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.

Foggy Mountain Adventures

Sunday we woke up "early" and drove into the mountains. Here are pictures from our adventure. The hike was through the foggy foresty mountain wonder and it was a joy to be back out in the woods with Josh.

Christmas Abroad and at Home

Christmas was on Friday and Josh and I had a cozy little Christmas. Wednesday night I got home from work to find that Josh had stuffed my stocking, and bought a tiny little christmas tree, complete with trimmings and blinking lights. I laid the gifts "under" the tree; mostly from my mother.

We woke up to find our hiking plans dashed upon the shores of rainy soils. We made cocoa and skyped with my parents to open gifts. After saying goodbye, Josh and I exchanged gifts. He opened my super lame contribution to his new camera. His gift to me was a sweet day pack to replace my ailing one. Inside was a new and warm jacket. I've been borrowing and layering in order to stay warm on my scooter drive at home, and so this maroon wonder is the perfect wardrobe addition. So thoughtful and sweet.

Mom gave Josh the 5th season of the West Wing, which we promptly watched and actually finished yesterday (this is in 3 days...). It's been quite cold, so lots of sweatshirts and Martin Sheen. Christmas night we went to a Russian restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious steak dinner, gift from Josh's parents. Nothing like a log interior restaurant with Taiwanese servers, a Belorussian Santa Clause, and Chinese/Russian/English menus.

Skyped with family again Saturday morning before rushing off to class. They were celebrating their Christmas dinner as I was waking up on the 26th.

On Saturday I taught a class of rambunctious youngsters (7-8). Then I met Josh at a strawberry patch where we picked to kilograms of berries. Then on to Josh's soccer game where he scored the only two goals of the game. Returned home to lots of food and west wing and early to bed so we could go hiking on Sunday. and now alas I am tired again. More on Sunday's Dashueshan trip to come.

Half-Marathon Hunny

This weekend Josh and I went to Taipei, where he competed in the half marathon on Sunday. Time 1:37:52. He placed 286 out of at least 7700 runners. I'm very proud :0). He's been running 4-5 times a week at the gym or on the outdoor bike path. He's also playing soccer now with his team at night.

After the race, we went to the hostel to organize our life, and then jumped on the train and bus. We spent the damp and cold afternoon in the National Palace Museum. We saw bronze age artifacts, old religious relics, amazing stone carvings, early caligraphy, and famous artwork.

One of the story books I teach has a class go on a field trip to the museum. It was cool to see some of the things I am teaching my students.

Check it:
http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=867&catno=16&pageno=2

Friends and the Phillipines

First...Josh and I had to do some last minute changes to our Chinese New Year plans. As we knew, airline tickets are quite expensive because of the new year, but this is the time when we have a whole week off of work, so we definitely are traveling. I have days off from Saturday, Feb 13 (I normally work on Saturdays) through the next saturday (20). Initially we had planned an amazing trip to the island of Borneo-going to Kotakinabalu Malaysia and then to Brunei. This would give practically untouched jungles in which to go hiking, and the summit of Mt. Kinabalu. Of course, yesterday Josh realized that Chinese New Year is ALSO an official holiday in Malaysia and traveling within the country would be narly impossible.

SO, we spent the evening researching plane tickets, and discovered that the Phillipines will be reasonably priced. We bought tickets and are heading for Manila in the wee hours of the 13th. The tentative plan includes swimming with whale sharks, hiking on volcanos, and exploring the forests. Hopefully we'll have some boat-travel between islands and potentially small aircraft flights between. It should be pretty sweet, and although I'll miss going to the Sultanate of Brunei (and its treatment of women), the Phillipines should make an excellent trip.

In other news, yesterday I dropped my scooter off a half-block from work to get the oil changed. Last night, at five past 10, I realized that I had LEFT my scooter at the mechanic. I go over to look, and it is blocked by several other scooters. I go back to the branch, get a wonderful CT to come help me. She sees the same, writes down the telephone number and calls. No answer. We go back over, this time with a contingent of 2 more, and bang on the gate. Finally it opens. In Chinese, my friends explain that I'm a total idiot, and if I could please have my scooter. The man was very nice, got my scooter, joked in broken English about giving him tips, and then charged me 150 NT for the oil change. That's 5 dollars and the standard rate.

Needless to say, I will be buying lots of chocolates today to try to restore my "guanxi"...I have asked too many favors and done too little for all my friends at work. AND NOW they totally saved my butt.

Alas, I thought I was living in Taiwan just fine.

Christmas is on Friday. What are you doing? We have been required to take the day off. I'm assuming we'll open gifts, drink hot chocolate, and watch a movie. Maybe go hiking in the afternoon? I work on Christmas Eve until 11, and then on sat the 26th I have to work at 10 am. Christmas will be a nice break!

Ailment and Birthday and Christmas

Sunday was Josh's birthday! We celebrated by going camera shopping. My gift was a contribution to a new and awesome camera yet to be picked out. Along with some little things that make Josh wary of how sneaky I can be...like a video purchased from the gift store of a national park in the middle of the mountains...purchased while he was in the store. On his B-day we went to a soccer kick around, bought Dominoes and watched a movie. All around a good birthday I hope. Oh, and Friday I snuck into his work and we had a little chocolate cake dessert before lunch.

I am sick. I lost my voice yesterday, which sucks when you are a teacher. It is coming back I hope. Tomorrow I have a Chirstmas party at work, then I have to drive back to my city where I am subbing a kindy class, and then back to Taichung where I will teach night classes.

Christmas is coming! I have been scrambling to get gifts off to my parents, etc., and for our secret santa tomorrow. I feel like the final product is just a few small gifts, but geez I feel like I have wrapped a lot of things. I will seriously miss christmas at home. I have thinking for several days about Christmas Eve, when Charlotte and I would stay up very late wrapping gifts and stuffing stockings. I am worried that Mom wonders if they should have stockings at all...I am worried who will stuff them :0(. Anyway, I'll miss staying up late with Charlotte being sneaky.

Pasta is finished and warm and ready to eat, and it's 11 at night so almost bed time. I can say I was more fulfilled as a teacher in one day of Kindergarten than I have been the rest of my time here. Maybe this is not true, but I feel that the construction paper christmas tree proves it.

non-fancy Titles for Non-Fancy Words

Life continues to be normal-I don't think much happens out of the ordinary. Josh practiced with both teams tonight (the all get together for one big soccer practice). I went after work and watched for about an hour. The evening became very damp; dew on the grass and on scooter helmets, grass stuck to soccer balls, and a very cold me on the bleachers.

We had just met when Josh and I first played soccer together. One night he texted me to ask if I ever played because he thought I might have. I said "I used to, but I suck now." But he picked me up anyway and we went to the sports center at Pitt to play pick up with the soccer club-type organization. Turns out I was worse than expected, and Josh was the best player on the field. I later found out he was going to play for Pitt but got injured right before so that night I was totally embarrassed and couldn't believe I went.

Once we started dating, I went to a few soccer games he played with a team in Pittsburgh. One of those games was the first time I met his parents. Then he asked if I wanted to play with them...his first gift to me was a pair of cleats. I wasn't very good, but I helped teams meet the "girl" quota, and I once had an assist to Josh. Aw, how cute.

Now he has found a team here and I am so glad he's playing again. It comes with an obsessive play-by-play of the game afterward, but it's totally worth it to see him so happy.

I don't know why I told you this, but now you know. Maybe I'll be inspired to start excersizing again...but probably not :0).