When a blood vessel is blocked, one will be able to drink a glass of orange juice filled with these micromachines and they will clean the clotted blood. "

Two ceramics stores right next to each other.

I thought the train station in yingge was pretty cool. It even had some ceramics on the wall and a ceramics shop. Yingge is all about ceramics. :)

The Eastern Gate in Hsinchu. Hsinchu was called Hcinshang by the early Chinese settlers who built a bamboo fence around the city to protect themselves from Taiya, Saisha and Pingpu aboriginals. In 1826 a solid brick wall was constructed around the city. Only one portion of the wall remains today, which is this Eastern Gate.

Hsinchu Park. I loved this!

This is the illegal picture I took in the glass museum.

This is the outside of the glass museum.

Toroko Gorge and Hualien

2011-03-13T03:29:00.000-07:00

The view from the airplane as we started to descend to Hualien. Toroko Gorge! SO beautiful. A sign said:" Introduction to Taroko National Park - Taroko National Park covers an area of 92,000 hectares. It is located in three counties Hualien, Taichung and Nantou and is home to unique geological and natural resources, including twenty seven peaks over 3000 meters which are famous among the Hundred Peaks in Taiwan located in and around the Chilai and Nanhu Mountain ranges. The spectacular marble gorge of Taroko, the cliffs of Chingshui rising high above the Pacific Ocean, the peaceful trail along the Shakadang River, and the cascading waterfalls of Baiyang trail are some of the treasures and delights of earth and the heavens that await visitors to the Park. "The rich and varied terrain that has nurtured an opulent plant and animal life in the Park is due in large part to the steep climb in altitude: from the Pacific Ocean on the east border of the Park to the majestic peaks of the Central Mountain Range that make up the Park's western border, one can go from sea level to well over 3000 meters in a day's time. On the Central Cross Island-Highway one can experience the changes in altitude while going from the subtropical broad-leaved forest to the subalpine cold temperate needle-leaved forest as though traveling in a dream. The changes pass one by within a short day and words cannot describe the exquisite beauty of this area - a beauty that has attracted people for countless years."

Going on our little hike. The trail was cut into the mountain so we had cliff hanging over us the whole time.

The road was cut through the mountain a lot. So we went through a lot of tunnels.

Silver Stream Waterfall (I think that was what it was called... I know it had the words silver and waterfall in it).

You can see the road cut into the mountain.

Elephant rock (do you see the elephant?) The nose is the rock the goes down to the road on the left hand side.

The place where there is only 50 meters between the two cliffs.

The sign near this pavilion said: "Ho-Liu - Ho-Liu is located at the junction of the Liwu stream and its branch, the Laohsi. At the junction of these streams stands an immense rock upon which a pavilion named 'the orchid' was built. Nearby is a bridge, whose railings are made of pure white marble and at each end of which is a pair of marble lions. TheLaohsi's clean water flows gently under it. Right beside the end of the bridge stands another style of pavilion named 'the merciful mother'. In memory of the late President Chiang Kai-Shek's mother. These impressive pavilions face each other and make the scenery more attractive.

"The geologic structure of the Taroko Gorge changes suddenly right here. Eastward, it was formed of marble, but westward, it is of green and black schistous rock mixed with white marble. The bed of the Laohsi is also famous for its abundant gold. The Ho-Liu is not only picturesque, but it is also a rich mine."

Can you see the blue water and grey water meeting. The blue water is on the left and the grey on the right. The join about halfway down the picture.

Alligator rock. (Do you see him?)

The place where we stopped to see the temple where the Biggest Golden Buddha Statue is.

Here is the temple.

The biggest golden Buddha statue.

I think this is Matsu.

On the suspension bridge.

My Aboriginal lunch.

The view from the window while we ate lunch.

The front of the restaurant.

The beginning of the trail to Eternal Springs Shrine.

One sign said, " The highway was the first highway to cross Taiwan's Central Mountain Range. The main road is 192 kilometers long and goes from Toroko to Dongshi. Work began on July 7, 1956 and was completed on May 9, 1960, over three years and nine months later. The main reasons for building the road were national defense, to shorten the traveling time between east and west Taiwan, to resettle decommissioned servicemen and also to allow natural resources to be exploited.

"Building the highway through such rugged terrain was a severe challenge. The advantage that the highway builders had was an ample supply of manpower. Everyday 5000-6000 men worked on the highway, carving the highway across the mountains using explosives or hand tools and their own physical effort. Most of the workers were decommissioned military personnel recruited by the Retired Servicemen Engineering Agency.

"The Central Cross-Island Highway was built from 'blood, sweat and tears.' During the construction of the highway, 226 men were killed in work related accidents. Eternal Spring Shrine was built to commemorate the men who lost their lives."

A sign said, " Central Cross-IslandHighway Pioneers -- Chiang Ching-kuo and Lin Ze-bin:

"Chiang Ching kuo- The idea to build the Highway (talking about the cross Island Highway) came from former ROC president Chiang Ching-kuo. In the summer of 1955 he inspected the southern route, setting out from Tongmen and passing over Mt. Qilai and other high mountains before reaching Lushan in Nantou after eight days. In 1956, before work began building the highway, he inspected the chosen route carefully, setting off from Dajian, crossing the Central Mountain Range, and arriving in Toroko Gorge after 19 days, just in time for the highway's groundbreaking ceremony on July 7. He visited construction sites on a number of occasions during the period of construction. This wise man passed away years ago and, after being rebuilt twice, the shrine no longer looks the same.

"Lin Ze-bin- Lin was involved in the planning, inspection, route selection, construction and opening of the highway. At the time he was director of the Highway Bureau. Lin as the main helmsman for Cenral Cross-Island Highway. He once said, 'I put more effort into building the Central Cross-Island Highway than into any other transport project in my career.' With funds, machinery and resources all in short supply, he oversaw the completed this monumentally difficult task that was achieved mainly using manual labor. He made every effort to maintain the morale of the men working under him and also thoughtfully used a 'forced saving' method to ensure they wouldn't squander what they earned. Lin never forget the men who had died building it and every year, without fail, for over 30 years he returned to Changchun Shrine to pay his respects to them on the first day of the Chinese New Year."

Natural Spring - man made tunnel.

Another sign said: " Eternal Springs (Changchun) Shrine in Different Eras - The shrine was completed at the end of 1957 and was rebuilt twice, both times because it was badly damaged in a landslide. The first time it was damaged was in 1979 and the second time was in 1987, rebuilding completed to the left of the original site in 1989. The rock near Eternal Spring Shrine is mixed green schist, thin marble and quartz schist strata. The rock is fragile and made more unstable because there is a fault running through it. The water of the Liwu River is continually eroding the foot of the slope.

"'Eternal Spring Plummeting Springs' below the shrine receives a constant supply of spring water that gushes through the cracks in the rock. After typhoon or heavy rains the water volume increases dramatically and the water makes a sound like thunder. When recent rainfall has been minimal the flow is small but it never stops."

The Eternal springs.

Another sign said, "...Springs and Geology-- Interlocking layers of marble and calcic Quartz Schist distinguish the geology of this area and also lead to a rather unstable environment in terms of landslides. This is exacerbated by activity of the river natural but relentless pressure towards cutting a path straight through to the ocean. The architecture of the buildings on this path follows that of traditional Chinese styles. The original buildings collapsed after typhoon in 1979. They were rebuilt on an even greater scale three years later, but natural calamities destroyed all in 1987. In the last round of rebuilding, the structure was placed to the left of its original location to avoid the fault lines. From the Eternal Springs Shrine continue up the mountain to the steep high cliffs high above the Liwu River. High in the clouds you will have great views of the Liwu River as it winds its way up to the marble gorge or down to the Pacific Ocean. The trail provides a good setting to contemplate building of this road and the lives that were sacrificed." Another sign said, "Yu Bao-leng, one of the men who built the Central Cross-Island Highway, once said, ' Building the Central Cross-Island Highway was more dangerous than fighting in a way. In a war you know where the enemy is , but working on the highway, no one could predict when an accident would happen.'

"With limited funds and technology, and in the face of extreme difficulty and constant danger, the highway was cut through the rugged terrain over the Central Mountain Range and was truly an amazing feat. The people working on the road were determined to complete their mission despite the great hardship and dangers. During the construction of the highway 225 men lost their lives. They were killed when their vehicles overturned, they fell into deep ravines, they fell into rivers and drowned, they were hit flying rocks when blasting was carried out and were crushed by landslides or hit by falling rocks. Being hit by falling rocks and slipping and falling over a cliff caused the most deaths.

"The former director of the Highway Bureau Lin Ze-bin said this about the dangers faced by the workers on the highway and his words are recorded on the Eternal Springs Shrine memorial stone: 'There was a high risk of disaster for the men who built the highway and the chance of escape when an accident happened was minimal. The dead were buried by rocks, fell over cliffs to places where rescue was impossible, they were in vehicles that rolled over until they disintegrated or were killed by flying rocks. The brains and innards of the dead were scattered across mountain ridges and their torsos and limbs fell into deep ravines. The sight of the bloodstained mountains and rivers was so horrific it scared even the birds and the monkeys. We are deeply saddened that these heroic men didn't come back and grieve the loss of the professional technicians...'

" The highway builders who lost their lives paid the ultimate price to build it and were unable to see it open. We should respectfully remember them and be grateful for their selfless sacrifice."

Far away view of the Eternal Springs Shrine.

The Marble Factory in Hualien.

The is a jade rock, it base is marble.

I think I am the year of the bull so I got a picture with the bull statue.

Can you see the difference between this lion and the next one...

It is what is under their paws. The top one has a baby lion under the paw which means it is the female. The one on the bottom is the male. The male is always on the right hand side of an entry and the female on the left.

A beach at Hualien. Now I have been on a beach on both the west and east side of Taiwan.

Chinese Birthdays

2011-03-13T00:52:00.000-08:00

This morning before I went to work, I ran two miles then emailed a hostel in Taipei about staying there Friday night for my Toroko Gorge trip on Saturday. I went to work at 9:20 am because I helped Carlyn with the Pre-K class at 10. We just played with really young kids, two or three years old, to try to get them used to being away from their parents. We found out that they will only do this class on Thursdays for a while so I won't be doing it because I have classes Thursday mornings. Since Minnie is now by herself on Mondays and Thursdays we are doing the SPE with her and the Basic Readers from 3 to 4 so she can participate for hte first half hour because she goes home at 3:30. So I now get an extra half hour break on those days since I don't have my 1B eveneing class on those days. I went home during my break and went to the Free Mason Market and bought some things. I then went to the fruit market and bought more guavas and apples. I then had a nice dinner of fried rice and a guava with its powder. It was so good. I decided that since I have a two and a half hour break between classes I will now come home to heat dinner on Mondays rather than pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich since I have time to go home. My 4B class went well. We were able to joke with each other quite a bit so that was fun. I also ordered my train ticket for Friday to get to Taipei. I also found out I have a place to stay in Taipei, so that is nice.
Tuesday was a good day. SPE's with Barbi and Eilleen went well. During our hours of having no students I worked on Subject lessons for my classes, I went to pick up my train ticket for Friday and got a little something at the bakery. My first bakery trip since Thursday. I'm doing well. I got a little slice of pound cake type stuff and a lemon cake. Both are pretty small. I also learned something interesting about how Chinese track their age. Say a person is born in November. As soon as they are born they are one year old. When Chinese New Years hits in February they are two. So if they are born in November they are four months old, but by the Chinese reckoning thny are two. Then every birthday (so in the case November) they get a year older. I couldn't understand why the kids (the younger ones especially) would say they didn't know how old they were. Now I understand a little better. Emily also gave me a Chinese name becuase I wanted one. I can't write the characters on the computer but maybe I will take a picture of the characters written. The pinyin of my name is Lin (2) Ruo (4) Xue (3). (The numbers are what tone the word is). It is pronounced Lin Row Shiay. She gave me this name becuase it is like my namde backwards. Lin means forest. And Ruo Xue means like snow, which refers to something beautiful. Lin is a popular girls name as well. I like that I have a Chinese name now. I like it. My 1B evening class went well. They didn't take their test because I had Sherry come in and explain the grammar concept in Chinese to see if they could understand it better. Five students stayed after for a half an hour to do some extra tutoring. Hopefully it helps.
Wednesdays are my long days. My 1B's just wear my patience down, then to do my 4B class, I get exhausted. My poor 4B's get a lot of my impatience because of it. I had word searches for my 1B kids to do while others finished their test which helped them stay quiet while others finished their tests. I made it a big word search to last a couple of weeks. Classes went well overall though. One hightlight was I received a letter from my friend Scott Petersen who is on a mission. I wasn't expecting him to write me because it costs extra to mail a letter to me here, so it was a nice surprise.
Thursday was a good day, but then again, Thursdays usually are. I wrote a letter to Scott and my brother, Karlton, before work. SPE's went well. MY 1B class with Minnie went well. I mailed my letters during my lunch break. After my 1B class I finished my May newsletter for 1B and printed off stuff for my trip to Toroko Gorge and my lesson plans for next week. One more week of the same thing then we get two weeks of review and to take their midterm test which will be a nice change from the same old routine. I had gym class for the SPE's for Basic Readers and 1B. I had them do relay races. One was to walk on all fours (hands and feet) and Joe honestly looked like a monkey when he did it. He did it like it was the most natural thing for him to run on all fours. Joe is a Basic Reader. It made me laugh. After work (I got home at 5 pm) I ate the rest of my fried rice and a guava, which I am beginning to love, with the powder. I also cleaned my bathroom with bleach and water. Hopefully it will be good for a little while. If felt good to clean it, hopefully I didn't breath too many bleach fumes. For movie night we watched the new Star Trek movie. I like that movie. Amy Wu also came over. She really didn't like it, she said it was weird. She is so cute.
Friday morning I made myself run three miles. I felt pretty good. My lungs act like I hardly ran at all which is so nice, but my legs got pretty sore as I ran. I love that I can breath so easily while I run here. Before I left to work I went to Free Mason so I oculd get eggs and butter to make chocolate chip cookies on Sunday. I also emailed the guy about the Green Island Tour. Bree and I will go the 7th and 8th of May. None of the teachers from the other school wanted to go because they said it will be too hot. I already have all the money saved for that trip so that will be nice. I've also decided to get contacts this week. I'll either get enough for 6 weeks or 12 weeks. i will get them after I get paid this week. right after work I went to the bakery to buy stuff for breakfast on Saturday and walked to the train station. My train for Taipei left at 7:20pm. I read about 70 pages in my book "The Sound and the Fury", it really is a pretty hard book to read. It is just hard to follow what is going on at times, and it jumps between past and present and sometimes I don't know for a few sentences that it has switched. I got to Taipei at 9:50. I was able to walk to the hostel and find it pretty easily. I was in bed by 10:30. The hostel I stayed at was the Happy Family Hostel. The rooms seemed pretty clean as well so that was nice. It definitely wasn't as nice as the International Friendship House in Kaohsiung and it was double the price. It was a place to stay though.
Saturday I woke up with bites. I think some sort of bug decided to sleep with me and eat my face and neck. my face and neck are itchy and my neck had a red swollen line on it. I know I have a few bites on my forehead as well. I woke up at 5:10 am. I didn't sleep really well, becuase I was being eaten and I was afraid my alarm wouldn't wake me up, even though I have never had a problem waking up to it before. I got ready for the day and was waiting for my ride and eating my dried fruit bread for breakfast at 5:50. My ride picked me up at 6 am and we went to San Song Airport. We were on and airplane to Hualien by 7:00 am. We landed in Hualien at 7:45 am. It was cloudy and drizzling a little during the morning. I also found out there was an earthquake Friday afternoon off the shore of Japan which started a Tsunami, so places all over the Northern Pacific had warnings, and I didn't even know about it. :) I found out when my driver to the airport pointed out reporters that were reporting news about sending aid to Japan.
Our tour started right when we got there. Our tour guides name was Josephine. She grew up right near Toroko Gorge so she said it was like her backyard. Toroko Gorge was beautiful. We went through nine-turns tunnel, did some small hikes and saw a place wehre there is only 50 meters from one side of the Gorge to the other. We also went to a temple that has the biggest golden Buddha statue in Taiwan. We also made quick stop at a suspension bridge we could walk across. It bounced slightly as we walked across, which was kind of weird feeling.
There were nine people in our tour group. There were two ladies from Slavia, I think; two gentlement from Japan; a couple from Washington D.C. (he was here in Taiwan for business); and a couple from Redlands, California (they have been in America for a long time, though they were born in Hong Kong). During lunch I sat with the couple from California. When I asked them what part of California they originally said "Riverside." I told them my brother was there, then he said, " then you might know the city we live in." I was think probably not, but then he said, "Redlands." I told him I've heard of it. :)
Lunch was interesting and good, it was a traditional Aboriginal meal. I actually took a picture of it. I had pork. Everyone else had fish. The meat was served with pig skins (which I tried, but didn't like it enough to eat more than one piece), bamboo rice (the rice is cooked inside a bamoo shoot), some pork soup, and a kind of sweet potato wedge. It was a really nice restaurant.
Going back a little, there was a time we had a break at a little coffee shop. They also had some hard ice cream there, that was the only thing they had that wasn't coffee or tea. So I got some ice cream. It came with three scoops, so I had a scoop of each Mango, Vanilla, and Strawberry icecream. So while everyone else drank their coffee, I ate my delicious ice cream. The couple I sat next to also offered me some of the Taiwan beer, and I told them "no thanks."
On the way out of Toroko Gorge we stopped at the Eternal Springs Shrine which was built to honor those who lost their lives building the highway that goes through Toroko Gorge and on to the Western side of the Island. It was pretty cool.
That was the end of the Toroko Gorge part. We then went back to Hualien and went to the marble factory. There is a lot of marble in the mountains there as well as jade. Inside the store part they showed us a raw piece of jade. It looks like a rock on the outside and the jade is under the surface of the rock, wso when they are mining it, it is just a guessing game. Jade is either green or an orangeish color. They also showed us a chunk of sapphire. That was really cool. Then we gent into a place where they had all sorts of jewelry made out of jade and sapphire. Mostly jade. It was goegous and I will probably go back to get a small star sapphire ring, but this time I got a cheap round green ring, that kind of looks like jade, but is probably fake since it was so cheap. We then went to a beach there. It was a rocky beach and there were quite a few people there, but it was fun. I found a couple of cool rocks to take with me as well.
I was originally oging to take the train to Taipei (included in the price of the tour) but asked if I could get my ticket changed to take me to Changhua and just pay the difference. It was able to do that so that was nice. It was a five hour train ride, but I got home sooner than if I had stopped at Taipei then got another train ticket to Changhua. We left Hualien (wha-lee-en) at 4:40 pm. (16:40- since they work through military time).
Bree had said that I paid a lot of money for a one day tour, but I think I got my money's worth. It was a wonderful day. The lunch was included in the tour package. When I got back to Changhua I walked back to my apartment. I got home just after 10. It was a long but very good day.
Sunday was great. Church was wonderful as usualy. I pulled my hair half up and then did a messy bun, then before Relief Society started a sister came up to me and told me she liked my hair, she thought it was beautiful. (She spoke a little English). Then she had Jill translate for her and asked to know how to do it. By the tame I showed her I had an audience of about 4 women. i used Jill, then Carlyn (because Jill wanted to see as well), as a model. I roughly showed them how to do it, since I dind't have elastics or bobby pins. It was kind of funny. After church I went upstairs to have dinner with them. The Relief Society President was so cute, she pulled me into the room and told me to eat (in Chinese), hand motions helped me to know what she was saying. The dinner was pork, which was excellent, rice, cooked cabbage and carrots, and scrambled egg and tomato mixture. It really was good. I had remembered to bring my own bowl and chopsticks. I had two bowls full.
Also the Relief Society President's husband was talking to me. He said, "You're not married?" (he didn't start the conversation like that, but it is the part I want to share). I told him no. Then he proceeded to tell me that his son was going to BYU-Idaho and that he wanted him to meet me. It just made me giggle.
When I got home from church I made chocolate chip cookies which turned into chocolate cookies because the butter was too hard so I microwaved it without thinking about the fact the chocolate chips would melt as well. (it was a mix). I also had a guava. The cookies were really good.

Cihu and Taipei Zoo

2011-03-06T02:49:00.000-08:00

Cihu Memorial Statues Park. There were definitely a lot of statues here.

It really was a beautiful park. I enjoyed my time there.

These next few pictures were at the Visitors Center.

Chang Kai Shek's uniform.

The way to the Cihu Mausleum where Chang Kai Shek's coffin is.

The tree is braided!

I guess this is a popular place for painters to come and paint their masterpieces.

The Mausoleum where Chang Kai Shek's Coffin is. This is the last part of the change in the guards.

Inside the Mausoluem. The place in front is where the coffin is. I didn't get a picture because there were so many people walking around the way that I didn't want to try to slow down to take a picture so I just got a video.

After Cihu I went to the Taipei Zoo. It was a lot of fun. The following are pictures taken there. It was a beautiful zoo.

This sign made me laugh. If you look carefully it says Zoo Poo Poo.

This is their waterfowl area display! I could see many different water fowl. But this is a beautiful area for them.

The sign that goes described trasporting the elephant in the elephant transporter, which is the next picture. the sign says "The Asian Elephant's body weight can easily reach 4 tons it's extremely difficult and risky work to move an adult male elephant. On October 14, 1988, Taipei zoo moved Asian elephant 'Lin Wang' from Yuanshan to Wuzha. The relocation of this giant in a custom-made jumbo-size shipping container was regarded as one of the most challenging tasks by the international zoo community back in the 80's.

"At the beginning of 2008 we have revamped and restored this historically-significant container for your own experienced. Let's start with a few memorable snapshots looking back some 20 years ago."

There were a bunch of pictures inside forming the shape of an elephant.