Jessica's Excellent Adventures

The Sacramento Temple( in Folsom)

2011-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

On a wonderful, and sunny Saturday in January, my dear roommates and I thought that we would visit the temple in the area. Though it is the Sacramento temple, it is in Folsom, which name I have a particular fondness for. We enjoyed the view, and the spirit there, as well for the wild turkeys that roam the grounds.

The Apartment

2011-01-23T23:58:00.000-08:00

So, I'm in Davis California and have been set up in a very BYU-I like apartment, we even have our very own chastity door. But the one thing that I believe that I can complain a little bit about is the shower. I don't know why the people building this complex thought that the only people living here would be five three inches tall, but they did. Perhaps back in the late 70's or early 80's people didn't grow as tall, who knows? All I know is that every time that I want to wash my hair I feel like I'm practicing for the limbo. If I turn on the water and stand at the back of the shower it hits me in the stomach. But I guess I should be try and be thank-full for it. I can take a shower and not wash my hair without even trying, so that's a plus, I think, I guess, ok...

Davis, California

2011-01-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

As part of the requirements to graduate with a Biology degree from BYU-Idaho I need an internship. It can be any thing really to do with Biology. As my fortune would have it I was offered a internship in the winter in Davis California. Now, you might thing why is getting an unpaid internship a thing of fortune, ahhh... I will tell you.

If you have anything to do with Idaho in the winter you might already know where I am going with this. Yes, no more snow, or ice, or excessive wind that chills you to the bones. There are palm trees here, that's right palm trees lots of crow and rat infested palm trees and that means no snow. Yeah!

Also being in California means Asians. Yes Asians, and I love it. It's almost like being back in Taiwan with one large difference, they don't care that I'm white. No one asking for my picture just to have it, I guess I'll get over it.

Along with being chalk full of Asians Davis is also one of the most bike friendly towns in the country, so there are rows and rows of bikes everywhere just like Taiwan. They also have Olive, Orange, and Lemon trees lining the streets, it's great.

So Davis is where I am, but what am I doing? I am working in a Lab on the UC Davis campus studying bacterial chemotaxis, fancy, hu? So for the most of my days I am stuck inside a ugly concrete building, pouring agar plates and measuring bacterial
colonies. Uuh, maybe not so fancy.

Music

2010-03-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

I have been influenced by music my whole life. My first memories of this love begin years and years ago in the 80’s. My mother, Sandy, has a picture of me sitting in font of my fisher price plastic record player -- it had different songs that toddlers might enjoy, like happy birthday, camp town races, humpty dumpy, and songs from the Sound of Music-- smiling and enjoying myself.

Next came the real record player in the family room where I spent time playing my parents old records, and of course the new thing in our home the CD player and the Wilson Philips CD, the only CD in our home for about 6 months.

We also had a piano in our home that when I was younger would put olives on my fingers and try to play. I remember my sisters bringing home flutes from summer music school and playing with them not knowing what to do. My sister Audrey for Christmas one year got a interactive computer program to teach you how to play the piano. I tried my hand at it but I guess when you are 7 or 8 you don’t have the patience to learn that way, or at least I didn’t. When our family moved to Oregon I tried to teach myself how to play the piano, I mastered a few songs but nothing note worthy. And the piano was Audrey’s thing any way so I moved on.
I would even take my old Walkman and tune to the AM classical music station and fall a sleep to it every night. Falling asleep to the intertwining melodies complicated rhythms and tones and the monotone voices of the classical station DJ’s, till I could no longer find batteries.
I joined the Sunlight singers, my elementary school's choir, when I was in the 5th grade and the school band, I played flute, rather poorly I recall. But I kept it up though the 7th grade when the elementary schools merged and there was a plethora of flutes so I changed to the French horn. The transition was not smooth. I would play in the bathroom to try to muffle the sound, but it ended up amplifying it. I would practice outside and people would yell out their doors for me to shut up. But in those 3 years of junior high and the freshmen year in high school I became rather good, and no longer was I taunted and jeered or locked in the bathroom by my sisters.

When I switched schools my sophomore year, because of class conflicts, I could no longer play in the band. Yearning for some sort of musical outlet I joined the choir. I loved it! Harmonizing, blending and movement, it was joy.
After High school, however, I didn’t have much of a musical outlet except for the music that I listened to and discovered. The years past and just last fall I found it again. I joined the university choir and took piano lessons. Walking back to my apartment after the half an hour lessons once a week I was refreshed and happy. I was for so long denying that part of me. The part where music lived, without it I was not all the way whole. I have always been drawn to music and have delighted in making it and enjoying listening and revel in its passion.

Voices Of The Night: A Psalm Of Life

2010-02-15T22:49:00.000-08:00

I read this poem and felt that it needed to be shared. Enjoy

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, — act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; 1807-1882

Foxy: More Memories

2009-12-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

I was looking back at my old car and was remembering all the good old times and my first kiss stuck out, so here you go, Foxy and I at it again.

What is a first kiss? Hollywood would have us believe that it should be full of fireworks, love songs, and weak knees. But what we don’t see is the team of pyrotechnic specialists, cinematography directors, sound specialist, and costume designers. And just in case you can’t do it just right they can pull in a stunt double to do the deed. After seeing kiss, after kiss on the silver screen that makes all of us lean in a say, “ahhhh”, our perception of what a first kiss should be is shrouded in lights, camera, and action. We live in the real world and these expectations of grandiose gestures and perfect lighting have made a perfect first kiss a thing nigh unto impossible to achieve. Away from the magic of Hollywood, lets face it, first kisses are awkward.

My first kiss consisted of nothing that could have been made into a made for T.V. movie. If anything it was something that could have been a first take of a cheesy teen movie before they sent in the pros. The summer after I graduated high school I dated a boy that I had, in no uncertain terms had been, “crushing on hard” for three years. We had been going out for about a month before the “magical” night came. He invited me over to his friend’s house, which happened to be in a trailer park, to watch movies. An innocent enough beginning to a lazy summer night, one would think. I rolled on over to the house in my leprous red VW Fox. It was leprous because the paint was slowly chipping, exposing the steel underneath, like a leper whose body is slowly decomposing as he still lived. Well, the Fox fit right in as I parked in front of the double wide.

He met me at the door and gave me a hug, and the movie night proceeded.
Sitting on the couch, snuggling it up and holding hands is a bout as far is it ever went, but this night I could tell he had a plan. He would very slowly sneak nearer, and nearer and by the end of the night he had his arm around me and his head leaning on my. But this strategy took to a long time, and by the time he had gotten me right where he wanted me it was 11:45 and I had to scurry off home. I slowly and almost unwillingly untangled my self from his arms. I looked into his face saw the crest fallen look of frustration mixed shame for taking the whole night and still not have had done “it”. He walked me to my car and we hugged and said our good byes. But right when I was about to release form the embrace “it” happened. He closed his eyes took aim and, well, he missed. He did get a piece of it though, the out side 2/3 of my lips.

Before I had realized what had happened, I heard hoots and claps from behind the house. His friends were watching. I don’t know who was more embarrassed him or me. He took off after his friends leaving me to puzzle what had just happened. Did he mean to do that, or was it an accident? I sat in my car trying to figure out if that counted. Did it have to be premeditated to count, or could just be a happy lip bumping accident? My mind was running in circles by the time he got back.

I don’t know what he and friends did, perhaps a contractually high five, or butt slap( he was a football player after all). I don’t know what happened, but when he did show up again he just stood there looking rather pleased with him self. We said good night and I drove home still contemplating. Did have to be the whole lips or is part considered a legitimate kiss? Someone really should have written a handbook on that and passed it when I hit puberty, it would have helped clear up what was going on in my head at that time.
And that was it, my first kiss. No fireworks or “Such Great Heights” from the Postal Service playing in the background. No, they were only awkward teenage boys, a very confused girl, a trailer park and a car that was lucky to make it home. Come to think of it, that could make a great movie.

Summer Time( Remembered)

2009-10-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

As you might have seen I had a bit of car trouble a few months ago and Foxy has been retired. Fortunately I have a new vehicle, Pedro. He is a wee bit older but still has plenty at miles left on him.
Pedro and I had many adventures this summer here are a few to get you caught up with.

The first week I was home a job was presented to me that I couldn't pass up. Spend 4 week at my Grandparents place to work on their house. They live with my Aunt and Uncle and their two kids. With no extra space I could have slept on the couch for a month, or find my own space. I took the latter. I placed a futon pad in the back of Pedro, and made it home. It was like camping:falling asleep to the sound of the crickets and the chirping of the frogs, and some nights hoping that the cougars didn't eat me.

So I worked. I built stairs, and part of a deck. I pressure washed the house( beware of the exhaust it get hot! yikes),
and painted the front. I mowed the lawn, chopped down trees, and bushes. But the best part was swimming at Papa's swimming hole after all the work was done for the day. Leo(Papa) says that jumping in the river feels like resurrection morning, and I think I believe him.

Other than working, I spent time with my little sister, once even going to a Timber Festival( only in Oregon, right).

But like most I spent a most of my weekends at wedding receptions. In 7 week I went to 8 wedding receptions. If that doesn't make a single girl feel just a little bit lonely, I don't know what will.

The last wedding I went to was for my good friends Steve and Kristen in Salt Lake. In Salt Lake I went to a craft fair and drowned my singleness in pie. Ummm pie.

Foxy: In Memorandum

2009-07-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

My dear old car, was born Dec 1989 to German parents in California. She left her family but still kept her German heritage close to her heart for the rest of her life. She found a life in Logan Utah where she lived for quite some time. In 1990 she was living In Medford Oregon with a family that did not see her many talents. She looked for a way out of that situation but the way did not appear until 2002.

In 2002 a tragic accident happened where a Dodge truck was burnt alive in a pear farm. The cause is still unknown but some believe that spontaneous combustion was the cause of death. The family that lost this truck was so stricken by grief that she( Foxy) was given to the family as away to console them in their time of loss.

The Folsom home was a good home that lovingly took care of her.2002-2003 she left home for a foreign exchange to Sweden. During this Betty the Volvo from Sweden stayed with us, her sweet spirit was a welcome guest in the home but Foxy was still sorely missed. 2003 Foxy returned home but continued her wanderings around America.

She when to Seattle, Portland, Logan and Rexburg ID. During this time she began to feel her years, braking both axes and springing an embarrassing leak in her fuel line. But at the end her pump would be the thing that did her in. On the crossing from Rexburg to Portland the gas pumps broke and she could no longer get her self started. So on July 27 2009 she died a peaceful death on the quite streets of Portland. She will be sorely missed by many. She is survived by her owner, Jessica.

Instead of flowers, there is charity that will be accepting donations in her name, The "Jessica Needs a New Car" Foundation. Contact Jessica for more information about giving to this excellent cause. If you have any fond memories or stories about Foxy leave in the comments below.

This tattoo was found on her after her owner was gone for a year. We think was a show of rebelling,and an inward longing for affection.

A Year Ago

2009-07-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

A Year Ago
I was miserable,
Let me explain.

A year ago I was laying on a bed of sorts, a long platform, somewhat padded, that I shared with 6 other girls. I was just laying there on a Sunday afternoon, missing out on all the fun( sunsets, hiking, lounging, making fiends with a gay etc...) and silently cursing the name of Sara( love you Sara). My knee hurt, hurt being short for humbling, unforgivable, writhing( ok, it's not a "R" but neither is writing and the 3 "R's" people got away with it, so why can't I), torment. I was miserable. But as luck would have it all I needed was sleep and dear friends to help me though it. The days got better. The pain subsided and and the scab healed over. Now all there is left is a scar. A big, red bumpy scar that my sister tells me to cover up. But I don't, I'm kinda proud of that scar on my knee. It's a reminder that a year ago I was miserable, but only for a day.

A year ago my heart was torn.
Fiends that I loved left me. No longer would we be roommates, or neighbors, but only long distant pen pals. But new friends came and the tear in my hear scabbed over and fell off( kinda a icky image, sorry) But there it is, the scar. That one isn't as noticeable and no-one asks to hear that story. But it's there and I'm still proud of it. I didn't get dragged under a scooter to get it, it was much more gentle than that. Each day I let others hold my heart a little bit more till they held it together, and I was glad to let it happen. Then one by one they left, and my heart couldn't keep itself together by its self, and it fell apart. I'm all put back together now and happy. But I still think sometimes when my heart was not my own and how good it felt to let it go.

Scars are just memories. At times they are fresh, and like memories they fade till you don't think about them anymore. No longer are they associated with pain, we forget that, all we have are the "remember the whens'", and " long agos'".

A Year Ago.

On a Twin Once Again

2009-05-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

While I was in Taiwan I had for myself a very nice twin bed. Bed being a loose translation of hard plank of wood with a small layer of padding on top. But after a few months of waking up not feeling one side of my body or the other, I got used to it, and even enjoyed it. Back in the states I was amazed at the luxury of my very own Full sized bed. I could lay on my side and still feel my arms when I woke up! I felt spoiled with comforters and a pillows and sheets that smelled like dryer sheets. But What did I give up to receive such splendor? The children with slanting eyes and wide smiles, friends a few footsteps away, the scoot scoot a toot, Taiwan. Now that my life has put me back on a twin I found that while I gave up some square footage of sleepy time luxury I have gained once again. They are not the same as before, but I still think it was a good trade. I have roommates, a curfew, classes that enlighten me, long hours in the library, and tired eyes. I have papers and quizzes and labs. I get snow in April, and 60 mile an hour winds in May.I get Rock Hard Abs class with Sara, to use my printer again, books and bags and sharpened pencils and bubble sheets and the Testing Center. I had to choose between 12 more square feet and all of that,I think I go the better deal. I'll take the twin any day.

The Journey not the Destination

2009-04-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

I always wind up at home. No matter where the road I'm running bends or stop, all my roads lead home.
So the final destination is always the same but the journey differs each day.

The way we look at the world changes, and the world changes right along with it. Like a very intelligent man once said, " you can't step in the same river twice"(or was that Pocahontas?). Never once has a man opened his eyes to the same day twice( with the exception being Bill Murray in "Groundhogs Day"). I have started to see that some believe that they do. How can you judge and find one day to be the same as the last? Our daily actives might become menial, and repetative but our eyes have a capability to see even the slightest variation in the most similar of actives. Then we should not become bogged down with drudgery at the end of the day at where we end up( which for the majority of us is a very nice bed), but what we have done, the small things that might have enlightened even the most dreary of days. If from birth to death is journey each of us are taking, and each person on this earth is unique, then the roads across this moral coil are as infinite and innumerable as the stars in the heavens. So to those who are forgetting that each day you open you eyes is a gift so individualized it would be the envy of any personal shopper, open your eyes and see that your journey is what you make it.
Who wants a traveling companion that is forever reminding you of the miles to go, or that thinks the landscape never differs? We all know where we end up, it's how we get there that matters.

Music

2009-03-31T11:42:00.000-07:00

I know that are some that find playlists on blogs annoying, I might have been one of them at one time. But I have decided that since I post what I'm doing/ thinking, I'm going to start posting what I'm listening to while I'm doing/thinking all of those things.
Enjoy it or turn it off, it's just that easy.

Lower Table Rock

2009-03-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lower Table Rock and its twin, Upper Table Rock, rise dramatically 800 feet above the Rogue River Valley, flat-topped remnants of lava flows that filled the canyons of an ancient, meandering Rogue River over seven million years ago. Atop the Table Rocks is a mosaic of grassy mounds, stony flats and vernal, or seasonal, ponds. I went on a hike with my friend Brandon today to the top of Lower Table Rock. It was an wonderfully clear and sunny day in Medford. I couldn't ask for anything better.

Well there was one thing that could have gone better :)

I am NOT a gun Nazi!

2009-03-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

There has been a roomer being passed around the singles ward that I am a gun Nazi. I guess this started because I found out that one of the boys in the ward caries a gun on his person all the time. When I saw that he was wearing one on his ankle when we were playing kick ball for FHE, I just thought that was excessive. Why?! I have gotten a few answers some being "But what if..." Really come on... every day, all the time, ridiculous. I am not going to say that he shouldn't or ban all guns etc... But there is a a time and a place for concealed weapons to be worn. Thats all I'm saying.
So to prove that I am not a gun nazi here are some pictures of me with gun, firing guns, and having a good time, in an approbate place, and time.

Jessie's Cake Face

2009-03-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

It is not a surprise to anyone that I love to make cakes. I have made a few beauties in my day but this one out dose them all. In Relief Society we were talking about FHE the next and this boy Jessie's Birthday. I guess he wanted a cake made to look like his body, but I said it would be fun just to do his head. And that just what I did. A face cake, I should start selling these things I'd make a killing. But I had such a good time making it, if you have a birthday and want a face cake, call me up.

Paint Balling

2009-03-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend a group of highly spiritual young adults got together to engage in uplifting and bonding games. Oh, who am I kidding, we shot at each-other any way we could, and cheated and lied our way to victory. We spilt into teams and hid in approbate places in order to be able to crush the other team in to the ground. I curled up in a ball behind a fallen log biding my time to be able to fire a killing shot. But unfortunately the one time I rose my little head to see what I should shoot, I got hit right in my trigger finger. Even though if this had been real I could have continued on ward to victory but, I was shot so I had to raise the white flag and cower off the field till the rest of my team was killed. I would like to say that after that disappointment I was a amazing leader and we were victorious after that but, I can't. For the most part I got hit soon after we started and wasn't a big help to my team. But what can I say other than I still had fun and I got to shoot a gun of shorts.

Brandon: we attacked and painted his face pink and yellow, I think he liked it.

Kurt: I wouldn't dare to paint him, scary!

ME: I look at top of it but I didn't know what was going on.

Rebekah: She attacked me after I had already gotten hit and was walking off the field and pegged me in the face, shows what a good sister she is.

The GW

2009-03-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

During this time of economic unrest, and my own time of unemployment, many, including myself have been discount shopping. I have in the last few months been frequenting the GW( Goodwill). Once you get over the smell of decay that all GW's have, it can be a fun experience. I can almost think of myself of a modern day Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink. But any way for the most part I don't ever find any thing, but today I found a gem. I left the GW with my purchases, which was exciting, but not the gem I was most excited about. The gem was a car parked out front that made my day. I don't know how to describe it, so I'll let the pictures do all the talking, but this thing was AWESOME!

Now what the heck have you been doing since you got back?

2009-03-03T16:29:00.000-08:00

I get this question a lot. And other than trying to find a job not much. SO here it goes.
Babysitting
Since the job Hunt hasn't been going well, I've been filling my time and my need for cash with babysitting. Mostly these cuties. I did get to babysit 8 kids at once I felt I was back in Taiwan. But I really enjoy it. I think that it's one of the main reasons I don't miss Taiwan as much as some others. I think being a teacher this last year has help me learn that yes, kids lie and try to get away with stuff. And it has also helped me to call them on it and not to be afraid to punish kids that aren't my own. I lay the hammer down, sort of.

Visiting Friends
Other going on the long road trip to Utah and Ohio, I've been sticking closer to home.
Shannon came by on her 2 week road trip to DC. It was good to see her and catch up. Then about a week after I got back from Ohio I set out to vist Megan in Seattle.

We had a blast going sledding, getting a drink with zen zu in china town( with Taiwan signage),
and hot yoga. Well I almost passed out doing the hot yoga, but I felt really good after I felt like I didn't have to trow up any more. We also took a mini road trip up to Forks WA. Well its a small town and I didn't see any vampires, but I did see a freakn' awesome car. I don't know what it was but sure was speedy.
House Work
Since I kinda am just bumming around my parents house, I help were I can. I make dinner, pull weeds, walk the dog, clean the house, and my favorite kind of work, destruction. We have a willow that needed to be tamed. And I tamed it good. Don't worry I don't believe in arborcide, it will grow back. But I did have fun with that saw-all though.

Church Stuff
The thing that has been filling my days mostly is church. BE it atucual church, Firesides, FHE, Temple Trips , or institute I go to it all and am really enjoying going to institute for the first time ever. Yesterday we had a FHE where we played Rock Band. I Rocked it, and Bishopric even joined in. We had a blast.

Flash Backs #3 SLC and Ohio

2009-03-03T10:29:00.001-08:00

Ever since I returned from Taiwan it happens that I can't sit still. Two weeks after I arrived home I was gone again for another two week to Utah and Ohio. I don't know if I just wasn't comfortable at home or I felt that since I wasn't teaching I should be doing something. As I have perviously blogged about my road trip with myself I can get right to the good stuff. But the unfortunate part of all of this is my camera charger got lost in the whole move back to the States and it wasn't working for a good part of this trip. But good old Steve took care of it, like he always dose.

SLC
I arrived at Sara's place with only a few turn arounds, and secretly cursing the grid system. After all the squeals of joy and excitement were over we sat down and talked for hours. Sara had to work in the morning, so she was out the door even before I woke up. I won't lie it was a bit strange hanging out by-myself in a city I didn't really know how to get around in. But I busted out Sara's lap top, got some taco bell and had a dance party. Well I wasn't feel to good after eating my gordias and jumping up and down for a while, but I did bust out some pretty sweet moves.

On New Years Eve Sara and I went to a Scottish pipe band and dance concert to finally met Steve's girlfriend, and then we went to First Night. We scalped some buttons off some high schoolers and went in. I remember a few things about that night. One, it was cold. Two, I was wearing very wrong shoes. Three, there was a lot of funky recycled art work around. Four, Fire dancers. Five, It was very cold. With all those things combined it was an ok event, where after the fire works I hobbled to the car with my not very approbate shoes on. I felt like I was walking on bloody stumps attached to my ankles.

The next few days I spent catching up with old friends from high school. I was amazed at how fast life moves on. Getting married and having kids goes so fast for some.

Sunday I spent with the Old Berhaners, eating, chatting and hearing how two girls got themselves engaged.
Monday I shopped and drove in the snow and tried to put on chains. I was trying to find Steve's house and I though it was up the hill a little bit more than it was. So when my car couldn't go any more I pulled over to put my chains on. I was in front a house and a old women yelled from the porch and asked if I needed any help. I being very independent and cold said no. But this cute lady said,' I'll send out my husband any way.' Well I was half way done when this nice old many can hobbling out. He watched me, I guess so he could say to his wife that he did his duty. Right as soon as hoped back in the car Steve called. He said, " are you putting on chains?" I said yes, how did you know? He said,"I can see you." I turns out that I didn't really need to put chains on since Steve's house was 100 yards away.
Tuesday I spent travling to Ohio.
The Ohio
Steve and I rented a car, and found Joseph's house thought the maze of one way streets. It was exciting to see that kid again. We ate dinner and and I went to sleep on the couch down stairs wondering what the boys were doing up stairs till two am, mysterious.
Wednesday, after Steve woke up a noon, we tried to figure out what to do. But all we did was, get lost driving around and picking up Joseph from school. But we did spend a pleasant evening shopping and hanging out in the boys room.
Thursday was the big day for Steve and I we went to a Chocolate factory
the Columbus Public Library

and the State Capital.
At the State Capital building there was someone being sworn in to the position on Attorney General of Ohio. After the tour we stopped by for some free food and some punch, I felt like a mooch but I got over it. Later that day we picked up Sara from the airport, and that night it was Sara and I that were talking till late.
Friday was the start of the road trip with my peeps. We stopped at Kirtland to soke up the Pioneer spirt.
When we got to Niagara we spent a very INTERESTING night at the local YMCA. Happily the next night we went somewhere else.
Saturday after I printed out a copy of my passport we were off to visit the friendly neighbors of the north. Once again I put on the wrong shoes for hiking in the snow, but this time they where just cold.

We did some very cool things there in Canada, like paid to much for crapy food and pay 10USD to go into tunnels and see mist OOOO. Ok it was cool.

But by the end of the night we where so ready to get back to the states. But snice the rental car couldn't go over the boarder we had to walk back in the snow.

We drove back to Kirtland Sunday to go to church, and met the missionary couple the took us on the tour two days before. From there we went all the way back home.
Monday we got a tour of the Ohio State Campus from Joseph.

And our flight got delayed 12 hours, so one more night in Ohio. Steve and I were thinking that staying the night in the airport would be a FANTASTIC way way to end our trip, but Sara wasn't so sure,she left us and checked into a hotel. Fortunately Joseph called a friend to pick us up and I slept one more night on the good old couch.

Flash Backs #2

2009-02-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

Oh I'm not done yet. I was a procrastinator to long not to have lots of back blogging to do.

Good Bye Taiwan
For those of you who were there and for those of you who know about the last 2 weeks of school, I won't go into the accidents and mayhem that broke lose upon the Berhan School of Language. But I will issue my farewell with a reminiscent air and not the bitterness that I have been holding on to the last few months. I lived in and love Taiwan for all of 2008. I find myself thinking of how my kids are doing. It's funny that I still feel that they are in some ways mine. Do all teachers feel this? I know that my heart will always in a very small way want to go back and drink a bing shaw and have a real dong gaw with zen zu, and to play/ teach the kids again, but I know with the rest of my heart that it will not be the same. They are not my kids anymore, they belong to some other teacher, I hope that who ever they are, they will know how precious those kids are.
The other part of good bye goes to the teachers that I worked with, traveled with and the ones that help me see my short comings and then help me grow to over come them. I thank the Lord for all of you and I know that I am better for have had knew you. To Laura, Mary, Emily Joy, Sain, Katie, Destiny, Whitney, Lish, Sara, Tammy, Joe, Steve, Connie, Erin, Megan, Shannon, Emily, Rachelle, Lindsay, Dustin, and Jake, Thank you for one of the most memorable years of my life so far. ( and the best documented:)... you know who you are) P.S. Don't think that this goodbye is, like, forever. Its a Berhan goodbye, whatever that means.

Flash Backs

2009-02-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

I don't know if any one cares to be reminded of the past, but since my life at the moment is not that exciting, I'm dragging out stuff I should have been excited to share over a month ago. Well it's more than a month ago now that I was in Taiwan, but let's start there.

Earthquake Truck Day
Even though it wasn't my day to teach AK I did it anyway. Who wouldn't want to go to earthquake day! We sat in an assembly with the Afternoon kids who were very attentive, and I was the one that was counting floor tiles and talking to my friends.

After the assembly we filed the kids across the street to go in the earthquake truck. It was grate fun, and I wasn't the only one the wanted to go more than once. One of the AK girls asked Miss Meagan," Teacher, one more time". We need something like that in the States,but perhaps they could change it as to prepare children for all types of natural disasters. They can make ones for flooding, tornadoes, and fires, oh I can just imagine the childhood emotional trauma, awesome!

A Taiwan Thanksgiving
It was very exciting to be able to join together as friends, american or not and enjoy the traditional fair of thanksgiving. We had everything, and I mean everything. Mashed potatoes, candy yams, sweet potatoes, turkey gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and of course more turkey than you could eat. The only loss during that day involved a large box of pies and frog eye salad a scooter and the tunnel of death. Though this unfortunate event was cause of undue stress for a person in the party, the rest of the celebration went off perfectly.

I would have been perfectly happy to go home a sub-come to the food coma that I knew was on it's way, but that night there was a single adult dance and I couldn't miss it.
This was just one of the many dances that we were taught that night, as all dances must be choreographed as per the Taiwanese way.

There and back again: The musing of 2 long road trips traveled by a lone girl

2009-01-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

Well I've been home for almost month from Taiwan. Yes, I have a lot to catch up on, Taiwan, the trip home, Christmas etc... But today I chose to write about my road trip that I took a week after I returned form Taiwan. I decided to drive from Medford, Oregon to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit old Berhaners, and friends. All by my lonesome I drove over 26 hours though the middle of no where Nevada and Oregon.

Before I left I began my preparation for my trip. For some reason I am a bit paranoid when it comes to driving long distances in Foxy( the name of my 86' VW Fox, I know, its' name is very original). Not that I've had any traumatic experiences in her, but one look at my rusty, leper of a car and you would understand my concern.

I began my check list:

>Chains
>Water
>Sleeping bag
>High caloric snack foods
> Warm clothes
> Flash Light
> Cell Phone

After I have collected all of these things I felt that even if I were to crash my car in to 25 foot snow drift, I would be able to spend a solid week in my car with out problem.

And thus my trip begins.

I'm driving though my Oregon. I know each and every turn and speed trap for at least the next 100 miles. It's foggy and a bit icy as I dive the long and isolated roads though the heart of Oregon. I reach a gap in the dense evergreen forest right before sunrise. The sun peaks between two mountains covered with the deep emerald green that I have been missing. The last traces of fog linger there on the hills, grasping to the needles on the trees. As I look upon this picturesque scene I realize what I have been missing, what Taiwan had not given me this last year. I didn't know how home sick I was until now. I let the tears that from, slowly trickle down my face before I wipe them away and put on my sun glasses against the blaze of the sun.

5 hours and about 4 bathroom brakes later, I'm still driving. Though the scene has changed. I am not longer surround my the tall and slender pine trees that Oregon is know for. I'm driving though the high dessert with not but the tumble weeds and the herd of wild donkeys that I passed to keep me company.

I stop at yet another rest stop, I recognize this one from one the multiple crossings that my family has made though this desolate land. I remember this one because of the water. On the far end of the parking lot there is a pipe that is forever spewing forth water.

In the quite, brown and frostbitten landscape this is truly an oasis of green and sound. I stop here for awhile streching my leg and remincing on the time when my little sister and I stopped here in the summer and tried to convince my mother to let us wade in the water. Though I'm sure she said no, I remmber climbing back into the truck with wet toes and pants up to our knees.

10 hours in and I have depleted my bank of songs to sing to my self: Christmas, Church Hymns, Children Hymns, song from the radio. I am tired of my own voice, and plus it is getting a bit horse. I have even started to talk to myself. Not in a schizophrenic sort of way. I know no one is in the car with me, but what if that stupid ex-boyfriend was here, what would I say, or a friend I haven't seen in along time, what have they been up to? I know that this not the healthiest thing to do, but we do have some pretty good conversations. And then I remember a magical black box sitting in the middle of the dash board. I turn it on and I hear singing, and people talking. All hail the magic of a radio station in the range of my car.

I'm driving though the seemingly unending salt flats and every half an hour I see signs that say," Driving Drowsy is dangerous". Then a place to pull over if you really need a nap. I am tempted to pull over myself, but the draw of the couch at Sara's house holds me till the end.

One week later...

Back on the road once again and everything is backwards. I'm driving toward Winamucka. I remember that I had a seminary teacher that instead of saying hell, when he would come upon it in the scriptures, would say Winamucka. He would he would also say donkey instead of ass, that's pretty righteous when you don't even say the curse words that the Lord uses.

I reach Winamucka and I know this is my last chance for food and gas for the next 250 miles. I stop a supermarkets to pick up some snacks. I decide on Soy Crisps. When the lady checks me out she asks if I need a bag. It's a bag a chips so I say no. But she said" I thought I should ask, but usually people who each stuff like that, use there own". So eating and enjoying a soy based snack from time to time makes me a hippy. Awesome. Well, I am from Oregon, I should really embrace it sooner or later.

It's foggy. Not just sorta foggy but, I don't want to pass the slow moving truck in front of me because I can't see far enough ahead that it feels safe. But just as suddenly as it came it's gone. I look in my rear view and can see the gray wall behind me. I'm tempted to take a picture, but I realize that dangling out of my car a 50 miles an hours is dangerous with other cars on the road at least.

I reach "THE" intersection. The cross roads where I take the one less traveled, and almost devoid of any human presence, except for the satirically placed rest areas. I pass it the first time because I am speeding, I mean really speeding. I don't know how fast I was going because if I go over 30 miles an hour in Foxy my speedometer doesn't work any way. But the needle had gone all the way around and was bouncing on the reset nob for my trip milage.

The road steaches out in front on me, straight, daunting and the end seemingly unreachable. I start to sing and and re-singing each and every song that I sung on the way over. Is it so impossible to think of some thing new?!...impossible... I remember a song, a new song that I hadn't sung on the cross over. The Impossible Dream, Oh the joy something new to sing,.. to sing to sing, la, la, la!

3 hours later, I hate the Impossible Dream. Now that I'm trying to sing something else everything kinda of morfs into that song. BOOO!

On the road this time I take the time to drink in the landscape, instead of cursing it for it's empty spaces. I stop now and again to take a picture to remind myself of how beautiful sparseness could be. The minamlism design of nature.
As I dive up out of the valley that I had been going though at top speed for the last 2 hours I see a pack of wild of horses. Who knew that there are real wild horses in Oregon. I am having a flash back to "The Man from Snowy River" as I walk up to them. They run away and then turn and face me. The big male takes a few steps toward me and snorts loud enough for me to hear. Suddenly I'm envisioning myself being bit and stomped to death by this horse. What a way to go. After all my planing to ensure my safety driving, I never though of how to protect myself from a wild horse. I back away toward the car, but not before I snapped a few pictures.

An hour away from home and I have hit another patch of dense fog, it's that way for the rest of the dive home. Not until I drive up Mount. Roxanne to my family's home do the clouds part and I can see that the lights are still on for me as I pull in the drive.

Push Ups

2008-11-18T01:50:00.000-08:00

During one afternoon while I was gathering quotes for the Kindergarten, something across the hall was a little bit more interesting. In Lindsey's class one of the little boys likes a little girl in the class next door and in order to impress her he decided to do some push ups. Of course when you are 7 years old push ups are bit difficult so he was doing something that looked like a worm. So not wanting this boy to embarrass himself further, I showed him how to do a real push up. Then the whole class started to do it. It was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time.

The only bad part was when about 7 boys dog piled on top of one of the only two girls in class, poor Melody.

My last Day in Gym

2008-11-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

I've had the joy of teaching gym the last 6 weeks. We jumped, spun, rolled on the ground and pretend to be all-sorts of animals, and mystical creatures. The secretaries think that because I'm a girl I can't do the same things the boys do in gym. In some part this is true. I can not do a push up with 8 small children on my back, or other amazing feats of strength( Thanks Joe and Steve you have ruined them for life). But while boys have arm strength I have mine in my hips. So I decided to give my kids a treat on my last day in gym and let them ride the teacher.
It started off well with just one at a time, but them kids started to jump on willy-nilly and I soon lost all control.
But the end of the fun I had some many little hands and feet grabbing on to me they didn't care what they were holding on to( hence the pained look on my face). I'm sad that I don't get to crawl around on the floor pretending to be a spider, or roll around like a pumpkin, but there still is opening and closing to mess around with, so all is not lost.

James Bond

2008-11-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

The New James Bond

I went to see the new James Bond film tonight, and came out of theater feeling neither motion sick by the high speed car chases , non anoyed by a Bond Bimbo. Unlike like most Bond movies where the Bond is understuctable, the new Bond has depth and scars. Though he keeps the suave, sharp shooting, tux waring, arrogant persona, he becomes human. I saw in an interview, that Daniel Craig is trying to bring the dark and the light into the role, and he dose it it wonderfully without jeopardizing the studlyness of "Bond". It makes James Bond more of a believable person, and less of a superhero. Full of anger, revenge driven rage which builds and tells a story, and instead being annoying makes the viewer glad when the bad guy finally gets shot in the face, or stabed, or punched, or foced off a cliff, or brunt to a crisp. And the kind of villain is a bit different as well. The villains are more relevant to today, which makes them more compelling. He is not selling nuclear weapons to Russia anymore( hey, we all know they have them any way), wearing an eye patch( which can still be cool), petting a cat(which is more fruity than cool), or stopping a giant death ray. They are buying water rights and extorting governments. And Bond is helping put down governmental corruption and helping others fulfill their personal vendettas. It's a new gentler bond, that can still kill you with no more than a single glance, and I like it, and totally recommend it.

Tricker Tricker

2008-11-03T04:05:00.000-08:00

Warning: this post includes an obscene amount of pictures

This last weekend was Halloween all over the world. Everyone celebrates there version a bit differently. In Spain and Mexico they call it "Dia De Los Muertos ", the Day of the dead. Here In Taiwan they have a month called ghost month which usually is as close as they get to Halloween. But this year in at Berhan we had our selfs a (sorta) real American Halloween.

I took it upon myself to plan 2 separate events at the school this year.( What was I thinking?) The first was for all the morning classes, these included Morning Kindergarten and Kindergarten Basic Reading. While I was trying to teach the kids about tricker treating though-out the week I would ask ever so often, " what do you say when we go up to the door?", most of the time the response was "Tricker, Tricker". It was pretty much one of the cutest things ever.

When the day came I was excited to dress up, but I also wanted to see what the kids would come as, because for the majority of them this would be there first American Styled Halloween. Most of the kids were excited to do something new, and get candy, but for one sad looking pumpkin it was a troubling event. Sharleen to put it nicely looked out of it the whole day. While others got in to there costumes, she walked around aimlessly probably wondering why people insisted having pictures taken with her. I didn't see her smile once the whole day the poor kid.

The Afternoon kids had a fun time too. But they just weren't as cute as the younger kids.

( he didn't have costume when he came to school and told his teacher he wanted one. She pulled out a balloon and told him he was fat man. It would have worked too but he kept on stroking it and laying his hands on it in a rather maternal way. So he turned out that he ended up just being a pregnant man. It was hilarious.)

It was exhausting affair, and after a whole day scheduled Halloween Fun the teachers went out to Karaoke. We had fun with the random English songs that were available, and the crazy music videos that went along with most of them.

This was an Asian version of "Yellow Submarine" it was so funny.

I had a blast, but at the end of the day I was just happy to not be a cat any more.

I am a Kindergarten teacher

2008-10-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

I am a kindergarten teacher, and as such I ....

Make a complete fool out of myself for the amusement of small children. Examples include Tuti Tot, pretending to be frogs, snakes, witches, and rolling pumpkins.

Get to make complete fools out of the small children that I teach for my amusement. Examples include Tuti Tot, pertending to be frogs, snakes, witches, and rolling pumpkins.

am on the receiving end of a lot of uncomplicated love.

get to make projects that even a mother wouldn't love.

get to make projects that mothers will always keep in a box somewhere,and when they take it out they will smile.

Get to become a child myself for 3 hours( sometimes more) a day.

Get to hang out with some of the cutest kids in the world for 3 hours(sometimes more) a day.

Have to become more of adult then I have ever been.

would be dead a few times over if looks could kill.

know all the songs and hand motions to Dr. Jeans Favorites CD.

want to punch Dr. Jean in the face for coming up with all the songs on that CD.

have learned how to deal with, whiners, cry babies,and kids who don't listen.

have learned that even though the kids won't always remember me, I will always remember them.

Enrichment, and a movie

2008-10-26T00:27:00.001-07:00

This Weekend the ward invited the wife one of a man that one of the teachers does a language exchange with (Whao!) to teach us how to make dumplings. We met at the chapel near near the school and had a good old time, and ate dumplings till we though we where going to burst.

It turns out that most people that attend Berhan are related some how. So we also had 3 of the kids we teach there as well( were all cousins).

After we got back we all were hanging out digesting when in walks in our boss, no knock, no call, no warning. She dose own the school that we live on the 4th floor of but still it was strange. I guess she was trying to figure out how to get a huge water pump up to the fourth floor. She decided that my room would be the easiest. She had some workers pop out my window, move my stuff and drill in my ceiling so they could hoist it up though my window. But in the end it didn't work out and I was left with my room in disarray and concrete dust on the floor.

Later in the Afternoon I and another teacher when to the the new Carrefour in Feng Yuen( eat your hearts out old teachers). It was almost like being home, except for all the Taiwanese. Carrefour is French Superstore and has lots of European foods to tied me over till I get back home.

And that Evening we went to see a new Taiwanese move called Cape 7. It was cute, but could have been a lot better. But the best part of the evening was getting my picture taken with James Bond. He is the epitome of manliness. I can't wait to see the movie when it comes out next month.

Hong Kong Day 5

2008-10-15T17:08:00.001-07:00

Monday October 13

Monday we woke up early for the first time. We had to check out by 10:30 and we wanted to go to Victoria Peak before we did. We took a tram up the mountain to the peak. It was so steep it felt like we were going up a roller-coster right before the big drop. But at points it was so steep that it had to stop, or practically.

It was a very windy morning as you could tell from my hair. But is was nice for our hike around the peak. We could see almost all the away around the island. It was amazing.

This was a rubber tree that was brought over from India. It was huge.

After the peak we checked out of our small room and walk around a bit until we went to the Hong Kong Art Museum. They had this amazing sculpture hanging form the ceiling that was pretty cool.

This was my favorite piece. It was 3D and went on to the floor. After I took the picture I was busted, but it was worth it for me.

After our not as luxurious flight back we caught the last bus back to Feng Yuan. We were spent and happy to sleep in our own beds.

Hong Kong Day 4

2008-10-15T00:57:00.001-07:00

Sunday October 12th

We woke up when we felt like it Sunday morning. Since the General Conference broadcast was being shone in Asia we didn't really have any where to go. We got all pretty and hoped on the Star Ferry to cross the bay to Hong Kong it was a fun little ride, and a change from the MRT that we had been taking. After disembarking we ran to catch the next ferry to see the big buddha about 30 min away. I didn't realize that after getting off the boat we had to ride a bus around very narrow roads for the next 30 min to get there. But I believe that it was totally worth it. It is the biggest sitting buddha in Asia, and we couldn't bring any meat with you on the grounds. We checked out the surrounding temples and I was almost blinded by all the burning that was going on.

Here's the ferry and the pier that we were on.

After our Sunday nap we took a walking tour around Hong Kong. We saw some of the main buildings, and Hong Kong Park. It didn't take as long as we thought even with getting lost a few times.

Of corse is had to pose it up. I just can't help myself.

The last thing that we did was the Light Show. We had been told that is was this amazing thing that is a must see while in Hong Kong. But I guess the speakers were out for the music, and to me is was some lame lasers and lights blinking across the bay. But I least I can say that I did it. After doing so much the last few days we took the night to relax in the cupboard, and pack our thing for the next day. By this point I had some pretty awesome blisters on my feet, and I was happy to relax for a bit.

Hong Kong Day 3

2008-10-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday October 11th
This was one of my favorite days I don't have a lot to say but I think the pictures do most of the talking for me

Although we woke late again we had a deffinate goal in mind, Macau. It was quite a hike just to get to the dock but it was worth it. It turned out to be a beautlful day.

When we checked in for the fairy we had to go though immergation as well. We just made it, we ran to our boat. Macau was about an hour away. When we got there we had to go though immergation again, boo.

When we exited the docks there was a man that would have peddld us around Macau. Even though it is a dream of mine to ride in a rickshaw,we opted out of that one and took the very cheep buses instead. Mostly we just walked around with all the tourest, but it was so lovley and european( and that was big change form what I have been seeing the last 10 months) that we didn't care.

One of the quiter palces that we went to was a garden away form the crowds.

Before we left I wanted to try some Portagues food. It was very very good. The Coconut milkshake, although not Portagues, was very good as well.

We left happily fed but sunburnt, and with only one minor turn around on a bus(which we were redirected by yet another very helpful native) we returned home in time to go to my last pants fitting, and go to H and M. H and M is now my new favorite store I love it. Yeah for H and M. ( The black and white long coat in the pictures of the cupboard was what I got there)

We dropped off out goodies at the cupboard, and found some food for Sunday, and fell happily into bed after a very long day.

Hong Kong Day 2

2008-10-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Friday October 10th

We got up late. I kept waking up thinking that it must be so early because there was no light, or very little coming from the little window in our little room. When we realized that it was time to get up it was 10 am. We packed up and moved our things across the hall in to a slightly bigger room with two beds. We took the MRT to main Hong Kong island and decided to go to the south side to see the bay and do some shopping.

We ended up kinda finding our way into a mall, and into bakery( in the bakery they had the most amazing chocolate donut things ever, we went back a few times to get more) before we continued to wonder to try and find our bus. But in the mist of becoming very confused, a man stopped and asked us what we were looking for. People are just so nice, you don't even need to ask for help they just give it. With his help we found the double decker bus we were looking for and we were off. I was very excited to be starting this trip off well and we amazed at how beautiful and lush Hong Kong was.

We got to Standly Market and did some souvenir shopping and walked around the bay.
Nether of us felt like swimming but it was still nice to look at non the less.

It was hot and we were tired of walking around and hungry. We stopped at a cheap and amazing Chinese restaurant and ate lunch, and then headed back to the cupboard. We were both extremely tired, most likely form the squeaky night sleep that we had gotten the night before, so we napped. I had my first pants fitting after we got up. I loved it. Being kinda doted on and pampered was nice. If I had money I'd get things made for myself all the time. After we did some shopping around where our cupboard was, and went to bed early, hoping this time to get an early start the next morning.

Hong Kong Day 1

2008-10-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Thursday October 9th

After rushing all morning to get lesson plans together and materials for all my subs, I finally left Berhan for my Hong Kong vacation. With not but a granola bar in my stomach I ran to the train station with my ridiculously large orange backpack on. I bought my tickets for the next possible train for Taipei, which left 5 min later. I waited for Lish to show up, pacing back and forth in front of the station looking from side to side like a caged panther. I was just hoping that by some miracle she would make it in time. But the time passed and I still stood looking hopelessly out into the distance. The women that sold me the tickets beckoned me back, obviously seeing that I would need to change my tickets. But right as I handed my tickets to the women, the clouds opened and Lish appeared at my left elbow. I mumbled something incoherent and grabbed my tickets back, hopeful to make the train. Fortune smiled on us that day, as our train was delayed 2 min. It gave us just enough time to get the platform, look woefully around as we saw no train, and then realize that it had yet to come.

The ride up was uneventful,filled mostly with reading in the guide book, and a sleepless nap.

We arrived at the Taipei late. It turns out the miracle that helped us catch the train, also delayed it by 20 min by the time we arrived. We stopped for sushi, and tried to find our way out of the labyrinth which is the underground train station. But the time we got to fresh air we had to find a bus to the airport. Just as shot walk and we where there at the bus terminal. But as per usual we were accosted by the taxi drivers. But for some reason they dropped it to a reasonable price and we hoped in. The traffic was congested and it tuned out that it was a good thing that we took a taxi, who knows when we would have gotten there had we not.

We made it there in plenty of time to take leisurely look around, eat a funky pumpkin squash tart at Starbucks and check out the only other American in out very small and unimpressive terminal. We boarded the plane and that were the fun began.

We had bought Economy tickets, so I was confused when we were shown up the the upper deck of the plane. The seats were liken to lounge chairs with movable head rest a real pop out leg rest. It was amazing. Leg room to spare, and a cupboard on the side to stow our purses. The most impressive thing about the whole thing was the small TV that popped out of the arm rest. What luxury! It was a wonderful way to spend the short hour and a half flight and set the mood for the trip.

We arrived and took the airport tram to the MRT station in Hong Kong. While we were wondering around trying to find the right train a well dresses business man in front of us grabbed his chest and leaned over. My instinct yelled, Holy Crap he is having a heart attack! But luckily for us he kept walking. Confused Lish and I eyed each other and said what the ... We have come up a few possible reasons what triggered such a bodily reaction in that man. 1) a sneeze 2) he was talking on his phone and someone said something very funny and had a very sudden explosion of laughter. 3) sudden case of heart burn. But what ever was the reason we were both very relived that we didn't have to administer CPR.

We found the street that we though we would find out hostel/ guest house, but the street ended up being the longest street ever and we soon found our selves lost. As I was searching the guide book for an address, or something a man came up to us and ask us we needed a tailor. I didn't want a tailor at the time all I wanted was to find a place to sleep for the night. I told him such and he told us that he would give us directions, but some how we ended up in a tailor shop and I getting fit for a pair of pants. I had been thinking about getting a pair it that was just a bit quicker than I thought it would be done. I tuned out that he was a very nice man a gave us a map and some direction to were we need to go. But in our wanderings we had happened upon a few police men that were more than willing to help us, and after some more wondering we found it.
We stayed in a place called The Maple Leaf Guesthouse. The room that we stayed in was about as big a maple leaf as well. We shared a bed the first night. The room was a bed built in to the walls, just enough space to open the door, and turn around and even smaller bathroom. It was rather convent ,really a toilet and shower all in one don't we all want that. But other than the obvious lack of space, the cardboard think walls, and the hard beds, it was clean and nice. But we didn't spend very much time in there so in the end it was was we needed, just a place to put our stuff and softish place to sleep.

He headed out to the Temple St. Night Market, right after we ate a very good, but expensive meal at a Indian/ Pakistani? food stand. We're pretty sure we got ripped off.
The Night Market was huge, with bigger stalls and all sorts of stuff to spend your money on. But by midnight we went back to our cupboard to spend a night of tossing and turning on a squeaking bed.

This is just about the worst video that I have ever seen. OH the 80's!

2008-10-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

1/2 Way to Home

2008-10-02T23:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I'm half way done with my second semester! How did that Happen? I was thinking today of how fast it's all gone. That it was just yesterday when all my good friends left, and I started over. I will have been gone a year when I get home. What's a year? It doesn't seem very long. Time is a funny thing. It brings us things, and takes things way. It seems that when we are young we can't wait for the things age will bring us. And we are old we dread the things time will take away. I have to stop waiting for the next thing to happen. I know how much time I have on this little Island. I will not waste it. I will use it, I will love each moment as an opportunity to do more and become more than I thought I could be.

Heres' to the next 3 months! You'll be better than the last.

Rock Climbing

2008-09-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

About 2 weekends ago I went rock climbing. It turns out that for Jacob, it is his one true obsession , and since I like to rock climb and I have a scooter we went together. I'm no way close to good but it was fun to mess around on this random wall that we found. After we were driving and we went around a walled area and decided to check it out. I was a Chinese Heritage Park or something, so we paid the 50NT and look around. It was fun to be exploring again, I've missed it.

My Birthday, My Hair, My Kids and yours

2008-09-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have just loaded my pictures from the last 15 days of my life, and I have decided that I'm boring or I the pictures representing my life are, either way. But I do have a few things to update on.

My Birthday

I took that day off from school and went shopping in the morning, but still had attend the required staff meeting. What's the point of taking the day off when in the middle of it I had to attend an hour long meeting. Oh the joys of head teaching, and responsibility. After the meeting my lovely roommate, Lish and one of the other teachers, took me out for lunch at Amici's. I love Taiwanese Italian food. As a treat for my birthday I though that I would go get a massage. But before you get the idea of zen music, and relaxation in your head, let me tell you how it was. I had heard that it was a bit different than the states but I had no idea. There was zen music, but the relaxation was replaced with pain.

I guess in Taiwan its good to brake blood vessels to promote circulation. But doesn't do that do the opposite? Oh Well. But within the hour long pain fest, there were times where I had to practice deep breathing to keep myself form screaming out, " Hey lady, what the H$$ are you doing to me"! But when it was time to go I started to get up and felt kinda wired, like I was on drugs. So I did the get the desired effect, euphoria. But unlike other massages where these feeling are brought on from peace and gentle rubbing motions, it was most likely brought on by endorphins being pumped into body because of all the pain I was in. But after the drug like high ended I had the bruises to remind me of torture that I paid for.

After I had returned home I finished my lovely Birthday cake, and made my Birthday dinner of Enchiladas. Yummy. Don't feel sad for me that I made my own birthday dinner, I wanted to.

So I'm 23 and loving it up. I don't know how I'll top 22 but some how I know I will.

My Hair

I wanted to get my hair washed on my birthday but I just didn't have the time to. But the day after I went and did it. Happy Hair is hair heaven. After a 20 min head massage, (this includes sitting in a massage chair for the whole time, which in some ways was better than the one I got on my birthday, you know, no bruises is a plus) and having a pound of my hair thinned out and it was done. I love it! I feels so much better, especially in this heat.

My kids and yours

Upon returning to teaching on Wednesday I got a nice surprise. One of my kids called me Miss Laura. I then ask most of the other kids if they remembered the old teachers, from 3 months ago now, and of course they did. So I found a few others and ask them the same questions. I hope you like these messages.

It's nice to know that even after all of my Berhan friends are gone, I get to continue their legacy though the kids they taught.

Don't worry for those that do not have a message this time, I'll try to work everyone in. But I just turns out that I'm around the MK and KBR/ BR/ 1st grad kids a lot, and they are here all day. Sad:(

High Speed Rail and Oregon in Taiwan

2008-09-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday was a very good day. I woke up late, I have been in the habit of waking up at six so this was exciting. I watched Bear Grylls, the survivor guy on Discover. A very attractive and rugged man, not to mention can drink his own urine in order to survive(perhaps not that attractive). Then I schleped around in my robe till noon. One of the other teachers saw me in the the bathroom and in my casual attire and in a expected salutation said, "Good Morning". I was in such a blissful mood that instead of giving the same back to her, I just said, "I know" and bounced out of the bathroom back to my bedroom.

Other than my exceptional morning, I also did a few things, such as laundry, bought a ticket to Hong Kong, and made my bed. That's right my friends after a few minor changed I will be going to Hong Kong in October. But the week before while I was in Taipei I bought a Tokoy travel book, and was laminating the uselessness of it. Then my roommate Lish said wouldn't it be fun to go up there and exchange it. And then I though to myself yes, that is wonderful idea.

So at 1 ish we hoped on a train for a whirlwind Taipei adventure. I'm more of a planer than spur-of- the -moment person, so good for me. After figuring out where the High Speed Rail was( that took sometime) we were on it, and 45 min later we were there. I was expecting to be pined down to my seat with the extreme G forces, and have the skin on my face be pushed back exposing my skeleton, but sadly it was not the case (Boo).

We got there returned the book and got the correct one, ate dinner at Chili's (oh sweet joy, a real salad, and plenty of cold water), and on the way to the Night Market in Shinlin, I saw a fashion show. It was fashion week in Taipei.

We caught the last HSR back to Taichung, we had to wait a while for it, and when it did come in the excitement I lost my ticket. You have to have ticket to get in the station and the same one to out of the station. So when we finally arrived they said in order to leave I would have to buy another ticket. But don't you worry I complained like any ex-customer service agent can and I got out of paying. (Go me) But it ended up being a good thing because we had to take a taxi all the way back to Fung Yuan. It was about 630 NT less than 20USD but still a spendy ride.

While I was at Page One the best book store ever. I was looking though a few sections and found a book about Mt. Biking in Oregon. I was so excited I almost cryed, and got very close to buying it. This wasn't the only time I have found things from my home state in such a close vicinity. I was a Sue's (a bake shop) and found a can of Oregon blueberries.

Oh, Oregon I miss you. *sigh*.

The End of the Quest

2008-08-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

This Saturday our branch went on a temple trip. I started the same as any other, we met at the church, the bus was late. But we stopped at a rest area and I found something amazing. Fancy Land. When I first saw the sign I didn't know what to expect, but it defiantly not what we found. It turned out to be a statue park full of dinosaurs. What?! Yeah, thats what I said, dinosaurs. I guess that Fancy land was probably intended to be Fantasy Land, but of course that's what happens when you let spell check be your translator. But fancy or not Shannon and I had fun with it.

After the temple Lish, Karen and I went to meet up with one of Lish's old teacher friends. We walked around downtown Taipei for awhile and then headed toward Taipei 101 to met up with the rest of the teachers. But I don't know what's wrong with me, when ever we go on the Metro I always put the tokens on my eyes, sadly this is not the first picture of me doing this. Even though I just know that there has to be a billon different kinds of bacteria, and crap all over those things, pink eye or no pink eye, I probably do it again. We walked to the from the Metro Station to Taipei 101 on the way we saw a rabbit. It was Karen's Birthday that day before, and since the rabbit is her Zodiac sign, we stopped and took a picture.

And then of course there was Twilight at the end of this lovely day. Page One has to be the most amazing bookstores I have been to ever. That could be an overstatement but at the moment when I lifted "Breaking Dawn" over my head and and spun around singing the Hallelujah chorus, it wasn't. Plus it was on sale. We went to eat quick dinner at the food court, but like all temple trips it was over too soon, and had to get take out so we could catch the bus. But in similitude to the beginning of the trip, the bus was late and we just ended up waiting around anyway. This quick trip has made me excited for the rest of my travels here in Taiwan. There is still so much to see and to do, I can't wait to get started again.

The Floating Market

2008-08-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

On our first day in Thailand we woke up at 5:30 and went to the famous floating Morning Market neat Bangkok.

Bangkok: Getting there

2008-08-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

There was so much to our Thailand Trip that I even have a separate slide show for getting there.

Alishan

2008-08-29T01:10:00.000-07:00

After Kinding we went to Alishan. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I can't wait to go back again.

The After Math

2008-08-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

After all the loveliness of Green Island, Sara and I were in a accident. That was the end of Green Island, and since I didn't feel up to much after that, this includes Kinding as well, at least my version.

Slide Shows Promised

2008-08-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

I know that these are a long time coming but I finally got them to work!

This is after Graduation and our travels on Green Island

This first picture is me doctoring Steve after he cut his finger being manly bring heavy suitcases down stairs. He almost passed out. *Sad*

MK kid of the day: Candice

2008-08-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

Since I have over 30 kindergardeners now that I'm over, I though it might be a good idea to introduce them to you.

Today was Candice's Birthday. She is(I'm guessing) 3 now. So so so cute. She sounds like a little mouse, and even though you know that she is trying, knows no English. But she sure dose know how to pose for a picture.

Good-Bye First Grade, Hello Morning Kindergarten

2008-08-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

For just about two months I have had a first grade class every morning. 4 boys that are as smart as can be but lets face it, not even I want to be there at 8:30 every morning how could I expect 9-7 year old boys to. But for the most part I think that our time in class was well spent and we had our fair share of "extended" brake times. But last week I was told rather suddenly that I would no longer have to joy of this class any more, but rather the joy of Morning Kindergarten. I didn't even get to say good bye, or the say any of the Chinese that I promised them. But I feel that they have transitioned rather well, they have a male teacher now, and they only have one more week and then they start back up at their regular Chinese school, and will no longer be attending that class. But the sadness that I felt when I left to peddle my way to Kindergarten, was quickly relieved.

Morning Kindergarten is wonderful. I love these kids. I teach kitchen so I get to make a completely random food product with 2-ish-5 year olds, and I have so much fun. They rub peanut butter on their faces and think that it's the funniest thing ever. Matter-of-fact I think so too. It's hard to comprehend why any one wouldn't want to experience this level of unconditional love. I been a bit low on the hug count these past few weeks, but being MK has brought me back to the level of emotional health. I know that I'm in the honeymoon phase right now but I'm so happy to get up at 7:00 and go to school. I hope the feeling lasts.

A Scoot a root toot

2008-08-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Oh my dear scoot has had some problems as of recently. The first was a lost or stolen gas cap. I don' t know why any one would want to steal a gas cap, so I think that I didn't push it in hard enough and it fell out.

Even though I was plagued by images of my scooter bursting into flame with a stray cigarette being tossed into my scooter at a stop light. I still drove it around for a whole week before having it replaced. But the replacing of it is what more or less what

this story is about.

So Saturday I went to the Scooter Guy. In my mind I thought that I would be in and out with little or no unconvinced to myself, and have the rest of the after

noon to look for a new wallet( Eheem...Steve). But it turns out my scooter is old and they had to order a new gas cap from somewhere else and so there was waiting involved. But it was doable. I went for a walk to my local and friendly Government store, to pick up a snack. When I returned I found my scooter waiting for me, with a new scooter cap. But as I was already there I asked them to check my tires.

When he looked at my back tire he was a bit concerned, and told me that I would need a new rear tire as well. I looked at it and saw that yes, it was bald and cracked, so I said yes. I didn't have the cash with me for a new for a new gas cap and tire, and so I tried to explain. But even with 6 months of broken Chinese under my belt, did not make my concerns understood. They set to work flipping my scooter on its side and taking off the wheel. Boo... So to be able to get my scooter back after this repair I asked where I could find a ATM, or 7-11.

I was able to ask and receive an answer to this question. Most likely do to the fact that 7-11's are as common as drinking fountains in a park, here in Taiwan. He pointed in a direction, and I knowing that 7-11's are easy to find, set out on my marry little way. But after walking for 15 min and not hitting a 7-11 I was concerned. To those of you that don't know why this would be a concern for me, let just say that where I live, there are 3 or more 7-11 with in a 15 min walk. So not seeing one should have told me that I was on the wrong path. But I did find it after taking a picture of a lovely flower I was back on my way with enough money to get my scooter out of the Scooter Guys grasp.

Everything was going well until I returned to my scooter the next day and there was a HUGE puddle of oil under my scooter. What did they do to her! I hope that it can be fixed with a few turns of a wrench. But if not I hope that it's not the end for my dear friend, the scoot.

The Quest for Twilight

2008-08-11T04:46:00.000-07:00

If you think that I am referring to a time of day, don't bother to continue. But if you are one of the millions of people that know what I am talking about, read on. The Twilight series's last book came out last Saturday, and though I was in Taiwan I was still hoping to feed my addiction. So I went to Costco, Sogo, Chung Yo and any other place where there might have been a selection of English books. But my hopes were dash again and again. I found a rather large selection in one stores. I took a picture to commemorate the utter disappointment that had after scouring each and every shelf and not finding anything resembling it, not even anything remotely vampirey either.

The only good part of the day was, while at Chung Yo department store I saw a Taiwanese Pop star, Will. It was odd that I knew the song that he was singing, and had the urge to sing along. I have been in Taiwan too long.

SO I don't have "Braking Dawn" yet so please don't ruin it for me. I will "Brake" you if you do. Hahahah. Even in heartbreaking disappointment, I'm still funny.

I'm the Worm

2008-08-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

I've been teaching a 1st grade for about a month now. They are 4 very bright boys, but they drive me crazy! Sometimes I get tired of yelling at them so I take pictures instead. Today when they saw that in our book there were worms they went a bit wild, and during brake this happened.

That wasn't the only time it happened today. The whole class got in on it. So instead to yelling to much I took some video, and then told them to get back in their seats.

But unfortunately I was a bit parched, from all the yelling, and stepped out to get a drink of water. When I got back they were hiding, trying to scare me. But after faining a mild, and rather sarcastic heart attack, to realized that not all my kids were in class. But I was mistaken. This kid should be in the circus. I found him hiding in a cabinet. Unsurprisingly, this is not the first, nor I fear, his the last attempt in squeezing his gangly little body into a cabinet where I perhaps could fit my legs.( Maybe)

And Then There were two.

2008-07-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

Today I write of the semi-sweetness of Taiwan. For the last month I have been dreading the day that is soon approaching. The day when the original Berhan Bunch would at last be disbanded. The last week while I have been starting work and getting to know new children, the others of the group have been in ones, twos and fours departing from this life in Taiwan. The first to go was Tammy, Loren( her boy friend) Whitney, and Mary. Their parting started the suggestion of the others, Sara and Steve the day after, Emily Joy yesterday, and today our dear Laura-Laura-Roo left as well. Now there are two, Joseph and I, and Tuesday there will be one. I hope to find that perhaps after they have all left I will feel like things are starting and not ending. I have loved having them linger here, to prolong the sweet remembrances of the months before. As they have moved on with life I am left with a sweet taste in my mouth, that will linger till something replaces it. The experiences here have been so sugar sweet that after having them for so long,I fear, that everything else will be bitter or bland. As I start to fill my blog with all that has happened, and will happen here I hope that all of the past will only make me savior the present. Farewell, dear Berhaners, but never Good Bye.

Hey, where is Jessica?

2008-06-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you are wondering where I'll be for the next few weeks My dear roommate Mary has blogs popping up ever so often telling everyone where she is. And in almost every case it will be in the same place, so feel free to go on over and find out.

I'll be cruising around Taiwan, and Thailand, doing all sorts of cool stuff, only if Typhoon Fengshen doesn't stop me first.

Tug-of-War

2008-06-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

This last week of school we have been doing our own version on the summer Olympics. Everything went of swimmingly, well until the last day with the last group. After the closing ceremonies there was a big Tug- of- War. Class against class, Students against teachers, Big against the little. But at the end we had some-more time on our hands and did boys against girls. About 20 plus on each side, it had the looks of one killer tug. But right after the whistle blew it was over. The rope snapped in half. I have always dreamed of such a thing, and it was exactly how I thought it would be, for the first 2 seconds. Then the cries started. I turns out when people fall on top of one another, it hurts, who knew. But for those 2 seconds it was magic.

Who Knew that Asian Kids where so strong!

Good Bye Miss Laws

2008-06-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

For most of the last six months I have been teaching AK with Katie. She was the head teacher of Kindergarten, the post that I am now taking over. She was full of new ideas that helped me become a better teacher, and kept me from wanting to kill the children at the end of everyday. She was sanity in the AK. She was the first of our group to leave and it made the end seem so very more near than expected. I miss you Katie, and so do the kids, they all asked about you today. When I said that you where back home they all cried and laid on the ground for the first 20 min of class. Not really but you could tell that they were sad, but that could have made for a better opening experience then usual, hahaha, you know what I mean.
All of her adoring fans.
Even I got teary eyed watching this, good luck Katie.

Miss Jessie's Red Specks

2008-06-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Since I'm is Taiwan for the next 6 months, it was about time I stated to look the part. This last week I bought a pair of super awesome red specks from the night market, and well, I rock them.

But it turns out that when I were them to Kindergarten everyone laughs. Even though these children mock me everyday, the glasses are something more tangible. Since they were laughing at me for waring crazy glasses, I made them put them so everyone could share in the experience. Mostly I bribed them with, "If you ware my glasses you can take a picture with Miss Jessie's camera". It worked and they look terrific. And my camera was neither dropped, stepped on, or mutated in any way, so it was a win win for everyone.
This is Jack, he was the one of the first ones that I convinced that they where cool. He's cute, but in his case looks are very much deceiving.
On the other hand Elva is cute no matter way you look at her. She is leaving for a year and well AK will not be the same without her.

What you get attached to

2008-06-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago in AK (Afternoon Kindergarten) Katie was making magic wands (how she comes up with these super cute crafts after being here a year is beyond me) and ordered ribbon to decorate them with. But as it with ordering things here you sometimes don't get exactly what you order. When opening the pink ribbon there was about 8 in of it. Now how do you decorate 16 kids magic wands with 8 in of pink ribbon? Answer, you don't. So Katie being the total AK craft disaster veteran that she is, improvised, and they turned out looking magical as always. But what to do with that 8 in piece of ribbon? Katie after explaining the mishap in Art, gave it to me. So I tied it in a bow and ask, like a good AK teacher should, who wanted it. One of the only people that raised her hand was Amy. I put the ribbon under one of her hair clips and she couldn't be happier. But day after day in AK Amy shows up with that pink ribbon in her hair, its funny what a small thing it seemed like as the time, but how much it meant to her.

The Good Parts

2008-06-11T09:12:00.001-07:00

Just in case so of you were wondering what Jessica was doing and didn't have time to call here are the good parts of the Last 2 months here, well some of them.

This is Ershway the place with the monkeys that we went, we hiked up stairs for about a half an hour and got this, it was worth it all, even with all the complaining, mostly from me, about being hot and sweaty.
Another trip was Lukong a traditional tourist trap, with all sorts of touristy crap to buy. Good thing I'm a tourist or I would have gotten really annoyed with the real thing living up to the Tourist guide four stars. But the shoes were cool.
The wine jar wall, we spent a good amount of time looking for that thing who knew that it would be behind a police station in the parking lot, and you couldn't even climb on it, it was bummer.
Oh, Mayday. My Taiwanese music addiction. Most of the girl teachers went saw them in concert that ended up being amazing with 5 encores and a two hour concert being extend to four. LOVE. I even bought an new outfit and had my hair done for the outing, which was an experience in its self.
I was really, really excited, just in case you did not get that from the picture.
Mayday was not my first Taiwan concert, Andre Bocelli was. It was a wonderful night of Italian music in Taiwan and being surrounded for, maybe the first time, people who could not understand what people were saying , some how it made us almost equals for about two hours.

Before we got to Ershway I played on some old trains, fun fun.
Walking up to the monkeys, and up and up....
The monkeys were cute, but the signs said that they had a kind of virus that if it infected a human was 75% fatal. So don't be fooled by the innocent act, he is a killer.
One weekend the whole crew went up to Taipei and yes we stuffed 5 teachers in the back of a taxi. We were laughing and so was the driver.The first and I think the last pair of shoes I will buy in Taiwan. Being surrounded by feet binding chop-sticks has its draw backs, like paying a ridiculous sum for shoes that tore my feet apart that same day. (** The feet binding statement is false, but sometimes it feels true)
The Temple Taipei reflected in the visitor center.
We went on a hike on that trip to Taipei called Elephant mountain. It offered amazing views of Taipei 101, and the heat of course, don't forget the heat.
Well that is bit of what I have been up to, not even all the good parts. But I'll be here in Taiwan for the next six months just falling more in love with this country. ( Ha ha ha ha get it I'm in a LOVE sculpture in Taiwan, get it, whatever I'm cheesy )

FAUNA

2008-04-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Fauna in Taiwan has been harder to observe. What I mostly get to see is what is living with in the city. The packs of stray dogs in the city I live in, are a large majority of the wild life I see. There are of course the tame beasts, like the dog that is chain by the school most of the time. I named him Bruno. I love to see the butterflies here, when I'm outside with my kindergartners I can but be just as distracted as them as a 7 year old is, when they flutter by. I have yet to see monkeys but I know that there is a large population of them on the island so it's only a matter of time. The other animal life I encounter on a daily bassets are the Kindergartners. I find that there habits and social structure are similar to ours. Thought I love these kids I some times see myself as a animal trainer. Having them curb there animal tendencies for at lest three hours a day. "Sit nicely", it's almost a command that you use on a dog, and here I say it almost 15 times a day to the children. They do fallow the command, it doesn't last long, but I do enjoy the few seconds that they do as I say. Then there is the getting to speak English at all. Of course like any animal trainer I use rewards. We token here when they something that we want them to say. I doll them out like doggie treats, trying to make sure that everyone gets some, but then I can't give them anything if they don't speak. But I know that's just a matter of time before the hunger of getting a token will work its magical properties and words will fly out of their mouths, into my ears, and a token will go into their open and ready pocket.

FLORA

2008-04-14T17:51:00.001-07:00

When I arrived in Taiwan I saw it was beautifuly lush green island. But as the weather has become increasingly better I get to see all beauty that was sleeping until now.
I encounter these fist two when wondering around flower market in Taichung. Orchids were every where. See in them reminded me of my grandmothers orchids that see sprouted in her kitchen window, and how she tenderly cared for it. Here they seem to grow every where with what looks like very little effort.

Hibiscuses are every where, I truly am on a tropical island.

I am excited what other gems I will find here. It spring time so I'll be keeping my eyes out for more of the wonderful and glorious Fauna that surrounds me.

Becoming

2008-04-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

What am I becoming here in Taiwan? Not Taiwanese that for-sure. Lets just say that neon colored tights and hot pants are not, or ever will be, my style. Its that little things that slowly seep in that have changed me. Who knew that washing my trash would be second nature. And if I did forget to wash out the peanut butter jar I would become guilt stricken and dive into the recycling to pluck it out from the other sparkling and well sorted recyclables. I've become a scooter owner this last week. I have reveled in the freedom of staying out late, and making a 5 min bike ride a 3 min scooter ride, and that I now workout more because I no longer have to bike to where I want to hike or run, ridiculous, perhaps. Like most scooter owners in Taiwan, I've now become a scooter accident victim. Though not a large accident, just enough to shake me up and bring to my remembrance that here yellow lights mean speed up for one way and go for the other. But know that I have that experience under my helmet chin strap I feel I'm on my way of becoming slightly more acclimated to living in Taiwan. But in my own way I hope to perhaps stay off acclamation a bit longer. I will be sad not to notice the little things any more, the stench garbage while I'm showering, the odd and sometimes astounding fashion choices made by the locals, the wonderful reception that I receive because I am white and don't speak the language. I hope that I still can see things like a tourist and live like a native. Be amazed that I live in a place that is different yet still the same. I know that becoming comfortable might seem like an inescapable future, but it is my hope to stay uncomfortable for just a bit longer.( My sore ankle from the accident will help, at lest for the time being)

Shoes

2008-03-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Rest in Peace
I have big feet. The End. Well not really the end, that would be retarded to post and than just say I have big feet. But it is true and I feel the trial of it even more so being in Taiwan. Now, there are shoes, man, are they shoes in Taiwan. They have bows, buckles, buttons, and awesome colored stripes. When I first arrived here walking down the street brought me so much joy, shoe store after shoe store. But now, after realizing that finding a size 8 is pushing it, walking down the same street greaves me nigh to tears at times. Just knowing that all the pink, ruffled, and sparkly goodness which are Taiwan shoes, can never be mine. Because of this injustice I have been forced to ware the same 4 pairs of shoes for the last 3 months. But in reality since two pairs are nicer for going out or church, I ware 2 pairs for most of the week. One pair in particular has been used most cruelly. They are my favorite pair of sliver flats. I wore them when it was to cold and wore socks with them. I now ware them while trying to play tag with a bunch of kindergartners. Now, because of the abuse of which these shoes have been put though, have given up the ghost. They ripped down the side which makes it very hard to ware, or to repair( believe me I have tried, mostly this involved a stapler and tape, and after, a few Band-Aids where the staples puncture my foot). But I rejoice still at times with the knowledge that on a street in Taipei there is a store, a glorious store indeed, called Sandy Ho's Big Shoes for Ladies. Like Princess Leia said to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sandy Ho, you are my only hope.

It's been a month

2008-03-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

Two of my Afternoon Kindergarten Kids, Tim and Ellen

Hello to all of you that have missed my ramblings. I have been a bit lazy in updating you on my travels, I could go on in length and tell you why it has taken me so long to write. An example might have been that my finger tips were smitten with flesh eating bacteria and made it impossible to type, or that my computer was infested with ants that ate it form it inside out. But in short, I've been lazy. I'll give you my very abbreviated version of what has been happening in the last month. If you feel in any way cheated look at the other Taiwan blogs that have been more diligent in keeping a recored of their time here.

After returning home form our vacation(last blog look above) I believe that I spent a great deal of time teaching the rug rats of which was the original reason for being here. I hope by the end of the six months I'll be able to see some result from my teaching. I would be so excited if one, just one of the children I teach, with out being corrected, could ask a question correctly. That being "Miss Jessica, what is that? "Not, what I hear everyday, "Miss Jessica, is that, what?"

Being around Chignlish has made it more difficult for me to be able talk like I have been educated at all. I struggle to find words in my vocabulary that a child over age of eight could understand. My only hope is that one day I will not find my vocabulary made entirely out of children song lyrics.

Continuing on with what I have been up to. Two weeks ago, on National Peace Day, my fellow teachers journeyed up to Taipei for a day trip. I lead the group that left early, for I was determined to see as much as I could. We got up there on the train by 10ish and then went to the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall . I was just expecting a pretty building with a lot of steps. But even before we got on the grounds we heard something unexpected. Upon closer inspection we found a mammoth stage setup in font of the memorial. There just happened to be a rehearsal for a large Peace Day Celebration, with a choir that filled the steps up to the Memorial and a symphony orchestra that was a least one-hundred players. To stumble upon this was the best part on my day in Taipei. We stood and listen for quite sometime before we moved inside the memorial, but still partaking of the sweet melodious harmonies as we looked at the smiling dictator sitting on his stone throne. The remainder of the day, we ate over priced Korean Food, Cold Stone Ice Cream, walk to and fro though parks, and ran around looking for a bus at the end of the day to take us home. This is one of the many adventures that I'll be updating you on. But hopefully that will suffice for now.

Hualien, Taroko, and Hot Springs

2008-02-12T00:57:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year!!!! Oh how the heart lightens on a vacation. We only taught 2 days the week we left and then we were off for to our Trip to Hualien. Hualien is on the East coast of Tiawan and is near by the famous Taroko Gorge. We left on our train at 2pm and got to our destination around 6ish pm. As most of the population of Taiwan travels on Chinese New Year, and we not realizing that this, got tickets but they were standing tickets. Now it would be silly to assume that there are a set amount of standing tickets that they can sell as well. The general guideline is that once the seats are filled you can push, cram, pack, jam and fill to overflowing every entry way, and aisle on the train. Our group of ten, not finding a place to accommodate us all, had to separate. I went off by myself, as I often do, and found a roomy bit of ground to sit upon. I was glad that I had claimed that bit of ground for myself, for by the time we had past Taipei 2 hours latter the train was absolutely overloaded by people. If I had wanted to find a place to lay my bum then I would not have been able to find a place. I was there reading until a very strange looking Taiwanese man started to pull a pice of paper in and out of his pocket looking a me and then putting it away, and then getting it out again. I figured that he was going to start talking to me as soon a he could memorize whatever English was on that pice of paper. Being by-myself and not wanting to subject myself to an awkward conversation, gave up my space and went to find the other girls. I stayed with them until we arrived.

We arrived at our Hostel and wanting to eat set about wondering the streets. But it turned out that on New Year's Eve, the night that we arrived, families eat together first and then open there doors to the public around 8. We wondered the night market after we had eaten, there was where I found the above shirt. Fabulous, is it not? The next day, after staying up till 2ish, we got a late start. It was raining, but it not detour us for going to Taroko Gorge. After stopping at the visitor center, where I captured the picture below of a someone making sure her dog was just a ridiculous looking as she , we hopped on a train, having seats this time, and headed off to the the Gorge.

It was an amazing 15min ride there. The mountains that rose in the distance were absolutely stirring. The clouds draped themselves over them in a scene that I am unable to describe in words. After a refreshingly short train ride we got a bus that would take us up the the Gorge. It didn't take long, but on the ride up there the boys in our group had a french braiding contest with Tammy's hair. Though neither looked like a French-braid, they did surprisingly well for boys.

We finally arrived in the park, after a short pit stop we jumped back on the bus. But unfortunately this was a bit longer than the last ride. We were stopped in a line of traffic that was caused by an accident. Two of the large tour buses tried to pass each other on a rather dangerous pice of mountain road. One was ran into the mountain pass and the other sat precariously close to the edge of the cliff. We got off the bus, not wanting this minor traffic accident stop us from seeing the wonders of the Park. We walked the road and down some steps to a small temple that that was built into the side of a cliff with a waterfall going underneath it. It reminded me, in a small way, of Frank Lloyd Wrigh's Falling Water. Unfortunately this exploration was cut short when we heard people saying that the buses were moving again. We had ventured quite a distance form our own bus so when traffic slowed we held out our tickets to another bus and pointed to it to see if he was with the same company, he was and we got on and continued up the Gorge.

We Got off later and stared to hike around, when I say hike I mean walk on a paved road with cars passing us, but it was still beautiful. We did however do one "hike", called the Swallow Grotto, it was limestone caves that looked over the gorge.

This Marked the end of the day in the park. The last bus down was at 3:30, and we having no alternative transportation, had to go. The next day we tried to head out early to rent scooters to ride down the coast. We did find a place that would rent to foreigners, but they only had 4 scooters, so sadly two in our group did not come with us. But don't feel to badly for them, they most certainly had their own adventures as well.

I having had a scooter lesson( this consisting of going around the block twice and coming back unscathed) was voted to be the driver for this day. It was a little more difficult to then I thought, but I soon got the hang of it and my scooter buddy, Mary and I where off on our adventure. For some reason I got the short end of the stick when it came to picking a helmet, I got one that said "Happy Sister" on it, and it was made for a child. I strapped down, and prayed that I would not have to rely on it protecting my head from anything more than wind.

We continued down the costly highway oooing and awwwing at the wonderful ocean that we saw. We then went down a steep and windy road to get the beach. We ate our Taiwanese sandwiches that we got before leaving, my included corn, shredded zucchini and an egg. It was ummmm... ok. We tried to fallow the trail to get down to the beach, but a man stopped us and said "money" and "200$NT". I, thinking that this man couldn't possibility own the beach, and how ridiculous that we should spend equivalent to 6$US to go on the beach, bypassed the man went down a path that was made by people like me, and snuck onto the beach. The others followed and we spent most of our time walking, dancing, pondering, running, and doing cheerleading stunts on the beach.

Our next stop was a rest area with the most amazing views of the coast, the above picture is one of many taken form that viewpoint.

We continued down the mountains to another beach that had a hike on one of the adjacent hills. Like so many hikes here in Taiwan, there were stairs, lots, and lots of stairs. But it was worth it in the end for the awinspiring view.

We left from there to go back home. We did get caught in some rain, which while riding a scooter is like riding though hail. I was surprised when we got back to hostel it didn't have little baby cuts all over my face. The next day we got another scooter, so that the rest of the group could come with us, and we made a plan to go to some Hot Springs some way down the coast. It was Mary's turn to drive, though she had her reservation about her skills, we made it out of the city unharmed. The ride down was longer and less eventful then the last, but much colder. We where all getting ancy to get the hot springs and warm up, and with some help from the natives we made it.

The boys, Joseph, and Steve, looking manly on a scooter

Me, with my uber-cool Taiwanese face mask that I bought after my experience with the rain the previous day.

A shot from the back of the scooter, as we drove 2 hours to the Hot Springs.

Steve with his large helmet that he never took off. We thought that it made him look special, special in a, I have to ware this because I have balance disorder and fall down a lot way, and not in good way. (Love ya Steve)

Oh joy! The Hot Springs! We made it after being chilled for 2 hours on scooters the dirty looking water was to us like the pool of Bethesda(John 5:2,4) It was so refreshing. To be warmed to our bones was surely heavenly. There were three pools, each of increasing temperature. It restored our sprits, and warmed our toes. Twice while there I braved the unheated lap pool just to cool thing down a bit. But It was just a great! I stayed there for awhile doing some laps, practicing my stoke, and greatly impressing some of the natives with my skills, or my ability to withstand the cold water, I know not.

We stayed there for about 2 and half hours, wanting to stay longer but not wanting to drive all the way home in the rain, and dark, we left, or tried to. We all ready get on our way when we realize that one of the tires on the scooters was flat. The good thing is the owner of the spa helped us out by getting someone to come over and fix it, but the bad thing is that it delayed us more than we had expected. 3 of the 5 scooters left and 2 stayed behind to wait for the repair man.

On the the way back with the earlier group, we had a small accident. It had rained and part of the roads were muddy, and one of the scooters got to close to the back of the mud, lost control and fell over. We(Mary and I)were right behind them when it happened, it was so scary to watch, my heart jumped. But they ended up being fine with only some scratches and bruises to show for their accident. I jumped up and drove the rest of the way home with the driver of the scooter that got in the accident on the back. We made it back with most of the crew not wanting to do much more than take a hot shower and hang out at the hostel for the rest of the night. I on the other hand went out for food for the trip the next day, and somehow got lost on the way. Surprised, perhaps not. But after about 30 min I got back home much to my relief. We left on the 9:20 train the next with 5 seat to share this time, and returned home happy and tired.

Sorry for the length of the Blog, but as you see much happened since the last time I had time to Post.

Big Winner

2008-02-03T05:02:00.000-08:00

My hike at the park

it had stairs

and more stairs

but a wonderful view

my winning lottery ticket

One one with her mouth open is Angel. She is one of my kids that would make a grate cake.(HAHAHA Angel's Food Cake! I'm too much)
My roommate Mary and I are reading the same book,: "The Brothers Karamazov." She is the intellectual and I'm the want-a-be.
Lunch from last week in Tiachung, crazy shrimp.
Dinner, or what is left of, My IGIF's mexican meal.
I'm the god of demolished bathrooms. This is what caused all the jackhammering last week.

Though this week has left me literally sick and tired it was not without its joys. This last week we put the final touches on our trip for Chinese New Year. I am so excited to get out of my school. This last week I realized that in two day I hadn't even gone down below the second floor of my school, as I work on the 2nd and the 3rd and live on the 4th. Any other time I would have gone a bike ride or hike but being sick, and teaching kindergarten that consists of jump around and being silly for 3 hours, has sapped all liveliness out of me. But the good news that after restful weekend I can almost breath out of my nose again. Another bit of good news is that I won the Taiwan lottery! All 200NT of it. That ends up being about 6 USD. A explanation: In an effort to get merchants to keep things on the books, the government came up with the Receipt Lottery. The theory being, with millions in winnings on the line, customer would start demanding receipts with every purchase and merchants would wind up with all their income on the books. So I won money that doesn't even cover the cost of the thing I purchased on my winning receipt, but hey, its like eating out twice.

On Friday I made fortune cookies with my older classes, as it was one our last classes before brake. When planing this lesson I realized that fortune cookies are not actually Chinese, but figured that it would be just as fun. After doing it though I would not call this experience with the cookie making "fun". The kids obviously had a very good incentive to be good, as there was going to be food. So the kids were not the problem, but I had forgotten that the kitchen did not have a oven. But that was quickly solved with a toaster oven. But perhaps I should have actually tried to make them before doing it with a good of 7-9 year olds. The whole concept of putting the fortune in the cookies was left behind when I released that you had to grab the cookie out of a hot oven and fold it before it got cold with the fortune inside. While there are times when I'm teaching, when the idea to throwing my kids into a 274C degree oven sounds perfect, this was not the time to live out my fantasy. So I opted for the flat fortune cookie which is sadly no longer a fortune cookie but a very thin, crispy, thing. But even after having to alter the outcome so it was no longer what we had set out to do, they,the kids left happy with a half of a rather doughy cookie in hand. But do not let this culinary disaster make you second guess my skills, I'm still as good as I once was ( If you know that song I'm quoting good for you and please continue to humm as you continue reading).

This weekend as I have said was very restful. No jackhammering, or trips, just pajamas, and movie watching. I cut Steve's hair, as he is a little wary of the Taiwanese barbers. For the first time I cut boys hair it looks good, and well, even if he didn't like it, in two weeks he wouldn't be able to tell what I did wrong anyways. I did however add some excitement to my life when I, with the other teachers that had helped me the day before with the cookie mess, made fortune cookies. They looked like the real thing with fortunes inside and everything. Even before the first batch was out of the oven I had a team assembled to fold and bend. They look very similar to the real thing, but some of the batches where a bit gooey but they still tasted grate. We made them for a potluck at church today, but unfortunately(get it unfortunately, if not it's ok, I'm really cheesy) the Taiwan humidity took its tole on them. They were no longer crunchy, but bendy. But other then the other few Americans that are in our ward, no one knew that it was to be different. As I am leaving for my vacation this week I'll be a bit slow to post again. But feel free to Email me.

Getting Lost

2008-01-27T17:54:00.000-08:00

As some of you might or might not know Jessica has a tendency to get lost. I believe that it is due that she is easily distracted by sparkly objects, though some might disagree. This weekend I again found me separated from the group. On this occasion I do not use the word lost, for I knew where I was the whole time, it was the group who lost me.

This week had been a good one with the children, with only a few minor accidents. While playing POP! Goes the Weasel, which is very similar to Duck Duck Duck Goose, nay, identical. Two children where running and one got tagged, and slid into a chair and received two rather gross looking wounds on his head. I sent him to get patched up by the very attentive secretaries who later asked me what happened. As was trying to explain the game and what happened, I was cutoff and all she said was,"oh, accident", and left the room. I had hoped that seeing one of there fellow class mates maimed by this game would have dissuaded the other children from wanting to play it, but on the contrary it only made them want to play it more. My only explanation for this is that they are all adrenaline junkies, and Pop! Goes the Weasel is the only way they can get their fix. Kids. Other then this minor injury, no other harm or accident has come to my children, yet. The rest of the week was uneventful, but the weekend was chalk full of fun.

On Saturday the whole apartment was woken up by the soothing sounds of

jackhammering on the 1st floor of this concrete building I live in.

The school had to redo on of the bathrooms and had to rip out everything. The floor vibrates and the

sounds continued until we left to go clean the church in Taichung. Though when we got there

everything was every done. We did have a opportunity to help our Branch President move, but

I and most of the rest of the group went shopping instead. We are the very symbols of

selflessness, aren't we. There was a large mall that we visited, but all I bought was food from

the food court. We then wondered in the Night Market stalls that where jumbled together in

alleyways between buildings. As about 7 of us tried to stay together snaking though the rain

flooded gutters that were the walkway, it was only a matter of time before a found myself

looking at bags, or hair clips and was lost. I, having had ample opportunities to be lost and

was not frightened in the least. I knew my way home and now I could take as long as I wanted

looking at the things that surely the boys in our group would have no desire to linger and

look at. For about an half an hour I looked over the vendors goods, enjoying most of it. But

just I was going to turn the corner on to a main street I came face to face with the group that that

had wondered on without me. Want to hear the saddest part of the tale, they didn't even know

I was gone. This shouldn't be surprise to many of you, as you might remember the story

of Jessica being left at a house that her parents were looking at buying, and chilling for a

45 min. until her parents realized that there where 4 girls in the car and not 5 and turned

around to collect her. This only one of the many and varied tales of her childhood abandonment.

But to continue, we then separated into smaller groups, mine staying to shop

some more, as up to this point I had yet to buy anything in Taiwan that I did not later consume.

My group consisted of Whitney and Tammy.

Two wonderful girls at wanted to shop just as much as I did. At last I bought something that

I would not be consuming. A fab bag to fit all of my church crap in. And 4 moves, mostly old

musicals that I found out later I can only watch on my computer or on a special sckechy Taiwan

DVD player. Fortunately our apartment owns one such sckechy DVD player so all is not lost.

After this lovely day we ate at the one American restaurant in walking distance, TGI Fridays.

Don't judge me, it was wonderful. We all got some-sort of Mexican fare, and cold water which they

rarely serve here, for the most part its hot, or warm. After this meal I was completely content.

We then proceeded about a block to the bus stop. On the way I was practicing saying Fung Yuan,

the place I live, to I could ask the diver to make sure I was getting on the right bus. I then realized

that right now I was some strange white chick repeating a city name over and over. It was if I could

just hear someone repeating to themselves, Medford, MEDford, medFORD. I told the girls and we

thought it was so funny. Perhaps that the next time you hear someone muttering something to

themselves on a street corner you won't be to quick to judge, they could be just practicing their

English.:) We got home and heard the adventures other girls they had that day.

If you want to hear them too you can click on the links, I think they are all working now. They are

all worth reading.

P.S. Pictures coming soon.

Graphic: Parental Discretion is Advised

2008-01-22T18:20:00.000-08:00

This is a update for a early blog in which I commented that I stubbed my toe to badly that I was sure it was going to fall, well it did. And this is the photograph evidence to prove it.

Costco

2008-01-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

The Heavenly Costco Chicken bake
I love Marshmallows, for some reason it smells like home.
Me between classes, yes, this is how I look most of the time now.
Don't they look cute. I had actually told them not to bounce the balls. Kids!
This is why I'm here. To teach Znglish.
People hang laundry in public places. This is us walking to the train station.
Our Taxi driver. I think that he looks like Jason Bourn, he kinda drives like him too.

Another week gone to the children has past, and the weekend has come. On this Saturday we journeyed to the Temple of Consumer Goods, aka, Costco. This by far is one of my favorite Temples that I have ventured to in my 3 weeks here( except for the LDS Temple). Many wonderful and strange thing I witnessed while I wondered within its walls.

My pilgrimage started by buying train tickets with nothing but a pice of paper with my destination written on it and pointing and a bit of grunting. Our humble group proceeded to the train that deposited us within a taxi ride of our destination. One of the locals, seeing us wondering aimlessly, helped us procure her husband's taxi. Though we were grateful for the assistance we wondered, while strapped in the back seat of a taxi, drove in and out a traffic by mad man, if it would have been safer to have journeyed by some other means. But we did arrive safely to The Temple and began our exploration.

Upon arrival the first strange thing we encountered were extremely large carts lined up outside. In contrast to the economy of space that takes president here in Taiwan, these carts seemed strangely out of place. I believe that these carts could have been a more spacious way of traveling for most families here, for here it is not a uncommon sight to see a family of four, their groceries, and a dog on a scooter. As we journeyed in through utilitarian doors what we saw was a foreshadowing of what was to come.

In the throng of black hair we saw the rest of our group that had traveled to this house of consumerism on scooters. Though there where numberless concourses of people, the white and red hair helped us pin point their location rather easily. Partaking of the traditional Costco delicacies reminded me that home is not such a long way off after all. After eating this manna we continued with our oversized cart, that could house a small Taiwanese family, up a magnetized ramped escalator. It was as if the magic that held our cart in place energized us to seek out our American bulk items though the Christmas Eve like ferocity that swept in this unholy bulk foods warehouse. But unfortunately the excitement of this venture was lost on one of our traveling companions. Our dear Steve had been afflicted with some wickedeist of all Taiwanese illnesses; the dreaded Taiwanese cough, and the heartache of someone that has been parted from a dear companion.

Steve, one of the two boys in our sorority, has been separated from the one and only other male. It seems that the estrogen, that had once been equally shared between him and the other, has taken a toll on him. But soon these two friends will be reunited again, and his soul will lift with the knowledge that he now no longer will feel obliged to participate in the girl talk that often happens in our place of lodging.

Continuing with our exploration of Costco we wondered toward the wondrous world of bread. I, with a heartsick Steve, decided to indulge ourselves and buy the chocolate Costco muffins that are ruffly the size of my head. We then bought a trove of lusted after items that included, tortilla chips, triple chocolate cake mix in a 6 pack, and my beloved cheese. Though in my hast to sample this wonderful mixture of aged milk and whey I might have offend the locals that were also in attendance this day.

In the tradition of Costco there are samples of the fair that they are peddling. I, have only been the Costcos of the West, failed notice the slight differences associated with the East. I pasted a display where they were offering a taste of my beloved Tilamook cheese. I, thinking myself fortunate, took the last pice of toast with the melted cheese on it. It was only after devouring it did a member of my group pointed out that behind the women preparing the cheese toast was a line of a dozen or more. I felt ignorant, and shamed by the brown faces that where obviously hating me inwardly. After this hideous display we left on our homeward journey.

Our journey home was uneventful, except when getting a taxi from Costco back to the train station. We hailed a cab easily enough but the communication was a bit more difficult. In our hast to leave I had forgotten to write down the word train station in Chinese, even with our sad attempts to imitate a train by pumping our arms and making choo-choo noises, the words were obviously foreign to him. But in a stoke of luck he called one of his friends that translated for us.

When we arrived home we all happily went about separating and freezing our large quantities of food. That will hopefully stay off the homesickness a bit longer.

Poke out my eyes with a screwdriver

2008-01-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

Just another Friday night at Berhan Language School

In brief explanation of my Title, this was just one of the many quotes associated with me in this last week when after teaching for 7 hours I had to sit down and plan the next weeks lessons. This was the first full week of classes, and what a fun filled ride it was. I don't have to work until 1:30 everyday so I enjoy being very lackadaisical in the mornings. But the whole week in general was any thing but lax. I work almost nonstop form 1:30 to 8:50. But then after I can't speak English, it comes out in a jumbled mixture of verbs and nouns and conjunctions.

I have also taken to referring to my in the third person. It's almost imposable to escape it when working with the kids. But it transfers very nicely into general conversation. Such as; Jessica is hungry and wants to go to the bakery, dose any one want to come with Jessica. Jessica has lost her ability to understand and converse with normal English speaking people, I'll be doing that talking from now on. Yes it dose sound like I have a split personality but perhaps that's just what happens to people put under stress, but one would one assume that it will only get better. But referring to my self in the third person is other issue completely, but one would assume that that too with fade.

One wonderful piece of news though came at the end classes on Friday. One of the wonderful Chinese Secretaries came into my class room and told me that since one of the other teachers bikes a wobbly wheel that they had harvested a good wheel from my bike and bought me a new one. Well, this did sound strange. Why would have they just put the new wheel on her bike. So after the classes I checked it out. I must a misunderstood her Chinglish, for there in the glow of the motion censored spot light lay a my new number 7 bike, I was so excited it think I hugged it. I have dubbed my new bike Speeda the second.

After the tedious movement of this week the weekend seamed not to have happened at all. Friday night we went to a night market in Fung Yuan, where I proceed to examine all the local delicacies. Fried chicken feet, and other misc. parts of the chicken boiled, breded, and fried and ready for consummation. There was everything that one would ever want. It did remind me a bit of "Bedknob's and Broomsticks" were they where at Portebello Road, But perhaps a bit more well lit and less musical. Upon bypassing all the the local fare, I found some of the only food not from Taiwan, Hong Kong Waffles. Not scary in the least. So I enjoyed my semi Oriental fare. The next day we continued are whirlwind weekend by going with our branch on a Temple Trip.

It was wonderful. We hopped on our ultra fancy bus with curtains, reclining seats, television, and microphones for karaoke. The two hour trip up to Taipei went on with out to much excitement. But the ride up did remind me of Portland, everything was green and lush, it would have been like driving around in Oregon minus all the Chinese. On the way up we past the Empirical Hotel, fancy, right behind it was where the country of Taiwan was dedicated to missionary service.

We finally got to the temple but before we went in we went to the visitor center. Which is set up like a stake center, it even had the basket ball court in the middle. But we made ourselves down to the distribution center. They were playing Legacy in Mandarin, but I translated for the rest of the group as a almost have the whole movie memorized. In the center they had a free section where you could take things that were cut of folded in someway, or that they just feel that they shouldn't charge for. One of the items were stickers that are a red and blue houses that say, I think," No success in the world can compensate for failure in the home." I guess what members do with them is put them on the backs of their scooters, or the bigger sticker on their taxis. So picked up a few of these for most everyone, that you can have bit of Taiwan church culture too.

The Temple was wonderful and full the Spirit as always, but one of the new things was that you take your shoes off before even entering the main part of the temple. It reminds me of Moses on Mt Sinai. We were told that the only person that was allowed to keep his shoes on was President Hinkley, but one would think that he being a spiritual and respectful man would have taken off his shoes anyways. They give you plastic bags to hold your street shoes while you are in the temple, so it gives the temple a nice sound of crinkling plastic bags. Which I think you only really hear on the way in a out.

After the Temple we when to eat and window shop a Taipei 101 was is or was the tallest buildings in the world. The shopping was a amazing. Dior, Armani, Tiffany's, and every other designer label I could imagine. WOW. But the best part of the whole evening was the passion fruit ice cream that I bought with my change. Dairy is rather costly due to Taiwan being so Small and having such a large population, raising the cows is hard. And Ice cream is hard to come by especially since it's winter, and in Taiwan your not suppose to eat cold things in the winter because its not healthy. I imagine that particular view of health is associated with our... very sturdy health beds. But hey, I've gotten use to wakening up not able to feel one side of my body or another.

After returning home we still had fun. I cut my roommates hair. It turned out fabulously. Hey Audrey you next! And we did our nails while watching a movie. The only bad part of the night is when I, wanting to see my roommates face while cutting her hair, stubbed my toe so bad that I was sure that the nail was going to fall off. It was bleeding and I was sitting on the floor crying out in pain and no one was concerned. Yes, I am accident pron and I guess every one here is has gotten used to me hurting myself.

Sunday was long. 45 min there and then we got on some random bus that took us a really random way back so that took even longer. But we got home safe, and refreshed to start a new week, with the children that I will grow to love, one day.

School is Sarting

2008-01-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

For the last few days we have been training for teaching english, and making our lesson plans for the next week. I get the afternoon kindergarden classes and the 2nd grade enrichment classes. The enrichment classes are for the kids that stared the program a little bit latter than the rest, and need extra practice speaking. So our first day of classes are on Friday and I'm still not sure what I'm doing. But not all of it is work. We got to go to a outdoor shopping, alley, it was crazy. But they have super trendy clothes and I love everything, it's just to bad that I'm, lets just say, super-sized compared to every-other Asian. But you do feel famous here. While walking thought the shopping alley this young girl was walking behind her mother and just turned around and starred at me. I smiled and said hi, and she just kept on looking at me. It was so funny that I couldn't stop looking at her. So we were just walking look at each other, mostly because the other was still looking. After jostling though the shopping alley we stopped by the local Buddhist Temple. It was so decretive and had all these lanterns hanging up in front. We wondered around for a while trying to figure out it all when this wonderful Taiwanese lady came up to us and asked if we had someone to help us, and proceeded to guide us though all the different Gods they pray to, and for what. In this specific temple there was a God that you could pray to, for them to send you Mr. Wright. Our tour guide, Ellie, was educated in the UK and was going for her PhD in Education here in Taiwan and on this day was praying for the test results would be good. It was wonderful to know just a little bit more the people and there way of life. The next day was spent putting together our lesson plans, all day. We did a little more biking around the city and trying to find cheese, which is almost impossible to find here. And you know how much I like cheese. But today was just more of the same, working on lessons and having a mini breakdown. But I'm ok I just hope that tomorrow goes ok. I mean, it will, and will not cry in front of these kids.... I hope. Pray for me. PS if you want to see more pictures you can look on the other Taiwan blogs that I have links to. There the blogs of the other teachers I work with.

Getting Setup

2007-12-30T15:23:00.001-08:00

Coming home from Church on the bus.
sacrificial food for the ancestors ( they eat it after all the jig-amoral is done)
The Taoist Temple

I Heart Taiwan!!!! Everything is so new and entertaining. I'm just letting myself get swept up in the swage smelling air, and carried to and fro in the scooter cover streets, and into crazy celebration that are that are so quintessentially Taiwan that I can't help but smile. The last few days have been extraordinary. The first full day in Taiwan was filled with a lot of paper work, for visas and work permits. But we also picked out bikes, mine is a blue SPEEDA, it rattles, squeaks, the gears don't work, and basket on the front is bent on one side from what I imagine being a run in with a out of control scooter, but I love it, as it is my only form of transportation for the next 6 months. On Saturday night we went to Asia-go, the Taiwan eqivent of Walmart. That was the craziest shopping experience of my life. I walked the alies looking for anything I could possibly decipher. But for the most part, I picked up things a could tell what they where by the pictures, and what the extremely pushy asian clerks put in my baskets for me. I don't know if they saw me as a lost and scared American, which I was, and were just trying to help, but I need lean to say "no". The next day was Sunday, which was a whirlwind. I woke up at 10am, hopefully recovered form the jet lag, and got a phone call which I was reluctant to pick up because, hay I don't speak Mandarin, but it turned out to be on of the old teachers that was going to be taking us to church. She, Lou, was so excieted about this Taoist celebration that she had wandered upon earlier in the morning. We all ran downstairs in our pj's, breakfast in hand wondering what's going on. We ended up jumping on bikes for a 15 min ride to what looked like a carnival. There where games, and neon colored, what looked like some sort of fun house, but eneded up being the temple. The rows upon rows of food for there ancestors, mountains of rice and slottered pigs with a apples in the mouths. We learned from Lou that this was the 40th anavsery of the temple and a few years ago was damaged by earth quake, so this was also a rededication of the temple. The number 4 has a very bad connotation, as if you say it with a different tone means death, which is taboo to talk about here. But the guess was that they where also having this celebration, to word off the evil sprits. We left to go church shortly after that on a 45 min bus ride to Taichung where the English speaking branch is. I'm so sad because I left my new water bottle on the bus, I've only had it for a totally of 4 days. Boo! if it isn't coats it something else.

Because we were almost all new in the ward we had a little lesson on some of the laws and rules of living here as a American. Very interesting. There was about 25 people there including some Asians, but mostly it was English teachers like me. I'm so excited to be able to go to church that looks that same and hear the same words as home. Hopefully this will help with homesickness. But after returning home around 6 ish, we were hungry. We all busted out of food that in the most part was fantastic. Later on we returned to the Taoists temple rededication, it was bigger, louder and had more food, more pigs and goats. We didn't stay long because well, I thought my ear drums were going to explode.

Monday

I woke up a 6 am today again. But today there was a reason, we had to go to the hospital and get out check ups so that we could get out resident visas and so on. It was very strange to go to a hospital in a different country, Lots of waiting rooms, and you just take a number. But all in all nothing super sckechy. When we got home we explored the local bakery which is heaven. We decided that since today in new years, for us at least , we would get a cake. It ended up being about 800NT which is about 25US but it look beautiful and I can't wait to dig in. But the reminder of the day was in training, for the school, as well how to recycle which is a bit more complicated. We went to dinner and it was fab dumplings, and then we went the bing shaw stand , everyone got all these fantastic flavors, and then I got pineapple, and I was so sadly disappointed with my choice, but what can you do, I'll figure it out one day. Well that New Years party is going to be starting, Kiss.

Getting Here

2007-12-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

This is a perfect example of Chinglish. View from my apartment

We got to Taiwan, and we loved them already Fabulous sign in the Taipei Airport. Beware the Quarantine beagles!!!

P.S. I tried to copy paste the blog in here and didn't work, so just sent it out as a email. But here are the pics and some explanation.

This Mary and I before we left LAX, we found out that we have the same sun glasses, instant friend.

I never knew that leaving would be so hard

2007-12-26T17:05:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has come and gone, the presents have been opened with only one trip to the ER. No joke, heat sealed plastic boxes are dangerous. My father was trying to open his very fancy new pen that he got for Christmas. When trying to use his scissors on his mini Letterman, it slipped, punching his hand, hitting a never which caused him to jerk his hand away and flinging blood all over himself, my Mom and the floor. He ended up going to the ER but no necessary stitches, just a tetanus shot, and he may or may not get the feeling back in his finger. The family thinks that, that finger wants to commit suicide. 7 years ago that same finger was ran though a table saw blade, it's really just a matter of time before its chopped off completely. But other then that no serous injures were incurred this Christmas season.

The day after Christmas I needed to leave to get up to Portland for my flight to LA and then to Taiwan. But the trouble was the 4 inches of snow that we got the night before and and the sheet of ice that the roads became. We actually got out of the driveway after a

bout 20 min of shoveling and my father saying that the front tires needed more weight on them and then jumping on the hood of the car as my bother-in-law backed out. Yes, this is the same father that went to the ER the previous day. And we all wonder why he gets injured so often. Even after all the shoveling and jumping on cars we didn't make it far until we realized that we rather wait until the hill wasn't a sheet of ice before venturing on. But about an hour later we were on our way to Portland, where we arrived with out harm or accident. All in all I only had to say goodbye to my family 3 times before I actually got more then a mile away from the house.

Salt Lake City

2007-12-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Well I just got back from the most enjoyable 3 days of my life, sort, of. In the first two days of training I developed a form of speech called molding. It's pretty much saying something like " this is my paper, who's paper is it, it's your paper" and then havening who ever say that. So I apologize in advance if I talk to you like you can't speak English. But that last day was the best. One of the old teachers, that had been there before, did a presentation about the kids we'll teach and the places we'll see, and giving helpful tips about where to eat and what to bring. This created a atmosphere of excitement throughout the class. But upon getting the plane tickets it all became real, and I felt a bit nauseated. I'm excited about the people that I'll be teaching with, they are all so happy, and even a bit nauseated as well. But I'm sure that it will make for a great 6 months!
After we where done with all the rigmarole in Provo, some of the teachers and I went to Salt Lake to play around. We went to a book store to find some Mandarin Language books but all they really had where books in Mandarin, so of no real use. But I did see one of my favorite people there. Steven Colbert!!! Ok it was his cut-out but the excitement was real.

There is 12 more days till I'll leave and I have a lot of shopping to do. Not just for the trip but for Christmas!!! I haven't even started!! I leave on December 27 at 7 am, so at least I'

ll be able to be with my family for Christmas, and that's one of the most important things for me.