Taiwan, Santa, Subbing and falling down the stairs...

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year! and all that jazz.

Well, it has been a few weeks now, hasnt it?  Well, it has been a so-so week now.  It is Christmas time now, December 25th, and yesterday I was hungry and went out to lunch.  I got to thinking however.  We, as in the five of us that share this house, have not done anything to celebrate this season.  Here we are a Polish woman, a Belgian, a Portuguese and two Americans, and we where doing nothing.  So I diverted my trip to look for some holiday cheer.  I went out and got some cards, picked up a cute little tree and some decorations.  Now the Belgian and the other American I am bunking with have had some crappy days the last week or so.  They loved getting the cards and the chocolate I have left for them.  The Polish woman loved the tree.  As I found out, the celebrate Christmas for two days in Poland.  She spent most of the day decorating our tree and went out to get more stuff.  Of course in the morning she "left" some treats for us herself.  I went out and gave out chocolate to the store owners, with a Merry Christmas.  The art studio across the street from us and the local tea house wanted to take a picture of me.  The tea house made me wear a silly hat.  Which reminds me... I havent gotten the picture from the studio yet!

See.  See how one act of kindness can make the whole world sing and be happy.

Well, the other American is going on vacation the tomorrow and he spoke to his superiors to let me sub.  Last night he told me that I got the job.  Yay me!

Last night I also met with an accident.  Fell down a flight of stairs, well half a flight of stairs at a Mexican restaurant we went too.  Banged up my leg pretty good and got the nastiest friction burns on my hand.  I tried to grab the wall and slid down with my fingers burning up.  If I didnt, I would have fallen harder on my leg.  As it turns out, just got some swelling and bruising.  I didnt feel like going to the couch-surfing meeting that night.  It was right next door at a bar, but I was kinda miserable after that.

All and all, have a Merry Christmas.  Keep those around you safe, but dont be afraid to be welcoming to the stranger.  You never know what kinda friend they could become.

First subbing job...

Oof.  You will have to forgive me, but I have been really sick the last couple of days.  Fever, chills, headache and ahem... the runs.  I am still sick today.  I thought I felt better this morning but didnt.  Still have a headache among other things.  Blah...

Still, I went and did a sub job yesterday and it was great!  I felt better, didnt have a headache and flet rather good.  The job didnt pay as much as I would have liked, but the four kids that were the students were great.  They were all really smart and I liked them a lot.  It may turn into a usual Wednesday gig.  Yay!

Now, here are some pictures I have taken around Kaoshiung.

Crocodile repellent?

Taiwan, the first week done

Well, I have been in Taiwan for a little over seven days now and I have been getting comfortable in my new share house.  The landlord Eduard is nice.  Eddy has offered me the use of his scooter, bike, tent, just about anything.  John and Steno are nice guys as well.  John is an older (around my age) American and Steno is a younger man from Belgium, I think.  All three are teachers working around 20 hours per week.  Working 20 hours per week, they still make a comfortable living here in Taiwan.  Teaching English is something I am interested in, but John and Steno have been complaining about a couple of their classes that they have in which the students are out of control.  It is sad.  They basically walked out of the schools that they were teaching, it was so bad.  Now they are working for a company that seems to get more than a fair share of trouble in the classes.

The temperature has finally dipped to a cool level.  It is funny to see all the Taiwanese people bundled up in their coats for basically 19 or 20 degrees Celsius (around 68 degrees Fahrenheit).  It is funny still, when the expats that are living here basically do the same!

I still am looking forward to going up to Lotus Pond to try to find grandmother's old place.  I am still trying to get a hold of family I have here.  So much to do!