Hao Jiu Bu Jian=Long Time No See

Update:

My new job is better! I like it now although it is still hard. Xiao Mai is good, too!

I'm still fat and need to get motivated to exercise. Luckily, my stress level is WAY low now! :D

I'm going to Indonesia in a few weeks and am excited and scared! I haven't left the country to travel around Asia since my trip to Thailand two Octobers ago! Luckily, I am going with a good friend who is a Jakarta native so that really makes me feel better!!

I've written the first draft of a children's book now hoping to get it published...I really enjoy writing and have been hit with a wave of ideas these past few days! I hope that I can start writing more as that seems to be the direction I want to go in my career...I'm also looking into editing. I'm pretty good at editing so maybe this is something else I can do!

Not only that, but I've made an ad for the Phonics club...Phonics is important and it's something that you can play super easy and fun games all the while the kids are learning and having fun! I DON'T want to do speech club so I'm doing everything I can to get students to join!

I want to write more but am channeling my writing energy into other writing outlets (that means..outlets that help get me some green stuff) :P I hope to post during or after Chinese New Year and with pics of Jakarta!

Can't wait! :D

2009 Resolutions and 2010

These were my resolutions for 2009...

My resolutions for 2009:
1. Chinese classes at a university!!!
2. New apartment with comfy furniture
3. Save up for my Master's
4. Research Master's programs and see if I am eligible
5. BE A BETTER PERSON
6. Be Tao
7. Try to take better care of myself physically...2008 was my year of feeling like a fat flop so 2009 will be the year that I don't let my weight or my age or stupid skinny ass Taiwanese people make me feel bad!!!
8. Did I mention Chinese?? IMPROVE my Chinese!!!
9. Yeah, yeah...be more active...I want to buy a Wii and Wii fit!!!


Here are my Taichung PAWS 2009 resolutions:
1. Try to find a way to educate my students and other young learners in Taiwan about how to treat pets and street animals POSITIVELY.
2. When I get my new apartment, adopt a dog or foster a dog (I won't have time to adopt AND foster let alone the money since it is VITAL I get my Master's)
Still working on more of my Taichung PAWS resolutions...


Ones I didn't accomplish: 1.3.7.8
Ones I tried and am still working on: 4,5,6,9
The only one I did accomplish was: 2

As for Taichung PAWS: I adopted Xiao Mai and couldn't be happier!
I try to educate my students but find it to be a challenge!

As I try to reflect on what I accomplished, researched and/or fell short of, I realize that there are so many opportunities for me but I get too confused and am not sure which one is best for me..like my teaching certificate...

There are so many different teaching certificates but the one that I need I can't afford and the others I can probably afford and are in Taiwan(like a Master's) but am not sure they can get me jobs abroad and/or will be recognized!!

So here are my resolutions that I hope to acomplish in 2010
1. Strive to be better and make the world better
2. Be the voice for those who have none
3. Find a way to get a teaching certificate(that is recognized in Europe) or a Master's...somehow!!
4. Help my students to improve not only in their grades, but in everything else like to be better!
5. Improve my confidence and my positivity
6.I had one more but it slipped my mind, but was a good one...

Christmas is coming and things are improving in my life...slowly but surely! I guess I really am trying to be superwoman but when wanting to succeed and become a "Superwoman"comes many sacrifices and struggles. As long as I don't drown in the negative things and show myself what wonderful things life has to offer, I have nowhere to go but up! :D

The Holiday Bug is Biting..or At Least the Saturday Bug :)

I feel better today!

All that anger and frustration and guilt was vented onto Hino...He didn't really say anything but just listened and thats what I needed! And made me laugh of course :)

So as far as making friends with expats go, Hino and I have decided that we will go out more and be more social. We are still too young to stay at home and veg EVERY weekend!

As for my weight, I've decided that on top of walking Mai...when we get her her treadmill, I am going to bring my small little step machine from the upstairs and when she's on the treadmill, I'll be on the stepmachine and we'll walk/run together! :)

I read in one of Cesar Millan's books that a firehouse dalmation will go on a treadmill when one of the firefighters go on the other treadmill and Cesar says that's a good bonding experience or something like that.

Like I said, the treadmill is NOT a substitute but a supplement!

Well speaking of walks, it's Xiao Mai's time!

The holiday season always puts me in a good mood :)


Anyway, I feel better today!

A Long Time Post from a Pissed Off but POSITIVE Fat Expat

OK...actually, I'm not pissed off-just a little bothered!


I've gained a few pounds these past few months and now my newly bought Levi's don't fit. Go figure that they are Taiwanese style meaning they BARELY fit with my junk-in-the-trunk but now they go up to my knees and that's it!!!!!!!

In the shower I was thinking..."Why oh Why in God's name did I pick a country where EVERYONE's asses are FLAT?! Why didn't I move to a place where it's NORMAL to have some padunkadunk?!"

I'm on a diet but Hino gave me the "if you want to lose weight, you need to do more than eat less...you need to exercise!"

And you know...that's the thing...I know he loves me for who I am as he tells me ALL the time he doesn't care about my weight but what pisses me off is that these people who tell me to exercise more have no effyouseekaying idea what it's like to teach!!

I come home and all I want to do is relax! I have been talking to my colleagues and they agree that teaching (especially the kids we/I teach) is an absolute energy drainer and I would LOVE for those people who tell this to be in my shoes for a week!

Anyway...I walk Xiao Mai but when I try to run with her I get so tired..I'm not a runner...
and that's another thing, she needs more exercise and I am trying but it's not enough. On top of it she has Separation Anxiety disorder and I just can't run with her enough to tire her out so I need to get her a treadmill as a supplement to her walks!

I feel like I'm trying to be Wonder Woman and end up Bridget Jones! I'm REALLY struggling but god damn it I'm trying!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not all so bad it's getting better but SLOWLY!! Unfortunately in Taiwan, everyone is so god damn pushy and I'm too slow for everyone.

I'm also getting tired of being called lazy. In Taiwan, I'm lazy. I work 5 days a week 9am-5pm, walk my dog and other things but that's just not enough!! Nobody relaxes here and there is no "Gezelligheid" or coziness so basically, I'm a lazy bum.

As you can tell, I was ready to say Screw it! I'm outta this place! But...I'm fighting back!!! There are so many great things about Taiwan and those people who criticize me aren't happy so Screw them! They are not bringing me down!!


But...I do want to move back in five or so years...I don't like being rushed 24/7. I like being relaxed...It's much healthier :)


Another thing on my mind was that I am an expat recluse. Taichung's expat circle is even SMALLER than Holland's and everyone all hangs out with each other, but I don't go out. I want to, but I'm not fun like I was in Amsterdam. I don't feel the same here like I do there. Everyone all has fun together but I think I'm not fun!

I'm trying to be
positive really! I guess if I could stay awake past 12 that would help me be more social :)


OK well that's something I need to fix on my own...

But I'm TRYING! My point is is that I may not be the best and at the moment might be really crappy at all I'm doing, but god damn it I'm going to fight and I'm going to succeed!!!

Birth, Life and Death

Looking into the eyes of death and at a puppy who should have had a better life

Don't let this one have the same destiny as our lil one above

The good news is is that we had 10 volunteers which is GREAT!! We got so much done and everyone was so cool and helpful!!

Star so fittingly named...She is a sweetheart!

Today was our monthly visit to Tsaotun and the good news was that there were TEN of us which is really good!!

The bad news is...we all witnessed a puppy die right before our eyes. It was the most helpless feeling I've EVER felt...

We found her lying on her side in a cage twitching...we were speechless and one of us said maybe we should pick her up and hold her to just to give her some contact. The move itself was enough as she was being picked up (slowly and carefully I might add) it must have been too much for her as she stiffened and then seemed comatose urinating and drooling...we laid her in a plastic chair and wrapped her in an apron. There was nothing we could do. She had passed on.

I remember coming to the shelter and she was always so scared and would run away from me. Vicky picked her up once a few months back and held her and cuddled with her and I had been wanting to do the same as I really thought she had a chance (and her brothers) of being re-homed.

The Ai-xin mama said no dog had bitten her so her cause of death is unknown. I have a theory that maybe because she was smaller and more afraid than the other dogs that maybe she didn't get any food or nourishment because as they say for packs "Survival of the fittest" and she might have been a weak link...Someone asked me if maybe I would want students to perform an autopsy on her and actually I would because if it really is a sickness or a disease we can prevent the other dogs from getting sick or even an outbreak...1 deceased dog is wretched enough but more than one is unspeakable!!!! I love these dogs and want them to be fostered and re-homed! That's why we have volunteers walk them so they can get used to being walked.

The odd thing is is that a few nights ago I had a dream about a wedding. My mom said that there is a superstition that if you dream of a wedding that a death will soon take place and vice versa. After I had this dream, I was so panicked that that death might be one of my family members as a couple of them have been sick.

I believe this superstition because a few years back I had a nightmare that my mom was killed and I woke up screaming and crying...I called my mom from Ohio to all the way in Holland to see if she was ok and she said that it meant a wedding would take place soon...a few days later, my boyfriend at the time and I had attended a friend's sister's wedding...

Every time someone or something I see or know dies, I feel like a part of me dies. It lasts for some time but then like a new seed that was replanted the rebirth germinates and something good always makes that seed grow into a beautiful flower until once again that flower in me dies...it is an emotional cycle of birth, life and death and re-birth. Right now I feel death and am mourning. I came home and hugged Xiao Mai and enjoyed every moment bathing her, blowdrying her and feeding her her chickenbacks (as she is now on the BARF diet which is a raw food diet to benefit dog's health and it works) and watching her sleep in her lil bed.

It's only been a couple weeks but I love her so much and after seeing that lil one pass on...I am so worried about her Ehrlichia and just want the best for her! She has become one of the family!!









I am so mad at myself that I focus too much on the active dogs like Star, Arielle, Mr. B and Colin and Colleen but I don't pay the other ones more attention. I shouldn't have given up on her and kept trying to get her to cuddle her.

The Dawn of a New Beginning..yet again!

The sweetest addition to our fambly...Xiao Mai (Little Barley)
Female, 5 years old and a super sweetie!!

Xiao Mai chewing on her bone

Things are going good and I hope it stays that way!

Yesterday I got Xiao Mai which was a dog that I've been wanting to adopt! I adopted her from a friend of ours who helps with Taichung PAWS. She is a GREAT dog, but I need more training and she needs obedience training from me since she doesn't recognize my voice or respond and tries to lead when I'm waking her when other dogs are around, but she is a perfect fit with Hino and I!

The one thing is is that she has Ehrlichia so we have be careful and she has to take pills twice a day for four weeks so that it doesn't get worse. It can come from a tick:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1556&aid=430

She's only been here for one full day, and this morning she was whimpering a lot, but we went to a farm today that is also close to the sea and played and ran with her and got her all worn out so that she could sleep and be comfy with us...I hope we can spend more time with her and go somewhere else next weekend! I love when we can do things like that!!

I have more to say, but want to relax in my moon chair before my first real day at my new job which is going so well...everyone is so great and so helpful...I think I finally fit in :D I hope!

A Home Sweet Home of Our Own

A very relaxed Hino so close to taking a nap in the new place :D I like this photo...it makes me feel happy that we both finally have a relaxing place!

Xiao Mai-I can't wait to welcome her into our home!

Me and Xiao Mai during a Taichung PAWS mini golf event

As of Saturday, Hino and I signed the contract to a new apartment!!

I've been working my ass off for a couple years and have put up with some major crap as well to get to where I am now! I don't want to sound like a bitch, but it's about damn time something good happens!!

I have also bought a brand new scooter as my other one was a POS and broke down everytime I drove to Beitun (which isn't that far). It's a dark candy apple red Suzuki Address 125cc. It is one of the best things that have happened to me!!

So back to the apartment: I am so happy because this one allows dogs with no problems and I will be adopting a dog named "Xiao Mai" which means little wheat/oat/barley in Mandarin. She is a couple years old, but is such a sweet and loving dog. She listens very well and seems to be a cuddler!



We also have a basketball court (for Hino and Trent and whoever else want to play), an indoor swimming pool (where I'll be teaching Hino to swim so that we can go snorkeling in Indonesia), a small gym, close to B&Q and Hola and very close to my new school which I'll talk about later! In the apartment we have 2 balconies, an isolated kitchen and 2 bedrooms. Hino and I were so comfortable on Saturday after signing the contract, that we almost took a nice lil nap on the couch!!

So Sunday was a great day because Hino, Trent, Tania and I went to Ikea and I was in HEAVEN!! I got so much stuff but could have got more (If I didn't calculate wrong-at least I was WAY under budget though, as opposed to being WAY over budget-haha!) I got the basic stuff for kitchen and a lamp and etc, but also got some things for Xiao Mai like doggie bowls, doggie blanket so she can be on the couch with us and a doggie mat to put under her bowls!

As for my new school. I have decided to switch schools because I have to think of my future. Eventually, I want to move back to Europe and if I'm still teaching, then I need actual school experience. Unfortunately, working at a buxiban will not qualify me for a job in Holland where people speak PERFECT English when they are adults...I'm being selfish, but this is what I need!!!

Anyways, I don't have much news besides working and getting ready to move into my new place. Hino has been cleaning the new apartment and being there for the Ikea delivery men, Cable guy (today) and will have to keep going back for the a/c guy, internet guy and etc etc.

I WANT to go there so bad, but HAVE to stay at the old place and pack, plus I'm still working so I don't have much time to go to the new place :( I'm glad I'm working because I need the money, but at the same time, it is really slowing me down from getting lots of packing done. I still have so much to do before Saturday and am a little worried! Luckily, I'm halfway done so it could be worse!!

As for the doggies:
Toby flew to Canada a couple weeks ago and is now living with a nice family in Toronto who love him and he looks so incredibly happy! It's been a year since I found da Tobster in the Tsaotun shelter alone where he was only a couple month old puppy, so small and so fatigued. Even though the Taiwanese wouldn't accept him, those of us at Taichung PAWS fell for him instantly. Although, Caroline's husband lovingly nicknames him the "Quiet Tsunami" as he tends to just destroy things when no one is looking-haha! We are so happy that someone finally saw what a wonderful and beautiful dog he is!!

Coco should be flying tonight to the states, although unfortunately, I haven't had time to see her or anything and didn't know until this morning that she was leaving! But she was also a Tsaotun dog who was so fearful that she hid in the shed and has been improving amazingly!

I wish I had more time to write, but I don't. Not for a while. I hope this changes soon a little bit because I need a vacation-hahaha!! No really...I NEED a break!

I'll try to post more pics after we get moved in!