January brought about the end of the first semester (finally!), and I saw some marked improvement in a few of my students. My co-teachers and I came up with a schedule for next semester that allows each class to come to English Village more frequently, so that we can build a better relationship with the students and make English more relevant to their lives. I love walking to school in the morning and home afterwards and hearing, "Teacher Staycie, hello!" Puts a smile on my face no matter how often I hear that phrase.
For 3 days, Monica, my co-teacher Silvia, and I along with the other FETs all over Taiwan met up in Sanshia, Taiwan, a town "famous" for their pottery. The MOE hosted an in-service for all of us teachers to get together and talk about what we do in our individual schools and even share some complaints and suggestions with each other. It was fun seeing everyone, but also bittersweet because that would be the last time all of us would be together before we either return home at the end of the school year or extend our contracts another year.
Speaking of where I will be next year, I recently notified Elkhart Community Schools I would be returning to teach with the district for the 2010-2011 school year. With budget cuts (Elkhart was just notified of an almost $4 million budget cut), moving to another district, including Indianapolis districts, does not seem feasible this year. I am very thankful for the fact that I do have a job to go back to. I do not know which school or what grade I will be teaching next year, but that is nothing new, as I have never been in a school for more than a year. Oh the pains of being the bottom woman on the seniority totem pole. But as I said, I am thankful for having a job to come back to, even though my co-teachers beg me more times than I can mention to stay for just one more year.
I've loved working here in Taiwan and it was just what I needed to fulfill the itch to travel abroad and teach English like I have always wanted to. I would be very interesting in doing another program like this, just maybe in a different country to experience a different culture.
While I'm on the subject of coming home, I was able to book my ticket home at the end of June. I will be leaving Taiwan on June 29, and stopping over for a week in Maui, Hawaii. My mom will hopefully be able to meet me their and we'll have a little girls' vacation week before I return to my Western style of life! It will be nice to be able to adjust to being surrounded by family a few members at a time as I know I will feel overwhelmed by their presence again; but in a very, very good way! Returning to the events of January!
On of my co-workers was married the third weekend in January and I was able to attend the ceremony and the reception. The couple had a Christian wedding, where the bride and groom sang a duet, exchanged vows and rings, and then invited the guests for a tea time. Afterwards, we traveled across town to a wonderful reception filled with a 14 course menu. It was a menu full of seafood, so I put on my "I'll be brave and try it" pants and did my best with all of the dishes. There was lots of shrimp, lobster tail, clams, and oysters. One of the courses included a full fish, with the scales and head still attached. At one point, the fish was looking right at me and I calmly asked if we could change the fish's perspective; I don't like when my dinner looks back at me! For dessert we had red bean soup, and a small piece of cheesecake and fruit. I tried most of the courses, but couldn't stomach the sea urchin soup, even if it is a Taiwanese delicacy. The bride was beautiful, and she actually changed dresses 3 times. This may seem like a huge expenditure, but Taiwanese brides rent all of their dresses, so it's not as extravagant as on might think. During the reception, the bride and groom, and both sets of parents go around to each table and toast their guests. It was a wonderful touch to have the bridal party toast each table, as I know in America it can be hard for the bride and groom to make it to every table to greet their guests.
The weekend after the in-service, my friend Deb, her husband Rommel, and their two kids, Gabe and Josephine, stayed with me in Taipei for the weekend. On Friday, we enjoyed a few American meals that the Aquino's don't get in Wandan; Burger King for lunch and Pizza Hut for dinner! On Saturday, we woke up, showered and decided to head off to Chili's for lunch. After lunch we went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks; The Squeakel" and then went over to Sun-Yet San Memorial hall. Although we were too late for the changing of the guards ceremony, we were able to witness the flag lowering ceremony at the end of the day.
Sunday morning, we rounded everyone together and enjoyed a little underground mall shopping, which was great because the weather had been quite crummy all weekend. I then took everyone to the High Speed Rail station and sent my Taiwan "family" back down south.
As my dad tends to mention every time we talk, "Do you work or are you just having a year long vacation." To which I answer, "I work so I can have a year long vacation." I've realized I usually don't put much about my interactions with my students, but I do work. This coming semester I will be teaching about 5 different continents and using that material to teach my students how to interact at the Post Office. I believe this will be a great experience and I can't wait to start the new semester. I'm on my first extended vacation since August and I'll return to work on February 22.
In the mean time, I'll be traveling to Thailand, on the recommendation of my friend, Ryan, who lived there for about a year. After I return, I'll spend a week in Taiwan experiencing Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival. I have a feeling I'm going to have lots of stories and more incredible pictures to share.
For those of you who follow this, I hope you enjoy these entries. I enjoy sharing my experience here with you and I promise, there will be lots of pictures next time. I'm on the downhill side of this year, with only 5 short months to go, and I have to say, I think I will be very ready to return home. Until next time,
Staycie
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