My Future

On Friday I went to a fortune teller. It was very interesting and fun. I learned some interesting things, but I can only tell 2 people. One is Dad (which I told and he laughed, thanks Dad) and the fortune teller. It seems I can only communicate with men (the fortune teller is a man). Doesn't that just suck?!

I will be putting up pictures from the last couple of months soon. I have Tuesday off (Thank God!) so I will put them up that day. Right now I have to figure out how to coordinate fireworks for my bullentin board. Sometimes I think I make things harder than they have to be.

Life is pretty set here. I do laundry, go to school, get sick (right now I have a cold), and download tv shows to watch. Because of my hurt leg and the crutch I had, I am making a dent with the 7-11 people. They are only a little confused by my presence now.

I have been really into the color orange lately. I love wearing my orange converses mom got me last year. They are so confortable. I also just bought the wildest mustard meets an orange color belted purse.

Well that is about it. I have a web camera now so if you want to contact me on skype you can now see and hear me. Good times.

Videos

I thought I would put up some videos of what I have been doing. It is somewhat the trend now to have video diaries, but my voice sounds horrible recorded so the videos are of things I see around.

This video is of the Drum and Dance Music Festival. I was walking by it with Lisa on the way to dinner and decided to stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5f1JOY6FVA


Here are some videos made by Geo, one of my co-workers:
www.faythstudios.com/pictures/index.html

click in taiwan 2007

Halloween

Halloween this year was quite nice both at school and at the bars. I had a great time. This year's costume was Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Here are some pictures:

Weekends in my opinion are quite short. This weeekend was spent grading and going out Saturday night for the first time in a long time. The girls and I went to listen to some live music and then went dancing for a bit. It was nice, but I forgot about all the smoke. The next day my eyes were still red.

Nothing much is going on here. I have been sick for a bit, but the medicine is helping. The medicine is also making me a little crazy, but I am almost done with it. I have been thinking about taking a vacation to either Singapore, Malaysia, or Bali. If anyone has any suggests that would be great. Please remember I am not a rough it person.

Here are a couple of pictures from Saturday night.

Christa at the Shannon
Steph and Lisa having a drink at the Shannon

Advice

Thanks Kathleen. If only you and Louise were here. I miss you guys a lot.

Hurricanes and Hardware

Hey Everyone

So far so good in Hurricans Krosa. If only it came during the week. School is ok, but I let it slip that I was glad that I only had so many months left in front of Dorcas. I was so upset that everyone is so last minute here that the filter on my mouth disappeared. I just read an article on how happy people live longer and it told me to let all the worry and the bad stuff go and I could add up to 7.5 more years to my life. So I am just going to let that incident go and try to live longer. Plus I feel horrifically bad about it so I don't want to think of it any longer. Good times.

I am looking to buy a new computer over here since my screen is disappearing at a rapid rate. If anyone knows anything about what is the best laptop out there for a non-computer person is, let me know. I am looking at a Sony Vaio because it has a red cover. Don't hate.

Just be the river. (For Dad)

I have been going to the beach lately which Caroline would is good for me since I supposly look like a ghost. Now I am a lobster. I have been going with Steph, Lisa, and Christa from work. Here are some pictures:






School has been going well (knock on wood). We just had Teacher's Day on Friday. It was nice. I got flowers and lots of candy and cards.



I have my first fourth grade listening test next week. I have spent so long on it and I still haven't heard if it is ok or not. Phoebe is so busy so she does not have time to meet with me yet.

One of the teachers here has strep throat, so she is going to the doctors today. I don't think that some of the teachers understand that she should be home.

Tainan and Typhoon

I survived another typhoon here in Taiwan. We even got a day off. I do love Typhoon Days. My roommates and I watched movies all day that I rented at Blockbuster the day before. I recommend The Illusionist and Stranger than Fiction, but not Pan's Labrinyth (too weird even for me).

The weekend before Lisa, Christa, and I went to Tainan for the weekend. It was beautiful down there. I secretly think I should be down there, not here in Taipei. Way less cars to hit me. We went to the Confucious Temple (the oldest in Taiwan) and a Koxinga Shrine (it was beautiful and also next to a great cafe). Later that night we spent hours in this building that had shoes, hats, hair salon, and a restuarant. We each got our hair washed and done and it was wonderful and then had some of the best pasta next door. The next day we had the crazy idea to get a massage which ended up as a beating. Why we didn't tell them to stop I have no idea. All of us had bruises all over our bodies, although I can move my shoulders and back more freely now. We took the High Speed Rail (HSR) down and back up and it was better than an airplane. I had so much leg room.

Today is Friday and is the beginning of the four day weekend for Moon Festival. My tutoree family has invited me to go to their family bbq with them and I am quite excited. I have no idea what to wear, but I will ask Emily. Now back to school and children.

Friday

Today is Friday. Yes!!!

It is also Lisa's (new co-worker) birthday.

Things are going well at home. I think my roommates are great. Chris got a new computer, but was having a hard time setting up the internet connection. Viki and I tried to help him. We were going from room to room trying to figure out the problem. If only we had our own show, it would be hililarious.

I have decided what to do about the office situation. I shall leave as much as possible. I will work in the library when I don't need my computer. I refuse to let this year be as stressful as last year.

I might be going to Tainan this Saturday to Sunday. I will take pictures if I go.

Moving

I was told when I walked into the office today that we would be moving to a new office in the finished part of the new building. I will be in an office with some old people (Dorcas, Kerry) from last year and some new people (David, Rachel: Elementary).

Some good things about the move: I keep my old desk, Kerry, it is on the second floor.

Some bad things: no internet, no Phoebe, I already told my classes where to find me so now they will be confused, (and the rest: you guys know)

I am going to miss my office.

The new folks

My new co-workers


Here are some pictures of my new-co-workers.

This is Anny. She speaks Chinese.
This is Lisa. She has been teaching English for 9 years.
Geo talking to Dorcas.
This is Carol. She is teaching Junior High English.
Stephanie is from Canada and is a year younger than me.
You all know Phoebe.
This is Christa. She has been teaching for 7 years.

Kinky Boots

I just watched the best movie called Kinky Boots. I loved it!!! Go rent it or better yet buy it. I know I am.

Here's a preview.

Taiwan

Video on Taiwan: The New Vacation Spot

Typhoon and Chinese New Year Dates

I survive the typhoon. We didn't lose any power and it was over by Sunday. The trees in Renai Circle (my old area) looked like they had some damage, but in my new area everything seemed fine. I don't have any new pictures yet, but when I do I will put them up.

Chinese New Year Dates:
1/19-2/10

KB's Birthday

Video of KB's Birthday Party.

The Internet Blues

So much like everything else in the apartment, the Internet has gone haywire. It just stopped working one day. I am at Starbucks right now so I can check email and keep up with my blog.

I have been keeping busy. I just finished today a ten day camp. All the students were amazing. They are heading to America for the next school year to study in the 11th grade. Everyone was crying today since it was our last day. I told them I would cry when I left since I didn't want them to see me all blotchy. This camp was different then other camps since it was organized to the hilt and did not involve art projects and singing songs. I did conversation class which was great for me because you know I love to talk. The most interesting thing about the camp is that they had a video camera man following us all around. Very arty. I had to give two speeches, one on camera and one today (which was sprung on me). When I get nervous I talk fast which isn't the best for ESL camps. I think they understood parts of the speech, I think. We also had a prom which I took over 60 pictures. Everyone looked adorable.
Me after the prom. I did have curly hair, but it was really hot in the room where we had the prom.
We went to two museums: the National Palace museum (been there, done that) and the Museum of History which had Terracotta Warriors visiting from China. I accidentally took a picture in there thinking it was OK, but it wasn't. Luckily no one of importance was around to yell at me. I will load the pictures on my yahoo photo album website and put the link on here.
My illegal photo
I am so happy to vacation at home. I need a break from the bustling city. I will see everyone sometime between the 21st to the 10th (I leave the 11th).

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am coming home.
July 21st to August 11th.

See you soon, Julia

Perks

Living in Taipei has its moments:




The Answer:



I just got my hair done again. Ting, my stylist, knows I will just say ok whenever she asks me about my hair color. I trust her. Our trust is our bond since we can't communicate very well. I put on my glasses two hours later and was 2 shades darker. I do like it, its not bad.
KN and I afterwards
The salon

Happy Birthday Nate

Coming home?

Hey everyone,

I just found out from James (urgh) that the earliest I can go home is July 21st. I have to work until the 20th. I am going to try, but with moving into a new apartment it may not happen. I will let you know.

Weird Cupcakes

Wednesday was the last day of tenth grade for us. They had to perform a part from A Midsummer Night's Dream. It went well. I had planned a party for the afternoon class, but when I walked in that morning I was told it was moved to 8:30 that morning. I had to scratch the party. Instead I had the kids come find me at 3pm and I gave them cupcakes from Ginger (the best place to get cupcakes in Taiwan). They loved them.

The class getting ready for their performances.

Leo, Jeff, and Vincent studying their lines



I am king! Robin as Oberon and Vanson as Puck.

Jeff as Lysander and Vincent as a devastated Hermia.

Tim as Lysander wooing Leo's Hermia.

Kiss my feet. Kevin 33 as Oberon and Peter as Puck.

Catherine as Lysander and Elaine as a desperate Hermia.



The cupcakes
My students after I gave them cupcakes.

Today was the weirdest day for the entire semester. I woke up to sirens at 5am. That sucked. Then none of the copiers would work with the card I had. After that I got confused when one of my students came into the office and said we had class. I thought it was 3rd period even though it has always been 2nd period. Time for the weekend.

When we have worksheets in Grades One and Two I sometimes have to color an example for class. This week we are studying pets in Grade Two. Here is my example of selling a pet. $100 dollars isn't to much to ask is it?

My singing and dancing pet Penguin

Finally

We made it. Friday ended without a bloodbath. It did have a water bath since I spilled an entire bottle of water on myself right before class. My pants were not wet for long since it is quite hot outside.

Saturday and Sunday were spent doing not much which was wonderful. I got to finish the last book of the Bridgerton series, read Oprah magazine and watch some episodes of the Office. Good times. I even went to the gym on Saturday. The only bad spot was the infection in my eyes. It started Friday and has not gone away yet. I am going to the eye doctor tomorrow if it isn't gone. There is one that speaks English near where I tutor.

Which reminds me that on Thursday (I tutor on Thursday) KN, Louise, and I watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3. I give it a solid 6 just for hotness of Orlando Bloom at the end of the movie. It got an overall rating of 5.6 from all three of us(KN: 6, Louise: 5, Me: 6). Louise thought three hours was a little too long. I have to agree.

I talked to Dorcas, my boss, on Friday after Mom's advice and I think I am going to be staying here at FuHsing for another year. I am not 100% sure (I won't be until I sign the contract), but I think its ok. I am looking for apartments since the school housing is moving outside the city. I will let you know how the search goes.

Well I must get back to work. It is Monday after all and I have to get a out of the blue test made for tenth grade. I should have come in this weekend.

Capture the Weekend

YES!!! We finished the English Camp yesterday. By the last class I just told the kids to run across the playing field, grab the cone, and run back. If someone tagged them then they have to go to jail. Also no biting, kicking, hitting, etc. Capture the cone has never been so much fun. I woke up this morning and could not believe that I have been teaching already for seven days straight. Five more days and then two days of waking up after 8am. Two glorious days.

I finally broke down and went on NY and Company.com and looked at all the wonderful clothing that I can't have. Just like any girl on the planet, I am going through a fashion drought where all my clothes are frumpy. They were not frumpy two months ago so I am very hopeful that this feeling will pass. To help it move a little faster I have been going to the gym. If this feeling doesn't pass then at least I will save money because I am at the gym all the time and not eatting out and I will be able to go to NY and Company and buy very pretty blouses (I saw so many) and wonderful dresses. I also saw this blazer that will go with so many things. The main reason I am going home this summer is because I can't wait to see my family. But if someone would just drop me off at the mall and pick me up a couple of hours later I would be quite grateful.


Here are some pictures from the concept fashion show a couple of weeks ago that KB and Paul were in. I use the word concept to mean no one, and I mean no one, would wear these clothes.

Batch walking the runway with the designer
Random shoes I saw in the dressing room.
Batch with her makeup on with the designer
The runway
Which one is KN?
These dresses were all connected, awesome
Quite a colorful ensemble

I know this is late, but I thought I put it up anyway. Taipei 101 just loves the holidays.