Happy New Year! I can't believe it's been almost a month since I have written. I think of many things to write, but then alas I never do.
Soccer has been one of the highlights of this year. I go every Wednesday and practice with both soccer teams that Josh is on. The teams scramble up and scrimmage each other. It's been great exercise and good fun. Saturday, Josh played in a game and then that night I went with a female teacher-friend to meet some of his team in Taichung. It was the first time I'd been "out" in Taiwan, and she and I basically cha chaed all night (the 7 Latinos in Taichung were at the Latin themed night). She is from Belize, first languages are English and Spanish, and is a new friend. Normally, we see each other at Josh' work, and occasionally a group lunch, but she is totally cool and I'm excited at the prospect of having a girl (read: non-Josh person) to talk to. Maybe it will be good for me.
I lost my cell phone yesterday. I will get my third cell phone tomorrow. What an idiot.
My parents are coming in two days! I will take a bus to Taipei Wednesday night and meet them in the city early early Thursday morning. I will try to post about their visit!
Work is going fairly well. I'm feeling like a teacher, have some authority over my students, and seem to be getting along with my co-teachers. I've lost the "I'm always wrong" attitude I assumed when I got here, and the brief "I'm always right" attitude from that day the "I'm always wrong" attitude made me sick. My CTs have several times implied that I am an important part of the teaching team. I just switched classes with another English speaking teacher, and my CT seemed concerned about the direction the class would take. It wasn't the comparison that made me happy, but rather the confidence in my teaching and the awknowledgment that it would be missed.
Had a minor conflict with my "supervisor" of sorts. Seems that she is pulled in all directions, and I'm asking questions at the wrong time. One of our teachers is leaving after being here for only three months, and so we're all feeling the looming pressure his departure will instill. I think I am the least effected, as the head teachers stress about all of our schedules. Anyway, I don't think we're happy he's leaving. In part I want to be understanding and in part I want to be frustrated that he's breaking contract, leaving us to clean his mess, and convincing his girlfriend to leave early too. I mean, some think I left the US "for" Josh. I still think if I had stayed in the US working a crappy job just so I could stay with him, it would be a sacrifice. I'm not sure what I would do if Josh said he wanted to go back. For one, I've invested too much money to leave. For two, I would seriously consider the sudden character change. What if I wanted to leave? Would I expect him to go with me?
Good thing I don't have to think about it. Anyway, it's a bummer this teacher is leaving. I feel for the CTs who already have NSTs change every 6 or 12 months. Imagine a new teacher coming in, and just when he is almost competent, he leaves. Then you have to train a whole NEW teacher, or deal with NST subs for several months. So much for consistency.
Maybe this is not interesting or is incoherent. I guess it's just gossip I really want to say, but know it will get me in trouble if I say it to the people I work with. Although I soft of have...
More to come, I promise. Maybe.
