Feeling a little unsafe

I had my first feeling of being unsafe in this city. I was walking to school in the daylight by myself. I just missed the light and was waiting for the traffic when a guy rolled up on a pink and white moped (doesn't exactly scream "Danger, danger Will Robinson"). He asked me for the time which I actually knew for once. He then started to ask me all these questions about myself which caused me to put up a wall (another story). He left after I said I did not have a cell phone and I thought that was that. I then noticed that he moved to the street and was looking at me. I felt him following me around the circle which started to freaked me out. I couldn't call anyone since I said I didn't have a phone (stupid I know). I started to panic when I crossed the street to go to school and he stopped in the middle of the road and turned around. He sped up and parked on the other side of the street and waited for me. I was almost to school when he came from behind and grabbed my shoulder to talk to me. I kept moving and finally was about to get in the gate when he stopped me again. I just said no (I had no idea what he was saying) and just ran into the school and got in the first elevator available. I practically ran to the office and luckily KN was there. I ended up locking the door after a while since I couldn't stop shaking. I actually feel sick to my stomach and am thankful that I wasn't heading home. I hope he went away and is still not there when we leave.

I know that this may sound harmless like I freaked out over nothing. Just had to be there I guess.

Last night the girls and I went to this awesome restaurant. It was Greek and delicious. We had so much fun and it is wonderfully decorated. I loved the feta dip and the lamb gyro. Relaxing on a Monday night is the way to go. When we got back we were all ready for bed and I had a great sleep until I accidentally threw my alarm clock across the room in the middle of the night. Good times.

Skates and Cakes

This past weekend was cut short because we actually had to teach class on Saturday. The injustice of it all.

Saturday night Paul, KB, and I went to a birthday party at a Japanese BBQ restaurant. It was awesome. The food was amazing.
KN kind of scaring me in the background
Paul looking like the devil he is
The birthday girl Rachel




Later that night I met Louise and KN at the skating rink to try to skate. I did ok (meaning I didn't fall).
KN and Louise at the rink
KN and I with skates
The DJ and the ice
On the ice


Sunday was spent waking up late (9:30am) and going to N.Y. Bagels (may stay in Taipei another year for this place) with Louise and KN for breakfast. Always delicious. We then went to the Taipei 101 area where went looked for face paint. We were unsuccessful, but found a Cake Show to go to. It was crowded and I got poked in the butt by a business card (not my fault either). KN and I went to a movie (Copying Beethoven) after the show and the highlight of the movie was the music and popcorn. Not exactly an Oscar winner.
The crowds at the cake show
Me at the cake show wondering where to start
Louise and her dream wedding cake (for now)

After the movie we went home and KN, Louise, Paul, and I sat around the living room. We listened to music, cross-stitch (KN), worked on photo albums (Paul) and read books (Louise and I). It was quite wonderful.

Dentist

I went to the dentist finally. I haven't been to the dentist in over a year. I do have a cavity, but that is to be expected. I was guilted by the woman dentist for not flossing correctly (she is pregnant so it must be the mother thing). They clean teeth differently here. They have this water blaster cleaner that is quite fast. If your gums are sensitive it does hurt and there will be blood (lots in my case). They put this green cloth with a hole for your mouth over your face and go to work. I had to get x-rays because of the cavity. In all it cost 150NT which comes out to about 7USD. Pretty good. I have to go back on the 12th of April to get my cavity filled. Hopefully it won't be too painful.

In other news, KN ran into Becky (the substitute teacher for Lynn after she left) and she had her baby. Her baby's name is Austin and he is so cute. Here is a picture of the two of them:


Congrats to Becky and her husband.

Wonderful Wednesday Weather

The girls



Today's weather was perfect. What was even better was the two hour break we had for lunch. Here is a picture of Louise, KN, and KB hanging out in the sunshine. I was hanging out to, but taking the picture. You can see my purse.

An Inconvenient Truth

This is my new favorite song. I just love the lyrics. It is perfect for right now.

I Need to Wake Up
Melissa Etheridge

Have I been sleeping?
I’ve been so still
Afraid of crumbling
Have I been careless?
Dismissing all the distant rumblings
Take me where I am supposed to be
To comprehend the things that I can’t see

Cause I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

And as a child
I danced like it was 1999
My dreams were wild
But the promise of this new world
Would be mine
Now I am throwing off the carelessness of youth
To listen to an inconvenient truth

Well I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

I am not an island
I am not alone
I am my intentions
Trapped here in this flesh and bone

And I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

I want to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

The video. I personally like the lyrics better, but M.E. sings it so well.

St. Patty's Day Sickness

Some of my first graders dancing on Friday

Friday was a great day. My eight grade girls thought my outfit was stylish and asked me where they could get it. So I like to thank Old Navy and Chinatown's bead store.

This past weekend was a time for wearing green clothes and drinking green beer. Instead my face was green and my body hurt so much I couldn't stop shaking. I should have known this would happen since I haven't been sick in a long time.

I did make it out that Saturday for about two hours. I left the house with a small headache. I left the Shannon in search of pills, but came up empty. By 10pm I thought I was going to fall over. Thankfully I was sitting down. My headache got worse and I just put my head down on the table. I was starting to get teary eyed around 10:30pm when the pain spread throughout my body so just hid my head on the table. About fifteen minutes later I thought I was going to be sick so I said a quick goodbye and ran for the nearest taxi. I was sick for about two to three hours. I called Mom because I needed my Mommy (which all my first and second graders thought was weird since she could not be physically there). Sunday was spent eating a piece of toast and some soup. I went for a walk later in the afternoon just to get out of the house, but on my way back it started to rain on me (good times).
The crowd at The Shannon
Paul and E
Batch's back as she is talking it up
This week is my Drama test week. Nonstop choral readings. The tenth graders were good. The seventh grade boys, not so much. We will see what the eight grade boys and girls will do. I have sixth grade today so hopefully their readings will be good. (Fingers crossed)

First Week of School

The first week of school is finally over. And better yet, we did not go in this weekend. That means we had a wonderfully relaxed weekend and lots of work to do today. The lantern festival has started, but I have not gone yet because of the crowds. I will go later on in the week.

Chinese New Year celebrations are finished although there are still many firecrackers going off still in the streets. If it was any other city I would think people were getting shot.

Renai Circle has been decorated to welcome the New Year along with some of the roads. It would be magical, but lights flash on and off so it only makes it nice to look at when you don't have a headache.

Here are some pictures from the last week:
Renai Circle and it's lights
Lights along the road
The 2007 sign with the big diamond (I don't know why there is a huge diamond)