I woke up Monday morning feeling still full of the cold and not too happy about it. But, I didn't want to call in sick until I really need to, or at least until I could miss one of my hard days (Wednesday, Thursday or Friday), so I went to work and stayed out of the kids faces. For my first class (A8 is the class that I videoed weeks ago singing Happy Birthday to Kim), I was greeted by Sunny, the future model, dressed in some crack up clothes, so I had to figure out a way to take a picture of her without asking. We've been working on this song which they learned in Chinese but we translated it to English. So, I had them sing their song, and I video taped it. Then, I got cracked up at myself because I realized I have a Sunny and a Claire in this class. Sounds like...Sonny and Cher, but my children bear little resemblance to the once famous couple except that Sunny is a "Cher" type little girl with the long hair and the fashion sense (or lack of)!
I'll tell one more quick story on these kids and then I'm off to start my Tuesday. You can imagine how difficult it is to maintain one's patience in a classroom where you have multiple voices simultaneously saying the same thing to you many times within each 90 minute period, right? Well, all of my children (all 90 of them), have been taught to say "Teachuh, I am finishee." Don't ask me why they like to say "finishee" instead of "finished" but they like it and they all say it. So, the other day, I had an Oklahoma moment, where I taught them to say some incorrect English. I taught this class to say "Teacher, I am done." Only they couldn't really say it. They were saying, "Teacher, I am dumb." So, I corrected them and said, "Say, done. With an "n" at the end, say done!" Then, they said, "Teacher, I am dung." I have to admit, I was sorely tempted to leave it, and I enjoyed a little giggle at this mistake, but I corrected them again. I don't know if all of them are saying it correctly, but they are trying to please me so that works for me as their teacher and it works for my patience to hear a little variety. They can learn later that saying "done" means you are fully cooked and ready to be eaten. ;)
Hope you enjoy the video. Sorry, I turned the camera at the end. I was trying to "fill the frame". (Shout out to my friend Glen Morris who taught me that!)
Until next time,
this is Taiwan to me!
10.29.2007
10.27.2007
Saturday Night in Taiwan
Well, it was bound to happen. All the children coughing and sneezing around me finally made me catch a cold this weekend. Of course it had to happen on the weekend! Oh well, I needed to rest, so it's o.k., but it meant I had to cancel a trip to Taipei to hang out with Lucy, Irene Morris' sister. (I've known Lucy for about 10 years since she used to come to San Francisco and stay with Glen and Irene. She's really sweet and we've been trying to get together for the last several weeks.) She was planning to show me around the city today and we were going to see her family's home and the town where she lives, but alas none of this happened. Instead, I stayed home today and relaxed, caught up on some lesson plans and other school work and talked to some of my family, which was long overdue.
It was a good day all in all and tonight my roommate, Annalu had some of our/her friends over for dinner and they cooked a traditional South African dish, which was yummy. I decided to post the video of our apartment, I know it's not high quality since it's at night, but hopefully you'll get a little feel for where I live and the excitement that goes on in this part of the city in the evenings. So, not a lot to say tonight since I've had such a low key day, but I want to post again tomorrow, so check back in and see if it happens. Let me know how you are. I always love to hear from home. I look forward to a good day tomorrow in worship and in rehearsal. Until next time, Larissa
Sharon, Erin, and Cara last thing on a Friday night after a long week.
It was a good day all in all and tonight my roommate, Annalu had some of our/her friends over for dinner and they cooked a traditional South African dish, which was yummy. I decided to post the video of our apartment, I know it's not high quality since it's at night, but hopefully you'll get a little feel for where I live and the excitement that goes on in this part of the city in the evenings. So, not a lot to say tonight since I've had such a low key day, but I want to post again tomorrow, so check back in and see if it happens. Let me know how you are. I always love to hear from home. I look forward to a good day tomorrow in worship and in rehearsal. Until next time, Larissa
Sharon, Erin, and Cara last thing on a Friday night after a long week.
This was Erins birthday cake. Hello Kitty is alive and well in Taiwan!
10.19.2007
It's Friday, that means I've been here for another week...
it's a sort of anniversary feeling, although it's not an anni-, just a weeki. I think I've heard sappy newlyweds in love speak of it as their "week-a-versary", so I could steal that I guess. Each Friday over the last nine weeks, I've been reminded of how long I've been here, and today was no different. As Friday's go, it wasn't a bad day and on a good note, I was aware that I wasn't just hating every minute of my one on one for the last hour and a half of my day. I actually had the thought that I could be getting used to the schedule. (This comes the day after me wanting to throw my hands up over the lethargy in my pubescent class that I teach last on Thursdays. Ugh! Teenagers!! Roll eyes here!)
As I reflect on the day, I had E2 at 1:30. It's a small class so I like it a lot. Neco is a big challenge 'cause he's A.D.H.D. and bounces off the walls from start to finish, so I had to say his name the usual average of 150 times in 90 minutes. But, Sophia 2 (there are two Sophias so they number them 1 and 2) was so helpful and pleasant and really displayed a lot of understanding during the class so that was great.
Then I had A11. You know how I feel about A11 (if not view previous post under "nightmare"). Well, they have gotten a lot better since you've all been praying and I am so thankful. However, today we had a nosebleed before our activity, and a couple of bruised kids during the activity as a result of a scuffle between a 12 year old and two six year olds. Guess who was on the ground? (It wasn't the 12 year old!) No tears though, thankfully. (Six year old Nelson cried last Friday because he thought he was getting in trouble for not spelling any of his words correctly. I was just trying to show him that I wasn't going to count the grade 'cause he'd been absent, but he didn't understand and started to cry.)
Then right on their heels I taught A7, one of my favorite classes, except tonight they put two new kids (not new to me but new to the class) in to "try it out" and that pushed the dynamic over the top I think. In language learning, (as in Small Group Bible studies) a class of 10 is great, 12 is a little too big, and anything over that, you're definitely going to have discipline problems and some kids will get left out. Well, A7 had 14 today and it wasn't much fun for me. I really push this group because I like them so much and want them to succeed, so consequently I get really disappointed when they don't get me. Tonight was disappointing. But, it was Friday at 6:00, my last class of the week, except for a one on one tutoring session, so what should I expect?
Last there was Cherry. She's a soft spoken, bright but awkward 13 year old that I see each Friday night on her own. She gets the dregs of me, but doesn't seem to mind. We've been meeting for about 5 weeks I think and tonight was the second week in a row where she looked a little relaxed so that's good, eh?
I scooted home on my new ride (photos to follow in a future post) in a shorter time than usual, (light traffic I think ;), and my roommate had bought me a milk tea drink with pearls (they're gummy balls that have no real flavor but are good to me), so I was happy.
Tomorrow I will take the train, another first, to a city to the south of me, called Taichung, where my good friends Otey and Cheryl live and catch up with them after many years. I've been reflecting on that and remembering that it was 20 years ago that Otey and I met when he hired me to do campus ministry at Clackamus Community College in Oregon City, Oregon. Those two years were great and I've always enjoyed Otey (and Cheryl) a lot since then, so tomorrow will be fun.
Well, that's it for me. Except that I would just ask that you join me in prayer for a friend of mine who lives in Germany. She's younger than me and heard this week that's she's got colorectal cancer that's spread to her liver. She's a missionary from Missouri that I met at Golden Gate and worked with there. She's a great woman and I would love to see God do a miracle for his glory and for her good if it would be his will. Thanks for praying.
God bless and keep each of you.
Until next time,
LC in TW
As I reflect on the day, I had E2 at 1:30. It's a small class so I like it a lot. Neco is a big challenge 'cause he's A.D.H.D. and bounces off the walls from start to finish, so I had to say his name the usual average of 150 times in 90 minutes. But, Sophia 2 (there are two Sophias so they number them 1 and 2) was so helpful and pleasant and really displayed a lot of understanding during the class so that was great.
Then I had A11. You know how I feel about A11 (if not view previous post under "nightmare"). Well, they have gotten a lot better since you've all been praying and I am so thankful. However, today we had a nosebleed before our activity, and a couple of bruised kids during the activity as a result of a scuffle between a 12 year old and two six year olds. Guess who was on the ground? (It wasn't the 12 year old!) No tears though, thankfully. (Six year old Nelson cried last Friday because he thought he was getting in trouble for not spelling any of his words correctly. I was just trying to show him that I wasn't going to count the grade 'cause he'd been absent, but he didn't understand and started to cry.)
Then right on their heels I taught A7, one of my favorite classes, except tonight they put two new kids (not new to me but new to the class) in to "try it out" and that pushed the dynamic over the top I think. In language learning, (as in Small Group Bible studies) a class of 10 is great, 12 is a little too big, and anything over that, you're definitely going to have discipline problems and some kids will get left out. Well, A7 had 14 today and it wasn't much fun for me. I really push this group because I like them so much and want them to succeed, so consequently I get really disappointed when they don't get me. Tonight was disappointing. But, it was Friday at 6:00, my last class of the week, except for a one on one tutoring session, so what should I expect?
Last there was Cherry. She's a soft spoken, bright but awkward 13 year old that I see each Friday night on her own. She gets the dregs of me, but doesn't seem to mind. We've been meeting for about 5 weeks I think and tonight was the second week in a row where she looked a little relaxed so that's good, eh?
I scooted home on my new ride (photos to follow in a future post) in a shorter time than usual, (light traffic I think ;), and my roommate had bought me a milk tea drink with pearls (they're gummy balls that have no real flavor but are good to me), so I was happy.
Tomorrow I will take the train, another first, to a city to the south of me, called Taichung, where my good friends Otey and Cheryl live and catch up with them after many years. I've been reflecting on that and remembering that it was 20 years ago that Otey and I met when he hired me to do campus ministry at Clackamus Community College in Oregon City, Oregon. Those two years were great and I've always enjoyed Otey (and Cheryl) a lot since then, so tomorrow will be fun.
Well, that's it for me. Except that I would just ask that you join me in prayer for a friend of mine who lives in Germany. She's younger than me and heard this week that's she's got colorectal cancer that's spread to her liver. She's a missionary from Missouri that I met at Golden Gate and worked with there. She's a great woman and I would love to see God do a miracle for his glory and for her good if it would be his will. Thanks for praying.
God bless and keep each of you.
Until next time,
LC in TW
"Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh..." (think '80's)
"today is your birthday. Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, it's my birthday too (not really). Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, today is your birthday. Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, we're gonna have a good time! Dun, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, today is your birthday. Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, Happy Birthday to you!"
Well, just about the time most of you are convinced this has become the birthday blog, I have to go and post yet another birthday shout out, and prove you're right. Sorry, folks, but I gotta throw one to my friend, Claudia. She's having a birthday today and I can't be there for it, so I'm wishing her a good day/weekend/week/month as she celebrates with friends and family. I made her a cheesy video tonight from my school, just with me and three co-workers, at the end of a long day/week, so we were all looking a little spent, but the love came through I hope. (Sorry, but I'm sharing it with her only on Skype chat, so there's no url to give you.)
Claudia and I have known each other since playing softball together on the First Baptist San Francisco team (sad as we were), and that's about 8 years or more now. We've traveled a lot together and we still like each other, so that's a good thing, eh? She's a great friend to me and I think I keep her laughing so it's a decent trade off.
What can I say, Claudia's great!
So, Clauds, have a great day and sorry I can't be there. Lovin' you from the far east!
This is Claudia translating for a Nicaraguan couple at the clinic
we worked at this summer in the mountains near Jinotega.
She was amazing. Full of patience and love for her "peeps".
Well, just about the time most of you are convinced this has become the birthday blog, I have to go and post yet another birthday shout out, and prove you're right. Sorry, folks, but I gotta throw one to my friend, Claudia. She's having a birthday today and I can't be there for it, so I'm wishing her a good day/weekend/week/month as she celebrates with friends and family. I made her a cheesy video tonight from my school, just with me and three co-workers, at the end of a long day/week, so we were all looking a little spent, but the love came through I hope. (Sorry, but I'm sharing it with her only on Skype chat, so there's no url to give you.)
Claudia and I have known each other since playing softball together on the First Baptist San Francisco team (sad as we were), and that's about 8 years or more now. We've traveled a lot together and we still like each other, so that's a good thing, eh? She's a great friend to me and I think I keep her laughing so it's a decent trade off.
What can I say, Claudia's great!
So, Clauds, have a great day and sorry I can't be there. Lovin' you from the far east!
This is Claudia translating for a Nicaraguan couple at the clinic
we worked at this summer in the mountains near Jinotega.
She was amazing. Full of patience and love for her "peeps".
Same clinic, same day, but another one of the
250+ patients the doctors saw that day.
Claudia was one of only 3 translators.
250+ patients the doctors saw that day.
Claudia was one of only 3 translators.
Claudia with some of the older girls at the orphanage in Jinotega.
Claudia with two of the girls we had walked
to school on the last day we were there.
Kinda makes ya sad to say good-bye.
to school on the last day we were there.
Kinda makes ya sad to say good-bye.
10.16.2007
Last of the "Family" October Birthdays
Me and Joe on the Harley in San Francisco.
The Golden Gate Bridge in the rear view mirror of the Harley, on a
typical San Francisco summer day.
Yes, I have three family members whose birthdays are in October, and today is Joe's birthday. He's a great guy with a charismatic and winsome personality. I had the awesome opportunity to spend a week with him in Nicaragua (a week in Oklahoma and 2 weeks in San Francisco) this summer and it was so much fun. In Nic, everyone he met became his friend. He sat on the porch each night exchanging cultural lessons with the night guard, bus driver and translator, mano y mano (I think that's how you spell that), which means man to man. He wouldn't have it any other way but to stand in the doorway of the bus when we were traveling so he could "talk" with the bus driver (who only spoke Spanish and Joe only speaks English), be ready to jump out of the bus to open the gate, help the driver park the bus, and just generally provide a sense of camaraderie with the driver. He's always impressed me as a man that gets things done, whether it's building a small shed, or a huge shop in his back yard, putting together a custom motorcycle or repairing a friends "scooter" (i.e., Harley), whatever he puts his mind to, he manages to do. I love him, and I really hope he has/had a great day. So, Joe, this blog's for you!
Joe in Nicaragua, on a horse at the medical clinic, with Moises (one of the boys that lives on the farm/ranch), holding a little boy at the clinic, and standing with his "boys" (Donald, Dimitrio, and Lester) outside of the Jinotega orphanage.
The Golden Gate Bridge in the rear view mirror of the Harley, on a typical San Francisco summer day.
Yes, I have three family members whose birthdays are in October, and today is Joe's birthday. He's a great guy with a charismatic and winsome personality. I had the awesome opportunity to spend a week with him in Nicaragua (a week in Oklahoma and 2 weeks in San Francisco) this summer and it was so much fun. In Nic, everyone he met became his friend. He sat on the porch each night exchanging cultural lessons with the night guard, bus driver and translator, mano y mano (I think that's how you spell that), which means man to man. He wouldn't have it any other way but to stand in the doorway of the bus when we were traveling so he could "talk" with the bus driver (who only spoke Spanish and Joe only speaks English), be ready to jump out of the bus to open the gate, help the driver park the bus, and just generally provide a sense of camaraderie with the driver. He's always impressed me as a man that gets things done, whether it's building a small shed, or a huge shop in his back yard, putting together a custom motorcycle or repairing a friends "scooter" (i.e., Harley), whatever he puts his mind to, he manages to do. I love him, and I really hope he has/had a great day. So, Joe, this blog's for you!
Joe in Nicaragua, on a horse at the medical clinic, with Moises (one of the boys that lives on the farm/ranch), holding a little boy at the clinic, and standing with his "boys" (Donald, Dimitrio, and Lester) outside of the Jinotega orphanage.
Here's my brother and my nephew,
his son, Shane, this summer at the
lake in Oklahoma. What a great weekend!
his son, Shane, this summer at the
lake in Oklahoma. What a great weekend!
10.14.2007
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Today's my Mom's birthday, so I just want to say "Happy Birthday, Mom!" and hope you have a good day, and a good week.
My Mom was born more than seven decades ago, but she's still on the road to seventy-five, so that tells you how well she's doing. Although she's not been feeling well lately, and I would appreciate your prayers for her, she's a delight to the whole family and takes good care of us all. This summer, when we were all together at the lake, she was making sure all the food was provided and that everyone was happy, so much so that I don't know how much she was able to enjoy it, but we sure did! (Thanks Mom! I know you loved it.) That's what my Mom does, she makes sure everyone else is happy and puts her own desires on hold. In that way, Mom has raised five children, helped to raise eleven grandchildren, and now she's loving playing with ten great-grandchildren (with one on the way!)
In July, when we recognized my Dad's 50 years in ministry, we spoke of what a legacy he was leaving and how many of his family members and people in his churches had enjoyed life-changing experiences because of his influence. Well, Dad rightfully threw some of that love Mom's way, as he said, "No one stays with anything for as long as fifty years by themselves." He knows and we all know that Mom helps him do so many of the things he's able to do in ministry and oftentimes at home, so we have to say the legacy is shared by them both.
So, Mom, I hope you know that your family loves you, appreciates all the love you give us, and that we are all excited to see what God is going to do with you now as you continue to serve along side Dad in Southern Oklahoma and many other places. Happy Birthday, and many happy returns!
Love from Taiwan,
Riss
My Mom was born more than seven decades ago, but she's still on the road to seventy-five, so that tells you how well she's doing. Although she's not been feeling well lately, and I would appreciate your prayers for her, she's a delight to the whole family and takes good care of us all. This summer, when we were all together at the lake, she was making sure all the food was provided and that everyone was happy, so much so that I don't know how much she was able to enjoy it, but we sure did! (Thanks Mom! I know you loved it.) That's what my Mom does, she makes sure everyone else is happy and puts her own desires on hold. In that way, Mom has raised five children, helped to raise eleven grandchildren, and now she's loving playing with ten great-grandchildren (with one on the way!)
In July, when we recognized my Dad's 50 years in ministry, we spoke of what a legacy he was leaving and how many of his family members and people in his churches had enjoyed life-changing experiences because of his influence. Well, Dad rightfully threw some of that love Mom's way, as he said, "No one stays with anything for as long as fifty years by themselves." He knows and we all know that Mom helps him do so many of the things he's able to do in ministry and oftentimes at home, so we have to say the legacy is shared by them both.
So, Mom, I hope you know that your family loves you, appreciates all the love you give us, and that we are all excited to see what God is going to do with you now as you continue to serve along side Dad in Southern Oklahoma and many other places. Happy Birthday, and many happy returns!
Love from Taiwan,
Riss
10.10.2007
"Double 10 Day", or "a day off in the middle of the week!!"
It's Thursday morning here, the sun is trying to break through the clouds, but there is a beautiful breeze coming through the windows, and it's nice. I'm so happy to report I've not had to sleep with the air conditioner on in my room for three nights now. Hopefully this means the weather is becoming more bearable. We use Centigrade here and the thermometer in my room reads 26* at the moment, which is pretty pleasant. Weather report over, the reason I'm posting this morning is to tell you about yesterday, Double Ten Day, which was a great excuse to have a day off in the middle of the week.
The South African posse had a "slumber" party at my place on Tuesday night, to which I arrived after 10 pm when I finished work. They had already gorged themselves on snacks and were contemplating all sorts of ways to lose weight. Seems this conversation bridges the cultural gap and is universal amongst women of all ages. One of the girls dyed her hair, another was talking to her friend from home on the computer, and another to her boyfriend via text on her cell phone. Gadgets aplenty, all were happy. I made some hurricane popcorn*, which they loved, as did I (thanks to all the Hawaiian influences in my life over the years Lisa, Lani, and Lori to name a few), and we settled in to watch a movie around 11:30. *(hurricane popcorn is a Hawaiian original. it's a mix of seaweed bits, little sesame seeds with salt and sugar and soy crackers. very tasty!) After watching about an hour of Zach Braff contemplating cheating on his pregnant live-in girlfriend in a movie I don't wish to name since it's not recommendable, I could see the writing on the wall for this "winner" of a pick, so I "pulled a Lisa". (Lisa loves to disappear up the stairs while we have guests at the house and never return, leaving the rest of us wondering if she's died up there, gotten on a major phone call, got mad at us, or in fact just gone to bed without saying so. It's always the latter, but we still wonder ;) My bed was so comfy, I couldn't get up to go say goodnight, so I just turned off the light and fell asleep with a guilty smile on my face. (Lis, I do understand.)
Wednesday morning, my roommate and I thought the crew was taking a day trip to Taipei departing at 9, but when I emerged out of my room at 9:30, they were still here. Indecision also seems to be a universal issue amongst the young, so they discussed all the pros and cons of going or staying, and ultimately stayed. When they put yet another movie on at 2:00 in the afternoon, I went grocery shopping. Always an adventure, one of my favorite things is to buy whatever I feel I want or need, THEN think about how I will transport it all home on the scooter. As always, yesterday's trip did not disappoint. I came out with a huge jug of water, which went at my feet in the middle, and two huge bags, which I balanced on either side of the jug. Although the bags were hanging off the bike's platform a bit on each side, the faithful bungee cords skillfully wrapped around all of it and strapped to the bike seat made it possible for me to drive home without too much fear. I was amused though. (Sorry no picture of this. Maybe next time.) It made things slightly more challenging when I took a text message order for tea drinks from the slumber party-ers and ended up riding home with a bag of five ice teas hanging off the acceleration handle of the scooter. They were dangling and sloshing around every corner, however, since this is a scooter culture, the drinks are sealed with a plastic wrap that makes them spill proof. When I arrived home, the girls were ready to go up on the roof to look at the city from the 21st floor of our building and enjoy our tea. (Photos below.)
All of the girls took off to do various things around 5, except my roommate and I. We cooked dinner and ate, went for a walk around the complex where we live (it's gorgeous), and arrived back to one of the girls, Marichen (we call her Marie, thankfully) waiting for us on the doorstep. She had downloaded the first two episodes of Grey's Anatomy, henceforth known as Grey's, and we watched it together before bed. I capped the day off with a couple of phone calls on Skype and went to bed happy.
And now, I'm off to teach the children for two more days before the weekend. Yea!
Hope you're well.
Until next time,
LC from TW
Anneloe (left) and Noeline enjoying
the rooftop view and the wind in their hair.
The South African posse had a "slumber" party at my place on Tuesday night, to which I arrived after 10 pm when I finished work. They had already gorged themselves on snacks and were contemplating all sorts of ways to lose weight. Seems this conversation bridges the cultural gap and is universal amongst women of all ages. One of the girls dyed her hair, another was talking to her friend from home on the computer, and another to her boyfriend via text on her cell phone. Gadgets aplenty, all were happy. I made some hurricane popcorn*, which they loved, as did I (thanks to all the Hawaiian influences in my life over the years Lisa, Lani, and Lori to name a few), and we settled in to watch a movie around 11:30. *(hurricane popcorn is a Hawaiian original. it's a mix of seaweed bits, little sesame seeds with salt and sugar and soy crackers. very tasty!) After watching about an hour of Zach Braff contemplating cheating on his pregnant live-in girlfriend in a movie I don't wish to name since it's not recommendable, I could see the writing on the wall for this "winner" of a pick, so I "pulled a Lisa". (Lisa loves to disappear up the stairs while we have guests at the house and never return, leaving the rest of us wondering if she's died up there, gotten on a major phone call, got mad at us, or in fact just gone to bed without saying so. It's always the latter, but we still wonder ;) My bed was so comfy, I couldn't get up to go say goodnight, so I just turned off the light and fell asleep with a guilty smile on my face. (Lis, I do understand.)
Wednesday morning, my roommate and I thought the crew was taking a day trip to Taipei departing at 9, but when I emerged out of my room at 9:30, they were still here. Indecision also seems to be a universal issue amongst the young, so they discussed all the pros and cons of going or staying, and ultimately stayed. When they put yet another movie on at 2:00 in the afternoon, I went grocery shopping. Always an adventure, one of my favorite things is to buy whatever I feel I want or need, THEN think about how I will transport it all home on the scooter. As always, yesterday's trip did not disappoint. I came out with a huge jug of water, which went at my feet in the middle, and two huge bags, which I balanced on either side of the jug. Although the bags were hanging off the bike's platform a bit on each side, the faithful bungee cords skillfully wrapped around all of it and strapped to the bike seat made it possible for me to drive home without too much fear. I was amused though. (Sorry no picture of this. Maybe next time.) It made things slightly more challenging when I took a text message order for tea drinks from the slumber party-ers and ended up riding home with a bag of five ice teas hanging off the acceleration handle of the scooter. They were dangling and sloshing around every corner, however, since this is a scooter culture, the drinks are sealed with a plastic wrap that makes them spill proof. When I arrived home, the girls were ready to go up on the roof to look at the city from the 21st floor of our building and enjoy our tea. (Photos below.)
All of the girls took off to do various things around 5, except my roommate and I. We cooked dinner and ate, went for a walk around the complex where we live (it's gorgeous), and arrived back to one of the girls, Marichen (we call her Marie, thankfully) waiting for us on the doorstep. She had downloaded the first two episodes of Grey's Anatomy, henceforth known as Grey's, and we watched it together before bed. I capped the day off with a couple of phone calls on Skype and went to bed happy.
And now, I'm off to teach the children for two more days before the weekend. Yea!
Hope you're well.
Until next time,
LC from TW
Anneloe (left) and Noeline enjoying
the rooftop view and the wind in their hair.
Marichen enjoying the view of Hsinchu on the roof.
The view of Hsinchu as the sun is setting, from our roof.
My tea is in the picture for perspective.
My tea is in the picture for perspective.
Speaking of perspective...this is an avocado
I bought in the store yesterday next to my camera case.
I know my camera is small but shouldn't the avo
be about the same size as a digital camera?
Wow! I think I'll invite the neighborhood over
for some guacamole. Chevy's has got nada on Taiwan!
I bought in the store yesterday next to my camera case.
I know my camera is small but shouldn't the avo
be about the same size as a digital camera?
Wow! I think I'll invite the neighborhood over
for some guacamole. Chevy's has got nada on Taiwan!
10.07.2007
Cabin Fever, Canadian Thanksgiving, plus "Fridays" with Friends and Another Birthday Shout out
Well, friends, I spent Friday night until Sunday afternoon in my apartment without going outside even once. We had another typhoon (video below, hope you can open it), which is my third one in seven weeks. The only bummer is that it hit a day too late and on the weekend. If it had come on Friday morning instead of Friday night I could have gotten another day off of teaching, and this one would have included A11! That did not happen, but I still like to fantasize that it could've.
Speaking of A11, I've had two sessions with them in their new semester, and it looks like they're trying to rise to the expectations of being in their second 12-week semester of English study. We shall see how long that lasts, but at least for now it's going alright. (It still takes so much of my energy, so I appreciate your prayers for this class each Wednesday and Friday.) A great blessing to me for this upcoming week is that I get Wednesday off to celebrate Taiwan's National Day. (I don't know if China knows about this, so please don't tell them;)
No A11, PTL!
Today's Sunday and I got together with my Canadian co-workers this evening for another trek to Outback. They were excited that this was Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. They kept saying "Happy Thanksgiving!" and it was a lot of fun. We pretended the brownie dessert was pumpkin pie and talked about all the things we missed about home. Love those Canadians!
I managed to make it to TGI Friday's today for lunch with the South African gals, my first time to find the restaurant (it's not difficult, but somehow I've struggled there), and therefore my first mexican food in seven weeks. It's not quite a record, but close to it. Those chicken fajitas were rockin', and I loved giving the South Africans a lesson on what's in the various mexican dishes. They were eager to learn...and with my years of Taco Bell experience, I was a great teacher, I must say. Yo quiero, Taco Bell!
Last, but certainly not least, today is my girl, Stacey's, birthday! Now, since Stace was one of the residents of 163, I haven't missed her birthday in about six years, I think, so I'm bumming that I'm not there for it today. However, I trust she'll enjoy the birthday song my roommate and I left her on her Skype voicemail tonight. "Love you, Stace. Hope your birthday was memorable, as only Sunday birthdays can be for those of us in ministry."
Well, it's very late and I'm very tired, so I'm sleeping now. I'll check back in early in the week if I can. Stay gold, pony boy.
Until next time,
Love from LC in TW
Speaking of A11, I've had two sessions with them in their new semester, and it looks like they're trying to rise to the expectations of being in their second 12-week semester of English study. We shall see how long that lasts, but at least for now it's going alright. (It still takes so much of my energy, so I appreciate your prayers for this class each Wednesday and Friday.) A great blessing to me for this upcoming week is that I get Wednesday off to celebrate Taiwan's National Day. (I don't know if China knows about this, so please don't tell them;)
No A11, PTL!
Today's Sunday and I got together with my Canadian co-workers this evening for another trek to Outback. They were excited that this was Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. They kept saying "Happy Thanksgiving!" and it was a lot of fun. We pretended the brownie dessert was pumpkin pie and talked about all the things we missed about home. Love those Canadians!
I managed to make it to TGI Friday's today for lunch with the South African gals, my first time to find the restaurant (it's not difficult, but somehow I've struggled there), and therefore my first mexican food in seven weeks. It's not quite a record, but close to it. Those chicken fajitas were rockin', and I loved giving the South Africans a lesson on what's in the various mexican dishes. They were eager to learn...and with my years of Taco Bell experience, I was a great teacher, I must say. Yo quiero, Taco Bell!
Last, but certainly not least, today is my girl, Stacey's, birthday! Now, since Stace was one of the residents of 163, I haven't missed her birthday in about six years, I think, so I'm bumming that I'm not there for it today. However, I trust she'll enjoy the birthday song my roommate and I left her on her Skype voicemail tonight. "Love you, Stace. Hope your birthday was memorable, as only Sunday birthdays can be for those of us in ministry."
Well, it's very late and I'm very tired, so I'm sleeping now. I'll check back in early in the week if I can. Stay gold, pony boy.
Until next time,
Love from LC in TW
10.02.2007
Just a quick shout out to my bro!
It's Wednesday morning here, but still Tuesday in Oklahoma, which is where my brother, Jay, and his wife Jackie live. Today's Jay's birthday, and I wanted to say Happy Birthday to him on my blog. I won't say what birthday this is, but just know that he told me he got the senior discount for his breakfast at Denny's this morning. ;) Way to go, bro! Take advantage.
Here's a picture of him and his son, Jeff, at the lake this summer...
and a picture of his granddaughter, Taylor, posing for the camera at the lake.
Here's a picture of him and his son, Jeff, at the lake this summer...
and a picture of his granddaughter, Taylor, posing for the camera at the lake.
...a picture of his wife, Jackie, holding our great niece, Kaityn,
and one of his daughter, Christy, granddaughter, Tori, and son-in-law, Shane, who now live in Alaska. Tori was tired, so...
here she is looking her usual radiant self!
and here he is in April playing with his Dad at GiGi and Papa Clark's house.
Wow, bro, you've got a lot to be thankful for, eh? I'm thankful for you and all of yours. Hope you had a happy day.
Gotta run and teach some Chinese children now. Love you all, Riss
here she is looking her usual radiant self!
This is Josh, Jeff's son, Jay's grandson, at Christmas with his new bike helmet on...
and here he is in April playing with his Dad at GiGi and Papa Clark's house.
And finally, here's Jeff's son, Jesse, last but certainly not least, he's a sweetheart of a boy, loves to play with his Dad, brother and sister, and Aunt Riss ;), he's a delight to us all.
Wow, bro, you've got a lot to be thankful for, eh? I'm thankful for you and all of yours. Hope you had a happy day.
Gotta run and teach some Chinese children now. Love you all, Riss
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