Always an Adventure...

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I am applying to grad school. After I mailed my application, I emailed them to let them know, and I immediately got a reply back. Then I waited, and waited, and waited, checking my bank account often to see if the application fee had been withdrawn. Then, out of the blue, I get this email, asking me to set up an online account: I was a little shocked, but I set up the account, and then was able to find out that my application has been received (obviously) and is still pending. So....keep praying for me! If it goes through, I may be able to start an online course as early as January. And I would go to LA in July to do modular classes. Last weekend I attended ETA, the English Teacher's Association conference in Taipei, for two days. It was kind of a test for myself, to take in some of the more academic speakers and see if I could get a handle on what corpus linguistics is! I actually really enjoyed it and learned a LOT, especially from two speakers i...

I arrived at class on Monday and after the end of the first period, the teacher informed me that the next class would be absent because the entire class had to stay home due to H1N1. The government here has made a policy that if there are two positive cases in a class or office within three days, there must be a week of self-quarantine. So I got a free period in the middle of my day and a complimentary(?) pack of surgical masks to wear. I didn't wear them since it would impede language instruction in a number of ways, but most of the students were wearing them, for self protection. It felt like I was teaching classes in a hospital!

I got a haircut last week and got some layers. So far I like it, but the funniest thing is the "compliments" I've been getting from my Taiwanese friends. In one day, I had at least three people tell me， "Your hairstyle looks so feminine!" Kinda made me wonder if I was looking too masculine before, or what haha! I know what they mean (女生味), but it's still funny to hear.

It's suddenly quite cool here in Taiwan, I think the temperature is in the mid teens, and while I do feel a little chilly, being acclimatized and all, it seems like I'm sill wearing a lot less than the people around me. I haven't busted out the turtlenecks and winter parkas quite yet. Today is Tuesday, and I like Tuesdays because they're pretty relaxed. I have two advanced English classes in the morning (two hours each) and then I usually stay at the school for lunch since the school provides the food. Last year I got the idea to have a free chat time at lunch and invite my students to come eat with me. It's been going pretty well so far, and today I had some girls who are writing the script for an English drama competition later in the semester. I get things like that sometimes, but most often they just want to talk and find out why I came to Taiwan and what my life is like here. In an hour or so, I'll head to Chinese class/dinner/tutoring/fellowship with Ivan...

We sang this song last week, and it was the first time I'd heard it. In general though, anything by Tim Hughes is great! I'm thankful to have friends and coworkers who are up on new songs since I often feel a little "out of the loop." It makes me miss college days, that's for sure! Speaking of college, my application is officially in the mail.... I'll have news in 4-6 weeks :P

I love how Taiwan is a country that can feel like a small town! It's easy to find out about local events, and everyone seems to know all about any local stars and what they're doing. This week there is a film festival going on in Taipei and I'll be going tonight and tomorrow night. The festival is called Women Make Waves , and it features films directed by women from all around the world. I know that it really does betray my small town almost-the-middle-of-nowhere upbringing , but I still think it's really cool that I get to go to an international film festival, I certainly wouldn't have had that opportunity back home, and certainly not for less than $4.00 per ticket!

This week I celebrated Thanksgiving, though in a slightly unconventional way. On Friday a Canadian contingent from our office went to a delightful western-style restaurant in our very own neighborhood and feasted on turkey reubens, which were served with cranberry sauce (that may have been raspberry jam). They were quite tasty, and celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving, as always, reminds me of my arrival in Taiwan, which is now 5 years ago! Although I was originally supposed to come much earlier, it didn't end up working out for me to get here until mid-October. The weekend before I left to go to Taiwan was Thanksgiving, and I remember having a dinner in our old house in Castlegar with my family and grandparents, and even great-grandma! At that time, I had no idea that I wouldn't be sitting with them over Thanksgiving dinner again for a very long time, so far five years! I still remember getting on the plane in Castlegar, the following day nervously applying for my visa in Vancouv...