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Published: March 7th 2006
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Chinese Lantern Festival
This is Chiang Kai Shek's Memorial Hall, overlooking the national theatre. For the Festival, it transforms into a stage for thousands of paper dogs (Year of the Dog). It was spectacular. Finally! That sums up quite a lot for me right now. I finally have a place to call home and a fantastic teaching job. I finally updated this crazy blog! I finally got that fish tank I've always wanted. And yes, I can finally have some kind of rountine that I've been longing for over the past 6 months.
I am currently writing this from my new apartment, a "New York style" studio that is no bigger than one of those mid-size Hummers. However small, it makes up in location. I have a mammoth-sized window overlooking Daan Park (google this), similar to Central Park in New York. I live on the 3rd floor, so I can see all the happenings of people walking their dogs, doing their yoga and tai-chi, and watching the birds fish in the lake. It is quite remarkable. Coupled with brand new appliances like a/c, washer and dryer, and internet, it is perfect for me. And to make it even better, I have 13 new friends to watch over me when I sleep each night. Walter, Ben, Bobby, Gene, Arnold, Sam, and Byron are the neon betas; Freddie, Craig, and John are the fat goldfish; Jack
Dumpling Fever
Symptoms include constant cravings, watery mouth, and wandering mind. Fever is induced by spicy pork, spinich and shrimp, and red bean paste and chicken!! and Watson are the big black goldfish; and Seve is the sucker! Now...$100 Taiwanese Dollars for the first person to successfully guess the theme behind their names. I picked up this fish tank this weekend, and it goes very well in the cramped corner.
And I found a job, and a great one at that! I work in the south of Taipei, at a school called
IDEAR. It has a reputation as being one of the best, small schools in the city, and I now know why. I work in the billingual branch of the school, and I am the resident MUSIC/DANCE teacher! I've been there for a week now, and I have taught 5 year olds about whole beats and rests, 4 year olds how to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, 3 year olds Mary Had a Little Lamb, and 2 year olds Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes! Its great. The 2 year old class is a bit rough, with most of them just learning to speak in general, let alone English, but we manage. I made two old black socks into Sandy and Mae, my new Snake Sock Puppets, that every kid loves! I put them on, say things like "Hi kidssssssss, I'm Sssssssandy the sssssssssnake" and they are perfect little angels until the sock comes off. I have all the music lessons for all the classes, and a "beginner architecture" class with legos most days as well. I have an easy schedule compared to most, and I am not complaing one single bit!!
I also started taking Chinese lessons for two hours a day, directly after work. This is the hardest thing I've ever done. Example: Mandarin Chinese has 4 tones, all wich make each word extremely different. The first tone of "MA" means mother. 2nd tone means "hemp". 3rd tone means "horse", 4th tone means "abuse or scold"! Now multiply that with sounds like "zh but with your tounge rolled back" and characters that take 3 minutes to write down and we're learning some real Chinese. Needless to say, the pace is slow, but I am already starting to understand words on TV. Hopefully, with the regiment that I am following, I can get a grip of the language and maybe even order Dim Sum for us when you all come to visit me.
And thats it! Work outs start at 5:45AM, school from 8AM to 5PM, Chinese lessons from 7-9PM, an hour of studying when I get back, some preperation for tomorrow's schoolwork, and its off to bed! I figured if 1.4 billion Chinese/Taiwanese can have such a regimented routine, I'll give it my best for a while as well.
Onn a sad note, I have broken up with my girlfriend, Shannon, as we struggled to keep the fire stoaked these past few weeks. I do not have the time, nor the energy to be a boyfriend right now, and its not fair to her or me. I think it comes as a relief for both of us. With that said, we are still very close, and have some great plans for the coming weeks to tour such a wonderful island.
And once again, as I have said in almost every blog, I will try to publish this more, and give you some more insight into the sights and sounds of Taiwan. Maybe I can write less, put on more pictures, and satisfy those that find it necessary to send three word emails to me that say "Update your blog-".
Anyway, I hope this letter finds each and every one of as healthy, happy, and productive as I am. I find it interesting that I go through my day with constant reminders of home. Someone I pass on the street or some funny picture I see on the subway, it all makes me realize how much I miss my family and friends back home. I do. Even though we might not have talked to each other in weeks, months, or even years...I still miss you guys.
AH!! As I try and load the pictures onto this slow internet, I get kicked off everytime. Taipei is host to wireless internet all over the city, but there are only a select few places where it really roars. I got 2 pics on here, but more will have to come later.
Sorry,
Ty
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William Earl
non-member comment
Thats Easy Ty
Thats too Easy a question Ty, they are all pro golfers. Please send the $ to po box 2572, Newport Beach, CA 92659. " Walter, Ben, Bobby, Gene, Arnold, Sam, and Byron are the neon betas; Freddie, Craig, and John are the fat goldfish; Jack and Watson are the big black goldfish; and Seve is the sucker! Now...$100 Taiwanese Dollars for the first person to successfully guess the theme behind their names"