I had such a fun time on Saturday. I caught the high speed train to Taichung, which takes only 23 minutes to go the distance that would take 90 minutes by bus, I'm told. Taichung is in the middle of Taiwan, on the West side of the island, and it's HUGE! My great friends, Otey and Cheryl, and their three kids, Hannah, Owen, and Peter, moved there just this past summer and I consider that one of God's gifts to me to provide for some deeper relationships for me (and indeed one of the ways He used to confirm that Taiwan is where I should be right now.)
So, I got on the train, and met up with Otey and Owen who were on their way back home after spending the night in Taipei. It was fun to hang out with them on the train, albeit a short journey. Cheryl and Peter picked us up in the van and thus began a hilarious ride back to their house. Peter is a funny kid and since it was so warm in Taichung, he was wearing sandals and got to show me how he could pinch with his toes and inflict great pain. Trust me, it hurt! We began to share all our strange human tricks with one another and laughed all the way home.
After running a few errands, (I got some fresh okra that I can fix, yea! and some great coffee to bring home from Otey's favorite coffee shop, which I love!) we all hung out talking and watching some videos on YouTube. It was like being with family, and I was so appreciative. Later that evening, we shared a great meal together, I've included a short video of the meal for my mother and friends. Shout out to Cheryl and Otey for cooking a delicious ham, (which Otey had to cut and we all had to hear the perils of leaving the string on the ham when you cook it...poor guy), making some awesome mashed potatoes, vegetables and hot rolls! (I made the stuffing...well, stove top put it together, I just added water...yummy bready goodness!)
My favorite part of the day was Otey gathering the family together in the evening after the meal and sitting everyone down to talk about being thankful. Hannah is 16, Owen is 12 and Peter is almost 10 (I think that's right), so the fact that they would be willing to participate in this activity is a testimony to good parenting, the grace of God and the benefits of raising your children outside of the U.S. - not necessarily in that order. Anyway, we all sat down, and I was reminded once again of how much I love the way certain people handle the truth, in this scenario it was Otey. We are all in a new place, again, and we're all without others in our lives for whom we're thankful, and that makes living here/being here sometimes difficult. Otey acknowledged in a humorous way that although it may be hard to be thankful for this particular period of our lives, we have much still to be thankful for. He asked each of the children what they are thankful for, to which Peter readily volunteered, "I'm thankful that all my body parts are here!" We all laughed about that and then we agreed that we were thankful for that too. Owen was thankful for a good weekend in Taipei with his dad, and Hannah was thankful for her school (which is Morrison Academy, a great school for all three kids). I was thankful for friends like Otey and Cheryl who would indulge the deeper side of me to hold an intentional time of thanksgiving with me and include me in their family celebration. Otey prayed...and it was a good day.
At that, Cheryl and I rushed off so I could catch the train back to Hsinchu. It was an awesome thanksgiving Saturday!
Stay tuned for more Thanksgiving weekend news!
LC
11.28.2007
Thanksgiving Weekend...Friday Night!
I had a great weekend last weekend (for an English teacher you'd think I could come up with a better way to say that). Here's how the first part of it shook down...
Weekends for English teachers in Taiwan begin on Friday night, since we get off after 9:30, it's a late start, but the mindset begins somewhere around 5:50 for me when I see those sweet little A11 children rushing towards the door. (I'm certain I'm happier to see them go than they are to be able to go, but by the looks of their struggle to get out, you couldn't tell who was happier.) That's not my last class, since I still have A7 at 6:05 and then I have a one-on-one with a teenager at 7:45, but suffice to say the last two classes of the week are giddy with anticipation that it will all be over soon. (Actually, I really like A7, for many reasons, not least of which includes a little 5 year old named Cosmo, who is very articulate and takes great joy in loaning me his cool pen every time we have class. I DO like the pen...but I give it back at the end of each session.)
So, on Friday night last week, I left school very happy but then had to do a not so happy thing. I had to pay a visit to a friend in the hospital. Mari was in a scooter accident on Thursday night (Thanksgiving night) when a car decided at the last minute to turn right and she was heading straight at a light. Her left leg got pinned between the scooter and the car and the leg didn't fare very well. She broke it in two places below the knee, thus beginning another educational opportunity for us all regarding how things are done when something like this happens. Long story short, when I saw her late on Friday night, she had gone through surgery that morning to set the leg, was in a lot of pain but also feeling very woozy from all the medication. She had been given a private nurse, paid for by the driver of the car that hit her, and this nurse was like an angel, so Mari was in very good hands. One week later, she is still in the hospital. She will stay a total of 9 days, then be released to come stay at our house since we have an elevator and her house has stairs. She will be on crutches for 3 months but will be o.k. and in fact began to look much better the day after surgery, so we were all very relieved. Here is a picture of her in the hospital last Sunday evening with my roommate, Annaloe and another friend, Trix.
That's how my weekend began...so it was all downhill from there (I always get confused about that saying...I think you say it's downhill because it is getting easier after something that's difficult, but then sometimes, I wonder if it's downhill because it's all going toward the gutter! Can someone help me out on the proper way to say that?)
O.K., more later,
LC
Weekends for English teachers in Taiwan begin on Friday night, since we get off after 9:30, it's a late start, but the mindset begins somewhere around 5:50 for me when I see those sweet little A11 children rushing towards the door. (I'm certain I'm happier to see them go than they are to be able to go, but by the looks of their struggle to get out, you couldn't tell who was happier.) That's not my last class, since I still have A7 at 6:05 and then I have a one-on-one with a teenager at 7:45, but suffice to say the last two classes of the week are giddy with anticipation that it will all be over soon. (Actually, I really like A7, for many reasons, not least of which includes a little 5 year old named Cosmo, who is very articulate and takes great joy in loaning me his cool pen every time we have class. I DO like the pen...but I give it back at the end of each session.)
So, on Friday night last week, I left school very happy but then had to do a not so happy thing. I had to pay a visit to a friend in the hospital. Mari was in a scooter accident on Thursday night (Thanksgiving night) when a car decided at the last minute to turn right and she was heading straight at a light. Her left leg got pinned between the scooter and the car and the leg didn't fare very well. She broke it in two places below the knee, thus beginning another educational opportunity for us all regarding how things are done when something like this happens. Long story short, when I saw her late on Friday night, she had gone through surgery that morning to set the leg, was in a lot of pain but also feeling very woozy from all the medication. She had been given a private nurse, paid for by the driver of the car that hit her, and this nurse was like an angel, so Mari was in very good hands. One week later, she is still in the hospital. She will stay a total of 9 days, then be released to come stay at our house since we have an elevator and her house has stairs. She will be on crutches for 3 months but will be o.k. and in fact began to look much better the day after surgery, so we were all very relieved. Here is a picture of her in the hospital last Sunday evening with my roommate, Annaloe and another friend, Trix.
That's how my weekend began...so it was all downhill from there (I always get confused about that saying...I think you say it's downhill because it is getting easier after something that's difficult, but then sometimes, I wonder if it's downhill because it's all going toward the gutter! Can someone help me out on the proper way to say that?)
O.K., more later,
LC
11.23.2007
Happy Thanksgiving
I'm thankful this morning for such great people in my life that have responded to my requests for prayer for my Mom and many other concerns I've mentioned on the blog. My Mom felt well enough this week to fix a Thanksgiving meal for my brother, Paul and his wife, Lisa, who recently moved back to Oklahoma after living in Washington for the past 9 years or so. She and Dad were so happy to have them come to celebrate the holiday with them, which makes me happy since I'm here and couldn't be there. She also felt well enough today to make a trip up to Oklahoma City with Dad to see my other brothers, Jay and Joe, and my sister, Karen and all of her family. So, I know she'll be tired tonight but her heart will feel good that she was able to see all of her kids except me, (and I've talked to her on the phone several times.) Physically, she tells me she's in a lot of pain and doesn't sleep very well still, and I'm sure she is exhausted after being around so many people. It seems that the current strategy for dealing with her illness is taking pain killers and some other medicine that is supposed to help restore some of the feeling in her extremities. I know she's discouraged a lot, so I am so thankful for your prayers and continued prayers as she goes through this season.
Spending the holidays in a country that doesn't celebrate them has always been a little strange as you probably know or can imagine. Like Thanksgiving Day...a very important day in America, duh, but obviously not anywhere else. (I just remembered my friend in Scotland telling me about shopping in New York City over Thanksgiving week a few years ago and how many of the shopkeepers would say with surprise, "You don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Scotland? Why?" To which her reply would vary depending on her patience and mood.) In Taiwan, people know about Thanksgiving, but of course they don't know what the reason is for the holiday. Not unlike me knowing that they have a "Tomb-sweeping" Day and not knowing why. But, on Thanksgiving Day at my school, my boss arranged for some of my students to write little Thank You notes to their teachers. I had enjoyed reading a few of mine and was touched that they would make an effort to recognize a day that they don't celebrate, but yesterday, I got the best one from my little guy in whom I've placed a lot of faith for the future. I've talked about him before on the blog, his name is Lee-Sheen and he's 8 years old. His card to me said, "Thank you, Teacher Larissa. You make me like English. I love you! Happy Holidays! Lee-Sheen" Isn't that a sweet thing for the wee one to say? I'm thankful for him and several others with sparks in their eyes that make it feel worthwhile putting so much effort into my job day in and day out. Pray for Lee-Sheen and his family when you think about them. (I also have a good relationship started with his mother.)
Well, I have to keep this short since I'm going to Taichung today to have a "real" Thanksgiving meal with my American friends, Otey and Cheryl and their three kids. I will hopefully take some pictures of the experience and post again this weekend. Let me know how you're doing as well. I love getting your email responses to my posts and hearing all about your lives as well.
Until next time,
LC
Spending the holidays in a country that doesn't celebrate them has always been a little strange as you probably know or can imagine. Like Thanksgiving Day...a very important day in America, duh, but obviously not anywhere else. (I just remembered my friend in Scotland telling me about shopping in New York City over Thanksgiving week a few years ago and how many of the shopkeepers would say with surprise, "You don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Scotland? Why?" To which her reply would vary depending on her patience and mood.) In Taiwan, people know about Thanksgiving, but of course they don't know what the reason is for the holiday. Not unlike me knowing that they have a "Tomb-sweeping" Day and not knowing why. But, on Thanksgiving Day at my school, my boss arranged for some of my students to write little Thank You notes to their teachers. I had enjoyed reading a few of mine and was touched that they would make an effort to recognize a day that they don't celebrate, but yesterday, I got the best one from my little guy in whom I've placed a lot of faith for the future. I've talked about him before on the blog, his name is Lee-Sheen and he's 8 years old. His card to me said, "Thank you, Teacher Larissa. You make me like English. I love you! Happy Holidays! Lee-Sheen" Isn't that a sweet thing for the wee one to say? I'm thankful for him and several others with sparks in their eyes that make it feel worthwhile putting so much effort into my job day in and day out. Pray for Lee-Sheen and his family when you think about them. (I also have a good relationship started with his mother.)
Well, I have to keep this short since I'm going to Taichung today to have a "real" Thanksgiving meal with my American friends, Otey and Cheryl and their three kids. I will hopefully take some pictures of the experience and post again this weekend. Let me know how you're doing as well. I love getting your email responses to my posts and hearing all about your lives as well.
Until next time,
LC
11.14.2007
"Hope Faith Love"
This will be quick, but had to share a couple of significant things about yesterday. I was asked to prepare the children at my branch for singing a few Christmas songs for the residents of the apartment complex surrounding our school. They are apparently planning a Christmas party and want the children to sing at it. My boss asked me to do this so I'm happy for the opportunity to put "Christ" in Christmas in a country that doesn't even have December 25th off from work because they are not a Christian culture. So, yesterday I started teaching E2 (my 8 year olds that are pretty bright for the most part) "Happy Birthday Jesus" which you may know from The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. It's a sweet song and full of truth for children to sing. It lends itself well to teaching children here because they all know when their birthday is, they all know how to sing Happy Birthday, and they all know about Christmas even if they think it's about Santa Claus. I have to admit when they sang the first few lines of the song, I was a little emotional hearing them sing it. "Happy Birthday, Jesus. I'm so glad it's Christmas. All the tinsel and lights make the holiday nice but it's all about You." Please pray for me as I attempt to teach the other classes this song and "What Child is This?" as well as "O Holy Night". I found some cool children's versions on ITunes and downloaded them for us.
The other significant conversation from yesterday happened last night. I teach one adult class of three women and I enjoy it very much although I don't like that it's my last class of four on Wednesdays. I'm just tired by then so it takes a lot out of me. However, God threw me a bone last night when Jennifer asked me why I wear the ring on my arm. Her English is not great and what she meant was the rubber bracelet I have worn since leaving Nicaragua this summer. It's tie-dye and has the words Hope Faith Love on it. I got to explain what it means, why I put it on, and why I still wear it for all three of the women. As I finished the explanation, they were all three smiling and nodding as if to say they understood what I meant about loving God and being motivated to serve God to the orphans because of God's love for us. I pray they are curious enough to ask more questions. Actually the conversation ended with them asking me if I wanted children and me telling them I have 90 that I'm with every week and that's enough. Then one of the women told us that she is expecting another child. She's not sure she's happy about it, so I'm hoping to have more opportunity to talk with her.
Thanks for listening. Now it's off to a busy Thursday.
(BTW, I had a great weekend with Lucy and her family last weekend in Danshui which is outside of Taipei. She was a great hostess and spoiled me, although I only ate Chinese food and I'm pretty sure my stomach is still mad at me.)
Until next time, LC
The other significant conversation from yesterday happened last night. I teach one adult class of three women and I enjoy it very much although I don't like that it's my last class of four on Wednesdays. I'm just tired by then so it takes a lot out of me. However, God threw me a bone last night when Jennifer asked me why I wear the ring on my arm. Her English is not great and what she meant was the rubber bracelet I have worn since leaving Nicaragua this summer. It's tie-dye and has the words Hope Faith Love on it. I got to explain what it means, why I put it on, and why I still wear it for all three of the women. As I finished the explanation, they were all three smiling and nodding as if to say they understood what I meant about loving God and being motivated to serve God to the orphans because of God's love for us. I pray they are curious enough to ask more questions. Actually the conversation ended with them asking me if I wanted children and me telling them I have 90 that I'm with every week and that's enough. Then one of the women told us that she is expecting another child. She's not sure she's happy about it, so I'm hoping to have more opportunity to talk with her.
Thanks for listening. Now it's off to a busy Thursday.
(BTW, I had a great weekend with Lucy and her family last weekend in Danshui which is outside of Taipei. She was a great hostess and spoiled me, although I only ate Chinese food and I'm pretty sure my stomach is still mad at me.)
Until next time, LC
11.09.2007
3 Months in TW
but who's counting, right? Well, actually, I still sort of am counting. It's getting easier but I have to admit I still think about the days, weeks and now months that I've been here. It's Saturday morning here and the sun is shining so the construction workers are making sure the neighborhood is awake. (Mildly annoying but I think I'm getting used to that too.) Last night as I was scooting home after a long day, I was struck by the feeling of accomplishment after completing another week. It's amazing really that I can face so many different children, little people, every week for so many hours, to know their names and abilities and be able to help them each in ways that they need and still maintain some sort of forward motion for the entire class -- I felt good about being here and doing this job.
This week I gave three final tests to three of my classes. (The students are on 12 week semesters, meeting twice a week for a total of 24 sessions each semester. So, at the end of each semester you give them a comprehensive final test before promoting them.) I have another one to give on Monday, so that means I've been preparing tests and now I have to grade them and then enter all their test scores into the computer system. All of that equals lots of extra work and so I've been going in earlier than usual this week and will continue to do so next week. Last week I was sick and actually stayed home from work for two days, so I got behind then and had to hustle to make up for it this week. So, I'm busy! You probably are too. C'est la vie!
Today I'll be going over to Taipei to visit Irene Morris' family for the weekend. I will hang out with Lucy, Irene's sister, who I've known for more than 10 years so that will be fun. I've been trying to do it for the past two weekends, but because of being sick it's just not been possible. Speaking of being sick, could I ask for your prayers for my mom? She's been feeling unwell for the past three plus months and this week went to a specialist clinic for three days of testing. They diagnosed her with Neuropathy which explains the numbness she's had in her feet and legs, but it doesn't help with treatment if she has permanent irreversible nerve damage. So, they are running other tests on her blood and will hopefully be able to help her with pain and numbness. Could you pray that she will find some relief in the treatment they offer her? Also, could you just pray that she will not be discouraged and be able to manage the illness well. None of us likes to see others in pain and needing to manage it, but it's a reality for so many people. I just pray that my mom can discern what's the best way ahead for her. Thanks for praying when you think of me. As you can imagine, her health needs become the concerns of our entire family so I appreciate your prayers for me to have discernment with how to help her and my father to cope with this.
Well, I'll close here with a few pictures of Jessie, Sunny and Roger from my A8 class. They crack me up, so I had to share another slice of life here in the TW. Until next time, LC
This week I gave three final tests to three of my classes. (The students are on 12 week semesters, meeting twice a week for a total of 24 sessions each semester. So, at the end of each semester you give them a comprehensive final test before promoting them.) I have another one to give on Monday, so that means I've been preparing tests and now I have to grade them and then enter all their test scores into the computer system. All of that equals lots of extra work and so I've been going in earlier than usual this week and will continue to do so next week. Last week I was sick and actually stayed home from work for two days, so I got behind then and had to hustle to make up for it this week. So, I'm busy! You probably are too. C'est la vie!
Today I'll be going over to Taipei to visit Irene Morris' family for the weekend. I will hang out with Lucy, Irene's sister, who I've known for more than 10 years so that will be fun. I've been trying to do it for the past two weekends, but because of being sick it's just not been possible. Speaking of being sick, could I ask for your prayers for my mom? She's been feeling unwell for the past three plus months and this week went to a specialist clinic for three days of testing. They diagnosed her with Neuropathy which explains the numbness she's had in her feet and legs, but it doesn't help with treatment if she has permanent irreversible nerve damage. So, they are running other tests on her blood and will hopefully be able to help her with pain and numbness. Could you pray that she will find some relief in the treatment they offer her? Also, could you just pray that she will not be discouraged and be able to manage the illness well. None of us likes to see others in pain and needing to manage it, but it's a reality for so many people. I just pray that my mom can discern what's the best way ahead for her. Thanks for praying when you think of me. As you can imagine, her health needs become the concerns of our entire family so I appreciate your prayers for me to have discernment with how to help her and my father to cope with this.
Well, I'll close here with a few pictures of Jessie, Sunny and Roger from my A8 class. They crack me up, so I had to share another slice of life here in the TW. Until next time, LC
Sweet and intense Jessie giving me her
best performance for her final test.
Her best friend is Juliana, and it's sometimes hard
to assess what Jessie knows because Juliana
always tells her the answers.
So on final test day, Jessie had to stand on her own.
She did very well, I'm happy to report!
best performance for her final test.
Her best friend is Juliana, and it's sometimes hard
to assess what Jessie knows because Juliana
always tells her the answers.
So on final test day, Jessie had to stand on her own.
She did very well, I'm happy to report!
Here's the oh so fashionable Sunny once again showing
up to class wearing something so cute I'm motivated
to pull out the camera. It's hard to tell in the photo
but her pants are sort of flannel, black and white
with big checks, her shirt is polka dot aqua blue.
I don't know anyone who could really pull this off,
but I think Sunny does a pretty good job of it.
up to class wearing something so cute I'm motivated
to pull out the camera. It's hard to tell in the photo
but her pants are sort of flannel, black and white
with big checks, her shirt is polka dot aqua blue.
I don't know anyone who could really pull this off,
but I think Sunny does a pretty good job of it.
Last, here's a picture of the ever clueless
belly scratching old man of the class, Roger.
He's hilarious and keeps me amused most of the time.
You can't see it in the picture but his pants
are too short for him, they are lined with
plaid flannel and very heavy. He tries very
hard to learn and speak English and I think
he'll get it one of these days, (if we can just
keep his hands on his pencil and off his butt,
belly and other parts of his anatomy 0>= maybe
he'll have a chance!)
belly scratching old man of the class, Roger.
He's hilarious and keeps me amused most of the time.
You can't see it in the picture but his pants
are too short for him, they are lined with
plaid flannel and very heavy. He tries very
hard to learn and speak English and I think
he'll get it one of these days, (if we can just
keep his hands on his pencil and off his butt,
belly and other parts of his anatomy 0>= maybe
he'll have a chance!)
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