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:)