my favorite shot

I got some actual pictures done, and this turned out to be my favorite shot. I'm going to do a lot of my digital pictures when I get back to Canada, at Sam's Club you can edit on the Kodak machines and print on Matte. I'm picky, shiny pictures just don't work for me.

Off for all-you-can-eat Thai food with the Fu-Hsing English Teachers to say goodbye to Justin, Tammy, and Carolyn. Must not pig out. Must not pig out.

Happy Father's Day!

It was my job to 'do' Mother's Day, and I think I chose a very thoughtful gift of that scholarship from Room to Read. I reminded Kathy that it was her turn for Father's Day. Well, both of our credit cards are full of international flights, so we couldn't do the gift we had planned. So Kathy planned this. Check out our Father's Day website. Oooooh. Snappy. (=

Happy Father's Day - We Love You Dad!

One year later...

Last year, I was graduating. This year, I'm the teacher watching my students graduate! How entirely unsettling. I still don't think I could be a 'real' teacher long-term, I'm just too sad to say goodbye to the students! This year wasn't so bad, because I only taught the grade 9 students for first semester. In fact, I could only remember a handful of the students names. Still I felt proud watching them graduate. This picture is of the top students from all the grade 9 grads, the valedictorians, I guess. They were all my students last year, so watching them getting there awards was enjoyable.

Well, I enjoyed watching the graduation for the first hour, but after that I was just trying to maintain sanity. We made guesses as to how long the ceremony would last and we were way off - can you imagine, it ended up being a four hour long ceremony. With about 30 words of English total. There were just under 400 grade 9 graduates who all got there name called, diploma and picture; and there were another 400 grade 6 grads (who will mostly be coming back to Fu-Hsing for Junior High).

"HUURGGH"

That's an approximation of the sound we make in Body Combat. None of the Taiwanese women make a peep, but Kathleen and I are happily grunting away with the men. Body Combat is an program designed by an American company that is used in gyms all over the world (Same music tracks, same choreography; local instructors). It is a mix of self-defense and boxing. It's the toughest workout I've ever done, I always leave dripping in sweat. But, boy is it fun. Addictive, actually. I never thought I'd be the kind of person who loves going to the gym, and uses it as 'me-time' but I'm starting to get that way.

Oh, and the picture I posted earlier today is from a gym in Singapore, not mine. I'll try to take a picture sometime this week, so you can get a better idea of what the classes are like at our gym, California Fitness. Basically it's 200 Taiwanese people crammed into a room, and Kathy and I. There are times I am overwhelmed by the oddness of the situation. Other times, I get so angry at people invading my personal space I have to talk myself out of punching them. (When people get too close, I just grunt really loudly and that scares them away.)

the love of books

I was talking to my parents about my one day in Toronto this summer, and the conversation motivated me to start a library wish-list. The idea of walking into our mammoth Central library in Richmond Hill is overwhelming. All those books, in English, for free! Too much. So, I'm going to put together a reading list. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions. I'm leaning towards some lighter reading, fiction or non, but with some redeeming value, nothing too mindless. Leave a comment if you have an idea.

I went to Amazon.com to check out what new books were out. Lo and behold, I clicked on books, and on the main page was a link to the "Emergent Faith Store." I had to take a second look, I was so surprised. I thought Emergent was still a rather small movement and more counter-culture than consumerist. Sadly, no. I looked at the Emergent Faith Page, and it was full of all sorts of "christian books" about the same stuff, with a new trendier name. It makes me sad. I don't know, I haven't really over-anayzed it, but everything I was attrached to in the post-modern/emergent movement is contradicted by a featured page on the top american bookseller website.

The introduction to the page went like this:

Contemporary music, a shirt-sleeved pastor, and a cup of coffee, often set the stage for a new approach to religious services. Without sacrificing core values, the goal of the emerging church movement is to help churches reach their full potential and reach a wider audience--meeting that audience on its own territory, in real life, real community contexts.

Yup, that's it for me, short sleeves. (Note: deep sarcasm laced with disappointment). Lets all reach our full-potential, with 'contemporary' music.

Hmm. I'm not throwing the baby out with the water here, I still think the true post-modern approach to church is something entirely different than short-sleeves and potential. I just think it's sad that it's going to be confused with the brand marketed on Amazon.

Oh, and it doesn't really affect me now, anyway, because I have been unable to find any sort of emergent / postmodern church in either Taipei or Halifax. But I am excited about visiting one church in Halifax, a community called the Agora, which is associated with the Mennonite Brethern. They meet on Sunday nights and have coffee and muffins. That's all I ask. I guess Amazon had one part right, coffee is an integral element in any church trying to be accessible!

Body Combat

Well, today is Saturday morning, and I'm off to Body Combat. Tell you about it later.

Another Monkey

I'm sorry, but I have stopped trying to think of clever or imaginative blog post titles. That's just too much time I don't have!

This is, as the title says, another monkey. He was the baby, although you can't quite tell that from the photo. When the mother saw me trying to take a picture of her, she stuck her foot on the glass to block the shot. But when the baby saw me smiling at him, he smiled back. Cute, eh?

This is a monkey...

The gibbons were cute, but far away. Can't say that for the chimpanzees. (?) They were so friendly a group of three of them were sitting right next to the glass, inches away from my face. I don't think I've ever been so close. Sadly, the glass was dirty and there was a lot of reflection, so it's not going to win any prizes. But I was glad to get a shot of how cute and close they were.

An orchid a day...

Well, my quality of life has improved drastically in the last 12 hours. I still feel like I have a million and one things on my 'to-do list', but what's a million and one things when you have the internet? Nothing, I tell you. So, my peace of mind is restored, although the unneccesary stress of the last few weeks probably took a few years of my life.

So I'm close to estatic, I'm wrapping up all the school stuff, and greatly anticipating Claire coming in 10 days. Ten days! Whoo-ho! Life is good, although I had to spend an hour yesterday blocking all of my plans into my calendar for the summer, and it's non-stop from now until August. There are two weeks in August when I'll only have an evening class four days a week, so I'll consider that my vacation.

Zoo day

Kathleen and I took the advantage of a rainy Sunday afternoon to explore the Taipei zoo. Quite enjoyable. Actually, mostly humane and quite extensive. Of course, the monkeys were the best part. Well, to be more specific, the gibbons.

Oh, and the really, really good news... I'm posting this from our apartment computer. After what seems like eternity but was really only two months. And do you know what, we just didn't have the right codes. Alas. At least its all fixed now, and Kathy will be very happy to have internet this summer. The whole experience has taught me that I am utterly dependent on the internet. Better to accept the truth than live in denial, eh?

Blue

This is a blue berry, but I do no think it is a blueberry persay. He-he.

Not mad cow disease.

This is a cherry. It was the last one, and I had to take a picture before I ate it. They were special white cherries and cost about $8 a box. I still bought them, cause I love cherries. "Life is like a chairful of bowlies!" ~ Mary Engelbreit

In unrelated news, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is going around the school. Everyone was calling it Foot and Mouth Disease which Kathy and I were quite sure was the technical name for Mad Cow, right? That seemed odd, so I looked it up online. Two very different things. Hand, foot and mouth is common in Taiwan and Malaysia during the summer, and it is not serious. Mostly spread among children, had a few fatalities in 1998, so the school takes it very seriously.

All the more reason to wash my hands all the time. It still seems like a hopeless cause, because it seems that NO ONE in Taiwan washes their hands with soap. I grew up with a very germ-concious mother, and I know that splashing water on your hands does nothing. Alas. It just baffles me that just an island or two over is Japan, where sanitation is stict and hygenie is very important. If anyone could clue me into why Japan is so clean and hygenic and most Taiwanese don't even use soap, I would appreciate it. It's just one of those cultural differences that is starting to get to me, as the end is in sight.

Ball of Stress speaks

No, dear folk who read my blog, I have not forgotten you. To the contrary, I think of this little spot daily, and wish that I could unravel this ball of stress that is my life at the moment, in order to sit down and fill you in. Sorry. Not happening. Ah the proverbial saying, it will get worse before it gets better. School is so close to done, that life is all at once rosy and dark. I have much, much, much to finish in the next two weeks. Then in LESS than two weeks, my wonderful friend Claire is coming, which is certainly going to be the highlight of my time in Taiwan, but will require me to clean my room, and risk the wrath of the colonies of ants and cockroaches.

Which reminds me, after all that buildup to the "traumatic experience" I had last week, I never posted my children's story. That's because I had mean ol' Kathy read it, and she said it wasn't that good. If she didn't think it was good, I was certainly not going to post it in a public place. So, I'll save you the whole story, the short version is:

Last week we had an earthquake, the biggest one so far this year. It was just after midnight, and I awoke to a bit of a shaking. It doesn't bother me much, I think it's fun rather than scary. So after it finished, I went to the washroom, then went to climb into bed when I noticed something. You probably guessed it. A freaking gigantic cockroach tucked in between my mauve comforter and rose sheet. AAAAAHHHHH! describes it. I mean really, these cockroaches are huge, with long wavy antenna and wings. I did not scream, but went to the bedroom next to mine to find our resident cockroach killer. By the time we returned, bearing large hiking boots on all hands, the cockroach was gone. Where too? Well, probably under my bed. Alas. After that, it took me a very long time to get my heartrate down, and convince myself that cockroaches don't like me any more than I like them. I still tucked all my mosquito netting in around my mattress and slept with the light on. Now, every night before bed, I have to give my comforter a good shake, to ensure no more unpleasant bedfellows.

Okay, so that's my story for today. Why don't you read the cousins blogs? Jill and Michelle both have new interesting posts. I completely emphasize with Michelle's rant. I have developed a special 'evil look' that I sneer at any taxi that tries to cut in front of me in the cross walk. I can't emphasize with Jill, she's cruising in Bermuda, but it sounds like fun!

Still no computer, some days no water, broken pipes, cockroaches, no pedestrian right of way, and small personal space bubbles. I'm starting to count the days.

Final and favorite rose

This is my last rose shot, and my favorite. I want to do a series of four prints and tint them different shades to make a collage.

Blossom

Today is my busy day, 6 hours teaching. This evening we have a Grade 6 Graduation Party at the very classy Grand Hyatt Hotel. It should be fun. It did mean I had to run to the gym at lunch for a power Body Combat class. Now I need to run to Grade 7 girls. Hurry, hurry.

bloom

Kathy bought roses. I had to take pictures. The shading on the flowers made them especially dramatic subjects. More to come.

Guest Blog by Kathleen

A happy moment in my day. The grade 7 boys were doing an activity in which one partner runs to the back, reads a couple words from a story then runs to the front and tells their partner, who then writes it down. First team to finish the story wins. I have one boy who has basically no English skills, so I was worried how he and his partner would do. But as I walked by, I saw that the boy was writing words in English. I was flabbergasted until I realized that his partner was running up and spelling each word, one letter at a time. "L,a,s,t, s,u,m,m,e,r, h,e, w,e,n,t, t,o, I,t,a,l,y." Even though they didn't finish first, I gave both boys extra points for effort!

A Collection

This is my collection of small animal trinkets. I know, most people hate such knicknacks, but these all have meaning. See, the two dogs are Gog and Magog, from Anne of Green of Gables, actually Anne of the Island. When she has her perfect little house with her college friends, Gog and Magog are the two porcelian dogs that guard the fireplace. I painted them in that little paint-your-own-pottery place in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I decided that I needed a tangible reminder of my sense of home. So wherever I go, I'll take these to remind me I am 'home.'

The frog has it's own story. The last day I was in Oxford, Heidi and I were waiting at a bus stop downtown, to catch the bus to the airport. I was feeling so sad to be leaving and that my Oxford experience was over. I was also regretting not buying any one significant souvenier. Then, I turned around, and there was this little frog, sitting on the windowsill of the pub behind us. It was the perfect thing for that moment. I keep it as a reminder of how things don't work out how I want them to, they always turn out better.

The cats are from Malaysia. They were dirt cheap. There is no story.

Contextless Photo

These are kittens in a Taipei petstore. Cute, eh?

One of those rambling journal posts...

So, today is the last Saturday class. We had 10 each semester, so I've had these kids for a total of 40 hours. What did we do? The time went so fast. It has been, by far, my favorite class to teach. I think that's because writing is one of my passions and I feel like I have a good knowledge base to pass on. And because grade 7 and 8's are just the best. They all get certificates today, that Kathy brought from Canada.

Last night, I was so excited because I finally bought an MP3 player. Kathy bought one a few days ago, and she was having so much fun with her toy, I needed one! We both bought ones on sale, mine was about $120 ($40 off). And Kathy, who did all the research, said it has good reviews. So I now own the 512 MB MuVo TX FM MP3 Player. I wanted an i-pod mini, but Kathleen convinced me that it didn't make sense in Taiwan.

THen of course, I came home to the bad news that they had given us a replacement laptop that was almost entirely in Chinese, still couldn't get the internet, and wouldn't save anything. So I have an MP3 player and no way to put music on it. Kathleen is very stressed about the situation. She actually yelled at me about it. So I suggest not mentioning anything about computers to her until this is all sorted out, she'll have a panic attack. (=

Finally, I bought two new cds. Damien RIce, O, which I've wanted for awhile. Nice, calm, mellow, walking to work music.
Then I bought Black Eyed Peas new cd, Monkey Business, for listening to at the gym. I didn't know they had a new album, so I was happy to find it. I just looked it up online, and it doesn't come out in the US until Tuesday, June 7! Well, lucky me. I really like it, highly recommend for Ellipticals. Oh, and the funny thing is that because it is for Taiwan, they had an extra insert with all of the lyrics written out. There's a good reason they don't put the lyrics in, when you read it, it sounds insanely stupid. I'll have to quote some later!

For family

For those who care, i.e. family, this is what the back of my hair looks like. Some days it's curlier than others, depending on the humidity and the product I use. I still adore the haircut a few weeks in, although I wonder whether it turn straight when I get back to humidity free, cooler Canada.

Just another Thursday

Today is another long Thursday. I just try not to think too much about it, and just get through the day. (Thankfully, only one day of the week do I feel this way).

Anyway, last night I had a traumatic experience, about which I have written a children's story. Well, obviously not too traumatic. I left my notebook at home, so you'll have to wait till tommorrow to find out what happened.

Finally, two reasons why it's fun to be twins:
1. For the second time in two days, Kathleen and I met in the living room to find out we were wearing the same shirt. Not just the same colour, but the exact same grape, Jacob Annex scoop-neck. Yup. We shouldn't buy the same clothes.
2. At Body Combat a few days ago, we were sitting in the studio, waiting for class to start. Kathleen was discussing her theory on the Taiwanese concept of space and crowding. She noticed my eyes start to unfocus and asked: "Are you tired, or just tired of me talking?" "You talking." "Okay." Then quiet. Ahhh. It's good to have a twin.

Multi-lingual animals

This morning in my Grade 2 class, we were reading the book "Lizard for Sale." It's a boring book, I don't recommend it. But we were listing off all the animals that are used for pets, and we got to "Parrots." I put the flash card on the board, turned around, and asked "Who knows what is one special thing that parrots can do?"

There were lots of hands, and the girl I called on stood up and said: "They speak Chinese!"

I laughed outloud, having never thought about the fact that parrots speak a language I seem to be unable to pick up. We then discussed what language parrots would speak in France or Japan; finally leading to the conclusion that although parrots can talk, they really can't speak Chinese.

Fridge art

This was drawn on the back of an envelope, sent by one of my grade 6 students to her penpal in Indiana. I thought it was so great I took a picture. I like Taipei 101 in the upper corner, the food stall at a night market in the bottom corner, the crosswalks, everything. It's colorful Taipei, Japanese anime style.

pause

Kathleen asked me who "rhymes with kerouac" was, so I pointed her towards his blog: Today at the Mission: Daily Life in the Homeless Shelter. Kathleen agreed with me that he does an wonderful job of giving a fair picture of the struggle and joy of working with the homeless. He has a beautiful post about working with the same people "Year after Year."

[God] keeps asking me to trust in the ridiculousness of hope, to live in the insanity of love, and to walk and be and do in The Way and not in the means.


I bought more Ikea grapefruit candles, and find myself mesmerized by the glow. You'd think I'd be tired of them after wrapping up so many for Claire and John's wedding, but I still love the smell.

My new book

This is the collage from the front cover of my new Jimmy book: The Real Me. It's a series of portraits, with corresponding profiles (written in Chinese, of course). I enjoy the idea of writing my own character profiles for the creative images, and even using them for my writing someday.

Did you know?

This was Question #32 in this morning's Grade 8 English Quiz Competition:

32. When do you think Americans eat dessert?
A. With drinks.
B. After soup.
C. Before bedtime.

Kathleen and I thought there should be a "D" choice "all of the above".
But we soon learned that the correct answer what that Americans eat dessert with drinks. Now we know.

Our supplier

This is Andy, who supplies us with our daily caffiene fixes. (Plural. That's one iced coffee every morning and one hot coffee everyday after lunch).
B U Cafe is our second home. And the coffee is about a third of a price of Starbucks coffee ($1.50 instead of $4.) There's an ongoing debate as to whether BU's coffee is better than Timmie's, but there's no question that we think it's the best in Taipei!

Another View

Another view of Andy quickly and happily filling our orders. He's always so friendly. The snowmen holding the Canadian flag are left over from Christmas. I think they left it up just for us!

Interesting history snippet.

Okay, I read this on another Taipei blog, and I found it interesting.

See, the area where I live is the intersection of Renai and Dunhwa roads. Everyday I walk around this huge roundabout, that has a huge garden of trees in the middle (which, sadly, you can't get to without some seriously dangerous jaywalking). Both Dunhwa and Renai are about 10 lanes wide, with two tree-lined medians down the centre. I think I've put on a picture before. I was wondering how I lucked out to live in such a green area.

So, according to Poagao's Journal:

I love Dunhua because it's full of trees, just like Ren-ai Road. The reason for this is supposedly that Chiang Kai-shek wanted to impress foreign dignitaries, who would arrive at Songshan Airport, drive down Dunhua and make a right onto Ren-ai to the Presidential Office. Those were basically their first impressions, so CKS wanted it to be of broad, tree-lined avenues.

Chef A

Still catching up from last weekend, when we went to "Gourmet Taipei." It was an International Food and Wine show, which was entirely enjoyable. I think I posted a little bit about it, but here are the pictures to go with it.
Kathleen, suited up and ready to 'cook.' Well, actually ready to combine premeasured and prepared ingredients. 'Heh, this is easy!'

Chef B

Here I am ready to cook. You can see the celebrity chef in the front, Kurt Weid from Sweden. (The event was sponsored by IKEA). The only chefs I know are the ones on TV, but Kurt's bio was very impressive, so I paid attention to his instructions.

Voila!

Here is my masterpiece. We made three different 'recipies' (again, I feel a bit silly talking about what we did as cooking recipies, but, whatever). This was my greatest success. I'm not sure what the real name of it was, but given it's ingredients it should be called "Cheese, Spinach, and Caviar on Ritz." It took just the right level of skill to mix the soft cheese and spinach paste. Then there was the task of balancing that mixture elegantly on the cracker, and making a little hole to place the caviar in. Then the final test was the placement of the onion and greens. Aha! When celebrity chef came to do his rounds, he gave both Kathleen and I praise. He said to me: "Oh, we have an artist here, lovely." And to Kathy: "10 Points!" (Out of what?)
Kathleen and I spent a good deal of this cooking session giggling.