jangmi

Holy typhoon! What a wild storm. I went out a little earlier today, anticipating that it might be my last chance before having to stay in all night, as "Jangmi" was supposed to hit northern Taiwan this afternoon. It's a category 4 (on the hurricane scale, which goes up to 5)! It really wasn't too bad while I went out. It was windy and spitting rain, but I didn't even use my umbrella as I walked to the bus stop. A small boy whizzed past me on a big bicycle, in shorts and bare feet, soaked to his little bones. He smiled at me and called "Hallo!" I smiled back, delighted by his carefree spirit.

I went downtown and picked up some things at the bookstore and then got some coffee from Starbuck's to bring home. I asked the girls working if they would close soon. They said "maybe" and one added, "But we're always open. 'Always Open, Starbuck's'!" (That's the slogan for 7-11; everyone knows the jingle "Always Open, 7-11!" Taking the bus back home, the storm started to pick up. I only had to walk a few blocks after getting off, but they were treacherous! My heavy-duty umbrella caught the wind and yanked my arm along with it, flipping inside out and threatening to haul me off like a kite. The rain was blowing sideways by now, so there was no point in using the umbrella anyway, and I wasn't about to lose my latte (in my other hand) over a silly umbrella. I found a sheltered corner and closed up the umbrella, tucking it under my arm. Then I made a dash for home--totally drenched and feeling awfully light on my feet (about to blow away?) By the time I got in to my building, I was giggling. It was exhilirating! I remembered how I love rain, and storms. Their strength; the way they remind us of how small we are. How they change our plans and show us that we're not in control. How they give us pause--time for waiting, reflecting, surrender--before it passes and we charge back to our routines and to-do lists.

Now I'm holed up in my cozy room with my latte and a few National Geographics. I'm burning candles and listening to Nina Simone, her husky voice harmonizing with the howling wind outside. My plans for the rest of the day are simple--cleaning, laundry, baking sweet potatoes, yoga, writing letters. Much less ambitious than my pre-typhoon plans of traveling to the East coast or museum-hopping in Taipei, but I don't mind. This is a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon, too.

For all you weather-buffs, check out: http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V6e/index.htm and click on "Typhoon Warning" on the left. Then choose the "potential track area" option and click "Animate." (I live in northwest Taiwan) I will try to get some pictures from my balcony in a bit--I'm charging my camera battery at the moment!

Teacher's Day

Today is "Teacher's Day" in Taiwan. I got a few cards and even a pen, but I still don't really feel like a teacher. But Happy Teacher's Day to all of the REAL teachers I know--My mom, Mrs. Lomp, Sarah, Jocelyn, Maria (almost)...

I have a one-on-one every Saturday morning with an 8th grade girl. We've been meeting for a few months and it's difficult because she wants to practice conversation, except she doesn't talk. I sort of dread Saturday mornings because it's hard to decide things to do for 90 minutes when I might as well be talking to myself! Anyway, she has recently begun to open up a bit and talk more. Her usual answers to questions are "yes," "no," or "I don't know." AAHHH! But now she talks about school a little bit. I was blown away by her school schedule. Here it is: (remember, she's in 8th grade)

Monday: 7 am-6 pm
Tuesday: 7 am-9 pm
Wednesday: 7 am-5 pm
Thursday: 7 am-9 pm
Friday: 7 am-6 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am-11 (English lesson with me) Plus, six times per semester she has to go to school on Saturdays as well.

How awful! I can't even imagine. So her English lessons were supposed to finish up this month (it was just an 8 week session) and I was kind of looking forward to the end, just because it's so painfully quiet and I have a hard time knowing what to do with her! But... she has decided she wants to continue lessons with me indefinitely. So I guess I will take that as a compliment--that someone who is already in school more than 60 hours/week at age 13 wants to spend her Saturday morning with me. ?!?

Here are some little monkeys I have on Friday nights. From left: Terence (formerly known as "Jerry" but his friends made fun of that name for some reason), Max, and Andy


Terence, Andy, Max, and Jojo in the background. Under the shirt is Sammy, my favorite and the cutest chubby cheeks I've ever seen--sorry you're missin' out!


Teacher's Day cards and a pen. Nancy is a teeny-tiny girl--maybe 7 years old, with a voice like a mouse, so I thought it was precious that she wrote in the card!

needing room to breathe

I've had a bit of a rough week. I've been sick, extra tired, missing the changing of seasons, and slightly on the depressed side. When you get into a mood like that, every little thing that happens that isn't fabulous darkens your day and you snowball toward a meltdown. Thursday I decided I just needed to get out of my routine for a little while and breathe and be thankful to be in Taiwan. It was a windy day--still hot, but the wind is rare and felt good. I walked "the long way" after getting off the bus in Long Tan, taking a little detour by a river that's just a few minutes in the opposite direction of how I walk to school. Here's what I saw...














Sometimes it just takes a few minutes to remind yourself that your life isn't a disaster. Take a different route to work. Feel the sun on your face, the wind on your cheeks. Breathe consciously. Observe creation, the happened and the happening, around you. Talk to God. Love this moment--this moment is your life.

SWFITAPOI

Tonight in one of my classes, we read a lesson called "Tom's Wedding" or something like that. Before we read it, I asked "so, what is 'wedding' in Chinese?" and then I started singing the "Here Comes the Bride" song as a clue. A few of them said the word in Chinese and one boy, Kevin, age 13, burst into giggles. At first I thought he was laughing at me singing--but it wasn't that. We all looked at him, astonished. "Kevin, what?" When he finally regained composure, he gasped, "Teacher... is... SINGLE!" and erupted with fresh hilarity, and this time the whole class joined in. Of course I laughed too--it was funny that they found it funny that I'm not married! I told them that I actually prefer it that way and that they are too young too understand, and that I'm too young for it to even be a big deal! Ah, kids say the darndest things!


(by the way, SWFITAPOI stands for "Single White Female In Taiwan And Proud Of It")

sick!

Last night, Helen and I went for a late night trip to Carrefour (like Super Wal-Mart) to get some birthday gifts for one of our friends. On the way back, we were parked next to this truck at a red light. I quickly dug through my purse for my camera and got a few pictures before the light turned green!

This is desperately sad, but also a little funny. Half the chickens in the flatbed were dead, plucked and pale as ghosts, upside down with their spindly legs sticking up. And the other half were alive and well--caged and awaiting their imminent fate--which was all too clear, considering they had a front row seat to their kinsmen's carcasses. Poor things! I'm glad I'm not eating any meat here.

a random experience per day keeps the blues away

Tonight after work, I went to the gym for a late-night workout. I was informed that I could work out, but no shower--no water, because of a "flood." I don't know what that meant, because the typhoon was last weekend, and everything has been fine all week and no rain.

So after my workout, I left the gym sweaty but feelin' good. I decided to go to a foot massage shop that some of the other teachers recommended to me. They close at midnight, and it was only 11, so I went in and pointed to the "40 minute Foot Massage" listed on the menu.

My masseuse couldn't speak English but another customer could, a little bit, so we chatted and they asked all the usual questions... Where are you from? How old are you? Are you an English teacher? Are you married? What God do you believe in? The masseuse could tell that I had allergies--just from touching my feet! Reflexology is so cool--I must learn more about it! She also could tell that I was a dancer--even though my calves have atrophied quite a bit from when I was dancing every day. Oh, those were the days... when I couldn't zip up my boots! Anyway, the massage was incredible, and only cost $12. I will be going back for more.

When it was over, my masseuse told me that her husband was coming to pick her up and they could drive me close to where I live because they were apparently headed that direction too. The owner, who spoke a little English and who also prays to Jesus, as I'd found out earlier, told me it was no problem and that it would be fine.

So my masseuse and her husband drove me home. She sat with me in the back seat of their car, which smelled of cigarettes and incense, and was pimped out with Buddhist trinkets hanging from the mirror, a clock glued to the dash, and fringed curtains hanging from the windows. Her husband turned on some English tunes.

And this is how I came to find myself "dancing" in the back seat of a car with a Taiwanese reflexologist in her 50's, at midnight, to a crazy, dance-club version of the Supremes' "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." I sang along, and she tried to sing along, and we both did some half-disco moves and giggled a lot.

Then I was at my "stop." I thanked them and she told me to come back to the shop and ask for her. She pointed to the sleeve of her uniform, "12." I'll definitely go back and will definitely request Masseuse #12. Maybe next time we can get footloose first, and then I can kick off my Sunday shoes!

tainan: moon festival

The day I left... it didn't look so good! Typhoon Sinlaku decided to visit Taiwan for the holiday weekend. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/16/asia/AS-Taiwan-Typhoon.php


The beautiful High Speed Rail station


We still barbecued, as is tradition for Moon Festival, but we had to keep the grill under the garage roof and out of the rain! On the grill you can see some lovely squid slices. :-)



Me and Baba with pomelo skins on our heads. Pomelos are similar to grapefruit and apparently putting them on your heads is another Moon Festival tradition!


And with Mama, whose giggle is contagious.


More fun with pomelos! A paper bowl sculpture made by Jin's brother.