your digestive system; a lesson in poop.

If you know me at all, it will not surprise you to hear that I took teaching the digestive system as a chance to talk about poop to my 2nd graders! Their reactions were hilarious and brought me much joy as well (coming from someone who loves life's little pleasures, like the word "poop" and "duty" -- because it can be another word FOR poop, only spelled a bit different). Maybe I belong in the 2nd grade still? I blame my brothers for making me have so much fun with such topics. But honestly, it has been a riot in my class lately. I wonder what these kids go home and tell their parents? Likely that I am the funniest teacher alive (I'd put bets on it!).

Also, my students HATE Social Studies and especially do not like learning about the American Government. SO, today, we made posters. On one side I had them draw a picture of a classroom with "order" (we're talking about the importance of rules/laws), and on the other side they were to draw a picture of a classroom without any order or rules. Boy, do these kids have imaginations! I had to cut the kids off after one suggested "there would be monkeys ALL over the place!" and "there would be kids just pooping in the corners!" (you can imagine how hard it was for me to have a straight face and pretend to be disappointed about this one...).

Anyway, the lesson that I learned today was: when in doubt, just talk 'poop'. And for goodness sake, try to be mature about it.

weird = good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ZPTFfpO40&feature=channel

not bad?

I know I have taken and posted numerous photos from my bedroom window, but tonight I just couldn't resist. The weather was a bit off today: rain, sun, overcast but when it was all said and done, this is what we could see from our apartment. The sun was ridiculously bright as it was setting and the colours changed with every minute. I guess I am a little bit lame for finding so much excitement in a silly little sunset.

a birthday.

On Friday, we had our first birthday 'party' in my class. The kids skipped their naps and ate Sponge Bob cake. The cake eating was the direct cause of one of my students "projectiling" in the hallway an hour or so later. Oh the joys of teaching a Gr.2 class. Not to mention the previous day I was taking care of hives and the week before that was helping to deal with a pee-er! But, I can still say that I love my job!

missin' em big time.

Just because we've done this distance bit a thousand times, doesn't mean that I am getting any better at it! I just received a whole whack of pictures from Erica and Ferran's wedding day, to which I was so thankful to be a part of! Seeing these pictures made me miss both of you... a lot. I am so sad to be missing your 2nd (!!!) wedding, in Spain. What will you do without your one and only MOH?! That question is directed at both of you, of course!

This is one of my favourite pictures of the bunch, along with the picture of you, Erica, and myself in the bathroom (toothbrush in mouth!). I feel like these sum us up perfectly.

I miss you guys! Are you certain you have to go to Brussels? No time for a stop in Taiwan?! When can we be neighbours!... can't wait for that day. xo

zombies with accents.

I just finished watching 'Shaun of the Dead' for the 1000th time. This movie never gets old for me. Never! There is just something about a bunch of Brits running around smashing and bashing zombie's heads in with shovels and paddles. What more could you ask for in a film, really?

Favourite scene? While the group of those not yet zombified seek shelter in the Winchester, they put Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' on the jukebox and then proceed to smash and bash in sync with this amazing song. Perhaps now it's safe to say you really couldn't ask for more in a film... in my opinion!

To me, this movie (and Ricky Gervais) prove to me that the Brits really know best when it comes to most aspects of popular culture.

Although I am apparently a huge fan of zombies and British pop culture, I am pretty confident that if you don't consider yourself a fan of either of these things, you will still find some sort of pleasure in watching this movie. If you haven't seen it, you should. If you hate it, I am too far away from most of you for you to be mad or hold my suggestion against me. So, I really have nothing to lose here!

A fabulous movie. The end.

flickr.

in case having a blog isn't enough of a distraction from work, I have taken it upon myself to also maintain my flickr account! This means I can add more pictures for all of the folk back home to see.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26670129@N04/sets/

I hope the link works. I am new at this.

a view...

This is a view from the big walk I took yesterday.

maybe the luckiest?

What I am listening to: Frightened Rabbit (so many thanks to Trent!)

My Sunday: Wake up. Find a song to play for Austin. Go for a swim, bathe in the sun. Come home. Eat Nutella. Shower, get dressed. Try to figure out something to do with my hair (even though there is no point at all). Get camera/music. Enter the outdoors. Walk... and walk. Find some interesting things. Take some pretty neat photos. Realize my life is pretty darn awesome.

Unrelated: Grasshoppers are HUGE here.

just another saturday afternoon...

...trying my hand at furniture assembly! Thanks, Dad for showing me how to get the job done (I guess it paid to move a million times and have to put together numerous pieces of IKEA furniture). I learn from the best.

such a fun song and video.

love these two!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBeu3FVi60

I am almost certain that this picture (or any picture for that matter...) won't do our projector set up justice! Also, what seems to be a show about 2 girls walking in the rain in this picture is not actually the case! If you have not seen the show 'Hung', start watching. It's pretty well done.

I figured I would also start adding what music I am listening to while I write these posts. Currently (and quite often): Phoenix's, ' Lisztomania'.

This is the view from my room on the 10th floor. I should really have taken a picture from my other window-- surrounded by trees! You can sort of see the little park at the bottom of the picture. There is a basketball court, playground, maybe tennis? Haven't ventured down there yet.

Finally!

So after almost 4 weeks of living out of suitcases and sleeping on mattresses laid out on floors, I am finally into the new apartment! To celebrate, I went for a swim tonight. I met one of my neighbours on my way down. She was with her daughter, Michelle. Michelle didn’t say much to me then but was keen to stare as I lapped my way back and forth in the pool. I don’t blame her, it’s her country. I’m just swimming in it! There were some cute little frogs and lizards kicking it in the water with me, too!

I should also add that I am learning there can be many perks to having housemates (good ones, anyways!). Mine happen to come fully loaded with fun! Beth and Austin mean business when it comes to how we watch TV shows or movies. The projector is now set up, and watching anything on it is a dream. Like we’re in a movie theatre ALL the time and that movie theatre is in our “living room”. Not a bad deal.

As I walked to work this morning, I couldn’t help but think about how easy it is to be a foreigner and to live here. The people here continue to amaze me. Everyone is saying ‘hello’ and ‘good morning’ as best they can, while I try my luck at saying ‘ni hao’ from time to time! I should just say that if you are considering a visit to Asia, come to Taiwan! Unlike my experiences in Korea, people rarely gawk here. Everyone seems to be so incredibly welcoming and happy to see foreigners around.

Although...

we aren't moved into our new place yet, signing our contracts gave us the rights to check out our apartment's pool! As if I will be living here for the next year. I guess it'll have to do...

Grocery shopping! (sort of)

We were meant to move into our new apartment today but when we went to check it out we realized that we'd prefer it to be 'cleaner'. So, we're in the dorms for another night. We're all packed up with nowhere to go (for now!).

Since we still don't have a proper apartment and therefore we are also without a proper kitchen, we did a little grocery shopping at the local OK Mart!

This is Beth getting all of the necessities.

For all of those who have never been to Asia, this is a squatty potty. Not all look this dreadful, but I had to photograph this one because it disgusted me so much! I prefer western style toilets. These ones take too much coordination!

This must have been a Monday (looking pretttty tired). I took my kids out for a Science lesson, we looked for leaves!

Downtown Hsinchu- a whole family on one teeny scooter

settling in...

So, I have been in Taiwan for almost 3 weeks now. My said feelings from my first entry have not changed! Hsinchu continues to be a beautiful and safe place to be. Not to mention, I have started to meet some wonderful people who have made this transistion much easier! There doesn't seem to be a lot going on in this city, but I suppose I will need to have some money in order to explore anyways. So I am fine, for now, with laying low and enjoying what is close enough by walking (this includes such fine things as an OK Mart, similar to 7-11 and our school). This is literally all there seems to be up on the mountain. Apparently they are going to get a shuttle bus going from here to Costco soon, though! Exciting.

I am half way in to my 2nd week of teaching and things are great. I really couldn't ask for a better school to be working at. I am teaching a 2nd Grade class (but it's more like a 1/2 class with all of the different levels of learning). I certainly can't complain though. What with only four students, I figure this will be a good crash course for next year before I get into the 20+ students per classroom back home!

I am really loving it here. It hasn't even gotten close to being a comfortable temperature here, but besides that, no complaints.

This is the view from the 4th floor-- where Hsinchu American School is located. We are lucky to be up on a mountain and somewhat away from all of the hustle! You can also hear crickets at night and feel fresh air! Crazy for such a packed little city...