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

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!

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.

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!)