HI!!
I still have no camera, but I thought I'd write a short blog for anyone who wants to know!
I have a job, FINALLY!! And it's been pretty tough. This whole teaching thing is not a ride in the park I tell you that! I never thought it would be easy, but I never thought it would be this hard. My colleagues are wonderful, really helpful and pleasant. And the kids are... interesting. I have one class in the afternoon that I teach everyday, so I've really got to know them, and they're great. There are only 9 of them, aged 7 and 8 and their level of English is pretty good. This week I am teaching them 'Food and Drink' like hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza... yeah. Great. But to my surprise, when I say "Do you like to eat hamburgers?" most of the kids say "No teacher, I do not like to eat hamburgers." Which is good! I've also been subbing this week which has been really good practice, and because they have other teachers most of the time, it doesn't really matter if I make mistakes (which i'm trying not too!). I should be getting a brand new class soon, I think at the end of November. They will be 7 - 8 years old, even possibly 6... they will have no English at all! This is exciting as well as a bit daunting because it will be a challenge. I have to be in control from the moment go otherwise that's it, you've lost them for the whole year. So the first few lessons are vital. This is why my boss has made me practice with this subbing... so that I'm absolutely ready for the beginners.
Apart from work life is good! Christmas is coming... strange strange strange. Traditionally, the Taiwanese don't celebrate Christmas at all. But the Western trade, like Starbucks and the big malls really go for it. There is the most ridiculous display at the Hanshin Department store near where we live, that screams out horrid recordings of "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" you can imagine the rest. But if the 25th was not a Sunday, Ed and I would be working. It's not a holiday here. Well why should it be?! There will be some sort of big meal somewhere I imagine... Also it's not cold here! So it's even more weird. Sure, it's getting "cooler" but, nothing compared to the winters back home.
We changed our flights today. So it's official. We are staying for the year!! Which I'm really happy about, because I seriously love it here.
This weekend Ed and I are going to visit Monkey Mountain, which is to the west of the city. Ed has been once with his friends, but I have never been! Our friend Dom is DJing on Saturday as well. I love my weekends since working. I live for them!
I will hopefully borrow a camera for Monkey Mountain and the weekend, and will hopefully be buying one soon! We still have no internet... Ed has his ARC but it's now the case of actually getting it! Which is proving harder then we thought!
Lots of love, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
