March 28th One Month In

Enjoying my favourite coffee at the local Starbucks I watch the Mormon boys walks by. On this warm and cloudy afternoon all is well in Yi-lan. In this two story store I can sit and watch people roll by on bikes, scooters and in cars. English music plays through out the store and everything is the same as home except I have no idea what people are saying in their conversations around me. I will say, without shame, I love this corporate store.

An interesting weekend lies ahead. Tomorrow there is a going away party for a foreigner that I have never met. No doubt it will be fun if the rain holds. BBQ, frisbee and some beer on the beach is the perfect cure to a hectic week. Lots of people will be surfing, which am I excited to try. Sunday my friend Johan and I will try and spot monkeys in a starfruit orchard about 30 minutes from my house. A Canadian names Jessie told me about this sweet spot to view these creatures. So far, I have only seen sedated monkeys in the Taipei zoo. Monday, I may or may not go to a Taiwanese wedding. I have been invited by the nice family that I wrote about previously. The groom is 18 and is a cousin of Ellie's. I heard from my friend Amy that the food is served in endless courses and is delicious. I'm hesitant to go as I'm not sure what to wear. I know, not matter what, I will standout, I would just like to look good doing it!

Last night I was invited to a language exchange. I was quite fascinated by it and will look forward to the weekly meetings. Three Taiwanese people, Amy and myself spent a couple of hours talking. Everyone switches from Mandarin (except me) to English and vis versa, each asking the other questions about their native language. I am well behind the others who are learning their second or third language. It seems to be an effective way to learn, its free and everyone is funny and sweet. I discovered a lot about English while trying to answer some of their questions. Some humorous things definitely come up, especially when discussing slang.

I am REALLY anxious to get a computer so I can hop on skype, iChat and to finally post some pictures!!! I think about home often and hope that everyone is happy, healthy and knows that I love them.

Everything here seems so dramatic. For example, on a bad days its like, why am I on the other side of the earth, why can't my phone except international calls and when will I know enough Mandarin to order the food that I actually want. On good days its the same amount of emotion but with different feelings. Like, I LOVE Taiwan, can't wait to learn Mandarin, pay off my debts and keep exploring this amazing country. Both take a lot of energy, so I have to exercise, eat well and get a lot of sleep.

As for my job, I enjoy being a teacher and most of my students. Everyday I learn how to be a better teacher. There are some very frustrating things about my school but I will not write about them here. Most of the people I have talked to have a very tough time at the start, then figure out how to appease the administration. I think I am doing pretty well, all things considered. Taiwan is a roller coaster. I know though that I have many opportunities here that I wouldn't have in Kingston or Toronto. I feel like I am truly in the school of life and am glad to be learning so much :)

March 24st

Another interesting week comes to a close. My worst teaching day, a bout of homesickness and few sleepless nights made me feel a little restless and confused. I took some time to myself this past weekend, to unwind, plan and remember why I came. I also caught up on some much needed sleep. By Sunday all was well again. I took a journey into the mountains and got some great shots. My ride home was sweet as I didn't have to peddle for over a kilometer. The mountain roads twist and turn in every direction, endlessly spiraling upwards. It's wild to leave town and so quickly enter the massive hills. Over 100000 people live in Yi-lan but it is considered rural by Taiwanese standards. Amongst the foreign crowd it seems even smaller. Limited restaurants provide English menus so there are a lot of repeat visits to the same spots through out the week. Similar to a rural reality, everyone knows what is going on with everyone else. I read a really interesting description in The Concubines Children which acknowledge the claustrophobia that comes from being a minority.

Best discovery of the week was to find a gorgeous lake high up in the mountains. A small gathering of houses dot the lakes perimeter, there is no need to squint to see the other side. A gorgeous restaurant welcomes all. A handcrafted log exterior, wooden art and other decorations invite customers in to sit around benches that surround an oval fire pit. Reservations are required and I will be returning! The menu is a set price and the food is a selection of Yi-lan's best. I will write later when I know what that is.

As for the election, all was peaceful and quiet in this county. People trickled in and out of my school to cast their vote. I guess it was a good result as the Taiwanese dollar shot up the next business day. The idea of conducting more business with China and now allowing direct flights to and from Taiwan seems to be well received here. Apparently in southern Taiwan there is a greater demand for independence and separation from China. Here though, people openly say "'m Chinese".