February 24, 2005- Taitung City, Taiwan

Hello Everyone...Ahhh... what a stressful couple days. When I arrived in TaitungCity (by plane) I was very tired. What a long day Wednesday was. Iwas travelling with Ryan (another English teacher from Canada-Toronto- he's been in Taiwan teaching for about 3 years so I amappreciating the experience he has to offer about teaching EFL-english as a foriegn language.), Naomi (Ryan's co- teacher). Whenwe arrived there were about 10 people waiting for us- ohh... how Ijust wanted to crawling into my bed and fall asleep. We went tolook about the appartment- it is located in the community centre- anice location, but a little wierd- but I am getting used to it. Iwill go check out another dorm building where another chineseenglish teacher lives- her english name is Evelyn- she just finisheduniversity. So the evening didn't end there- we went for dinnerwith the principal, my co teacher, head of the english departmentand my co teachers daughter (who also works at the school). What anight. And that was Wednesday. On Thursday, February 24th, I wasintroduced at a sporting event- for outdoor athletics (and yes, itwas the same building that I am living in- so it was a quick 1minutes walk to the stands where the crowd sits. It was very warmthat day- so nice. But they tell me it will get hotter and hotteras the summer comes-- that is good to hear too. I applied for myResident Visa card, went to the school and met the other 21 chineseenglish teachers. They are all very nice. I will need their helpto keep track of 500+ students and their marks. Ryan and I with ourco-teachers also had a press conference with the principals anddirectors and anybody else invloved in this program. Then we allwent for lunch at a traditional aboriginal resturant- very good.They are very generous to us and have gone out of their way to makeour stay confortable. Last night, I went for dinner at McDonald'sand had a hamburger and fries. Then we went to see the lanternfestival- very busy and exciting to see. So much going on here-very neat. Yesterday was very warm and wonderful. They were havingtheir lanturn festival and I went to watch it with Ryan (anotherenglish speaker), Naomi(Ryan's co-teacher), Ryan's principal, andLaura (my co- teacher). There were lots and lots of firecrackersand they just went crazy with them- they sounded like big bangs-wow. Kinda scary, but the festival is winding down.I just made a speech to the students- there are about 2 ,400students at this school. It was scary. This weekend is a longweekend- Monday is a holiday for them. I am going to try and plansome lessons, clean my appartment. It will be my first weekend bymyself. When I was at the police station getting my finger printsdone, I met a guy named Chris and he and his wife have been inTaiwan for 15 years. He told me about sunday evening Vespers (sp??)so I am going to try and call that lady- shelley about it and findout more. I have not had access to the internet or phone. It isweird to have no communication to the outside world. But anotherteacher has given me an old phone of his and I am going to buy phonecards to put on it. I will have to see about long distant charges.I still need to find out the number of the cell phone.I start teaching on Tuesday morning. I have 20 classes with 30- 35students in each... ahhhh... that is a lot of students. This is aneat community. It is very nice that it is smaller, less pollutedand crowded than Taipei. I am enjoying so far. I long for home andwish for something normal. I have met many nice people, but nofriends yet. Please pray that this will happen. I am lookingforward to attending Vespers on Sunday evening.Please let me know how you are all doing. I would love to hear fromand and I will try and write back.God's richest blessings,faith

February 17, 2005

Hi Everyone! Ni Hao (Hello, How are you?)Today has been a ery busy day. I got up at 6:30 am, had a greasydonut stick, sweet rice milk, and an orange. Everyone of us (thereare 11 Canadian teachers, 2 British Teachers and all of our co-teachers from our schools) get on the bus and go into Taipei to auniversity for the day and learn chinese- it is very overwhelming-It is only a crash course- how can anyone learn so quickly- theytell us. We are to go into Taipei again tomorrow to have anotherwhole day of chinese instruction. I love to learn about it, but itis so much.After the training, we walked to a resturant and had traditionalchinese mainland supper- hot cabbage, rice, sweet shrimp, stringybread, dumplings with meat in them (my favorite of the meal), stinkysweet and sour soup- I hate this and refuse to eat it- eww..., friedsquid (chewy), cabbage boiled, cabbage soup, cabbage everything...ahhhhh... and for dessert it is a rice ball with red beans- a sweetthing and orange slices. I make it seem... maybe bad or maybeglorified, I'm not sure. So far the food has left so much to bedesired for. All I want is a good pizza... ahhh...For the weekend we should be going to visit museums and othertouristy places. Yesterday I went to a temple- ery wierd to seepeople bowing and worshiping a god that they have made. I am havinga had time understanding this. Then we walk through the nightmarkets- the city does not come alive until about 4pm and themarkets stay alive all evening. I do not think people own kitchens-they eat out so much- what a culture- I think I could get used tothe eating out, but it is not foods I enjoy- still so much to getused to. The staff tells us with a smile that we are still inthe 'honeymoon' stage of the experience- I am finding it hardalready- I am looking forward to leaving the big city and seeing mycommunity and school. I fly out on wednesday and I guess they areholding a celebration and welcoming supper in our honor- I do feeloverwhelmed and I am glad that they told me- so that I can beprepared to be on my best behaviour??Well, the night is winding itself to a close. I hope that you areall keeping well. Love you lots!Faith