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Published: June 27th 2006
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Lately I have been the busiest I’ve ever been since my arrival in Taiwan. Right now my curriculum at school is changing, so, I have lost a few hours but have been able to find a few more private classes to teach to make-up for it….Now on Tuesdays I have two classes at another ‘school’ where the kids’ English is impeccable….I found the job online on a website for foreigners in Kaohsiung, and to be honest, was nervous to take the position.
It’s funny because when I first arrived I did a lot of sub work - basically an hour before my first ever class started, I had no idea that I would be taking the position….but regardless, I wasn’t nervous at all, and entered the room-full-of-kids with ease and just did what they told me to.
Now - since I’m constantly gaining experience, I am feeling a bit jittery…..I guess because I now know how prepared I need to be, and, that I don’t have the excuse “I am new here” to label myself with in case I do a questionable job.
A few days after getting the new position, however, I was watching Oprah and there was a
story about this dog that had no front legs, and had learned to walk like a person.
Suddenly I thought: if a dog can manage to live life having to learn to walk on 2 legs, I’m sure I could garner the strength I’ll need to overcome my fear of taking on these new classes…….then I realized that my real problem wasn’t being incapable of working in this new environment - it was the fact that I was comparing myself to a leg-less animal.
So much for Oprah.
Well, dragonboat ended May 31st, and our team won the first 2 races - setting a record time of 2:20 in one of them, but sadly, we lost the final two. Apparently our competition’s mullets were purely cut for aerodynamic reasons and not for style.
Looking back, it was an amazing experience, and I am so glad I squeezed it in. I’ve made some really great friends ut of it - many of whom are now taking scuba diving lessons with me (we started three weeks ago).
This weekend we’re headed to Kenting to do our first dive. I
I am so excited! I hope I’ll be able to
get a few dives in before my trip to Thailand at the end of October. You may not think it, but Taiwan has some world class diving as well…there are a few small islands off the coasts, one of which (Green Island) divers can swim with Hammerhead sharks. I hope I can eventually do this before I leave....!
A few weekends ago, I took a road-trip with friends back to Sun Moon Lake - but this time we rented mountain bikes and cycled 33k around the entire lake (I don’t think I’ve done 33k of anything before…).
Basically I haven’t touched a bicycle in about 3 years, and when I did own one…..it was definitely a $50 Canadian-Tire-wonder that was so crappy that when it was stolen one summer….the person brought back hours later. I was disappointed…
Anyway - it was a super challenging route because the lake is in the middle of some mountains…so, there were some serious hills to battle in the 35 degree weather. At times I felt so invigorated and fit…but other times I was spewing out words I can’t repeat here and seconds away from hurling the bike over the edge of
a cliff. All in all, I loved it…we camped near the lake that night, and were able to find a secret place where we swam (it’s against the law to swim in the lake) and fall asleep for a while.
Later that night when we were wandering around the little village, we came across a random carnival game (throwing baseballs at metal doors - if you open all the doors you win prizes) - there WAS a prize list up: hit 5, win a DVD player, hit 7, win a 32” TV………..but the only thing I saw in the warehouse was a plastic car with 3 wheels and a tin full of shoes.
My friend Melinda decided to play, and she kept hitting the doors and they would shake but stay shut ….after a few, it was obvious that they were nailed. That is ‘carnival games in Taiwan’ in a nutshell.
The men who owned the game were sitting across the street in their scooter shop, and invited us in to have a beer with them…which (due to Taiwanese hospitality and generosity) turned into several…..to the point of my friend Rob being nicknamed “bigger brother”. Honestly, the Taiwanese
are SO hospitable and friendly - as locals noticed us sitting in the shop - they started to come over and say hello, bringing food that they had prepared just for us….
I just wish I could’ve swallowed most of it (“1000 year old eggs” aka: eggs marinated in horse urine, chewing tobacco and other sea-food related things).
It’s very impolite not to take something when it’s offered…but I just couldn’t do the pee-eggs…..so, I swallowed all the beer they gave me as compensation (it was the least I could have done, right?!)…each time they say “Gambe” you have to finish what’s in your glass…..goodtimes.
It was so great to be with local people despite the fact that none of us spoke each other’s language enough to hold fluent conversation. To me, that is one of the most rewarding experiences of being here. It’s amazing how body language (and beer) are interpreted and used in an international way…..but seriously, the longer I am in Taiwan, the more I am able to appreciate the sheer randomness of daily life, and at the same time appreciate the unique cultural differences and charm that the people here possess.
Well - that’s
enough for now…..I hope I can send something out more regularly now that my schedule is settling down…I went river tracing this past weekend, and will post some pictures once I get them on my computer.
Miss you all -
R.
ps: I have to post pics in a few days - my computer is too slow right now.
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Libby
non-member comment
Hi
Reebs...I just want to say that even though I may not write back very often (or ever) I love to read your blogs and I often think about what I might reply if I were to write back (trust me, I have sent you some seriously funny emails in my head). I love that you're having such a great time and I can't wait until you return (whenever that may be).