Monday, February 18, 2008
Posted in Sharing at 8:38 am by Administrator
I knew it would happen. Sooner or later. Actually it happened the 2nd time just a few hours ago. Car crashes. The one just a few hours ago was nothing special. Just a light fender bender. Only one car per lane guys… c'mon.
The other day there was a BAD accident outside my regular Internet cafe. The doors to the building were wide open and even though I was jamming to my fav Seattle radio station (KEXP positive vibrations), the bang was loud and clear through my headphones - the unmistakeable squeak and crunch. Even though it was terribly loud, the modest people around just became perky for a second then went back to work. I casually made my way outside to see WTF and saw a completely destroyed BMW and a Ford Minivan. A head on collision on an otherwise empty street. I checked to see if anyone was hurt. They were all pretty shook up but they were walking around. I offered the young driver in the BMW a cigarette - it was obviously his fault (I don't smoke but I found a small pack in a taxi earlier). The older driver didn't look very neighborly at the time so I didn't go near him.
They were lucky. Those cars were so destroyed, I can't even describe it. I have pictures that I'll post for you soon.
My bike trip was a bust. No luggage deliveries during that particular week because of Chinese New Year. Instead, I went around the whole Island on the slow train. I stopped in the city of Kinting in the far South of Taiwan. There were biking trails that were just begging my name. I was sad, the terrain was really good. The monotony of the dusty roads were broken by the sight of waves crashing on the rocky beaches. The city itself …a surfing inspired tourist trap! Ha, there I said it. It was definitely fun for a visit. Fruit in the South of Taiwan is widely available and cheap - cheap except for the small city of Kinting. The fruit smoothies are a kick in the pants. The lady thought I was crazy because I wanted her to toss in bananas, papayas, apples, kiwi, guava, pineapple and some other baffling produce into the blender. There was a cart full of ripe coconuts across the street that was looking mighty appetizing for my smoothie. After lots of fried food in Jhong Li and Taipei, the vitamin rush hurt sooo good.
The weather was deliciously warm too. It's not exciting but it was truly enjoyable to doze on the peaceful beach. Occasionally I waded into the water in my sandals to sooth my feet, which had become blistered from walking too much. The beach itself was no paradise, the sharp rocks underfoot were uninviting and the sand had too much litter. There are much better beaches outside of town, National treasures. There are volunteer beach cleanup activities, that would be helpful. I want to be a part of that and possibly help organize it.
The new school in Kaohsiung is almost finished. I found a hostel nearby for temp accommodation. It is a dorm room for about $150 U.S. per month. I met the manager at a Western style pub. He is from Australia. That will work out nicely. I am to begin teaching the first week of March. That should be a smooth transition to the busy summer season for me. I will need to renew my visa at the end of this month by briefly visiting another country. I'm looking forward to telling you all about that soon. Bye bye for now.
Permalink
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Posted in Sharing at 4:55 am by YaOmri
It’s very late at night when I am writing this; I can’t sleep. It has been over a month since I flew back to the USA from Taiwan, and just a couple days since I left Germany, my adopted second home. So much has happened these past few months, and so much more will happen in the next few years, it’s hard to believe that just last winter I walked off a podium with a diploma and no idea what to do next. I spent the summer working small jobs that had so little to do with my English/German literature degrees, that my family thought it was deliberate. I watched my friends, all who had confided in me the same loss of direction, go on to pursue Master’s degrees or get married. I was in no hurry to further establish my adulthood by getting in more debt, but at the same time I felt left behind.
I had a vague idea about TESL; in my room was a stack of pamphlets I’d collected from an international job fair at my university. An “international” job appealed to me; I’d long ago decided it was very romantic to live abroad permanently and my boyfriend, a foreigner, only added to that dream. I found the pamphlets in a box and my interest was re-kindled. TESL Express was the first school to pop up on Google and within a few days I was registered.
It’s difficult to adequately describe the amount of luck I had in stumbling onto TESL Express. The school was amazing and I doubt I would have had a better experience elsewhere. Our teacher was rightly enthusiastic about the topic and most everyone there seemed to genuinely care about our interests. Dozens of little things made TESL Express so special for me, like the carefully thought-out curriculum, free textbooks and mini-library, the location (right next to B&O Café), the staff and my fellow students, and even the decor was well done!
I would have been satisfied with that, but halfway into the course I received an email from TESL Express, offering a free two-month stay in Taiwan at its ESL partner school, David’s English Center. I hastily sent in my CV. Surprisingly, they offered me an apartment in Jhong-Li, an hour outside of Taipei, and a visitor’s job teaching English conversation. I would leave immediately after my practicum. I was thrilled—and nervous. I had accepted the offer without really knowing what it was about. I didn’t know anything about Taiwan and less about David’s English, although it shares the same owners as TESL Express. I had never even been to Asia. In the end, of course, my lack of knowledge actually supported my decision to go. When else would I have this opportunity?
Jhong-Li was a different world. It took me nearly two weeks to orient myself, as every street in the city looked identically crowded, but the people were wonderful and thankfully the bus practically went straight to David’s from my apartment. I coped with my glaring “foreignness” by generally ignoring it and, despite the fact that I am semi-vegetarian, I was able to enjoy some really delicious food—food I miss now that I am home!
The students were so generous; I can’t thank them enough for accepting me. They practically did the job for me, asking questions, telling stories, and listening with interest to what I had to say, even if I was saying I didn’t know the answer! Their time with me was voluntary, time taken out of a very busy schedule, and I felt proud watching them improve their speaking skills in a difficult, finicky language. They truly have motivation!
I didn’t get to see or experience nearly as much of Taiwan as I wanted to. Although I had the opportunity to stay, I missed my family in Germany and needed to be near, for a little while.
In a few weeks, I will leave for South Korea on a yearlong contract. I am excited and nervous this time around, too. It’s a much longer commitment, but I have already enthusiastically invited my family to come visit me on the other side of the world. Hopefully, after I finish, I will be able to at least visit Taiwan and David’s English Center, which helped me realize this wonderful opportunity that TESL Express opened my eyes to: the chance to teach English as a second language.
Thanks!
Rachel
Permalink
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Posted in Sharing at 8:25 pm by Administrator
I woke up this morning and thought my apartment was on fire. There was an acrid smell of smoke and I became keenly aware that there were no smoke detectors. It turned out to be smoke from the Chinese New Year fireworks outside. It was so loud I thought I was in the middle of a popcorn maker. There were so many, and it's not even full blast yet.
The holiday began Friday and the fireworks have been steadily increasing. I walked down the street today and there were "Jumping Grasshoppers" bouncing off the street signs, "Enchanted Garden Happy Monk Frogs" rolling under cars and exploding, "Temples of Happines" scaring the dogs away. My regular coffee shop was closed and there were 2 boys in it's place selling Flying Eagles, Peacocks in Season, Sky Monkeys, Wild Geese, etc. I walk out of there with with a couple Golden Vesuvius's and a God of Thunder…the biggest firework I have ever seen. I'm looking forward to lighting off that bonfire bomb.
The vast majority of business are closed, probably a self preservation instinct! It's the first time I've seen the streets like that. Normally there's things going on all night long. You know, I was kind of sad not have seen the traditional Chinese Dragon Parade. I was in downtown Jhong Li last night and you wouldn't ever have known it was New Years Eve. I know for sure that this first day of Lunar New Year is meant to get together with family and play Mah Jong. Perhaps the party days are still to come, because Chines New Years lasts for more then 2 weeks.
The rain has been very consistent. The north of Taiwan has the cold and rainy weather this time of year. The South is tropical and mild now. If I'm allowed to bring my bike on the train, I'm going to the south of the island for a relaxing bike ride. There are some National parks and beaches that I'm dying to check out. There is one area that I'm nervous about. According to the maps, The Highway dead ends about 8km after it begins. Then it starts again after about 4km and continues all throughout the Kenting National Park. In other words, it's a regular coastal Hwy that has a 4km chunk removed. The Satellite images show that the area in question is a rather beautiful beach. Hopefully I can walk my bike across the beach and climb back up to the road. I think I'll be able to. If it is impossible, then I have to ride through the mountain roads. By the way…It is North South Hwy 26 that I'm talking about, if anyone has any feedback.
Just can't wait to go. Remember the apartments in Taiwan almost never have heat so you can see your breath when your inside. My blanket is huge and unusually thick. Once you get out from under it, the cold is inescapable. I won't be there long enough to buy a heater so all I can do is dream of swaying palm trees on the toasty hot sand.
Bye for now. Will write more later. Sheen neen qui ler…Happy New Year!
<> <>
—Joseph Steinman
Permalink
