chop up a papaya!

I used a story called Fruit Salad in Science class the other day, to introduce the idea of "Changing and Mixing Matter". On each page, it read: "Chop up a ___________, and put it in the bowl". When I got to the the page with papaya on it, I realized how funny "chop up a papaya" sounded when you said it altogether, quickly. So, for the rest of the day, my students were saying "Miss Arnold, chopupapapaya..!" and giggling. It was pretty cute, and just what I needed on a Monday.

In a related story, one of my students is obsessed with eggs. I mean, obsessed-- asking if we're having them for lunch EVERY day, writing about them everyday... everything is about eggs. So, you can imagine what his answer was when I asked "Stanford, what would you want in your fruit salad?". Ewww. Eggs?! Just a funny little Science class we had...

the best.

My thoughts: Burton's Alice

Being the Burton fan that I am (and always will be), I was more than excited to see his interpretation of Alice in Wonderland on the big screen. Burton's world in 3D is something that I've never experienced before.

In a nutshell, and despite some otherwise poor reviews, for me, Burton's Alice was just as much beautiful as it was completely bizarre. It was not only its fantastical special effects, but the characters, too, that really allowed me to enjoy this film. Burton's films make me remember what it was like to be young again and to really imagine, to escape, to dream.

A+

...these guys, seriously. The Winter Of Mixed Drinks has surprised me in a big way.

two girls vs. taipei (we won!)

Beth and I finally got to Taipei, like we'd been planning to do for weeks. We were feeling ambitious and excited so we planned a lot for the day! You really do need a good 7-8 hours in this city in order to get yourself around and to all of the wonderful sights.

Stop #1: Taipei 101 (it wasn't really a clear day, but we were there so we thought 'why not!'). This was a totally Asian version of the CN Tower (without a glass floor, as my nephew was quick to point out!).



Stop # 2: The Van Gogh Exhibit (totally worth it, although the wait was silly and inside was pretty much madness).

Stop #3: Ximen (shoe shopping-- finally!).


... so by the end of the day, we were tired! With a hazy view of the city, an art history lesson and some new shoes... we had done it!

feeling tired, but it was well worth it!

It was a last minute decision to get up at 4am and invite friends over to watch "the BIG game" this morning but I'd say it was well worth it! We watched the game on the big screen and celebrated with French toast when it was over. Although I hadn't watched any other Olympic events (it wasn't an easy task here in Taiwan!), I am truly thankful that I could catch this game and enjoy it with such wonderful people (even though the majority of them were American!).

I can't wait to take a nap, but at the end of the day I am just SO proud to be Canadian!

flickr: palawan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeliza/sets/72157623334127811/

it's good to be reminded...

I have returned from the Philippines, tired (from a sleepness night spent on benches and the ground in Manila), but feeling great after an overall successful 3 weeks of travel (nasty, one week stomach bug aside!). My tentative itinerary went down the drain, but I have no regrets. The people that I met by staying in Palawan and the experiences I had there were so wonderful.

I wanted to go on this trip because I knew that it would open my eyes to a new country and a new way of life, as did my visits to the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It's good to be reminded from time to time just how little we actually NEED in our lives to get by and I truly saw and lived this in Palawan. The people have so little, yet they are willing to share what they do have with others (as opposed to a culture where people have so much and are still unwilling to share).

When you don't have the internet to distract you, you read or write or talk to people. When you don't have enough money to buy new clothes whenever you like, you wear the 2 shirts that you have and hand wash them every other day. When you don't have a soccer ball, you find an empty bottle and make do. When you simplify your life, the hardest decision of your day can very well be "what should we catch for dinner tonight?". When you live in a community where faith and trust is central, there's no need to lock your doors or be worried about where people are at any given time of the day. When you only have electricity for a few hours of the day/night, you learn to use this time efficiently and to conserve. When money is hard to come by, you work extra hard for every cent (or peso). Lastly, when you wake up in the morning to the sound of pigs, dogs and roosters, you aren't annoyed because you look around and realize that it's another day and you have a roof over your head and a family that cares; and this is truly all that should matter anyway.

I'll be going back, for sure.

what a life.

So, I am 9 days (or so) into my trip to the Philippines. In a nutshell, I fall more and more in love with the country and its' people everyday. Since day one, I have been running around Palawan with a lovely German gal named Berit ('Berry' for those westerners who can't quite get that rolled 'r' sound right!). I realized in meeting her, how easily plans can change and that it really is the best to travel alone. The people you meet along the way certainly do make it an experience.

We stayed in Port Barton for 8 days (about 4 longer that what we had planned) but it was so, so, so wonderful... we may even go back! We are now in El Nido. The drive up north was... hellish. I have to admit that I did see my life flash before my eyes a couple of times (sorry, Mom and Dad!). We did make it though and it seems that the worst drives are always worth it when you see the stunning colours of the ocean and the white sand beaches. Life can be so simple... really.

I have a story or two to tell, of course, but shall save these stories for later. I am learning that it certainly pays to be nice here. If you are nice, you will be treated wonderfully, maybe even proposed to. Gosh, men are so handsome here... annnnyway, I will try my best to do some more updating now that the internet is a tad more accessible (that is, if my "readers" haven't given up on me already!).

... also, beer and rum are cheaper than water here. Perfect.

Paalam! (from a not-so-quiet internet cafe).

counting down...

So, here it is. Finally. Preparing for my much anticipated 3 week trip to the Philippines is, as it seems, some indication that I have managed to get through the first semester of school-- almost 5 months of work! I am looking forward to the time I'll get to spend with... myself, on this trip and am truly hoping that I'll get to all of the places that I want to. Speaking (or I suppose, "writing") of which, here's the general plan for my trip (starting on January 26th and ending on February 16th):

1) Palawan (7-10 days): Puerto Princessa, Honda Bay, Sabang (Subterranean River) and Port Barton.
2) The North (3-4 days): 8-10 hour bus ride to Banaue and Sagada; rice terraces and hanging coffins (likely the part of my trip that I am most excited about!).
3) The South (7-10 days): Cebu (City), Bohol (The Chocolate Hills) and beaches!

It may seem ambitious, but I figured I would try to see as much as the country as possible because really, when am I going to have 3 weeks to myself to explore another country again? You only live once.

... consider me excited!

just another day at the office...

word-less.

These guys, I tell you. Perhaps, I'll write more later? Right now, I am feeling way too overcome by awesomeness. Just kick-ass musicians, period.

a sun-day trip.

Today, we went to a city named Daxi (pronounced Da-Shee). It was about 40 minutes away and the drive was so nice. It's good to get out, so that I can remind myself just how lucky I am and just how beautiful this country is.

We found a store that sold everything for $100NT (about $3CDN). So, we spent a big chunk of the day there! Besides this gem of a store, we got to walk around the streets of a pretty historically rich and architecturally impressive little downtown.

I have posted some photos from the day on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeliza

finally!

I've been waiting 2 years to see this movie, and although it has been at my disposal for the last week (thank you, housemates!), we finally had the chance to sit down and watch Where the Wild Things Are tonight. All in all, I would say the wait was well worth it and I certainly did not feel let down in any way.

I felt genuinely involved in the film; the characters, the story line and of course, the soundtrack. I will watch it again, I am sure, and go to sleep tonight with the hopes of running into Carol, KW and the rest in my dreams...

happy new year!

I love me a song with a banjo.

a Hsinchu Christmas!

If I think about the last Christmas that I spent away from home and away from my family, I am taken back to Vietnam. It felt nothing like Christmas where we were but we made calls home from some internet cafe, anyway, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas even though it felt a bit surreal to be saying those words to anyone when it was surely 40 degrees outside without any Christmas music or movies to accompany the festive season.

Aside from the blow-up snowmen we had seen the day before, the real feeling of Christmas was just not quite in the air in Vietnam. This time around, however, it has felt a bit more Christmas-y; lights strewn all around our neighbourhood, our school's winter performance on Christmas eve, wine, mamosas, soju (!), food, friends, dancing, presents under the Christmas tree, Home Alone and lots of christmas music, of course! It truly has been a great Christmas, despite being away from home, I was incredibly lucky to spend Christmas the way that I did.

Here is a picture of my students performing "If All The Raindrops". They were adorable!

another day, another 'quake.

In case I had forgotten, for a second, where in the world I was living these days, I would say that big time earthquake that happened last night was enough of a reminder. We've had a few little ones here and there, but none that made me feel nauseous (and a bit scared for my life?).

I was only slightly nervous because Beth and I happened to be shopping at the time this was happening, and we also happened to be in an aisle where a LOT of large items could have fallen on our heads had they wanted to. It was... interesting, looking to the top shelves of these aisles to see all of the giant boxes wobbling back and forth. We found comfort, however, in seeing all of the other people going on with their business, as if nothing was happening...

To help paint a better picture(at least of this earthquake's magnitude), we came home to Beth's bathroom ceiling partially collapsed-- but fixable, and the water from our fish tank splashed half way across the living room floor. Luckily, no fish were injured (or humans, as far as I know!).

brrrrrrrr!

... it's 12 degrees in Hsinchu today. Perhaps the coolest it's been so far this year? It feels like -70 (okay, okay, I'm exaggerating). But we've been extremely spoiled thus far, so this is a bit of a shock!

I am learning that is helps to wear your jacket at ALL times (no heating in our school...), and borrow the kids' napping blankets if you get really desperate! Also, I was given some "Little Hotties" hand warmers which I think will be coming in hand-y (pun, totally intended!) prettttty soon!

This has got me wondering: cool-ish temperatures with no heating? or snow with fireplaces and heating? Not that I have much of a choice at this point, really. It looks as if I best be nuttin' up!

dang.

I guess links don't work on my blog anymore? I did, however, find out how to "embed" links so that videos will be able to play right from my page! Oh, how exciting is MY life?!

Sweet beard. Sweet tune.