Happy Halloween!!

I can't believe it's almost November...crazy! This past weekend we decided to celebrate Halloween. I spent all day Saturday between classes frantically trying to find costumes..haha. NOT an easy task here. I finally managed to throw a together a somewhat, pirate costume. I had to work until about 5, and then flew home to try and make it to a baseball game. I got to witness a real deal Taiwan baseball game...it was so surreal, seeing such a 'normal' thing in Taiwan. It was like for a moment I could pretend that I was home...(that is when I closed my eyes..haha) I mean they had hot dogs...and crazy fans...lol. It was fun. Unfortunatly I could only stay for about 40 mins because there was a kindy halloween party I had to get to. I was feeling bitter about the whole just because I'd spent all Saturday and DID not want to go back. But it was actually pretty fun. My kids were so cute, and I got to meet some of the parents. I WISH I had brought my camera but of course I forgot it. After I scootered back to the apt and got ready to head out to a Halloween party! But before we did that me and Kim felt it necessary to parade our costumes around the neighborhood..haha. We walked around, a pirate and a ladybug, and decided it necessary to visit our local KTV place (karaoke). We started to walk and noticed pictures of nudey girls everywhere..and also an excess of scantily dressed girls...ummm yea...apparently it was a 'dirty' KTV place..whatever that means.....whoops!! So we ran out of there...horrified.
I really want to get pictures of my kids to show you guys...but I'm not sure how they would feel about me taking pictures...I don't know. So work is going good, I just feel like there is so much pressure. I don't know I kind of feel like my life is consumed with HESS. Since I've gotten to Kaohsiung I havn't left, and I'm just worried this is how it will be...not much freedom. But I guess that is what I get huh? I wanted more hours so I got them!! Last week was one of my roughest yet. I was pretty sick all week, and with no mic I had no way to communicate with people. Plus I was having issues sleeping and was just feeling so blah...really missing my comfort zone. I kept getting so angry at all the Taiwanese people...when they would cut me off on the scooter or but in front of me. I was just so angry...all week. This week is much better though. I feel a lot better and managed to find some 'herbal' sleeping pills that I took for a couple nights....no longer though.
This weekend I think me and Kim will take a trip to Taichung and visit some people. I think it will be good for us to get out of here. I got a Saturday off when Bob gets here, so I think were all going to Kenting that weekend. And then the weekend Bob leaves we're having a company trip to Sun Moon Lake. So I think the next month will fly by and Dec 22 will be here soon. Anyway, I can't wait to see everyone in less than 2 months!! Also mom and dad...I know your busy...but you should call me!!!! I'm your long lost daughter in Taiwan...don't you love me anymore? :( (guilt trip)...hehe. I'm just kidding...but not about the calling part!! Love and miss you.

Life as I know it.It's

Hello all! Well I decided I need to keep updating this blog....because I have not been! This past weekend was good. One of the guys I work with is in a band so went and watched them play Sat night! They were actually pretty good, and I really enjoyed it because they played all 80's music...I'm pretty sure me and Kim were the only ones who seemed to enjoy it to the full extent. Sunday morning I woke up around 10:00 and met up with a couple people and we went to a restaurant to eat brunch. We go this place every Sunday, and I look forward to it every weekend!! They have the best omelettes, and they also have a small bakery in the back, that makes real chocolate!! It is seriously probably the best chocolate I have ever had, no joke. I'm definatly going to bring some home for Christmas...make sure I'm not just sorely deprived of chocolate!
Teaching is getting better. Today one of my older classes (8-9 yr olds) had their first 'performance day'. This is when all the parents come in, and watch the kids put on a little skit and show off the English they have learned. It's so cute, although a little strange, considering more than half of the parents don't know any English. I have to stand up there and talk about the kids and introduce them...etc. Then the Chinese teacher has to repeat everything I say in Chinese, it's just a little awkward at times. I have this one student and I call him the Drill Sargeant because he is always telling people what to do, and to stop talking...so today when I gave him his award I said "Augh, yes our drill sargeant...Andy" After class, the parents came up concerned....wondering what it was I had called him. Ok no more nicknames for the kids. I have one Chinese Teacher who has been giving me a little trouble lately...interrupting me while I'm teaching...correcting me in front of the class. It is just irritating..I know I make mistakes, but I just don't think it's right for her to talk to me in front of the class. It's just really frustrating...it makes me feel so uneasy in the class, and I just think less about what I'm teaching and more about what she's thinking.
So how is everything?! I've seen pictures from homecoming...sad. And have been updated on things at home. But if anyone has anymore news to talk about...email me or call me on Skype!! Love you all...and miss you lots!!

Here are a few pictures of my apartment...the first one is the view from my bedroom. This was right after the typhoon, so it's a bit dreary looking, but normally the sun wakes me up every morning. The second picture is of me and Petrey (the devil cat)...and the last one is our family room..with the ugly blue couches...i'm looking for seat covers right now!! Anyway, things are coming along and work is keeping me very busy. Tomorrow (Sat.) I have to work 6 hours...to make up for the typhoon day we had off...last Saturday...bragh..annoying! Ne way I hope all is well...miss you all.

Hello all. Well we've survived yet another typhoon and this actually felt like a typhoon. We had Saturday off...which was great! No classes was such a blessing. Kim and I decided to brave the typhoon and went out to get some food, because we had NONE here. The drive there wasn't too bad just a lot of wind. A couple times I was scared, but it was the drive home that really scared me. As we drove along the lake it started to pour and neither of us had our rain gear on....of course. It seriously felt like needles were striking my skin and as we drove along the lake the wind was blowing the waves over the road. I definatly thought our scooters were going to get overtaken a few times. That night the weather worsened...so we decided to take taxi's to this bar where a friend was having a birthday party. Instead of watching football on Sat nights, I'm now watching Rugby...not quite the same, but it suffices I suppose. It's funny because I'm starting to realize it's the little things that are making me homesick. Like the Sat. afternoon football games down in our basement, the array of food, crazy screaming, and family around. I miss the leaves changing colors and the smell of fall. Here in Taiwan it's still so hot. I don't know if it ever really cools down in Kaohsiung. Which stinks, I do miss the changing seasons.
Today I spent the day scootering around, we all went to see a movie, and then went out for a nice dinner (apparently it's the Canadian thanksgiving today). I'm having one of those days where you look around and think..holy crap...i'm living in Taiwan. Not just visiting, not just an extended vacation, but this is my actual life. There is a running theme for all of us, no one was ready for 'real' commitments, 'real' jobs, or 'real' life so we all ran away to Taiwan. Some may think it's a way out, but I feel it's a way to explore, and make sense of this of this whole 'growing up' thing. I definatly am starting to feel some pride in my accomplishments thus far, and think I will even more when I start taking my classes which start next week! I met our teacher and she seems wonderful! But so yea, basically I feel as though things are falling into place, and life is as it should be (for today at least ;))