My Little Asians

I am nearing the end of teaching in Taiwan and I have been behind in blogging. So I might back track a little in the posts to come. I have been teaching the basic reading class. It is quite the experience. I have worked pretty much everyday with these kids and now I get them all to myself. Which can be a great thing and a bad thing. My students say the funniest things. For example "teacher may I touch you". Then ask this because I don't have the greatest circulation so sometimes my skin turns red/purple. So they love to grab me. One of my students will just call me over to say teacher I need help( when he really doesn't). While I am teaching him my mad manuscript skills. He immediately grabs my arms and starts staring. I have to remind him to watch how I write the letters. This is also the student that goes into the splits on a daily basis(in his chair). I have to say Frank stop doing the splits in your chair and sit the right way.
Then there is Yoyo one day we were in the kitchen and we were talking about what would happen if we didn't cut our hair? All the boys said "then we would look like girls". Yoyo said and like MJ! He then jumped out of his chair and started singing beat it and doing what looks like a MJ dance. I couldn't help but laugh hysterically. He also occasionally swears which I really don't mind because it makes me laugh every time. I really bring this out in my students mainly because I entertain them and they entertain me. He also is the only one that catches if I swear in class. He will usually laugh like a little girl and say Teacher. I love teaching this age.
Then there is Rolland one of the oddest little Asians I have worked with. He usually is in his own little world. All the sudden he will stand up and start swinging his arms in the air and starts karate chopping the air. I just stare wondering if he is noticing that he has an audience watching. One time we were playing a game where we think of as many words as we as we can that start with a certain letter. Well the letter was "S" and of coarse one students said "Shit" I said ok and just didn't write it on the board. Then Rolland came up to me. He whispered in my ear "teacher and spells S A R S then quickly says SARS" I start to laugh and said very good. I mean these little Asians are well aware of what is going on in the world. I mean I was looking for more of the words like sun or stop but wait to think out side the box. I just couldn't wait until we got to the letter "h" I was waiting for one of them to say H1N1. Well Rolland is a very smart kid. He loves to just come up to me while I'm at my desk and say the most random things. He also tells me to go to Sherry everyday like I am introuble.
Then there is Andy he loves to talk about how one time this died and then that died etc... I think it might be because of the age. His typical response to all of my stories are "I have seen(with of course a head nod)". I always say Andy what have you seen? He usually responds ok ok. Andy is the one that reminds me of the boy off of Indiana Jones. I sometimes can get him to say "Dr. Jones". I love it.
Then there is the girls. They are the talkers. I usually have to say ok teachers turn to talk.
Ella is so adorable she is my favorite. She also reminds me when I am leaving to go back to America. She then will say teacher you should stay I will miss you. Then she says I will cry. She also reminds me that I can stay. But then I remind her that Rae Rae misses me. My students very much so want to meet Grandma Rae Rae.
Ella will say every 2 seconds say teacher I tell you something. This story usually consists of how her brother is so mean to her. Cindy is full of energy and a lot of fun. Then there is Minnie she will put you in your place. She is a very smart girl she is 6 going on 30.

Cindy and Rolland(aka Rolley Poley or Ruler)

Amily she is adorable but sometimes shy

Here is Frank in his signature pose the splits

Emerson the backwards hugger

Minnie and Duncan always up in my business

Yoyo (aka Yoyo Ma) about to hit Andy in the FACE

Andy telling teacher that I am crazy

Rolley Poley, Cindy and Amily

Me and Miss Ella

Afternoon Basic Reading

Evening Basic Reading Class
The boys are crazy and out of control. I love it.

The Boys
The Girls

Well I have taught these little Asian nuggets for a year solid. So I am very much attached. I am going to miss them so much. I have learned a lot and had some amazing experiences living in Taiwan. I get teary eyed thinking about leaving them. But it is time to move on to the next adventure. They have promised that they will write to me and if they come to America they will visit me. I can honestly say that I have the cutest students alive. These little Asians will always have a place in my heart.

Portraits by Cindy

So Cindy is a very funny student of mine. She loves to draw pictures for me. The first one is a family portrait. Notice that Cindy has yellow golden hair. I believe that she just might have an identity issue. She always tells me that she is not Taiwanese she is American. Then she says teacher you are Taiwanese. Sometimes I just go with it encouraging her infatuation of becoming American. Then notice the picture that she drew of me. I didn't know that I was turning Asian. Oh and that I have a bad case of elephantitis hands.

Here is a picture of what we really look like

Tea Time With the Asians

Well me and the girls headed out for Alishan. A town that is known for their beautiful sunrises. But because of the Typhoon Morakot. The train is out of order. But the town has set up a shuttle system for tourists can still come to Alishan. We headed up the mountain in a mini van. Which is quite the ride up to the top. Talk about experiencing car sickness and we had a crazy driver. I kept thinking we were going to die. It was kind of crazy being all up in the clouds It was amazing.

The Mist

More Mist

Funny story the picture below is the aftermath of me running into a spider web. By the look on my face I am about to cry. At first I was swearing obscenities. My tourettes of the mouth was really flaring up. Those of you who have seen the spiders here in Taiwan know that are as big as dinner plates. I had an image of a huge spider crawling over me. And of course everyone was laughing at me because it was very dramatic.



One thing I learned on this little excursion. Never go walking through tea fields with out looking out for spider webs (so reckless).

Wulai

Wulai is an aboriginal township just south of Taipei with the largest waterfall in Taiwan. It was beautiful.

Above Wulai the largest. Below probably the smallest but very beautiful.

Here is a nice swinging bridge. Part of the village was like an obstacle course with rope swings and pulley's.

Pork and green pepper kabobs

Chillin with the aborigines

The Dahan river

Jiufen and Keelung

Well awhile ago Sarah Emily and I spend the weekend in Jiufen, Keelung. It was a very busy weekend filled of course with lots of eating as usual. Travel in Taiwan is quite the deal. On this Saturday we took I think about 13 different trains and buses. Lets just say I was quite tired after this day. I just decided to post a bunch of pictures.

The crowded markets

Taiwan mountain side

This town used to be a gold mining town so we went on the tour and sadly enough we did not pan for gold. Maybe next time.

The Pacific Ocean

Night market in Keelung

Eating some delicious barbecued squid!

The mass crowd of people. If you are claustrophobic I do not recommend going to night markets or Asia. Lets just say that I no longer have a bubble.