2008 Is Upon Us

Last weekend was a great weekend to celebrate Christmas. Boyfriend and I went to Finga's Base Camp and had a yummy Christmas dinner with my colleagues from other branches. I don't think Boyfriend has had a Turkey dinner for Christmas before and he seemed to enjoy it so that made me happy. Then we went back home, I had him open his Christmas presents while I attempted to make Glühwein using an electric hot-pot which tuened out OK. I then watched "It's a Wonderful Life" while Boyfriend fell asleep cuddling next to me :) He didn't seem to be a fan of the movie and I'm sure that would make my step-dad proud as my step-dad always teased my mom and I for watching (and sobbing) at the movie ;) The next day, we went to Iie Jong Street and even though I was feeling really sick, I wanted to get out so Boyfriend and I went there and had some candied tomatoes and toasted marshmallows with chocolate sauce and sprinkles and stuff :) So yummy! Then we went back to my place and watched some more Christmas movies, and ate some snackies :)

Unfortunately for Christmas day, I went to the doctor and found out I had Trichitis, NOT bronchitis, only because I have had a serious cough for 4 weeks and a hoarse voice. Nothing serious, but still want to get better!

Actually, that's about it, since I've been busy, but as 2008 is upon us here are my resolutions.

1. Be a better person.
2. Work and study hard, but do NOT burn yourself out.
3. Keep worthwhile job while improving self at worthwhile job.
4. Help others in need!
5. Listen to others and CARE!
6. Strive for independence.
7. Make this a positive experience!
8. Settle Down.
9. Stop talking about self so damn much!
10. Study English grammar more!
11. Remember that laughter truly is the best medicine!
12. Learn authentic Chinese/Taiwanese cooking!!!!!
13. Be more active!!!!!!!!
14. Don't fall into a trap!

I wish you all a WONDERFUL and prosperous 2008!

Happy New Year!! :)

Introducing...My Students!!

OK, so my mom, who is probably the only one who reads this blog now, has been asking me to show pics of my students and I haven't had time, plus am worried about legal issues with parents and the school, but the school said it was OK so here's some pics of the Christmas party we had on Saturday ;)

It was so much fun!

The first pic is a HORRIBLE pic of me, and shows how short I am!

This is only a quarter of my students, but I have memorized about 98% of all 100 or of my student's names!!!






















And a video of the kids doing something I enjoy doing: Chowing down!!! :)




So even though I may be strict with the kids or may yell at them for talking too much or speaking Chinese in class, I am grateful to have such nice, sweet, HILARIOUS and SUPER SMART kids...They make me proud to be a teacher! Thank you kids!

Busy Bre Has No News or Cool Piccies...

Sorry guys, have been busy with training, teaching, grading homework and getting Christmas cards and stuff sorted among many other things. Luckily I'm not TOO busy, but I'm busy enough and last night I was so drained from training and teaching that I couldn't even finish my Chinese HW, fell asleep at 10:30 pm (which is the first time I've gone to bed that early in MONTHS) and this morning my colleagues and I seemed to struggle a little in Chinese class.

But, on the upside, my schedule will be back to normal and that business lasted only a couple days. Surprisingly, I am not stressed either :) Just a little more tired than usual!

I hope that my next blog will showcase my experience of "Christmas in Taiwan" I will try to take pics of what the Holiday season looks like in Taiwan for those of you (like me) who have NEVER been in a tropical climate in winter...

Zai Jian...time to take my before lesson plan nap ;)

Noticing Differences and Changes Compared to the Past

My First Christmas Tree

Boyfriend took me to get a Christmas tree (fake) for my apartment as I never fail to put up my (family's) Christmas tree every beginning of December. December in Taichung is a little odd for me. I have NEVER been in a place in December where the temperature was 20 degrees celsius!!!!

Anyway, I love my dear tree. It is very simple: cheap red and green bulbs, sparkly snowflake ornaments and cheap but cute and twinkling lights. Boyfriend is also going to bring some cut-out pieces of sparkly reflective material in shapes of Christmas trees and etc. so that I can sprinkle them onto my tree for added sparkliness. :)

As Boyfriend and I were trimming the tree, I reflected back on Germany 2 years ago. I won't go into details as I don't like getting too personal on these blogs (that is what my actual journal is for :) ) but I was down and out and in a bad place...VERY bad...downward spiral...anyway, I reflected back on that and compared it to now:

• I have my OWN tree and have decorated it MYSELF (with the help of boyfriend)
• I am working and have a job and...it is worthwhile!!!
• I'm not fighting with parents and our relationship is as good as ever!
  
• I have money to send my mom and step-dad a small Christmas package...small but from the heart.
• I am working hard at studying Chinese and love it!
• I have a nice boyfriend who has so far been just great!
• Although, this is not as much as I want, I AM getting out and seeing things and experiencing things...remember what I said...baby steps...
• I have money and I have neough to save!!! Even though, I intend on investing in things like a printer/scanner/copier in one, Adobe Photoshop Elements, cheap CD-player, laminator, etc. etc. and other things to help me settle here and be MORE COMFORTABLE...

In short: I have done something with my life and continue to work hard to keep that dream alive...as silly as that sounds...

I also bought a warm blanket because the nights do get chilly here and if you don't have a heater then a blanket is a good investment for these months. So when I bought the blanket, it came with a comforter cover and so I had a choice and they were ALL ugly so I chose the UGLIEST one, NOT only because it is Christmassy but because it WAS the ugliest!

I swear, this blanket reminds me of the tablecloth my Grandma B. used to have for Christmas...Those are Poinsettias, by the way.

Well, that's it for now. My feet are quite chilly even though they are in socks and fuzzy Ikea Slippers so that is my cue to go cuddle in my comfy comforter in its FUGLY comforter cover and fall asleep to the hypnotizing Christmas tree lights-which is what I used to do as a kid. The lights on the ceiling above the tree always reminded me of fireworks and would just sit there relaxed while soft Christmas music was taking me away to Sugar Plums, Nutcrackers and Dancing Snowflakes...

The Christmas Spirit Is Taking My Soul Captive

Saturday, after a day of walking around NOVA and comparing prices for printers and Ee PC's (Boyfriend is obsessed with these adorable "cuteness" laptops) Boyfriend took me to Starbucks because I have been craving a Chai latte and I was sure Starbucks would have it...much to my dismay, Starbucks in Taiwan does NOT sell Spiced Chai Latte...oh what cruel fate!

So, I had a Gingerbread Latte instead and boyfriend and I shared a slice of pecan pie and Oreo Cheesecake...

It was so wonderful!!! They were playing Christmas music, Boyfriend and I sat in comfy chairs and after that first sip of the latte (which tasted like pumpkin pie) I felt like it was Thanksgiving. Boyfriend even took me to get Turkey Rice earlier that day and the turkey tasted sooo good!! Boyfriend even fell asleep for about an hour in his comfy chair while I was cherishing the moment with my pumpkin pie tasting latte...I was in my element!!!

Unfortunately the creamy and rich food and drink didn't agree with Boyfriend's tummy so he was miserable the rest of the night...

But he stuck it out for a little while and took me to a store where they sell ALL Christmas stuff!!!! I found the ornaments I'm going to put on my Christmas tree. But the Christmas tree that I wanted for my apartment which was small was NT$4,999!!!!! That is €100!!!!!! Are you effin kiding me?! And it was fake!!
Luckily, Geant has one for only NT$199(€5) and Hola has one for around NT$400(€8) so that's good!

Then Boyfriend bought me a secented oil lamp (Beatrix Potter). You put a little bit of water in then 3 drops of scented/aromatherapy oil in the water, turn it on and as it hats up it makes the room smell nice. I needed a small lamp for my room anyway and I am so happy to have this as it emits such a soft and warm glow and makes my apartment more comfortable which is what I need!! I love it!!

I'm a Cancer (starsign) so I need comfort in my home and this helps!

So then Sunday, Boyfriend went to his sanctuary while I went to mine. See, Boyfriend is converting to Christianity (and, ironically, I'm converting to Buddhism/Taoism) and is looking for churches here as opposed to in Taipei...I told him I would go in with him, but I really did NOT want to hear the negative comments about how I am sinning and blah blah blah because my beliefs are with Buddhism/Taoism. I am at a very sensitive stage in my life with religion and it is something I need to do myself and the last thing I want is to be pushed!!!! Boyfriend is VERY good at understanding where I'm at...unfortunately I am not as sensitive to his choice as I should be...I tend to be VERY skeptical when he starts talking to me about the church.

Soooooo, while he was at church finding his sanctuary, I found mine...at the National Taichung Library!! I went in, and fileld out the application by myself (Luckily almost everything there is in Chinese AND English) and wen to the English book section and found two books:

Wild Kids by Chang Ta-Chun: About a 14-year-old Taiwanese boy who drops out of school and immerses himself in the underground world of Taiwan in the 80's.

Foreign Babes in Beijing by Rachel Dewoskin: About a 21-year-old American girl who leaves to work for an American PR firm in Beijing and ends up being a star for a "Sex and the City"-esque TV show in Beijing...

So Boyfriend and I decided that every Sunday we will find out own respective "Sanctuaries" from 15:30-16:45...:)

Well, that's all for now: Typhoon's a comin and I want to do my Chinese homework now so that I can start reading one of my library books tonight after work :)


"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
-Charles Dickens

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."

-Henry Ward Beecher


Since today is Thanksgiving, I thought I'd post a personal "What I'm Grateful For" blog.

So here it is:

1. I am grateful for my mom and stepdad and the BooBoo. They truly have been there for me and have helped me sort out my life and are still helping me. I am sure I put them through a bit of a hell with some of the mistakes I made (ahem..Germany)...and I am so sorry that I still put them through hell sometimes...but I am very VERY lucky to have such great parents! I love you guys so much!!

2. I am grateful for my job. I have finally found a job where I feel like I'm doing some good...maybe not entirely, but I am on my way! I am doing something worthwhile and am helping others. I am sooo lucky to be working at the branch I am at as they have been WONDERFUL!!!!! I've heard so many horror stories about Chinese Teachers and English Schools and branches and so far, I haven't had problems....YET!! But it gives me hope :)
Also, my students are great and it is such a great feeling to have one of the Chinese teachers tell you that the kids ask about if you if you didn't teach that day and when you walk around the school and students you don't even have say "Hi Teacher Bre!!"

It puts a big smile on my face!!

3. We all should be grateful for ANY and ALL opportunities that are given to us. I was given a chance to live out my dream (live in Asia) even if it is only in baby-steps...Not many people get such chances. I also get to do something else that I love and that is learn Chinese...now granted..I originally wanted to learn Japanese, and maybe someday, but have grown to really love Mandarin!! It is extremely hard and a challenge, but I feel so good when I finish my Chinese homework and when I finally start to recognize characters such as:

she: 她
he: 他

4. I am extremely grateful that I have been given many chances to start my life over. As I said before, not many people get even a second a chance to start their life anew so I am very lucky to have had these chances and see the err of my ways...chances are I won't be given another chance to start my life anew so I need to treasure and work hard at this one right here...


I am grateful for everything that has happened to me good AND bad...if the "bad" things didn't happen, i wouldn't be here today and I probably wouldn't be happy. I am learning and have learned so much! I learn something new everyday and that is one of the MANY things that keeps me happy here...

I am grateful for many other things and people, but I need to go and get ready for classes (or go take a nap) ;)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Seeing (RED)

http://joinred.blogspot.com/

http://www.joinred.com/products/apple/

I have decided to virtually go (RED) this Christmas and support joinred.com

When you buy (RED) products the proceeds go to fight AIDS...I have been wanting an iPod for forever anyway and when I saw the (RED) iPod shuffle I squealed like a lil piggy! I love it!!!!! So I am asking for it for Christmas-it's sooo cute!!

http://www.apple.com/ipod/red/

Actually, no news on the Taiwan/Taichung front or the teaching front...theings are pretty cool so far...


Oh and one more thing:

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

As for me, my thanksgiving will be spent teaching but boyfriend said he'd take me for Turkey Rice this weekend so I'll be having Thanksgiving Taiwanese Style ;)

TTYL
Bre:)

Chinese Classes Level 2

This is my test that I took on Tuesday..well, only the first page...the second page is Buh Puh Muh Fuh's for the oral test...I was the ONLY one in the class to get a 100...and as you can see I got 7 extra points because I answered two difficult questions correctly first in the review. I told you I was the nerd in the class ;)

Speaking of Buh Puh Muh Fuh...mom said I should explain to my audience what Buh Puh Muh Fuh is...

ㄅ ㄆ ㄇ ㄈ ㄉ ㄊ ㄋ ㄌ...
Buh Puh Muh Fuh Duh Tuh Nuh Luh...

These symbols are used to teach pronunciation and to ease learners into the symbols...
Basically it weens us off the romanization/pinyin (using Roman Alphabet).
It also helps us learn stroke order for when we do learn to write the actual Chinese characters...

So today was my first day for Chinese level 2 and lemme tell ya: I have my work cut out for me! If you all thought I was working hard on level one just wait because I am going to have to work even harder!!!!

ㄅㄆ ㄇ ㄈ's are really only between 1-4 strokes, but today we were learning to write characters up to 9 strokes!! I'm still struggling with the character for mei 美 and the character for guo 國 (meiguoren-American).

Chances are I am going to be writing these all weekend!!! Thank goodness for the book and work book as the workbook shows the stroke order step by step for each of the characters we are learning!!

So it seems that I excel at speaking and listening but reading and writing are my weaknesses ESPECIALLY writing. My classmates are the opposite because my Chinese teacher was raving about their "beautiful handwriting" and didn't rave about my mine and kept correcting me(but it's good- I NEED to be corrected)...BUT in all fairness she always raves about my speaking...;)

Well, I seriously need to get ready for class...thank god it's Friday because my energy is low and don't feel like teaching today :( It's ok...I'll get over it-I have to! :)

I hope these are the characters for Zai Jian...再見!

Should I get a life??

This is my late night "I should be doing my lesson plans or sleeping" contemplation which has been bugging me for a while...

To put it bluntly...I kinda have no life.

It seems that most of my colleagues go hiking in the mountains, ride their scooters to the mountains or nearby waterfalls, go drinking or go to the movies and pay NT$500 for the VIP "Watch a movie in bed with food" on weekends.

During the week before teaching they see the city, go to different restaurants and all that stuff (especially since they have scooters)...Then when they talk, it sounds as if they spend little or no time preparing their lessons!!

Me? Well let's see...Monday to Friday from 13:30-16:30 I am grading HW and preparing lessons, 16:50-21:00 I teach then 21:00 to about 00:30 I grade HW, go home , grade HW, prepare lessons and study Chinese...oh yeah not to mention my Chinese class on Tuesdays and Fridays...oh and let's not forget laundry...

On Saturdays I sleep in till about 11, clean my apartment and listen to music, get lunch, veg out, and etc...Boyfriend comes over and we wither do something or do nothing and veg...but it always involves food either way...
On Sunday it's sleeping in, hanging with boyfriend and then preparing for the next day by grading HW and teaching...


So before you go and call me a hermit and criticize me for not going out and enjoying life (YET), let me explain why I do this and the benefits:

Why: 1. I have made a buttload of mistakes these past couple of years and I am now working hard to make DAMN sure that doesn't happen again!!
2. I ACTUALLY want to live here(for a loooooooong time or forever even) unlike most foreigners here so I am actually trying to settle down...
3. For once I am actually following my budget and REFUSE to let myself borrow money from people-I HATE doing that!!!! I want to be independent and of course this all goes back to #1 in saying that I don't want to make the same mistakes.
4. This goes back to #2 and #3 as I am saving my money and investing in things like a nice printer and Adobe Photoshop and other things to help me be a better teacher as I want to stay here...
5. I want to be fluent in Mandarin and will do whatever it takes to learn...I love languages and I love being able to communicate with people...There are so many reasons why I'm working hard on my Chinese....
6. Why I take so long preparing a lesson-I want this as my career or if not this forever then a career helping people. I WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB!!! I want to finally be good at my job!!!!! So that is why, plus I want to have a good relationship with my co-teacher so I try to talk to them before class and go over the lesson or if they are not there then I ask my head Chinese Teacher for help-this is about the students!!!!
...
Plus, I am not good expressing myself verbally, especially giving instructions so it is important for me to work out any kinks in the plan before I teach. I always confuse people so I need to work out what I am going to say, how I'm going to say it, etc, etc...

I just happen to be one of those people who need to work a little harder to get good results-always have been...I used to get soo jealous of my school friend because she would never study and would still get A's and I would have to work my ass off to get one...

Anyways...Here are the benefits:
I get a LOT of work done on time or early
I space my time out and rest when I need to
My teaching is getting better thanks to my hard work
I have more time on weekends to relax
I ALWAYS have enough money for food and everything I need
I don't feel rushed
I feel accomplished
I am an A student in my Chinese class (well, OK I'm the nerdy "grade grubber" in the class ;P )


So it seems like a lot of work that I'm doing and no time, but the main issue is I AM NOT STRESSED!!!!! Things get done and I feel better when things/work get done...

Plus, I am working hard now so that I will have money and time in the future to enjoy life..

And by the way, who says I'm NOT enjoying life?????!!!

Every weekend being with boyfriend makes me happy, sleeping in on weekends and cuddling up in my bed makes me happy, I get to go to cool places in the city, try new things and foods and see different things...even if it isn't cool waterfalls or anything-it is still exciting. Everytime I look out of my tiny little window and see Taichung, I enjoy life. Everytime I ride my bike on Mei-Tsuen road with the wind blowing my hair back and the sun in my face as I pass palm trees, I enjoy life.

As I said in the title of my first blog post on here: "Babysteps" I am enjoying life in babysteps...

I will post this again as it bears repeating:

“A tree as big around as you can reach starts with one small seed; a thousand mile journey starts with one step.”

- Lao-tse

I Have a New Love...

...



and his name is Caramel Milk Tea...

Taking a sip of this stuff is like..well..umm nevermind...seeing as my family reads this (ESPECIALLY my 15-year-old cousin) I am just going to say that this is love...yeah..that's it!

Actually I was only going to post this little message above as I thought I had no news, but actually I do...!!

I tell you a cute thing that has happened to me yesterday, and made my week! I have kinda had a bad week (personal issues) and have been very bitter and angry these past few days-I was worried that I was becoming a bitter expat (even though my anger has NOTHING to do with Taiwan)

But yesterday as classes were over one of my students in my upper-level class gave me a small gift (the level is over and now they move on to the next level) because she was leaving. Not because of me (thank god!! you know my fear of being a bad teacher), but because she is in too many cram schools and had to cut one-unfortunately it was English :(
Here is the gift and card: She gave me Fererro Rocher and a rubber bracelet...I am pretty sure she got me this because I ALWAYS wear my rubber bracelets when i teach (one to help the rainforest, one for children literacy, one to fight breast cancer, one for peace, one to fight poverty and one to help feed animals in shelters) and so she gave me one more which I will wear proudly with my other bracelets!!!! This bracelet will remind me that when things are bad that I came here for a reason...not JUST for myself, but to change the lives of these kids for the better, to give them an opportunity that a lot of kids do not have.

My co-teacher has been teaching that class for 21 months so she knows them better, so the student gave her handmade friendship lanyards tp put on her teacher pencilbox or cell phone, (beautifully and carefully done i might add) some chocolate and a little note pad...We both were raving it about our lil gifts to everyone and pretending to cry, but honestly it made our day...

So here are the photos of my gift:


So like everything, with good comes bad and with bad comes good...I am slowly getting over my bad mood and even though I might be on my own this weekend, I am going to get outside, drink more Caramel Milk Tea and walk around the parks near the art museum because it is so relaxing there...maybe I'll venture a little further...who knows...All I know is that I am not going to let anyone ruin my life here...not even myself! I will do whatever it takes to keep myself happy...I have a worthwhile job that is relatively stress-free(but don't get me wrong it is HARD work), I'm learning a new language that I not only love, but for the sake of convincing my parents...this language could actually be useful in a career! I really believe I have a chance at succeeding here in Taiwan and will work hard towards that goal!

Anyway, I need to clean my apartment..my very UNWELCOME pet ants have contributed to my rather sour mood...they WON'T LEAVE and no matter how much I clean and no matter how many ant traps I have and anti-ant crap, they love me so much that they stay...Despite my newly developed good mood, this is slowly pushing me to the edge of insanity...

Other than that...things are OK...Chinese lessons level 2 starts Friday and I have already paid for my books and CD and tuition...Everyone wonders why I bought the CD(as it is a little costly), but I find that I am good at mimicking accents and intonation so listening to the CD is a big advantage for me...

Till then dear readers...Zai jian!

Sunday Night Lesson Plan Procrastination

Yesterday, Boyfriend and I went to the Art Museum http://www.tmoa.gov.tw/english/home.php which is like I have said before, 5-10 minutes from my house. It was really interesting. There were a couple exhibits: One was called "Have You Eaten Yet?" focusing on contemporary Asian art.
Another was "Back to the Root - A Retrospective of Hsin-yueh LIN"
The last exhibit we saw was "The River of Art Meanders-Tracing the Origin of Taiwan from 1736-1969"

Today we went to one of the big Wal-mart-esque places (RT Mart) and got some cooked whole (still with shell, eyes, legs, poop) shrimp, and a bunch of fruit and some breads...So Boyfriend peeled the shrimp for me and I de-pooped them and dipped them in soy sauce...yummy!! No really, it was actually good!!

I am even going to start drinking aloe vinegar every morning...drinking diluted vinegar is the big "Health Trend" here in Taiwan...I even tried Peach Vinegar and it's good!

Oh..so I have my big test for my "BuhPuhMuhFuh" Basic Chinese class on the 13th and then start level 2 on the 16th...

This is the book I will need for the class: http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Audio-Visual-Chinese-Level-Textbook/dp/9570912375

This level is a bit more expensive than the last one but it still is cheaper than learning at a uni...plus my teacher is great!! She makes learning fun and I am sooo excited to be learning Chinese!!! I even put on my "Learn Mandarin" Cd at night to hear Chinese while I sleep!!!

Oh which reminds me...funny story yesterday...before Boyfriend and I went to the art museum, we walked around the park a bit and the cool restaurant street. One of the little parks has little exercise things scattered around it and so Boyfriend and I were going to each one and competing to see who was the best..then this little Taiwanese boy started following us around and kept saying "Weiguoren" and smiling (weiguoren=foreigner)...Boyfriend just ignored him but I kept smiling...and he just kept following us and getting closer and closer to us smiling and saying "Weiguoren"...it was kinda freaking me out-haha! So then I asked him his name in Chinese and he didnt say anything and I tried to ask in VERY bad Chinese where his Mama and Baba were, but he didnt get it...then boyfriend asked in Chinese and the boy told him something like"I can't tell you" which had me a little worried, because he was there with his sister, but I'm thinking..."Where the bloody hell are these kids' parents?!" So we then walked away...weird...just weird...haha!!

OK..now I REALLY need to go and start my lesson plans!!!

Wahn An!
李艾莉

Feng Jia Nightmarket Might Just Be My Favorite Hangout

Fried GIANT Octopus Tentacle-YUM!!!!
(That's sarcasm, by the way...)

Yesterday, I met a Taiwanese girl for lunch/dinner...we were supposed to go exercising, but my glasses have been giving me a headache (considering they are 5-6 years old and my prescription has changed) and wasn't up to exercise . So we decided to meet at the art museum and so I arrived there early (It's a 5-minute bike ride from my apartment) and walked around the park outside of the museum...there were lots of people and lots of sculptures so it was quite interesting! I was the only foreigner in the area and am suprised that I am already picking up TINY Chinese sentences and words and understanding them!!
For example, a woman and her kids were walking by and the woman smiled at me and then said to the kids...."Blablablabla meiguoren" meiguoren=American in Chinese and trust me I was the ONLY westerner there so she was talking about me...but the point is that I UNDERSTOOD what she said!!
I didn't go inside the museum but hope to very soon!! It looks awesome!!!

The girlfrind and I went to a cool cheap restaurant and I had a coconut cream toast (YUM!!!!!!!!!!) and a cranberry waffle and we talked about...what else? Guys :) We get along really well and I think we will be exercising next Saturday! I need more energy!!

So then boyfriend met up with us and later boyfriend and I went to Feng Jia Nightmarket...he needed his glasses fixed and I need new ones so we stopped in a glasses shop. We both had our eyes tested (FOR FREE!!) and I found a great pair of frames for only €55-60...but with the lenses (and boyfriend's power of bargain-something I NEED to learn here) My glasses AND lenses ended up costing only about €50!!!!!!!!! And boy, my right eyeis getting worse apparently :( But it was so funny, because boyfriend and I had to walk around in the store with these stupid looking optical measurement glasses and we looked so stupid, and couldnt stop laughing at each other!!!!
So my glasses are dark red plastic frames and kind of funky-finally!!! NO MORE HARRY POTTER GLASSES!!!!

Then we walked around the nightmarket and I tried some fried whole crab (still in it's shell) some Thai moon omelette thing( SOOOOOO effin spicy, but good!!) and boyfriend got Turkish Ice Cream...I WISH we would have got it on videotape because this guy was hilarious!! He put the ice cream in a container and mixed it with a long metal pole that was flat at the end...he would use the flat part to scoop the ice cream into the cone, but the ice cream would still stick onto the flat part because it seemed to be of an almost caramel consistency-gooey...so he would have the ice cream and cone hanging from the pole and reached out to give it to boyfriend...all of a sudden it seemed like boyfriend dropped it...but it was still on the pole!! The man kept doing it to boyfriend and it started drawing a crowd...I was laughing soooo hard!!! The look on boyfriend's face was priceless!!! Then we saw the man do it to other people and it was sooo funny!

We also kind of went on a nightmarket shopping spree: this CD/DVD store was closing so they were having a huge sale so I bought (don't worry mom, it's in my budget) Pan Wei Bo's CD and Pride and Prejudice VCD...boyfriend bought some National Geographic travel DVDs as well as Miami Vice and even bought me "It's a Wonderful Life" since it is a Christmas Classic:) The DVD's were only €4-5 if that. I also am in need of clothes desperately since I had to throw most of my clothes in the recycling bins in Holland (they were YEARS old and trashed/ratty and did NOT want to bring them here) so I bought some nice button down professional looking shirts, a black hoodie which ironically has Dutch writing on it and a pair of exercise pants...I probably spent about €30 on all of that.

The Taiwanese always have these arcade places....NOT with video games, but with games like toy cranes, air hockey, those basketball hoop games, Whack a mole, etc etc etc...so then we went into one and boyfriend won a couple of toys(he won me a CUTE stuffed aminal-so romantic..hee hee :) ) and then he kicked my butt in air hockey...and basketball-haha!!

As for today, not quite sure what we're doing...all I know is I have 3 classes to teach tomorrow..thank god they are speaking/oral exams and one "Games Day"

And as for integrating with the people and culture and immersion of the language: I have a nice balance of Chinese and English so that way I'm not wanting to rip my hair out...yet! And I'm meeting some great Taiwanese people here which is making my experience even more positive :)

My Decision-Follow Up from Last Post:

I have mastered the Squatter Toilet...well...OK...not really, but I have my own system ;)

Here is my decision. I decided to NOT go with plan A or B and invented a plan C which is this:

Save a few thousand NT$ and postpone taking the YL extension until I can find a suitable date at a later time. This way I have more time to research and save money as well as have some funds for social life, travelling and purchasing the things that I need to settle down here especially since I absolutely will want to move to a new apartment next year!! I need a kitchen!!! Plus, a bike is nice for now, but in a year I HAVE to get a scooter...I need to be mobile!!! So why don't I have a scooter now? Answer: Can't afford it and can't afford the expenses if I get in a wreck...

So back to my decision:
So how will I improve my teaching and confidence? Well instead of taking the course, I need to beg and plead and beg and transfer money to my mom so that she can send me my grammar books...I have NEVER needed books like this as bad as I do now!!! These books have become my lifeline!!!!! So mom, if you are reading this...I KNOW it's going to be expensive but I am on hands and knees here!!!! Please send my grammar/teaching books...I'll send you the money for it even!!!! I'm desperate!!

Also, I will try to find a way to have other books sent to me..like the book used in YL extension so that I can read it before I do take the course..just as I did with the CELTA course.

I also need to be more serious about my school's training projects that they give me. My most recent project is to devise a grammar lesson aimed at a "problem" student...Luckily I don't have problem students, but I do have a couple students that seem to have ADD/ADHD as well as one or two that may be illiterate (in English) and it worries me...I want to help them, but am a little unsure as to how. But maybe this project will help me.

I am also planning on investing in a printer/copier/scanner in one as well as a laminator and would LOVE to have Adobe Photoshop again... My mom and step-dad's printer/copier/scanner was a Godsend during the CELTA course and I feel soooooo lost without Photoshop :(
It really helped my organization and performance and layout.

Well, that is all for now. Boyfriend is busy in Japan until tonight. He asked me if I wanted anything from Japan but since you can get almost anything here I decided there is only one thing I want from Japan and that is: Cucumber Pepsi...I HAVE to try it!! So...we'll see if he remembers this request ;)

The Choices We Make and the Research We Must Do

I was a little down before my classes today. I haven't had a chance to do more research on the YL extension to the CELTA course but as I plan my lessons I feel less and less confident.

I STILL make the same mistakes as I have a few months ago...and although I've gotten into the routine for the most part, I still don't feel comfortable teaching grammar. There are still so many things that I have problems with.

The Chinese teachers are AMAZING with the technicalities and rules of grammar. I, on the other hand, choke when I see a timeline or have to explain the present perfect tense.

A few weeks ago I was teaching a higher level class (which are GREAT kids and I have so much fun with), but a grammar problem came up and my co-teacher had to explain it, but when she left the room one of the students asked me how many languages I spoke to which I answered, "German, Dutch and Spanish." Needless to say their eyes popped out of their head when I told them but that is neither here nor there. So then I asked why and he then asked if I could speak so many languages, but how is it that I don't know my grammar.

He wasn't being mean, he was just asking ( I know this because he a good kid)...and it hit me hard!!

Of course we are hired because we are native speakers of the language and speak naturally, but are all the other native speaking teachers like me?

I spent February to July trying to re-learn the English grammar and for some reason I have forgotten it all!!!!

So here are my choices:
1. Take the YL extension to the CELTA course, but have no money next year for a scooter, possibly a better apartment as well as having to put aside NT$12,000 a month out of my monthly salary and no travelling, no social life, etc, etc, etc, etc.
*Pro: One step closer to being a better teacher, MORE confidence, one step closer to the DELTA in 3 years, EXTRA experience, one more addition to my CV, plus this would mean I travel to Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand (which I've never visited before) and...
*** EXTRA GRAMMAR PRACTICE***

or

2. Don't bother with YL extension till possibly the next year and have money for a scooter, license, social life, travelling around Taiwan, a better apartment and etc.
*Con: Still suck as a teacher, STILL shite with grammar, LOW confidence and still have the inadequate feeling, plus no extra-outside training and experiencing a learning/experience plateau.

Well, I can't expect anyone to make my decision for me. I need to do it on my own, but I just wanted to vent about it. I need to do MORE research-that's the bottom line.

On a different note:
I forgot to mention that I tried Stinky Tofu this weekend which I have been saying I'd try for MONTHS now and here is my take on it:

OK, so you know when you are talking with someone and they have somewhat bad breath,not necessarily overwhelming but just enough to make you wanna turn your head...???

It tastes like that...

So needless to say, I'm not a fan...sorry!

Taichung Jazz Festival

Saturday, by complete accident, boyfriend and I ended up walking around the Taichung Jazz Festival and I'm so glad we did! It was so much fun!

Boyfriend even tried German wurst with sauerkraut and a dark Erdinger beer...I don't think he enjoyed it as much as I did...yum! I love wurst, sauerkraut and senf!!!! It also seems that I'm the drinker in the relationship..especially the beer drinker...boyfriend isn't much of a fan of beer as I am. But when you lived in Amsterdam and Germany for a few years and have hung out with Aussies, Kiwis, Irish, German, Dutch, Scottish,Mexican and British expats who know how to drink, then you develop a little bit of an appreciation for beer...

Anyways...it was really nice but unfortunately that night I felt sick and felt like I was coming down with a cold. Luckily I'm better today :)

Other than that I am boring...need to go get lunch and get ready for teaching...

But I must say...I really think I MIGHT...just MIGHT like Taichung better than Amsterdam...

Is it possible? Well, so far it is :) I'm already considering long-term plans to stay here, become fluent in Chinese, live my own life, and live in Asia...So far so good...:)

"Mad World"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071016/ap_on_re_eu/interpol_manhunt_40

By ANGELA DOLAND and JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writers Tue Oct 16, 4:04 PM ET

PARIS - A suspected pedophile being hunted by Interpol contributed to an online forum for teachers, and police say they believe he wrote under a pseudonym about the risks of catching HIV from oral sex and how to erase pornographic computer files "so no one will see."

Two teachers who knew and socialized with Christopher Paul Neil, a 32-year-old Canadian now being sought for allegedly abusing young boys, told The Associated Press he wrote extensively online under the pseudonym "Peter Jackson." They described him as a social, fun-loving person, and said no one in their circles suspected him of pedophilia.

The worldwide manhunt for Neil, who eluded police for years, is now centered on Thailand. Authorities say Neil flew into Bangkok on a one-way ticket Thursday and is still at large.

From Canada, Neil's brother urged him to turn himself in. "My mother is devastated and the family is in shock," Matthew Neil said from the family home in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

Before Neil disappeared last week, more than 300 messages under the name Peter Jackson had been posted on a forum for English teachers called Dave's ESL Cafe. The posts are a window into the mind of a man who portrays himself as dedicated to teaching, well-traveled and well-spoken — but with a sophomoric sense of humor. Sex is a recurring theme, though he never mentions an attraction to children...

Mom sent this to me a couple days ago and I just saw a report on it on CNN. She sent it to me because she thought maybe I knew the guy. LUCKILY, I don't know him, but I am pretty sure I've had some contact with him on Dave's ESL Cafe as I researched teaching English in South Korea on the forum there before I decided to research Taiwan.

The thought that people like this could be colleagues, neighbors, friends makes me sick!! We are teachers for christ sake!!! We are there to educate these children even if it is only in English. We are there to give them confidence, to open their minds and prepare them for the future. They are just children!!!!

It is sad that the EFL teaching career is at such a demand for teachers that anyone can become a teacher and that means people who don't care or people like this guy who is now being chased by INTERPOL...

I hope that I can bring a positive light to EFL teaching. I truly want to be a good teacher and give these kids a chance to open their minds. I may not teach them to avoid scary and dangerous situations directly, but I hope that opening their mind will help to broaden their common sense and build their confidence so that they can live a happy and innocent life.

I have also decided that in a few years I would like to adopt a Taiwanese child, regardless if I already have children or not. I've been thinking about adoption for a while and OF COURSE I'm not going do it now, but I would really like to when I am financially and mentally secure.

Last night I tried to put myself in the shoes of an adopted child. I lived a very lucky life. I had a wonderful childhood in suburban Ohio with PLENTY of food, a roof over my head, clothes, well..EVERYTHING I needed and MORE!!! I was spoiled and an only child.

There are children out there who don't have a loving family or friends or warm clothes or comfy shoes...or any shoes. They don't get to sleep in a nice warm soft bed every night. They have to eat scraps, if they get any food at all. Chances are they are being abused in the orphanage and beaten and god knows what else...the thought of it makes me want to cry!!!!! They have no chance for a future and could end up on the street the rest of their lives or even dead by 15...

I wish I could give all of them a chance, but unfortunately I assume I will be struggling to give just that one child that chance to have a nice home, a happy family and a good life. But I would like to give that one child that chance.


Back to the news story...as for weirdos on online forums...they are EVERYWHERE...I like Dave's ESL Cafe! Dave's ESL Cafe has helped me with my research on EFL teaching as well as my CELTA and other things. It is such a shame that the bitter, jaded and disturbed try to rule the roost on ANY message forum. I know at least 3 people on EVERY forum I'm on that would be considered bitter, jaded or just plain effyouseekayd up... My point is...is that there are weird people out there and that's fine-Hell we are all different in our own ways...but you HAVE to draw the line somewhere!!! When it involves hurting people mentally or physically and involves children in such a sick and twisted way-it needs to be nipped in the bud!!!!

Well, that is my two cents...I'm sorry but it kind of has me upset...this could be happening to my students and I wouldn't even know...to be honest-it scares me...

Daaammmmnn! You Taiwanese can dance!!

Pan Wei Bo - Gao Shou...this song will NOT leave my head!!!!!



I had a pretty good weekend!

Saturday, I went out to dinner with my work colleagues and had a blast!! Later that night, boyfriend and I met up with a couple of the same colleagues from earlier at this trendy jazz bar and split a bottle of champagne 8 ways...it was good!! Then we all went to a hip-hop club and danced and lemme tell ya...the Taiwanese can dance!!! The younger generation LOVES hip-hop and are AWESOME break dancers...apparently some of the 6-year-old students at the school were bustin moves one day-IF ONLY I WAS THERE..it would be on this blog :(

Anyways...A few of us aren't bad dancers ourselves and can shake what our mommas gave us pretty well so we would get into a big circle and one person would go in the middle and show off their stuff...it was soo much fun...and boyfriend....WOW!!!! He can dance!!! I've never really been with a guy who could dance before-it's GREAT!!!! And Taiwan is a beautiful country: NT$250 (for girls) All you can drink!!! It is just soooooo nice to go dancing once in a while...I can't do it like I used to in Amsterdam (EVERY weekend), but there are times when I've had a crappy week and just need to let off some steam...

One last thing because I'm too tired to write anymore:
I love Taichung in the fall/autumn...NOT too hot yet it's NOT cold, yet there is just enough wind, yet there is still BRIGHT blue sky and SUN...and palm trees...I'm tellin ya...seeing these palm trees every once in a while is a nice reminder of my happiness and of the crappy European weather...Weather affects my mood-see my poll.

Foreign Girl's Underwear Shopping Adventure in Taiwan

Underwear shopping in Taiwan is a foreign girl's nightmare:

So yesterday, I was at Carrefour because I needed some "padded" bras (apparently, "Lady Bumps" are taboo and ALL women are padded). So I am there and these women start rattling off to me in Chinese about bras and were showing me the expensive bras. OK, at the moment, I do not have much of a budget and I just wanted to make this as painless as possible-just get some underwear and get the HELL outta there!!!!! At Wal-Mart, you don't have the sales people following you around and giving you advice on your bra size and freaking out if you choose a bra that may be too small for you... Then to make things worse, they wanted to measure me and I asked if it could be done in the fitting room area, because the last thing I want is a bunch of Taiwanese people..or even worse...MY STUDENTS...to see my boobs being measured by some sales lady, but NO... they HAD to do it in the middle of the bra section and since it was a holiday, it was crowded!! I was mortified!!! And on top of things, Taiwanese/Asian sizes are smaller so now I'm an EXTRA LARGE (And I've even lost a bit of weight!!!!!!!!!)

FINALLY, after a half an hour of torture, I finally got what I needed and left!!

Other than that, yesterday was a good day. Boyfriend took me to Jing Min street and got to do some window shopping. We went to a store that sold Zara and H&M stuff (I miss H&M terribly!!) and all they had in H&M merchandise was jewelry. They were selling the jewelry for an equivalent of €20!!!!!!! In Holland I pay about €3-5 for jewelry at H&M!!!!!

But it was a nice area and so it turned out to be a nice holiday :)

Today should be a somewhat easy day teaching as my first class is review and a quiz and my second class is review and an oral test.

I finished my Chinese homework and will be going tomorrow morning-YAY!!! And...tomorrow is Friday-Yay!! :)

OK I'll write more later!

Bre:)

P.S. I broke my orchid's neck (well, I didn't-it fell over) and now it is dying :*( I think I need to buy another one...or two...

My Own Typhoon of Emotions

Lauryn Hill-I Gotta Find Peace of Mind...a GREAT song


Being bunkered down in a studio apartment for two days avoiding a typhoon can have affects on a person. For me it was laziness, and a rush of thoughts clouding my head as insecurities began to set in. Insecurities NOT about Taiwan, but once again about my performance as a teacher and about relationships.

I can't wait to get out again, teach and go to Chinese class. Because then, I don't have the negative thoughts pouring in my head-they disappear! Only the positive ones stay. I'm not sitting waiting for the phone to ring or waiting for an email or a message or a comment on Myspace. I'm out and experiencing life! And I seriously hope I can go to this Tai Chi class. I need peace of mind from all these insecurities...I don't want to be insecure!! I want to be confident! I want to be a good person and I want to be active!

I've had headaches all weekend because I've been a lazy arse, sleeping, eating junk food and watching TV. I don't like being like that-I'm not happy being like that. I need to get out, but it's still very rainy and there is nothing really opened plus I have three lessons to plan for tomorrow.

So once again, I'm praying that this Tai Chi class is closeby and at times when I'm available-please!!!

I gotta find peace of mind!


Lauryn Hill-To Zion

Riding Against Typhoon Winds:

This week has not been a very good week for me as far as teaching goes. I have a visit from my "Aunt Flo" and I am pretty miserable and have been an extra klutz and an even crazier "Teacher Bre"

But last night I had to go to the supermarket right after work as I needed to stock up for the typhoon. So it was about 22:30 and had to drop my books off, then ride my bike back to the store, but since I don't have saddlebags yet and only a front basket, I had to ride with 3 bags slung over my shoulder.

Luckily my 24 hour supermarket is only 5 minutes from my apartment and 2 minutes from my school so it's not so bad, but after stocking up and riding home...My god it was the WORKOUT of my life!!!!!! 3 somewhat heavy bags slung over my shoulder as I pedal against the beginnings of Typhoon winds...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ironically, My stepdad and I's bike ride from Amsterdam to Lisse(the Flowerfields-3 hours there and 3 hours back) was actually worse than this!!! After that bike ride I couldn't move my legs-hahaha!!! My stepdad was probably a half a kilometre ahead of me on the way home to make it worse-hahahahahaha!!!

So my supermarket has soooo many cool things!! Refridgerated, Japanese yogurt balls, Green Tea Pumpkin seeds, Plum Green Tea, etc, etc...So I have food :)


But I have to teach 3 classes on Monday now and have papers to grade and since boyfriend is away in Taipei for the weekend and the typhoon seems to be a lot stronger than the last one, it looks like I am going to be bunkered down and working or being a lazy arse this weekend-it will be great...Thank god for HBO, Cinemax, Star Movies, CNN, 24 hour anime channel and the internet!!!!

I even slept in till 11am today as the winds screaming and whistling against my window and door have kept me up most of the night...it's not that it's scary, only that it's loud...

So I am going to veg out for a few hours and maybe work on my lesson plans...:) I think today is probably the best day for vegging as I am worn out and energyless...Aunt Flo sucks the life out of me...

Zai jian!
Bre :)

New Year's Resolutions Update

My First Chinese Homework Assignment-finished :)



1. Be a better person.

• Have improved but still need more work.

2. Help others in need.

• Attempting to in my teaching, but in the outside world...ehhhh not as much as I should be....need more work.

3. Find a worthwhile job.

• For once in my life, I can check off a resolution that I have fulfilled...CHECK!!!

4. Raise self-esteem.

• Ehhhhh it's a LOT better than it was, but still needs MORE work!!!!!

5. Think Buddhism/Taoism/Zen.

• Trying-more work.

6. No relationships of ANY kind until I have a steady job.

• CHECK!!!!! But...I need to keep myself grounded and out of trouble! Learn from Germany...
  

7. Job in non-profit sector.

• Not yet...

8. Listen to others and CARE!!!!!!

• Improving but still MORE work!!!!!!
  

Getting Into the Swing of Things

I am finally starting to feel more and more comfortable as each day goes by. I am still having problems teaching grammar and giving instructions, but I feel more comfortable around my students and I don’t get that nervous feeling before each class starts.

I started my Chinese lessons today and love it!! It’s very hard, especially the 4 tones and even more so the writing of the characters, but my teacher is hilarious and so funny and I had so much fun in the class! I even retained almost all of what I learned I think! I can now count to 10 except I can never remember seven and even noticed a HUGE difference today that even before class I am starting to understand small pieces of Chinese when spoken to me…for example: I went to a tea shop and asked for Molilucha(Green Tea with Jasmine) and the girl said a couple times “Meiyou Cha” and after the third time-it hit me..Oh yeah…”No tea.” So the lightbulb went off and walked to the next tea shop and got my molilucha qing bu jia tang (Green tea with jasmine, please no sugar). Then after my class went to the smoothie place and the girl said Sanshìwu kuai and I automatically knew it meant $35!!! So I have to write a few characters out for Friday and Friday I get black saddlebags for my bike J Yay!!

So this weekend boyfriend and I went to another nightmarket not Fengjia and had my fortune told and my palm read and here is what the man said:

~I’m a hard worker
~I’m kind
~My big forehead is a symbol of something good
~I’m very highly intelligent or educated (Damn Straight Mr. Fortune Teller ;P)
…And the ones that make me laugh…
~I’ll end up making more money than boyfriend :)
~Be careful because I might be in an accident next year
~THIS year is a good time for me to get married….HA!!!! It's OK Mr. Fortune Teller, we can't get them all right you know...
~I will have 2 kids with boyfriend..(Whoa! Mr. Fortune Teller! Methinks we are being too hasty!!)

But I think he only said that stuff about marriage and kids because we were together and because I’m 27(we told him our ages) and I think traditionally the older generations push the younger ones, especially the younger females to get married and have kids…

But… he also said that I would have less and less contact with my parents which worried me (because I don’t want the Germany incident to happen again) and thank god for boyfriend’s cynicism because he told me that can’t be true because I have MSN, Skype and my mobile and so there is no way I can have less contact with my parents…and that made me feel a lot better.

So here are the foods I tried this weekend:
~Coconut milk straight from the coconut
~Taiwanese fried eggplant (I luv me sum eggplant) and fried scallions with mussels
~Taiwanese ice with milk, red bean and the other ice with barley-very good!
~Soup Dumplings-yum!!!!!!!!!
~Taichung “Sun Cakes” and “Green Bean Cakes” Yum again!!!!!

Oh and one last thing: On Friday, I get to learn how to write my Chinese name!!!!! Yay!!!! It is probably going to be one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do but will be sooooooo cool once I can do it!!!!!!! I can’t wait to post pics!!!

BTW, pics will be up soon I promise!!! Boyfriend and I are very busy so we have no time to upload pics and stuff yet…I’ll try to do it ASAP k?

Dai hui jian!

My Moon Festival Weekend

OK, so my internet was down for a few days but now it is up...

Tuesday was the Mid-Autumn/Moon Festival. This is a long weekend starting Friday night and ending with the Moon Festival Holiday on Tuesday. This is a time when families reunite, eat barbecue, sing KTV (karaoke), and eat Moon Cakes of all different shapes and flavors.

Although I didn't get to spend this time with my family, it turns out that I was introduced to the parents of boyfriend's family. It was unexpected for me as I didn't think I would be meeting them that day, but it happened. And of course, they only speak a few words of English, but that isn't a BIG problem for me as I try to find a way to communicate although there are and will be a lot of awkward silences...and eventually I will speak Chinese (as it is my goal) so if things work out, then I will be able to communicate.

As I was talking, his mom was analyzing me as any significant other's mother would (My mom does it as well, but she is such a sneaky devil she has her own way of doing it :) ) And of course asked if I could cook (Like any traditional mother asks) and unlike my answer in Germany (where I said I could only make spaghetti and stir-fry which horrified my ex's mom especially since I'm part German and should be cooking Kassellar Rib, Saurkaut, Linsen suppe, etc, etc, etc) I told them that I like to cook, but am not very good at it..actually I told Boyfriend a while ago that I would love to watch his mom cook so that I can learn to cook truly Asian/Chinese/Taiwanese. So then she took me into the kitchen and showed me how to make Papaya Milk-SO EASY!!! They also had "Pineapple Cakes"which I tried as well!

And like every weekend, I tried new foods: different barbecue foods, Tea Egg (Egg boiled in black tea if I'm not mistaken-looks scary, but tastes pretty OK), some more Hot Pot, Asian Sweet Potato, Taro, Korean Sesame Buns, etc, etc, etc.

As for Tuesday-the actual Moon Festival..boyfriend had to spend it with family (which they sang KTV and ate and etc) and I stayed home, did my lesson plans and did something that I haven't actually done in a loooooooooooooooong time..."Me Time." I watched movies and anime (they have a 24 hour anime channel!!!!) and it was so nice!


As for teaching, I have been worried if I will actually be a good teacher, but I am SLOWLY getting into the routine. Yesterday is usually one of my challenging upper level classes, but it turned out OK! Today or tomorrow is Teacher's Day (Confucius) so I bought a bunch of small packages of European chocolates (Fererro Rocher, Kinder, Toblerone, French Truffles, etc) for VERY inexpensive to give to the teachers at my branch as a thanks...
They even have these Lindt Dark Chocolate with Orange thin wafers that I fell in love with in Holland AND Andes Cherry Jubilee mints!!! So of course I bought them!!! I ate a couple last night and it tasted like home :)

OH! One last thing...Saturday, Boyfriend and I ate at a Greek Restaurant by my apartment...boyfriend has never had Greek food (or he claims that if he did he wouldn't know the difference-haha!) and I am craving tomatoes like crazy so we ate there and it was soo good! Except...if you wanted a SMALL bottle of J.P. Chenet wine (Mom, you know it because they sell it at KingsAlMarkt for only about €1) you'd have to pay NT$380!!!! Which is €8,30!!!!!!! So needless to say we drank water ;)

OK now I really need to work on my lesson plan!!! :)

So that’s it for now…dai hui jian!! :)

My Purple Orchid

Well it has been yet another fun filled weekend with even a wee bit more romance but...

I am so busy during the week that I just don't have time to venture out. My mom and I had a discussion about this as she is worried I am not happy here and what not and also about my job. But the thing is, I am busy, but I am not stressed...I am nervous but that is purely my own doing as I get nervous speaking in front of a lot of people...But that is yet ANOTHER reason why I'm teaching is so that I can get over it and it is actually helping. I am also nervous because for once in my life I have found a career that I love and feel worthwhile at the end of the day, but am so afraid that I might screw it up like I have with many other things in the past. It is such a great feeling that when I leave the classroom the students say "Goodbye Teacher Bre!!" and one student might offer me a barbecue flavored chip as a means of friendship and when they finally do learn something from me it will be all the more worthwhile!

I am also scared, because it seems that the students aren't learning what I'm teaching and are making the same mistakes and it makes me question my own performance...but all the teachers have said I've been great and they make me feel so welcome!

As for the weekend...here are the new foods I tried:
1. Candied Tomatoes...Yes you heard me right...much like the beloved candied apples we eat at County Fairs, I was positively surprised to have had candied tomatoes...And..it was actually good!!!!!
2. Sugar Apple/Skya/釋迦; Pinyin: shìjiā
From wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple

3. Chinese red/rosé wine...pretty good but very sweet
4. Mango milk which tasted like a mango flavored Orange Julius

We even went rowing on a little tiny man made lake in the middle of Gonghue(sp??) park and got to see many many turtles sunbathing and swimming in the lake...Then we went to a market where all the young kids hang out and got some food did some window shopping (although I needed to buy a watch to keep track of time during my classes).

Oh and we also went to another little park yesterday as well as two tiny temples. I even got a fortune and it said something about me becoming successful and rich-ha!! I'm not going to leave it to the fortune, I think if I become successful it has to be by my own hand...OH! And I forgot...I even have a purple orchid for my apartment now!! I have my own orchid :)

But anyway, it doesn't seem like much but actually it was a lot and I'm pooped but happy.

Tomorrow I have three classes and my first one is Junior High...I'm really nervous about it as I always feel like I'm not quite sure what I'm doing and don't want to screw up. Oh well...this is how you learn!

Now it's off to plan lessons...I'll have a link for my photos soon...

Oh yeah:

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog! It makes me feel so good to know that you are all actually interested in my life-haha! I have gotten a couple of comments and even though I haven't thanked you personally, you are definitely in my thoughts and my heart! Thank you all for being so supportive. I really do love it here and can't wait for the day when I actually have some visitors!!!!! :)


Zai Jian!
Bre

A Weekend of Fun

Wow, I got to see and do so much this weekend!!! I had a little bit of everything including lots of fun: more fun, adventure, excitement and even a wee bit of romance ;)

I tried so many interesting food and drinks this weekend...I even ate a fish similar to squid and a piece of its tiny tentacle (which I swore up and down I would NEVER eat), and even ate beef noodles with cow stomach and "thread" which I am assuming is some kind of entrails...and usually I would gag and REFUSE to try it as I want to be a vegetarian, but I am a good sport and want to open my mind so I tried it and ended up loving the broth! The cow entrails...not so much :( Oh! I also had traditional Taiwanese shaved milk ice (NOT ice cream) with red beans...YUM!!!!!!

The night markets are so amazing! I'm in love with the night markets and know that I would spend a fortune at these places if I could, but have been VERY good and VERY picky about what I buy. The only downside is if you go on a Saturday it is wall to wall people and unbearably hot!!!!

I would write more, but I have training at 9am tomorrow and I have to walk a km straight to the next branch...I just keep telling myself it will get rid of my cellulite ;)

Zai jian!
Bre :)

Little Earthquakes

I think I experienced my first earthquake last night. I was in bed asleep, when all of a sudden my bed started shaking...as if I lived by tain tracks or something...I was pretty much asleep and thought this amusing until I started hearing things fall in the hallway...nothing major, just little things. I didn't realize it was an earthquake until I started hearing my little fridge move back and forth and the jingy sounds of the Belly-dancing shawl my parents bought for me in Egypt that was on top of the little fridge.

Right then and there I froze in my bed, telling myself to get my ass out of bed and seek shelter in my doorway, but I panicked...I have never been in an earthquake before, was still half-asleep and suddenly all these images of buildings collapsing entered my head...

Luckily, it was a very tiny one, and I think all it wanted was to just be heard...

As for my teaching, it went OK. The children are so sweet, funny and soooo smart! Sometimes they are mischievous, but I had so much fun with them and they weren't mean to me at all! Not yet anyway...;)

So I teach again today, but haven't had time to work on my lesson plans :( I was so tired last night I feel asleep and didnt get up till 9 :( I hope I can break out of that habit!

Also, even though they don't read this, I just want to thank all the CT's (Chinese Teachers), and everyone at the school. They have been so wonderful, so nice, so helpful and just great!!!


A few months bac before I started my research, my mom said that she really thought teaching EFL/ESL would be my nich and I truly think she is right. I still panic as to whether I'm doing a good job and if I'm going to be a good teacher, but yesterday proved that I can do it!!! I had so much fun with the kids AND I got them to learn!!

"Positive changes positively" :)

Chinese Washers and Exploring My Neighborhood:

I have to apologize for the lack of interesting photos and etc on this blog. At the moment, I have 4 lesson plans that I need to work on and 2 which need to be ready by tomorrow. Plus, I just bought my mobile and am trying to enter all the phone numbers into it as well as try to figure out how to use a Chinese washing machine!!

Luckily, I have figured the latter part out after many trial and errors!! I now have somewhat clean clothes, although I had to take them down from air drying as a storm is rolling in :(

I also tried to explore my neighborhood yesterday and got lost in the rain with no umbrella...I wasn't so bothered because the rain felt good since I've been sweating like a pig here and I just was laughing at how silly I must look...but I found my way and today I am slowly getting around. Unfortunately the characters aren't making any sense and they all still look the same (except for the number characters) but I am able to find my way around using landmarks.

I have a new favorite tea place where I order Green Milk Tea (no NOT the color green, the TYPE of tea)...it sounds icky, but one of the best things I've tasted!!!!!! Supposedly Taichung is the city for tea and if that's the case, then this "Tea Snob" is in heaven!! ;) I've also fallen in love with Pearl Milk Tea a.k.a Bubble Tea which is tea with black tapioca balls at the bottom. Most of you already know what that is, but I'm sure my parents don't and maybe a few others especially in Amsterdam, so that is what that is....sooooo good!!!

I have also gone crazy with buying pink things as well...Hello Kitty is everywhere here and I've always wanted to decorate my apartment in pink and I've already started...Not only that, but my cell phone is pink, my Teacher bag is pink, I have a Pink Hello Kitty stamp to stamp students papers, notebook, pink bedsheets, pink towels..and I'm just getting started!!!

It's just that I've never had my own place and never had the chance to do something like that...now I do :)

Well, i need to go and work on my lesson plan...

I'll write more soon :)

Finally settling in

So I am now in my apartment. I have NEVER rented my OWN apartment before!!!!!

I start teaching on Thursday, but have noticed that the kids are great! The are in schools ALL day almost every day from morning till night and they are still so sweet. Even the adolescent kids are nice!

So far noone has called me stupid, or told me I was fat or anything like that!!!!! I got to sit in on a couple of classes and the adolescent kids still are awkward and crazy and try to act cool, but they were fun and I got to play a game with them and they thought the way my name was spelled was cool ;) When the teacher put it on the board, the kids all said "Coooooooool~!" ;)

At the moment I am too tired to write and need to organize ALL my school paperwork...I'll write more when I have time...

Zai jian!

Bre :)

Taking it all in step-by-step

I've been so busy with training. I have been so nervous about teaching that I haven't had much time to do much. Everyone has went out to go drinking one night but I've been dorking out and staying in because 1. I NEED to save money 2. I'm too effin tired 3. I have realized I can't have a conversation with other Americans anymore for some reason... 4. Taipei is too effin big and I'd be fine during the day, but I feel a little uncomfortable walking around alone at night...at least for a little bit...

The truth is, I want to integrate myself with the Taiwanese as well as learn the language. I had such a hard time trying to integrate with the Dutch (as most expats do) and I don't want my experience to be like how it was in Amsterdam...not that it was bad, but I want something different and a little bit more positive :)

So my mom is freaking out because I am isolating myself, but I was working from 19:00 till 1-2 am on my two lesson plans, I'm in training ALL day with these people and I will be training non-stop with no day off for a couple of weeks at my Branch...I'm going to be working my butt off for a while until I get used to teaching and I can't afford to waste any time as horrible as it sounds. BUT...maybe I'll go out drinking with everyone tomorrow night at Taipei 101...maybe...

As for Taiwan, I am happy here! I have gotten used to the pollution, and am even getting used to the stinky smells in the streets sometimes...it has cooled off a lot in the past couple of days, but is still hot enough for me to enjoy :) I LOVE the scooters and am SERIOUSLY contemplating on getting a PINK scooter when I'm brave enough ;)

The people are nice and well...just like in any big city really...My mandarin is OK, but I can't wait to learn more!!! The food is so cool and interesting and different to me so I am trying to experiment all the sweets and pastries and drinks! Cherry Kit-Kat is the best so far!!!!!!!!!!!

But...I can't wait for Taichung ;)

Ni hao from Taiwan!!!!!!

OK, so after a looong flight I DON'T feel jet lagged although I do feel drunk (I didn't even drink anything but water and juice on the plane)...

I got a LOT of food on the plane and it was all surprisingly good!! 4 meals in total, not including the 5th one from Bangkok to Taipei...except when they had the instant ramen meal I asked for beef instead of seafood and the beef was...SPICY beef!! So I had to pick all the chilies out and they only gave me a tiny glass of water and my mouth was STILL burning a half an hour after eating it-hahahaha!!!

Then I had my layover in the new Bangkok airport and I have to say it may look nice on the outside, but the inside is nothing but GRAY, SILVER(like Ikea silver, not like expensive jewelry silver) and STERILE!!! The waiting seats were silver metal and my butt hurt so bad from sitting!!!! There were only a few pretty Thai inspired murals on the wall, but very faint....only one thing that was cool was the Thai gods etched in the glass doors...that was cool. BUT...now I can say I was in Bangkok!! Maybe one day I'll go back and see outside of the airport!!

I flew Eva Air and they were GREAT except for the fact that I brought two suitcases and they only allow you ONE!!!!!! That was a major issue at Schiphol and I almost lost my "mianzhi" (lost face) and was ready to punch someone out ;) But I didn't :)

So then I arrived at Taipei and went through customs and it was NOTHING like Schiphol!!!! No HUGE lines except a tiny one for the citizens and almost NO ONE in line for the non-citizens so I went right through!!!! I exchanged my €'s and then went to the lobby where it was also empty (Much UNLIKE Schiphol as well) and my driver was waiting for me!!!!! I was so worn out that I forgot to get a picture of him holding my name!!!!! So as soon as I stepped outside to wait for him to bring the car over, I felt the stickiness, sweatiness and all that that everyone describes about Taiwan, but you know what?? It is a welcome change from the crappy too cold for anything must wear a sweater and winter coat in the middle of August in Amsterdam weather!!!!!!

So my driver took me to the hotel and the sights were amazing to me!! I ACTUALLY LIVE IN APLACE WITH PALM TREES!!!!!!! I've never lived in a place with palm trees :)

In all honesty, Taipei isn't as gorgeous as say Paris or Berlin and it looks kinda beat-up but I actually felt good!!! I mean, I am scared to death right now and the culture shock has hit me BIG TIME and am afraid to go to a restaurant and order food...BUT I'm gonna go out there and do it!!! I NEED to do this!! And I will go and order food( NOT from McD's) because I have to get over my fears and anxiety!

This is my destiny!!!!!

But anyway, amid all of the factories and crappy looking buildings(well so far..I still need to venture out) there are beautiful green mountains and gorgeous greenery!! I also assume Taichung will be a little nicer than this...

The hotel is cool! They have been so helpful and My school has taken care of me so far!!! I've heard some negative things about them in the past (well you hear negative things about ALL English schools in Asia), but my driver was there for me, the hotel has been great so far, my hotel room is AWESOME!!!!! and my school has also given me a Mandarin Phrasebook (NOT Lonely Planet-their own actually) and a little booklet on Taiwan (once again NOT Lonely Planet-their own) plus a magazine about Taiwan(in English) and some other info!!!!

I start training on Monday and I am so excited!!! Well, I am going to go sort my stuff, talk to the front desk about my luggage being cargoed and then venture out in the streets-GASP!!!!

I will post pics when I come back!!!

Delay in Blog Posts:

Ni hao!

I just wanted to write and say that I will be leaving for Taiwan in 3 days (KNOCK ON WOOD that I have a SAFE trip) and am not sure when I will be posting again.

But fear not! The whole point of this blog is to document my life and life in general in Taiwan so there WILL be more posts as well as photos and video ;)

Xie xie for your understanding!!

See you soon and zai jian,
Bre a.k.a. 李艾莉

七夕

Today is the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. A day called Qi Xi or 七夕, Chinese Valentine's Day.

It is based on a very romantic Chinese fable that has many versions to it. Here is the version from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Valentine%27s_Day

"The story of Cowherd and Weaver Girl

In late summer, the stars Altair and Vega are high in the night sky, and the Chinese tell the following love story, of which there are many variations:

A young cowherd named Niulang (Chinese: 牛郎; Pinyin: niú láng, "the cowherd", the star Altair) happens across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Encouraged by his mischievous companion the ox, he steals their clothes and waits to see what will happen. The fairy sisters elect the youngest and most beautiful sister Zhinü (Simplified Chinese: 织女; Traditional Chinese: 織女; Pinyin: zhī nǚ, "the weaver girl", the star Vega) to retrieve their clothing. She does so, but since Niulang has seen her naked, she must agree to his request for marriage. She proves to be a wonderful wife, and Niulang a good husband, and they are very happy together. But the Goddess of Heaven (in some versions Zhinü's mother) finds out that a mere mortal has married one of the fairy girls and is furious. (In another version, the Goddess forced the weaver fairy back to her former duty of weaving colorful clouds in the sky because she could not do her job while married to the mortal.) Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratches a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever (thus forming the Milky Way, which separates Altair and Vega).

Zhinü must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children (his flanking stars β and γ Aquilae).

But once a year all the magpies in the world take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge (鵲橋, "the bridge of magpies", Que Qiao) over the star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, the seventh night of the seventh moon."

Happy Chinese Valentine's Day or Qi Xi!!! :)

5 days till Taiwan...:)

Return of the Ex

Well, ironically, last night I checked my email and in the spam folder (where it should be) was an email from...DUM DUM DUM the Ex to whom I was so lovingly *PUKE* *GAG* referring to in the last post.

The funny thing is, was that a few hours before that, I actually felt myself clean of him. I wasn't angry. I stopped the feelings for him a few months after I left so feelings weren't the problem. It has been the intense feeling of anger and hatred I have had toward him...and also myself (for letting it all happen). I felt free and better about myself!

But, the good thing is, when I read the email, I didn't get the sick-to-my-stomach feeling that I had for an entire year not to mention a few months after I left. But I did still feel anger, because I am MOVING ON WITH MY LIFE!!! Now, I know I screwed up and I have acknowledged it and am working on it, but him...well...it's not my place to talk about it in a weblog...I've said too much already.

Anyway, just like when we were together, although I didn't get the sick feeling..I did start getting the panicking feeling. Am I going to make the same mistake in Taiwan? Is it going to be how it was in Germany? What if I date a local and...it does get serious...What if I have the SAME problem except with this guy's mom except that she speaks Chinese instead of German!!!!!

But then I stopped myself!!!! I was already falling into that downward spiral that I was in for an entire year-the doubts, the endless unanswered questions and promises...

Here's the difference:
1. I am supporting myself!!!!!
2. I will be sharing my place with roommates and refuse to move in with some guy I just met-that is relationship wrecker #1
3. I have a job so I'll be too busy to worry!
4. If I do date and if it gets serious and then I have to *gasp* meet the parents... I will do the EXACT opposite of what I did in Germany.
5. In this case, I have learned to enjoy cooking and will actually be willing to learn to cook Asian (I already do here). In Germany, I couldn't cook and that got me into trouble...I know, I know...I'm 1/4 German and I can't even cook the cuisine of my Grandma and her family...
6. Not that i wasn't interested in my family's ancestry in Germany, but I have a fascination with Asian culture and languages so that will make it easier for me I think.
7. In my HONEST opinion: Asian guys=HOT German guys=don't really do it for me-sorry! I mean, come on! Have you seen or heard Wilber Pan and TONE??!!! *drool*
8. This kind of goes with #6 but I have actually been doing research on Taiwan every day for the past few months and I gotta say...I actually want to go there!
-And as I have always said: I KNOW that there will be days where I just want to rip my hair out or days that all I want is to actually hear the word "Lekker" a MILLION times a day! But...I am going to have a GREAT time no matter what!!!!

I can't wait to start teaching, I can't wait to meet my colleagues and even my bosses! :)

I can't wait to get confused by all the Chinese characters on the bus signs!!!! (I'm actually serious about that-just think when I actually know the characters and can look back and laugh!!)

I can't wait to laugh at myself while I'm trying to go to the bathroom in a squatter for the first time!!! If you can't laugh at yourself then what kind of a person are you?

So...our mistakes always come back to haunt us, but if we are constantly looking back, how can we move forward? Looking back to reflect on your mistakes is good as long as you learn from them, but it is not good to dwell. What's done is done and you can't change it. You just have to prepare yourself for the future.
And if there is negativity in your life-cut it from the source. Life is too short to let the negativity pull you under and drown you.

"Keep the wisdom gained from painful experiences and let go of the rest.
Otherwise, risk the wisdom diminishing while the pain lingers." - Taro Gold

I've said it many times and I will keep saying it:

"Positive changes Positively!"

Mothers-in-law = Crap Shoot

I tend to dwell on things even if it's been a year since they have happened...or ten years and this topic has been on my mind constantly for the past year!!

n.b. when I say mother-in-law, I don't just mean for married people. I tend to call boyfriend's/girlfriend's mother a mother-in-law because I get tired of saying "the mother of so-and-so's boyfriend/girlfriend".

As some of you know, I put myself in a very stupid relationship last year and had a mother-in-law who DIDN'T speak English. Not only that, but she came to the conclusion that ALL Americans were gun-toting, superviolent and HORRIBLE cooks because she, the expert, got all her knowledge from: CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:New York, Law & Order Criminal Intent, NCIS, Autopsy, Crossing Jordan, Little House on the Prairie (Oh lord, if I EVER have to watch that show again I will probably end up becoming the stereotype of my ex's mothers delusions), Dallas, Dynasty and King of Queen's., etc etc etc..and it doesn't stop there.

Unfortunately, it wasn't all television's fault. I am partly to blame as I fed these delusions. See, I suffer from VD (NOT venereal disease you sick shites! Perish that DISGUSTING thought!!!!! Ewwwww >: ( ) I'm talking about:
-Verbal Diarrhea as taken from the site: Urban Dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=verbal+diarrhea
This definition is the first one and honestly, the one that best describes me. Please pardon the extremely vulgar "F"word although it is appropiately used in this sense.

"A condition suffered by an individual who has the inablility to shut the fuck up, i.e the words keep flowing.

Don't get involved in a conversation with Jill as she has a bad case of verbal diarrhea."

Unfortunately, I have suffered from this sickness ever since I was in elementary school. I was in remission for a couple of years but it came back when I was in Germany and I can't seem to cure it...yet. But this is another story for another time.

Needless to say, my ex's mother and I didn't hit it off as well as I wanted. The last time I was in a long-term relationship was back in the U.S. and had a GREAT friendship with my ex's mom!
One problem with the German was because I didn't speak German and when people learn new languages they don't have the knowledge in the beginning to use the language in appropiate context as well as intonation and word/sentence stress. So imagine the trouble I got into when I would answer or speak with monotone, which is what I did because I was experimenting and just trying to get a BASIC message across.

At the end of it all, I came to the conclusion her sheltered life made her ignorant, narrow-minded, VERY hypocritical and just plain miserable. (n.b. NOT that I'm perfect because I'm NOT!!! If I were perfect I wouldn't be writing this blog post as we speak!!!) She didn't trust or believe her own son, but when I got fed up of living my life with someone who had made into nothing but one HORRIFIC lie, she told me I was abandoning him and that I didn't know what love was. Maybe I don't, but I should have known when to leave such a doomed situation. Now it's a year or so later and I'm doing everything I can to right the wrongs I made in that STUPID situation.

So, MY POINT:

This is just one example of an "Evil" mother-in-law. The truth is, no matter where you go, you will have to deal with parents-in-law. Or, maybe you are lucky and either your partner doesn't speak to their parents or they are orphans. And, are they necessarily "evil" or are they merely a product of their environment? Maybe, you are the "evil"one who can't take responsibility for your negative actions or maybe there is a communication gap (which always seems to be the case and isn't really anyone's fault)?

My advice to you is that if you can't deal with parents-in-law then just don't date!!! Cut off all contact with the dating world and focus on your own life. And the truth is, it is easy to do! I've been doing it for about a year now and now I have come to this epiphany.

If you do decide to date (and trust me, I NEED to take my own advice as well for the future!), you need to be sensitive to their culture, background, traditions, beliefs and everything else that is their life. Become interested in their life even if you may not be. You might discover and learn great things! If they say negative things about your culture, background or upbringing, politely discuss with them the good things about your culture. DON'T be a twat about it, even if you are steaming on the inside!!!!!

BUT...DO TAKE THINGS SLOW!!! Rushing only leads to heartache and heartbreak.

Unfortunately, I didn't do ANY of these things and on top of it, I showed my fear, jiltedness and bashed German culture as well just to get back at them and that made the situation worse (although it really couldn't have gotten any worse). To be honest, NOTHING could have saved the relationship between me and my ex but I could have had a better relationship with his parents if I had stopped letting the negativity get to me and just do what I always say :"Positive changes positively."

I hope that IF I ever date again, that I learn from my wretched mistake and just be a good and positive person and to just GET OUT before the situation gets out of hand AND to see the signs before I make any moves!!!!!

And remember: Someday, you will be the parent-in-law so just put yourself in their shoes.