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!"