Day 1

Survived day 1.  Yesterday started with a near panic attack, I was told school started Aug. 30, but when I arrived at 8:45, there were kids all over the place.  Apparently just to get books and familiarize themselves with their new classrooms.  Today I arrived at 8, in the tail end of yet another typhoon.  No idea where to go, etc.  I was shown my office, which won't be ready for another week or so.  Then she told me "no classes today." Umm, what?
She was wrong, I did have classes today, although my schedule is slightly different from what I'm used to.  I'll see each class once a week, I'll have five classes a day, except on Wednesdays when I'll be at the FET meetings.  I'm an FET, foreign English teacher, not an ETA, teaching ESL to ELL's.  Did you get all that? 
The morning was kind of rough, just because I had no idea what was going on.  It can be frustrating trying to common plan with a language barrier.  Lunch was ok, Fridays are vegetarian day, I'm slowly getting used to tofu.  Slowly.  Afternoon classes went a little better, I have had 4th graders all day, with one 5th grade class that wasn't really a class because they had a fire drill presentation thingy.  Just like home.  I'm going to stick to the no smiling before Christmas rule as much as I can, my second class has a few stinkers, I can tell already.  Although I think I impressed the kid playing with the projector remote.  He now knows the phrase "that's mine." I got a few stares, a few jaw drops, and a giggle or two when they saw me for the first time, I didn't take it personally. 
We are supposed to keep detailed lesson plans for the Ministry of Education, but the regular teachers don't turn in detailed plans.  Of course, I could talk to someone else and get a completely different story.
Some observations:

Most of the students wear uniforms, and most of the uniforms are numbered.   I want to see them try that in the US.  And I desperately need to find student #24601.  We would be BFF's. 

They have 10 minutes between classes.  These are elementary students, and they're allowed to do whatever in the ten minutes.  Run, wrestle, dance in the hallways.  I guess it makes up for the lack of playground. 

I had students bow to me, as a class.  That's quite a perk.

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt some school shopping.  Should be interesting.

The kindness of strangers

Something I've had to get used to, and it sounds bizarre, is how nice people are here.  I've been taking the train a lot, and if I or someone I'm traveling with asks for directions, someone will gladly help.  Or they'll go get someone to help. Or use a translator.  And just today, I needed help at the ticket window.  Not only did the person help, but she came back while we were on the platform to make sure I knew this was my train.  Every time I've been in a larger American city, or in Europe, strangers, especially men, will yell crude things to a woman walking alone.  I've learned to use the Amish country blinder strategy and keep walking.  To give them a response is a bad idea.  Here, it's much more obvious that I'm a foreigner, but people really are just being nice.  One day I used the blinder strategy, and the "strange man" turned out to be my school principal.  Or a bunch of kids will ride bikes past and say hello.  And then there's a chorus of "inguyen, inguyen." I don't know if I spelled it right, but it means English.  So I have to force myself to smile and say hello/ni hao and hope I'm making a good impression.

On a side note, I looked at new apartments today, and found one that's a lot better than what I'm living in now.  I can't move until Sept. 12, but it will be so worth it!

Big weekend

Let me just say, this weekend was better than the last one.  A lot better.  Thursday and Friday I went to Zhunan for a training session, and found out that we would be meeting every Wednesday, which makes me feel a lot better.  I figured once we were in our cities, we'd never see each other again.  After Friday's meeting, a couple of us went to dinner, and to RT Mart, which was awesome.  I spent Friday and Saturday nights at Peggy's, and slept on an actual mattress.  Saturday morning we got up and Peggy, Thomas and I took a train to Taichung.  Crowded was not the word for this train.  Every seat was filled, every handle taken.  Peggy ended up hanging onto Thomas, because she was too short to get to the bar.  We met Linda at the station, and walked through the open air market.  What an experience.  Every kind of meat, fruit, vegetable, spice, etc., it was there.  We walked for awhile in some pretty hot temps, then stopped to look at a fabulous temple.  We had planned to go to the Confucius shrine, and stopped for lunch.  It turned out to be the best pizza in Taiwan.  We attempted several times to meet with Ashley, but she had trouble getting directions from the station.  We also attempted to get directions, but to the Taiwanese, a "ten minute walk" means at least three miles.  We ended up getting caught in a downpour, and hailing a cab to Sogo, a mall with 18 floors and hundreds of shops.  We did eventually meet up with Ashley there.  Dinner was at a Thai place, I really hope someday I'll be able to order a meal without using the picture menu.  We caught the train back to Peggy's and went to bed.  Oh, not so fast.  At 10:46 I was just about to fall asleep when my bed started to shake.  It went on for maybe 30 seconds, and I ran into the living room to see if anyone else had felt it.  They slept through it, but according to http://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/ it was a 4.4 on the Richter scale.  Not something I want to happen again, but now I can say I have survived an earthquake.  Sunday morning (see, it was a big weekend) and went to the old Shanyi station.  It was a lot bigger than what we thought, because the Hakka Tung Flower festival was going on.  We walked up and down the street, through all the little shops, on the abandoned tracks, and the tunnel.  There were bats.  Lots of them.  We had lunch at one of the little restaurants.  No English menu or pictures, this time we reverted to farm animal noises.  Not a joke.  After lunch we took a cab back to Peggy's, and then onto the train.  Thomas and I took the same train to Miaoli City, but I had to continue to Zhunan and switch lines to Tongxiao.  So I had to get off the train, get another ticket, find the platform, get on the right train and off at the right stop.  Which I did.  Small victories.

Pantou Elementary School, site of our professional development

At Sogo.  I need to bring home a Chinese Jelly Jar

Slightly crowded morning train

Taichung

Matsu Temple

Old Sanyi Train station

Your crew today will consist of Thomas and Peggy...

So far in Taiwan, I've walked by myself, walked in the dark, and eaten street vendor food.   Today I can add played on RR tracks to that list.  What a rebel.

Nothing is better than Coke in a class bottle.  Except Pepsi.  I miss Pepsi.

Random facts

Some random things I've learned in the last 10 days

The scooters are dangerous, not to ride on, but to walk near.  I will be run over one day, not if, but when.

It's ghost month, and they leave food out for ghosts who had no children to take care of them.  They also burn prayer cash and incense in little barrels in front of each house.  My whole neighborhood smells like a campfire.  I watched a ceremony yesterday, pretty interesting.  I read a quote recently about an American who thought the customs here were strange.
"Do you expect your dead relatives to get up and eat the food you put on their graves?"
"As soon as yours get up and smell the flowers."

Stinky tofu really does stink.  I had to check my shoes at the night market.  Did I step in something? Nope, stinky tofu stand a few feet away.

They recycle like crazy.

I typically buy meals at 7-11.  They'll pop them in the microwave and they stay hot until I get home.

It's normal to buy your meals one day at a time.

They tend to give English names to their stores that make no sense.  Last week I had tea at Monopoly drink shop.  I had a chocolate milk bottle with the slogan "go long." Not a good idea for a glass bottle, but ok. 

They have a town loudspeaker.

My coworker thinks Americans eat nothing but steak.

They take the garbage away every day.  Makes sense in the heat.

Contact info

My phone number has changed, and if you want to send anything, you have to send it too the school.  Facebook message me or email if you want the updated info.

School

I guess I get to teach in a new building after all.  I've spent the last two days here, prepping for the school year.  Today I watched the "ghost month"ceremony and toured the new building.  The third picture is my new office.

The last few days

I'm on the school computer, online for the first time in a few days. Friday morning I attended the last of the training sessions, and the rep from the school, Billy (come on, I know that's not your real name) picked me up at NTNU. We went to lunch in Taipei with a friend of his, and then drove to Miaoli. It took about two hours, with one restroom break. TMI, but I conquered my fear of the squatty potty. Usually all the bathrooms have at least one "normal" toilet, technically designated for the handicapped, which is what I've been using. After a brief discussion with Billy: "I can use this one?" "Yes, but it's for physically disabled." "But I can use it?" "Yes." "Ok." "Wait, no it's for disabled." "Whatever, I'll use the other one." I didn't say I used the squatty potty, but I got brave enough to go into the stall. Enough said. I got to my apartment about 4, and met Suru, my host teacher. Suru took me to the grocery store on her scooter. On the outside, I was calm. On the inside, I screamed like Sheldon in the BBT driving episode. I wasn't really happy with my apartment at first, as evidence by some emotional text messages sent on Saturday. It's one room, which I'm ok with, but it was filthy, cobwebs everywhere, and the previous tenant's garbage was all over the place. I've been working on cleaning it up and possibly adding necessary furniture. I'll post pictures when I have internet access. Did I mention I don't have WiFi at the apartment. Between Europe and this week, I have determined I am truly a WiFi addict. Hello, my name is Allison and I am internet dependant... I stayed in all day Saturday, but did manage to do some laundry. I don't know how my clothes got clean, I just pushed buttons and hoped I wouldn't have to walk around in last clean outfit for 11 months. Sunday I ventured out because I was out of food. I found a sandwich shop, a bakery, and Family Mart. I also found Coca Cola and Pringles. At least now I know I won't starve. I walked through a lot of Tongxiao yesterday. I got a lot of curious looks. Hardly anyone speaks English, so I've been doing a lot of pointing and nodding. I walked through the traditional market, very interesting. You can buy live fish to take home and cook, and all kinds of food I couldn't identify. I felt bad because I saw three or four dogs just laying on the sidewalk, I felt bad, but then I realized it's so stinkin' hot even they don't want to move. I've been eating nothing but bread and sandwiches, because that's what I can order easily. Although I had lunch today at the school, chicken has never tasted so good, lol. Suru tried to call me several times, but I don't think the phone is working. this morning she came to my apartment and we got a stamp with my Chinese name on it from a sketchy looking shop. Next, to the bank to open a savings account, and then to the school. I don't know what my "Chinese" name is yet. They're working on fixing my Visa, because apparently my middle name is one letter off. Really, one letter? So we're going to work on the phone issue this afternoon, and go food shopping. Because there's a typhoon coming. I'm not worried, I'm on the fourth floor. I'll post video if it gets crazy.

Small victories

This morning I used an ATM successfully by myself.  Which is not a big deal, but it was this morning, for a couple of reasons.  One, I'm pretty much illiterate here.  There was an English option, but there were only a few English "hints." I had to push buttons, and hope and pray my money wasn't being transferred to some hacker sitting in a basement somewhere.  Two, the money doesn't spit out neatly, a door opens up, and you have to reach into the machine and grab it.  Count your money before you walk away.  And your fingers. 
  More class later today, and tomorrow, and tomorrow afternoon, I move into the apartment in Tongxiao.

I Am Going to Like it Here....

They're keeping me busy, and I'm still a little jet lagged.  I woke up yesterday at 3:30 AM, so I was a little tired yesterday to blog.  But last night I got 8 hours, so I'm feeling better.  Yesterday was good, Chinese class with Andrew, and then a session on teaching ESL.  We spent the afternoon at the National Palace Museum, amazing artwork.  One of the most impressive pieces was an ivory basket, some parts were carved to look like lace, so thin they are transparent.

And the dragon ball, 17 nested, rotating spheres, the whole thing is carved from one piece of ivory.

And yes, I stole the pictures from Google, you're not allowed to take pictures inside.

This morning was another Chinese lesson, then more education classes all day.  I'm on lunch right now.  I love the fact that lunch is 90 minutes.  They want you to eat for 30 minutes, and then everyone is expected to take a nap before afternoon classes.  I'm on my second cup of tea for the day, I'm not tired.  So I'm watching Pili, a traditional Taiwanese marionette show on TV.  I have no idea what's going, but it's interesting to watch.  I have to go back soon for another afternoon of class, then after dinner, a visit to the night market.

Today started out ok, I had to have help getting breakfast because I had no idea what I was doing.  I took a short walk with one of the "veteran" teachers and we stopped at 7-Eleven and a grocery store.  Lunch was in the classroom, and I finally mastered chop sticks.  The weather is very warm, almost 100 degrees and humid.  

     Orientation was from 1-5:30, we had speakers on teaching ESL and adjusting to life in Taiwan.  Dinner was pizza, very good!  We celebrated Summer birthdays and our arrival in Taiwan:

Birthday girls, Peggy and Soleil

After dinner a few of us walked through a night market, I just wanted to see what it was like.  Wednesday night the counselors have scheduled a night market visit, I definitely want to go back.  Next time I won't be stuffed with pizza and jet-lagged, lol.

The view, the building to the right is Taipei 101, for a while it was the tallest building in the world.

Arrival

Long flight to Taipei, but everything went well.  Immigration was fine, customs was nothing.  Except a bottle of body wash exploded in my suitcase.  But I've had worse things happen when I've traveled.  Got on a bus for a 40 minute ride to the dorm, the rooms are more like a hotel, very nice.  By the time I got to sleep, it was 1 am, that should make for an interesting day :).  I'm going to get breakfast soon, then day one of orientation.

Los Angeles

Flight from Chicago to LA (4 hours) was fine.  They don't give anything for free now, cookies, drinks, etc.  It kind of went like this though: "I'm not paying for your overpriced...ooh, Garrett's popcorn." Got to LAX at 12:30, and navigated to the other terminal.  Not an easy thing to do.  But, this is actually the first time I've ever traveled internationally by myself.  I've always been with at least one other person.  I went into a different building, and there were hundreds of other people waiting to check in.  And for the first ten minutes, I was the only non-Asian in line. Kind of intimidating, not gonna lie.  Went through a second security checkpoint, and now I'm waiting for this next flight, the big one.  On my way to the gate, I ran into my fellow "recruits" Ryan, Ashley, Peggy, and Thomas.  14 Hours, then customs/security, then my first night in Taipei.

Chicago

Uneventful flight, I slept for most of it.  Now I need to find caffeine...

Getting started

Waiting at CLE, I have about an hour until I board.  It was kind of crowded for 5:30 on a Saturday morning.  And it's weird just being responsible for myself this time.  I just want to get on the plane so I can sleep.