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