On Friday night, Rick got into a scooter accident on the way to class. During the accident, his scooter fell on his foot which caused him to fracture a bone in his foot. Originally, the doctor had told him it would take eight weeks to heal. He was pretty upset, considering his plans to travel around Taiwan and elsewhere. We were 99% sure that he would be coming home with me on December 30th. But he had a follow up appointment first and we were hoping for the best.
Our friends, David and Monica, offered Rick to stay on their couch while his leg healed and then he could travel. Rick's spirits were lifted. He was thinking of asking to work at Gloria longer while he healed and then doing his trip around Taiwan (but now on a train) and then going to Sri Lanka. We headed to the doctor yesterday with high hopes. He said it was a 4-6 week healing time so that was very exciting. Rick decided on staying and working and he just had to talk to our boss.... who told him he can't work for Gloria any more because his working permit will be expired :( Set back again but Rick has decided to stay and try and look for some work during his healing time.. then travel once his leg is back to 100%.
So now instead of thinking I won't see Rick for about a month to two months.. 4-6 weeks is now added on top of that. I will miss him a lot BUT I am very excited to get to see all my friends and family. Hopefully everyone will keep me busy. (Mom and Dad, I don't mean busy with housework....)
In other news, Tuesday marked the beginning of saying goodbye to our classes which has turned out to be a lot harder than I thought. I thought that the younger classes would be harder but so far, saying goodbye to my older classes has sucked. I have been given so many cards and hugs, it feels so bittersweet to be saying goodbye. I am going to miss all my students, co-teachers and friends so much. I really wasn't expecting it to be this hard to say goodbye so maybe that is what is making it harder. I think a big aspect of it is that when I left Canada, I knew I would be back. I don't know when or if I will ever be back in Taiwan. I think that is more sad than anything.
Only eight days to go.
Showing posts with label scooter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scooter. Show all posts
22 January 2014
22 April 2013
Scooter Time
Rick and I are both officially scooter owners. My first day of scootering was scary but an experience. Its exciting and terrifying at the same time. Today I will be following Sam to Nan-Kan. Wish me luck.
Once I can get the pictures off my phone, I'll post some pictures here of my scooter and Rick's as well.
ALSO. On an unrelated topic, if you're reading this blog and you have ANY questions or comments at all. Feel free to post on the entries! I would love it if someone could benefit from this blog who is considering coming to Taiwan. Because I know that when I came here, I was reading every blog I could and I had so many questions for the writers but there often wasn't a way to get into contact with them. So please, leave a comment! Ask questions, we would be more than happy to answer any!
Once I can get the pictures off my phone, I'll post some pictures here of my scooter and Rick's as well.
ALSO. On an unrelated topic, if you're reading this blog and you have ANY questions or comments at all. Feel free to post on the entries! I would love it if someone could benefit from this blog who is considering coming to Taiwan. Because I know that when I came here, I was reading every blog I could and I had so many questions for the writers but there often wasn't a way to get into contact with them. So please, leave a comment! Ask questions, we would be more than happy to answer any!
16 March 2013
Moving in, and new classes.
We are officially moved in to our new place! I'll take some pictures and add them to this post later for your viewing pleasure. I know you're all very interested! Speaking of moving in, it is a lot harder in Taiwan than back home. The concept of borrowing someone's truck and making one trip is not possible. We made about 10 trips on Rick's scooter with me wearing a massive backpack and Rick balancing a suitcase in front of him. It was an interesting experience to say the least and I am not sure how in only two months that we have accumulated that much stuff.
In other news, I started all three of my new regular classes this week. And they were all adorable and, mostly, very excited to learn English with their new foreign teacher.
My first was my beginners class so they were older but had no previous knowledge of English. Most of the children were aged 9-11 but there are two students who are 13 and one who is 12. I felt super bad for them cause we're playing all of these little children games and they are just sitting there, bored. The good thing is they are quick learners and for the most part, they are willing to play the games with us. In the end, it was a really fun class. I loved my coteacher, she was great and fairly new too so we are learning together.
My second class was a kindergarten beginners class, as was my third one. The first kindergarten class was larger than the second and full of younger children. There were some there who haven't even been to kindergarten in Chinese school yet so they had no idea how to act in a classroom setting. They were so adorable though! There were a brother and sister who were so young and kept putting their hands up, but the second I would call on them, their hand would shoot down and they would shake their heads and say, "No teacher..." Hahaha it was also adorable how excited both classes were to see me. My first coteacher asked the children if I was the first foreigner they had ever seen and the majority of them said yes. So honest and adorable.
It has been a fun week. Finally 100% in the apartment. We have internet in the apartment! For awhile there, I was heading to the dorm everyday to Skype my mother in the morning but now that is unnecessary. And Rick's cellphone is finally working again!
Today we are off to do a chatroom. We both have the exact same chatroom with the same topic and level today so hopefully that goes well.
One of our many trips from the dorm to the new apartment
Our new place
Typical Rick.
Our picture fridge!
My first was my beginners class so they were older but had no previous knowledge of English. Most of the children were aged 9-11 but there are two students who are 13 and one who is 12. I felt super bad for them cause we're playing all of these little children games and they are just sitting there, bored. The good thing is they are quick learners and for the most part, they are willing to play the games with us. In the end, it was a really fun class. I loved my coteacher, she was great and fairly new too so we are learning together.
My second class was a kindergarten beginners class, as was my third one. The first kindergarten class was larger than the second and full of younger children. There were some there who haven't even been to kindergarten in Chinese school yet so they had no idea how to act in a classroom setting. They were so adorable though! There were a brother and sister who were so young and kept putting their hands up, but the second I would call on them, their hand would shoot down and they would shake their heads and say, "No teacher..." Hahaha it was also adorable how excited both classes were to see me. My first coteacher asked the children if I was the first foreigner they had ever seen and the majority of them said yes. So honest and adorable.
It has been a fun week. Finally 100% in the apartment. We have internet in the apartment! For awhile there, I was heading to the dorm everyday to Skype my mother in the morning but now that is unnecessary. And Rick's cellphone is finally working again!
Today we are off to do a chatroom. We both have the exact same chatroom with the same topic and level today so hopefully that goes well.
10 February 2013
Chinese New Year's Eve
What started out as just another day turned into a pretty fun night for us. First, I tried out riding a scooter for the first time. We borrowed Monica's keys for the week while they were away so I could practice and it went really well! It is only a 50cc (so it is a smaller scooter) but I had fun. I feel like I was building it up so big in my head and then when I actually tried it out, it wasn't as big of a deal as I thought. It also helped that as I was leaving the parking lot where I practiced, an old Taiwanese man shot his fist in the air with a big smile on his face.
After that, Rick decided to head out on his own on Sam's scooter to perfect his skills. He had already tried out different scooters a few times and wanted to ride a little bit more on his own before he tried with me on the back of the scooter. He had an amazing time and he loved how free he felt to be on a scooter. It really does open up so much more of Taiwan. He checked out Tiger Head Mountain on his own and loved every minute of it.
At night, we decided to take it easy and play our new Drinking Jenga that we had just bought the other day. Darren was playing with us when we started to hear fireworks, more and more frequently. We decided it'd be a great idea to go on the roof to watch them only to find that Gloria had locked the doors on the roof for the holiday. To the streets we went.
We walked down to the park and ended up in the middle of a firework war zone. It was so surreal and unlike back home. There were different groups of people setting off their own personal fireworks and these fireworks were similar but also so much better than the kind of fireworks we can buy back home. It reminded me of when I was a kid back home and my dad would light fireworks in our backyard. The only difference was that my dad would light the firework and run away quickly to ensure he wasn't going to get hit. While the Taiwanese like to light the firework and either casually stand beside the display or walk away at a snail's pace. They seem to not be concerned whatsoever with getting hit by a firework. We hung out in the park for over an hour. As some families would run out of their firework displays, more would arrive and start their own.
P.S. A big thank you to Monica and Sam for letting us borrow their scooters while they are away!
Until next time!
After that, Rick decided to head out on his own on Sam's scooter to perfect his skills. He had already tried out different scooters a few times and wanted to ride a little bit more on his own before he tried with me on the back of the scooter. He had an amazing time and he loved how free he felt to be on a scooter. It really does open up so much more of Taiwan. He checked out Tiger Head Mountain on his own and loved every minute of it.
At night, we decided to take it easy and play our new Drinking Jenga that we had just bought the other day. Darren was playing with us when we started to hear fireworks, more and more frequently. We decided it'd be a great idea to go on the roof to watch them only to find that Gloria had locked the doors on the roof for the holiday. To the streets we went.
We walked down to the park and ended up in the middle of a firework war zone. It was so surreal and unlike back home. There were different groups of people setting off their own personal fireworks and these fireworks were similar but also so much better than the kind of fireworks we can buy back home. It reminded me of when I was a kid back home and my dad would light fireworks in our backyard. The only difference was that my dad would light the firework and run away quickly to ensure he wasn't going to get hit. While the Taiwanese like to light the firework and either casually stand beside the display or walk away at a snail's pace. They seem to not be concerned whatsoever with getting hit by a firework. We hung out in the park for over an hour. As some families would run out of their firework displays, more would arrive and start their own.
P.S. A big thank you to Monica and Sam for letting us borrow their scooters while they are away!
Until next time!
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