I LOVE

my mom, my sis, my cell group and Jesus.

At least somebody supports me.

I had this strange dream last night. I dreamt I was at my Friday school. I came when I was supposed to and started going through my routine. People talked to me, etc. And then I realized...it wasn't Friday! It was Thursday!!! I called my co-teacher to tell her what happened and I was asking everyone, how could you let me stay here?!? Why didn't you tell me it was Thursday!?!?!? All they said was, "Well, we wanted you to stay..." (This was the end of the dream).

Today, I came home from an appointment. I was soaking wet from getting caught in the rain. I was going to take a shower and go to sleep. I was thinking about things I like in Taiwan and my cell group came into mind. I saw the clock and it said 7:20pm. I thought, "Oh no!!! Today's Thursday....It feels like Wednesday!!! I forgot it's cell group night!!!" I was late for cell group. It kind of reminded me about my dream.

I sincerely hope that tomorrow is Friday!!!

My Decisions

Mi sitio web ha sido cedido. Por lo tanto, casi cada cosa será escrita en español.

He decidido que si yo no puedo permanecer en mi segunda escuela, yo volveré a Taiwán en agosto. Encontraré un trabajo en un escuela de "cram," el trabajo allí unos pocos meses, mandan las aplicaciones a otras escuelas en los Estados Unidos y en otra parte y el regreso en casa alguna vez en 2008.

There's a quote from a movie that I love: "Sometimes we hold on to the very things that God is trying to tear away. Who's to say this is not our blessing from Him?"

Ahora, Yo tengo mucho paz.

The Definition of a Professional.

Uno que sabe todo.

Estoy contento que ese Estado de Nueva York no ve a maestros como profesionales, pero los paraprofesionales. (Tenemos un certificado docente, no una licencia). A la luz de esto, yo ahora entiendo por qué.

Tomé la decisión hoy no firmar otro contrato con mi escuela actual. ¿Si yo no puedo transferir a otra escuela, nadie quiere comprar un billete sencillo a Taiwán para el 13 de agosto?

Yo lo compré la semana pasada y no puedo obtener un reembolso.

I think I'll just go back to New York where I belong.

I came to Taiwan...

exactly 180 pounds. Today I am exactly 160 pounds. Thank you Jesus...only 40 more to go!!!

Arrival in Taiwan (Mid-August 2006)




May 28, 2007

Ano Ai Aloha E from Hawaii!!!!

Yeah, I wish. I'm bringing Hawaii to Taiwan this week. I started teaching my students about Hawaii last week. I came up with this idea since they always tell me "aloha" and are obsessed with my Stitch keyring.
Originally, I was going to teach the students to make leis, but because of difficulies in purchasing materials for my classroom, I decided to do a volcano demonstration. After that, I taugh students simple Hula steps! (Yes, I was dancing...and it HURT)!!!! I found some green pom-poms at a stationary store and made a "grass skirt." I used the song, "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride," from Lilo and Stitch and I created my own Hula dance to it. Most kids had fun. I had one 5th grade boy who loved to do a move called Huli (one sways their hips back and forth while rotating the whole body). He just loved to stick his rear out for the class to see!!

Ano Ai Aloha E from Hawaii Part 2

Global Day of Prayer 5/27/2007

I was so blessed to be a part of this!! We had a 3 hour service of worship and prayer at the City Hall!!! I could hear in the spirit the devil mocking us, saying what will your "little" group do? But then I hear the Lord say that HE is bigger than all of this (Plus some other things...) The heat didn't stop many, although, I only lasted 2 hours. It was a long time to stand on my feet and I was already sunburnt.

I'd guess 1,000 people showed up. My pastor led prayer for youth, since this is his heart. It was completely like The Call, except not 12 hours long.

God truly has amazing things for this country!!! I pray that I will get to see some of it while I'm here.

Freedom Party!!

Yet another party at my house this past Saturday after I had my stitches removed. I made lots and lots of pancakes...and I couldn't even eat most of them!!!

Random Students.

The first picture is of Nancy (and the other girl still doesn't have a name). Nancy and her friend are Shiao shiao. They always stick paper in my face and tell me to eat it. It's quite strange...but the girls are really sweet.
The rest are of my students at Nan-Shing. A few Fridays ago, they had a talent contest.

My First Day Back!

And all the kids do is make fun of me!!! :*(
Bu hao siao pengyou!!!

The Diet Starts Today!!! AAAHHHH!

So, today starts the first day of my 3 month diet/medical study at the university hospital. I went to buy the meal replacements last night but the store was closed. I must buy them today after school. That meant...I had pancakes this morning...what a great last meal! :) I'm a little nervous because the only flavors available are vanilla and tomato. I hate both!! The doctor thinks that I will NOT be able to be successful because the program is hard. That just motivates me so much more...I hate when people say I can't do something..it's most like I'll stick to it just to prove them wrong! That, and I saw the body scan last week. I was so disgusted by it. How did I let myself get so fat? (And by fat, I don't mean big...You should see my body composition muscle vs. fat percentage). I don't want to be model size, but I want to be healthy. I know I'm dong this for the right reason. I also know that my support and strength comes from God. The doctor is right, I can't do this diet. BUT, with God it is possible.

After 1 month, of calorie reduction (down to 1,200 a day) as of 5/18, I lost 6 lbs which is a miracle for me. On 5/18, I got placed on 800 calories a day and dropped another 2.4 lbs in 5 days. Now, I'm on 450 calories a day...

I need Jesus.

Pirates of the Caribbean!!!

A whole day early than the US release....hahahahaha

I love Taiwan!! Finally, it's good for something. Beat that America! :)

Update.

I’m really looking forward to going home, if for nothing else to get out of Taiwan. I now understand why Alex won’t come back. With all my complaining and moaning and whining about school, this is what I’ve learned as an educator:

It is so important that the philosophies and goals of the teacher align with that of the school. If they don’t you will just battle and cause yourself a lot of stress, heartache, etc. It’s such a shame to hear how one of my schools view education and its purpose. I’m really ashamed and embarrassed to be a teacher when I hear administration speak this way about education. (I’m grateful that I go to another school during the week where education is highly valued, even though these people are “poorer” than those at my other school).

In Indiana, I was just applying for any position that was open. Now, I know better. I’m almost glad that I was able to learn this fact in Taiwan than in the United States. I think if I learned it in the US, I’d be extremely bitter and take Alex’s offer up and apply for a position in marketing and research.

So, a few things that have been going on:

Other than fighting with my school almost everyday now, things are good. I have a group of really great friends, who have been so kind and wonderful to me. I consider myself so blessed to even be associated with them.

I recorded my ATS-P Exam for my Permanent Certification in New York State. It’s a pass/fail thing. Making the video with my Taiwanese students was challenging. I know it’s in God’s hands. He has had his hand on my certification business from the start! I am trusting God to take care of it. If I pass the test, I can apply for my Permanent Certification. This means my teaching license NEVER EXPIRES! \

Thanks Matt for answering all my questions!

In other news, I started filling out my application for the AIS school in Israel. The more I read about this school, the more I can see myself fitting in well (see above rant about education).

I’m off to Malaysia and Singapore with Jaquetta on June 15th. I’m excited! I also leave Taiwan on July 13th. I’ll be in Indiana for one week and leave on the morning of the 23rd. I’ll drive back to NY, put my stuff in storage and possible go to Mexico….FINALLY!!!

Mom asked what I wanted for my birthday…I said…let’s go to Mexico…

Oh yeah, my birthday is June 30th.

And I get my stitches out tomorrow afternoon!!!! Woohoo!!! No more crutches!

One more thing...Doug, you're the best! Thanks for writing...I'll write soon.

Never in my life...

I have I had a contract that changes so much. What is the point of a contract? It's not to protect me, that's for sure. It's only used as a manipulation tool.
I found out that either, I have to pay for my roundtrip airfare this summer OR the school will buy a one way ticket and I must purchase the way back...and then be reimbursed after I return. Neither of these options were agreed upon in Sansia. I wasted 2 hours of my life sitting through that meeting. And now my school comes up with excuses: "Oh our school is so poor! We can't put the money out because we don't have a budget." Or..."The accountant is worried that someone will check up on her...and it's two different school years."

Well, get your freakin' story straight. What excuse is it? I don't believe it.

If I don't have a roundtrip ticket for July, I'm not coming back.

And the kicker today...I found out that I have to make a presentation to our school and BOE to defend myself as to why I should receive my incentive pay at the end of the term!!! Are you kidding me!?!?!?!?!!!? My contract says nothing of this and in fact only speaks of the incentive based on PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS!!! Since when do I have to defend myself (and beg, yes, I see this as begging) to receive my incentive pay...(Oh, so I have to make this book of everything I've done this year for this meeting...It really sounds to me like this is not my job and really belongs to someone else...From what it sounds like, the responsibility is being placed on me because someone else doesn't want to do it....But I shouldn't be shocked...that's nothing new to my school).

The excuse: No one knows what I've been doing.

OMG!! Are you kidding me?!? Not only do I submit weekly forms of what I've done for the week, but we discuss what I do in monthly meetings!!!

It's not the fact that people don't know what I've done...it's the fact that no one bothers to pay attention.

I think what makes me upset the most is that there is no advocacy for us. There's no such thing as a teacher's union. There's no one to speak on my behalf when I think things are unfair. I spoke up to the Labor Division when they came for a routine visit because my questions were not being answered! What happened? I got in trouble for it.

God, why are you telling me to stay?!?

An Adam Pascal Weekend...

I've watched Rent too many times and listened to his albums and Aida soundrack too many times...I would love to sing a duet with him one day....(Adam, do you hear that?!?!?!? My birthday is coming up!!)

I'd never thought I'd say it, but I'm excited to go back to school tomorrow. I've been so bored sitting at home...

Oh, and I heard back from the school in Israel...I'm moving to the next step of the application process...

Happy Mother's Day to all who have been moms to me! I love you and thank God for you.

For those who think my toe pictures are gross...

I have one thing to say to you....

Aren't you glad I'm not so prissy anymore?

love,
me, CIA *insert Mission Impossible theme song here*

Humility and Dependency.

I can't tell you how much I've been humbled in the past 3 days. It's been so difficult for my to rely on others for basic needs. I can't stand long enough to cook or even microwave something. I have to rely on others to bring lunch or dinner for me. I can't walk, so if I need something from the store. I must ask someone to go for me. I've been sitting on my bed or couch for 3 days. I can't even stand to take a shower. I had a girl ask if I wanted her to come help me take a shower today. God is truly breaking me.

I am so grateful for all those who have helped me, called me, visited me, tanslated for me, made phone calls for me, etc. I couldn't have done any of it without them. I've been out of school for 2 1/2 days. I called the other day to tell my school I couldn't walk and was in a lot of pain...no one has checked up on me. My co-teacher from Nan-shing was the only one who was concerned. I'm really learning who truly cares about me here and who just pretends to make themselves look good.

I thank God so much for those who he has put in my life.

Broken stuff: WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES :)

First, my scooter...


Then my toes...this is 3 days after surgery.

Mother's Day...

is Sunday. So, we made Mother's Day cards. I taught my students a little about deaf culture and American Sign Language. I started one class off by using ASL only. It was funny but didn't work well. They were really confused!! :)

Cell group lunch at my house

I cooked spaghetti and meatballs. I love to cook!

English Camp at Nan-shing

I really enjoyed my time doing the English Camp at Nan-shing. There was no pressure for anything. One Monday (which Amos led), we made some kind of snack...it's not Taiwanese...I forget from where. But it's made from beans, coconut milk and sugar. It was really good!!

The Party's Always at My House!!!I

I had a party of about 22 people over. People from work, church, and other friends. It was Mexican Night. I made tacos and Fried Ice Cream!!! We played Uno and I taught some to play Monopoly. I had a really good time, especially since some of my students came. I got to teach them how to make fried ice cream! :)