Saturday, June 23
We made it to SLC airport and boarded our plane to Portland, OR, where we met up
with the other girl in our teaching group. After a quick layover, it was back onto a plane for
an eleven hour flight to Narita-Tokyo, Japan. Roughly 3 and a half movies, and some quick naps later, we
landed in Tokyo exhausted. We also wished each other happy first anniversary! Since we crossed the
International Date Line, we missed most of the 24th, so we really only had about 6 hours to
celebrate. Bummer, but that just means we get to celebrate another weekend to make up for it :)
We made it to SLC airport and boarded our plane to Portland, OR, where we met up
with the other girl in our teaching group. After a quick layover, it was back onto a plane for
an eleven hour flight to Narita-Tokyo, Japan. Roughly 3 and a half movies, and some quick naps later, we
landed in Tokyo exhausted. We also wished each other happy first anniversary! Since we crossed the
International Date Line, we missed most of the 24th, so we really only had about 6 hours to
celebrate. Bummer, but that just means we get to celebrate another weekend to make up for it :)
Sunday, June 24
Happy First Anniversary! We flew from Tokyo to Taipei and after making it through customs,
entered the large airport lobby and looked for someone holding a sign with our names on it.
After an hour and a half of waiting, no one was there still. We called our school director and she
quickly arranged for another driver to pick us up. *Phew* Two hour bus ride and we finally got to our apartment in Changhua, Taiwan! Sleep beckoned, and we crashed around 2AM.
entered the large airport lobby and looked for someone holding a sign with our names on it.
After an hour and a half of waiting, no one was there still. We called our school director and she
quickly arranged for another driver to pick us up. *Phew* Two hour bus ride and we finally got to our apartment in Changhua, Taiwan! Sleep beckoned, and we crashed around 2AM.
Monday, June 25
Our first day at the school. We observed classes and listened to endless instruction about which classes we would be teaching, when they were held, what books we should use. Information overload combined with a jetlagged brain, meant we weren't too useful this day. The kids were great though and we realized teaching in Taiwan would be very different from Russia. The kids actually like English class here, and maybe the ones in Russia did too... Alright, the real difference is the culture- the parents just expect more of their kids here!
Tuesday, June 26
Observed more classes, got more instruction on how to teach. We felt much better today with some more sleep on our side. However we were still (and are actually) melting from the humidity. We went to
a local grocery store this evening which was nice and air conditioned inside, and when we walked back outside, Ray's glasses literally fogged up. It's like stepping out of the shower into your bathroom when you
a local grocery store this evening which was nice and air conditioned inside, and when we walked back outside, Ray's glasses literally fogged up. It's like stepping out of the shower into your bathroom when you
forgot to turn the fan on or leave the door open. You are wet, all the time, everywhere. It's going to take a lot more getting used to!
Wednesday, June 27
The previous married couple teaching at the school flew back to America this day, so Wednesday was our first day of teaching. Both SPE's (little kids) and Elementary levels. It was so fun, and we both felt very satisfied with how our days had gone when we sat down at the end of the day. The other teachers still with us from the first semester showed us around our neighborhood and took us to "Food Street" where they began introducing us to all the delicious and... interesting things... one can get there. So far our favorites are: fresh mango smoothie and a seafood/rice gratin with pumpkin sauce.
Thursday, June 28
Ok, this is Ray, it's my turn to tell a story. Thursday started out like a normal day, as normal, that is, as any day when its only your fourth in a foreign country. Kailin and I woke up, got ready and left for school. She wanted to lead the way on the bikes and as we approached the main road in front of our apartments we had the green light. She checked the light, checked both ways and started to turn left. Out of nowhere a scooter came barreling down the road. Just as she was thinking, "it's ok, I have the right of way" the scooter turned left and drove straight into her. "Kailin!" I cried out as she bounced of the front of the scooter and fell over. She quickly stood up and said she was ok, some people stopped and she reassured them she was fine and everyone rode off. Kailin and I walked to the side of the road, The handlebars on her bike were bent, she had a scratch on her knee, and her pinkie finger was scratched, swollen and bruised. She was more embarrassed than anything. Our school director Sherry reminded us that this is Taiwan, and for busy Taiwanese workers, red lights are more of a suggestion. Also, I got a haircut.
Ew, gross. I had to take off my wedding ring too because that finger was swelling.
Ew, gross. I had to take off my wedding ring too because that finger was swelling.
Friday, June 29
For only 3 days of actual teaching we were more tired than we probably had a right to be, but we're going to keep blaming jetlag for that. We ventured out to Food Street and ate some more delicious rice gratin, then walked home in a steady drizzle of the warmest rain I've ever experienced in my life. Since we were already soaking wet from our own sweat (TMI?) the rain hardly even phased us.
Saturday, June 30
Today we were able to finally sleep in (woot!) which felt awesome. Then we rode our bikes (myself much more cautious and maybe too obsessed this time) to the Morning Market. Talk about sensory overload! In a small alley, there are crammed stores with fish, jewelry, clothing, handbags, dishes, bed sets, shoes, shoes, more shoes, plus the frequent fruit stand. Darting between the shops and stands are hundreds of people, scooters (which I'm still not sure I will ever be okay with) and even a van or two! Apparently, no space is too small to try and cram your vehicle through. We found tons of exciting souvenir prospects, but since we are here for 6 months we kept our monies saved. We did however go see a movie! Snow White and the Huntsman, which was thankfully in English and only cost about $6- totally worth sitting in a dark, air conditioned room for a couple hours. Then more biking to Shopping Street; more shoes clothes and bags, and finally home again, home again, jiggidy-jig.
Le Shopping Street- I just noticed these girls are in long sleeves... No idea how they aren't dead.
Two loads of laundry later and our first week in Taiwan is complete!
