Dinner at the Tainan City Night Market

Our beautiful friend, Judi, took Nicole and I to the night market for dinner. I rode on the back of Nicole's scooter for the first time and we had a great time. The food choices were a sight to see (octopus fritters, eel-on-a-stick, grilled squid, fresh fruit, etc...) I had noodles with shrimp topped with two eggs. It was quite good. It was a beautiful evening to be out and it seemed that all of Tainan City was out and about.

More scenes from school

Finally, today we had students. I started out with an ice breaker where the students guessed facts about me. It went very well. I also instituted the clapping hands method of classroom management and today the children got the message that when they hear this, their eyes are on me and their ears are ready to listen. I also learned the English names of all of the students which vary from Leo to Potter to Vivian to Mary. You can see Emily, Candy and Joanne above. I will be teaching 12 different classes of 6th graders twice a week plus doing workshops for teachers from across the city. The command of the English language is enormous because the wealthy children go to after school English schools and speak well. It is the age-old story between the haves and the have nots.

Scenes from my school

Here are pictures from my school. The three women in the top row are two student teachers and my lead teacher, Juliet. Juliet is the one who has been writing me all summer, found my housing and has been so valuable in helping me get settled. The student teachers took me shopping, out for dinner, and are holding up the article from the newspaper (http://www.tncg.gov.tw/18a.asp?ID=950828027). Shengli Elementary school is huge (2,300+ students). They have a track on the interior of the school and lots of trees. It is quite beautiful. I have put up a bulletin board in the back of my classroom with an Indiana map, an Indiana Hoosiers t-shirt (Keith--I picked an IU shirt because of the Indiana Hoosier written on the front), a picture of my family, a Franklin College pennant, and calendar pictures of Indianapolis. The principal really liked it and wants me to to an "Indiana Day" for the school. My first big challenge.

The classroom is not air conditioned but thankfully there are lots of ceiling fans and because we are on the second floor we get a great cross breeze. Let's hope the air continues to blow because it is really hot if not. The sun does not hit my room until late in the afternoon. My day runs from 7:45-4:00. That includes a 1/2 hour lunch, 1/2 hour recess and 1/2 hour nap--yes, even the 6th graders and teachers are to take a nap.

I will be teaching 12 classes of 6th grade English language, but the principal has asked Ariel (pictured beside the bulletin board--she is by teaming teacher) to split the class into to two parts and I am to do special projects with the 6th graders. I am also to do workshops for teachers. This is going to be fun!!

Making the news!!

Hey all,

Here is a website for a Chinese newspaper that had an article about Nicole and me. As with most newspapers, they quoted me as saying I want to go to the Night Markets (Nicole said this) and that I am riding a bicycle to school. Nothing was mentioned about the exchange program and why I am doing this program. Oh, well. I got a free gift (a stuff native bird toy and a combination flashlight, clock, thermometer, and compass) and met the Director of Education for Tainan City. Maybe Chiyo or Paulo can read the article for you. Here is the website:

http://www.tncg.gov.tw/18a.asp?ID=950828027

A Walk in the City

I took a very long walk this evening for the exercise (and must have sweat a gallon) but also to get some bread at a store we found the other day. It has fresh, warm, crusty bread that is soft inside. It is bright orange inside but it tastes great! Here are some sites I saw along the way. You will see that we have lots of Western restaurants such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds, and Burger King. The menus have some similar items but other items are quite interesting.

Shopping for Dinner

Everything is very fresh here. You can buy sea food (fish or squid as seen above) freshly caught, cleaned and on your table in a short amount of time. Don't turn up your noses--the squid and octopus are delicious.

Beauty in Taiwan

Here is another example of the beautiful flowers seen in Taiwan. This is a Chinese Hibiscus.

A Dumpling dinner in Kaohsiung County

Here we are at the home of a physician in Kaohsiung County. The Tans invited us to accompany them to a gathering where a variety of dumplings were on the menu (noodles stuffed with shrimp, pork or vegetables and either steams or boiled) as well as a salad of greens, shrimp, and octopus. Everything was delicious. Of the 4 families at the gathering, all had daughters only--no sons. So, there were 12 delightful young ladies between the ages of 5 and 17. The Taiwanese society is much different from mainland China in that girls are highly valued. The Tans themselves have 4 daughters. You can see the house which has beautiful wooden floors and rooms that are partitioned by sliding, light-weight doors. It is a very comfortable home and we felt very welcomed. Dinner was followed by a stroll along the harbor and the lighting of fireworks.

Tye-dying in Taipei

Before leaving Taipei, we were taken to a market where we learned how to tye-dye a cloth. It was amazing because the crowd was huge and all were there to participate. You can see some of our finished products.

A Teenage Hangout

Nicole and I wanted ice cream so we found a place packed with teenages called "Modern Toilet." It was hilarious because you sit at tables on decorated toilet seats and eat ice cream from plastic bowls in the shape of toilets and bed pans. :-) As you can see from the size of Nicole's dessert, you get a lot. This dessert cost 60NT or about $2.00. The dessert is shaved ice with syrup (I had strawberry) and you also receive a cookie with swirled chocolate/vanilla ice cream. The shaved ice concoction is delicious but the ice cream is not very tasty at all.

Getting around Tainan City

Hi all,

Everyone rides scooters here and they rarely follow the rules of the road. Amazingly, I have only seen three accidents and they have all involved cars. I'm riding a bike with a helmet and today was my first day to venture out--I am here to say that I made it. Taiwan supposedly has the 3rd highest rate of road accidents. I can see why.

Another Amazing Day

Hi all,

Nicole and I had an amazing day. We were picked up by Dr. Paul Tan, his wife and 3 of his daughters. The girls are or were students at my school, Shengli Elementary School. They took us to a large shopping mall where we picked up some needed materials for our aparments. Then they invited us home for dinner. What a great time we had with this wonderful family. The girls are very talented athletically and artistically as is their mother. All of them play the piano and sing, play the violin, cello or flute and paint. Additionally, Dr. Tan is a very successful kidney specialist here in the city. They have a beautiful home and have travelled all over the world. Tomorrow they have invited us to join them for dinner in a southern part of the county where we will meet five other families as well. The people of Tainan City are really accepting us and helping us settle in.

Linda

Settling into Tainan City

Hi all,

Well, I'm here. I have been treated royally by the staff at Shengli Elementary School. Several of them met me at the airport and took me to the school where I met more staff and took a tour of the school. I will send pictures later when I find my camera. I was then taken to my aparment which is tiny (one room with a bath) but it is clean, secure, air conditioned, has cable tv, and isa bike ride from my school. Also close by is the train station and a major university. I'm also grateful to the school for sending over a group of student teachers who set up a computer for me, took me to dinner and shopping.

I'm going exploring today and will take care that I can get back to my apartment.

The heat is sapping me of energy but I hope to get use to it. Otherwise I drink lots of water and stay in the shade. I also have started carrying an unbrella to protect me from the intensity of the sun. The temperature here is about 32 degrees Celsius (about 96+ F) but the locals just continue working and playing through it. I see people out exercizing at all times of the day and wonder how they do it.

I am picking up a little Chinese and hope to take a class at the university. I hope to have the children help me with Chinese as I help them with English.

More later,
Linda

Moving day

Hi all,

I'm flying to Tainan City tomorrow (Wednesday, August 23) and I do not know when I'll have internet access again. I'll find out where I'm living and visit my school. This is a very exciting time.

More later,
Linda

More pictures

The Buddha was along side the road and these are two of the dancers from the Culture Center.

A Cultural Trip

Hi all,

Saturday the MOE took us on a trip through the mountains to a Taiwanese Cultural Center. The views were spectacular but the curves in the road were difficult to take. Once there we had lots of fun shopping, watching puppet shows, listening to folk music on some very interesting native instruments, listening to Chinese opera and watching dance presentations. On the return trip we took the road along the coast. This road gave us views of gigantic mountains, rugged shorelines, beautiful beaches and the ocean. Ahhhhh!!!

Eating Out!!!!!

Hi all,

Wow!! We had quite a culinary experience tonight. Since the cafeteria at our dorm was closed, the Ministry of Education (MOE) took us out to dinner. The restaurant was called 168 (the price of the dinner, ~ $5.50), and what was called a "Hot pot." As you can see in the pictures, we have our own station with a pot of boiling water. As food rolls by, we choose what we would like to cook in the hot pot. Choices included all types of sea food, lamb, pork, vegetables and some things which I could not identify (and was not brave enough to try). It was great fun! I must admit that it was the first meal that I felt completely satisfied since I got here--I loved the crab meat, shrimp and mussels.

Linda

Our first trip around Taipei

Hi all,

Here is the Indiana group outside a Buddist Temple near our orientation site. Nicole, Mike, Jason and I are part of a group of about 40 teachers from the US, Canada, Australia and Great Britain who are to teach English is various schools around Taiwan. The other picture is our whole group. The temple is very ornate and a great deal of sculpting is seen throughout. It is quite beautiful.

More later. Linda

News from Taiwan

Hi all,
Here are some beautiful flowers right outside of my doors. The weather is hot and steamy (91F and very humid). We are learning a great deal from local professors and teachers about what to expect in our schools. It is going to be a challenge but one I'm looking forward to this year.
See ya,
Linda

I made it!!

Hi all,

After a long time travelling, we made it to our orientation in Taipei. I'm extremely tired but have already met the Ohio group--lots of nice people. We have a full afternoon; lots of things to learn. More later when I have "recovered." :-)

Linda