Movember

Here is our tribute to all the mustaches around the world and the proud men who wear them.

Harlem Globetrotters in Taiwan

Episode Fifteen - Jello Blobs

Sunday Morning

Happy Birthday Miss Madelynn

Happy Birthday to the best niece in the whole wild world!

Are you Superstitious?

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. Most people seem to think this day is unlucky. I think it's just an easy way to blame anything bad happening on this day, to bad luck.

For example:

At lunch I was getting settled and ready to eat some delicious "water soup", moved my bowl and spilled most of the soup on myself. Good thing I was wearing black. And it's a good thing I decided to wear Denise's dress that day! :) Normally I would just call myself and klutz and leave it at that. But, on Friday the 13th, I could blame it on something else!

Example #2:

Denise has a couple 'firsts' yesterday. She drove a scooter for the first time and she dumped a scooter for the first time. Normally we would blame Denise for being a bad driver, but on Friday the 13th, we could blame the day.

So we learned a couple things. Friday the 13th gets a bad wrap and I will be the driver.

Head Over Heels

In my grade 2 phonics class, we learned about the aw and au sound. I introduced different words, told them meanings, drew on the board or acted them out to help them understand.

Straw, claw, saucer, pause, yawn....somersault.
"Teacher, what is that?" I finally got to put my years of elementary school gymnastics to good use. Luckily we have a padded area in our classroom which made the landing slightly smoother. I forgot how far away the ground is. Even if you're 5'3.

Ah, the things teachers do for kids!

Cheddar Bob Square Pants

Everyone in Taiwan seems to not only know but LOVE Sponge Bob Square Pants!

What I find wildly entertaining is the fact that Sponge Bob lives in the ocean and my very own Cheddar Bob has NEVER even touched an ocean!!!

Our staff field trip this past Saturday was a tour of the North Coast where Carrie had high hopes of finally reaching the ocean and checking it off her life list.....

Episode Thirteen

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

The votes are in! Denise and I are officially winners! We finally got our bank cards from Taiwan Cooperative Bank. They of course say "Winner" on the front. We have to go to the bank to change our pins. Of course the bank is only open until 3 or so. We work till 5. Convenient.

Western Wednesday

The lunch on Wednesdays is the school's take on "western" food and Denise and I always load up on the familiar food choices. This Wednesday was spaghetti and salad. The choice of utensil, not so western. Spoons all day everyday. Or of course, chopsticks.
I'm not sure why the school refuses to use knives and forks though. Is it pride? Is it just pure dislike? Or maybe it's a safety thing. I'm not really sure but I'll tell you this - try eating spaghetti with a spoon. It's enough to make you wanna stab your eye with a...well....spoon.

Magically Delicious

Our new addiction. Melon flavoured ice cream bars. They are creamy, delicious and flavourful. What more do you need? Thanks for introducing us Emily. Please come to Canada!

Inari. The perfect balance of sweet and salty. You wouldn't believe they are made simply out of deep fried tofu and rice. And, from that description you wouldn't believe they are at all good. But, they are delicious. These are available in Canada and pretty much everywhere since sushi has become ever so fashionable. In Taiwan though, they are found at your local 7-11, Always Open!

I think I'm turning Taiwanese...

We've been teaching here in Taiwan now for about 2 1/2 months. I've noticed a few things:

As hand talkers already, Denise and I have morphed into wild, crazy arm flailing machines!

Our speaking has slowed down and we enunciate very, very CLEARLY!

We have made our sentences very simple.
"Very bad!"
"So good!"

To understand completely, please feel free to view the Ms. Swan clip. I'm pretty sure it's an accurate comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a03cOIp5Euw

If you find yourself as a recipient of our new way of speaking, please don't be offended, old habits die hard.