Today is August 15, now starts the year. One year from now my contract will be up, and I will be jet setting home. I don't think I should be thinking like that. huh? I started teaching Monday, and today is Wednesday. Thus far, things have gone pretty smoothly. I don't have an overload of classes, so I have all the time in the world to prepare for the classes. I really enjoy it right now, it helps to keep me busy and my mind occupied. Actually I wish I had more hours, not only for the money but to keep some sanity also. Yesterday I convinced Johan to go on a run with me in the sports park. The Lou Dong sports park is really pretty neat. It has tennis courts and basketball courts, running trails, etc. And it's really pretty. The run ended up being a bit too exhausting for me. It was so funny because I started off thinking it would be a walk in the park running with Johan, a thirty year smoker, a bit overweight. Ummm..no. I ended up being the one having to WALK....I don't know what happened. My body just shut down, and I started to see spots. I could not catch my breath, and my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest...it was a horrible feeling. So I don't know if it's the humidity here, or the heat, or just me being WAY out of shape. But it was enough to scare the crap out of me.
After class last night, Johan and I went to a going away party for a kid leaving the Ilan branch. We went to a cute little bar, and I got to meet up with a couple who were in my training group. They are now teaching at the Ilan branch and really like it. So it was good to talk to them. I met another girl, who has been at the Ilan branch, but lives down by the coast. I think I'm going to buy a scooter off her, it's 125 cc and only 8,000 NT!! So that is great! Also I think I'm going to consider living down on the beach. The girl I met said there is a commuinity of foreigners that live there and it's dirt cheap. It would be about a 15 min commute for me on the scooter everyday, but I think that's doable. I still havn't signed a contract for the apt I'm in now, just a deposit. So maybe I'll keep holding off and see if I can't find a place on the coast! Sarah said she takes surfing lessons every morning....so maybe I could do the same!
So I was talking to the kid who we had the going away party for, and his piece of advice to me was to never give with my hours. I'm only getting 14 hours a week this whole month...and for the first month you're guranteed 16 hours. After the first month it's 20 hours. He said they will only pay me for the hours I work, unless I say something. It's just a hard situation. I don't want to burn bridges yet, but I cannot live on 14 hours a week...so I'm still trying to get the nerve up to say something. I stillll cannot get my shower or washer to work...haha. So i've been taking baths..and handwashing my clothes. And my address...I have no clue how to find out what it is. I tried to ask people and they look at me like I'm crazy. My apartment has no number on it, and each section of Lou Dong is numbered and I can't figure out what section I'm in...so it's a work in progress I guess. I still struggle with my varying moods, it's so funny I'll be on cloud for one minute and the next...be crying because something reminds me of someone I know. I don't know...weird. Well it sounds as though the bachelorette party was a success..haha. If you guys got pictures send them my way, I'd love to see them. Miss you all...very much.