Internet Abounds

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As do pictures! Hey everyone, I'm really sorry that I haven't updated this thing since August. I have to type up all of my diary entries and backdate them for you. I've moved, and I'm now lving in a place that has internet (and it's part of the rent, too---huzzah!). So I figured I'd wish everyone a Merry Christmas (especially since, with my record, you proabably won't get your Christmas cards until February or March). Life is pretty quiet. I went to the Christmas celebration for my church. St. Patrick's is this tiny little parish with one English mass a week - which is actually half in Tagolog because all of the English-speaking parishioners other than myself are Philippino. They're really nice, and they keep having me volunteer for little things. I think they find it fascinating that an American girl actually goes to church every week.

I'm also going to a Christmas-y type dinner at Finga's on Saturday for my work. They're splurging and spending a whole $500 per person for all of us 15 poor NSTs who are stuck in Taichung working on Christmas. (That comes to about US$15 per person.) Finga's is cool, though. It's the only place I've found within a 50-minute scooter ride that actually does mashed potatoes - it's so odd what kind of foods you come to crave when you can't find them. I have to actually work Christmas day. I could have requested it off, but I'm payed directly by the hours I teach. Tuesdays are easy teaching days, and I can really use the hours, so I'll work them. I don't go in to work till five though, so I'll spend the morning and early afternoon opening gifts, drinking hot chocolate and playing with Noel, my cat.

I have to run to work, so I'm going to post this and a bunch of pictures today, but know I'll be back on soon!

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Photos

Performance Day
One of my classes on performance day. Classes do a performace day about once a year.

Tree House
This is my Tree House class - fourteen six year olds who attended bilingual kindergartens. This is the only class I teach more than once a week, and they\\\'re my most hair-raising bunch.

Kaohsiung Night Market
Yes, that is a brain on the table.

Only US$30
You can have the ugliest beetle on the planet.

National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium
Coolest aquarium I've ever been to.

Kendig
In the hostel.

Hess
The building where I work

Comments

[Auntie Lori]

Hi Marie
Is that a Christmas tree on your desk? Were you influenced by the season in naming your cat? Glad to hear you are doing well and enjoying yourself. xxoo

[rosalind_marie]

Yes, that is a Christmas tree
on the table i built. i love my power screwdriver. and the cat is sorta named after the season. she's named after my favorite doll that was named after the season. i have to celebrate christmas uber-hard, because no one else is...