What's up, Tongxiao?

Not much.

I'm almost recuperated from the Bali trip.  I surprised myself by getting unpacked in one day, unusual because it always takes at least a week.  Then I put something in the closet yesterday, and realized I didn't unpack the bag from the inservice that ended January 24.  I think it's a new personal record.

School starts again tomorrow (I think).  I was told I was supposed to be back on the 4th, which wasn't quite right, so technically, today is my first full day back.  Although it was supposed to be last Wednesday.  That's the hardest part about working here, usually I have no idea what's going on.  Not that it was different in Ohio, but it was more minor there, like surprise assemblies or meetings.  Here, I don't even have a school calendar, and there's big discussions going on the office that I don't understand.

I still don't haven't decided about next year, everybody keeps asking.  However, Linda informed me yesterday that a new cross stitch shop just opened in the Toufen/Zhunan area.  This might sway my decision, ha ha.

Chinese New Year is almost over, the fireworks are pretty much constant now.  I don't even hear them anymore, except if they go off in the middle of the night.  It's windy, rainy, and cold.  It should start to get warmer in March.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl, or the Olympics.  I'm just not a sports person.  I'm not sure there's any reliable way to watch either event anyway.  If I'm missing anything good, please let me know.  I did hear about a small controversy with a Coke commercial.  Here it is:

Personally, I like it.  Here it is in Mandarin:

Very talented little girl, and I like her message at the end.

I just have this to say:   Technically, I'm an immigrant.  I came here legally, I pay taxes to the Taiwanese government, and I'm contributing to their society (I hope).  Wednesday, it'll be six months that I've been here.  In that time, not a single person has come up to me and said "Go back to where you came from" or "You're in Taiwan, speak Chinese."  I've even had people look at my obviously confused expressions and offer to help when I needed it.  If they can't speak English, they'll find someone who can, to help.  So let's be nice to each other, because it makes things so much easier.  Just something to think about.