D-DAY!

Tuesday July 14,2009 My last entry from Taiwan. It is 5:44 a.m. here in Taiwan and the day I leave Kenting to head back to the states. The last couple of days have been busy with saying good bye to my friends and packing the finally items to bring home. Unfortunately, I had to go buy another suitcase to finish packing because of the many gifts I received from my friends as well as the gifts from my principal here at Kenting. It is hard to believe that my time is up here and that I have actually been here 336 days and when I leave on the plane early tomorrow morning I will have been away from home 337 days! Yes, I am very excited about going home and seeing my family and friends but I am sad about leaving my new home too. Looking back over the year there has been many ups and downs but in closing I most say this has been the VERY BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF!!!!!!! WOW! WHAT AN ADVENTURE I HAVE HAD THIS PAST YEAR!

Zia Jen from Taiwan!!!!!

Packing For Home!

Sunday July 12, 2009 day 334 and only 3 days until I leave Taiwan. My questions is how did I get here with only 3 suitcases, and a book bag? I have sent home 6 boxes and when I went home in May for Joe & Julie"s graduation I left a suitcase and a new carry on full of items from here. Yet I have two suitcases and a book bag to pack the rest of my belongings and wonder if I will be able to fit everything in or will I need to pack another box to send home. I hope not! I have started to say my goodbyes to my friends in Kenting and I am leaving with a heavy heart. Since arriving in Taiwan I have made many new friends and several very close special friends whom I will miss dearly. This maybe my final posting in Taiwan since I have several things to finalize before heading home to the states. My final note for now is that this adventure has been the best thing I have done for myself!

EAST COAST OF TAIWAN

July 11,2009 Just returned from a weeks vacation of touring the east side of Taiwan. Started at Taipei and went down to Lishan which is known for the peach orchard in the Central Mountains of Taiwan and then on to Hehuan Mountain which is the highest place a road goes to in Taiwan. Next was to the Toroko Gorge and then to Hualien. From Hualien took Highway 9 down the Riff Valley which is between the Coastal Mountains, Central Mountains and Jade Mountain Range to Taitung and then up the sea coast on Highway 14 back to Hualien then to Taipei. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

A VERY DIFFICULT GOOD BYE!

Monday June 29,2009. Today was the most difficult goodbye for me. The students from the branch and main school had their end of the year award ceremony which was nice. However, the hard part was when they had a going away ceremony for me. Which took me by total surprise. Each grade at both schools did a performance and I cried like a baby! The teachers had made a video to recap my time here and I was still crying! The teachers gave be a backpack to take my memories home in and a beautiful boutique of flowers. The student made me cards too. The pictures are of the students during some of their performance and a couple of me crying my eyes out and hugging the kids. At the very end the kids came running up to the front and gave me a masses hugs. At one point I thought I was going to be pulled down! I am really going to miss the kids and the teachers I have made friends with here in Kending!

First Of Many Good Byes!

June 28, 2009. Starting to say goodbyes to friends I have made in Taiwan is not easy!
This weekend I spent time with my friends I made in Luijui and we went to Tainan one last time together. The next couple of weeks is going to be tough to start saying good-bye to so many people I have become friends with here in Taiwan. The pictures are my friend Vina, Cindy, Barry and Rachel. Also night shots of the park in Tainan that was so beautiful. Monday and Tuesday the kids have to be in school and my last day in school is Friday July 3rd. This coming weekend I am spending time and say goodbye to my Taipei friends that I have made and the following week is my final week to travel along the East Coast of Taiwan. I return to Kending July 10th and say fair well to my friends I have made in the Kending community which does not include the teachers here. Most of the teachers will be leaving July 1st, so I will be saying my goodbyes to them. My flight leaves July 15th at 9:35 a.m and I will be home in Ohio, July 13th by 9:00 pm. However, I will be traveling back in time since Taiwan is 12 hours ahead of Ohio. Just like Eisentein we would time travel!

Busy and Hot week in Kending!!!!

June 26, 2009 For all of you who have been on summer vacation this is finally the last full week of school. However, there is still Monday and Tuesday to go! This week has been the hottest week ever with the temperatures ranging between 104 to 106 degrees. Just imagine sitting in a sauna all day without any air conditioning because there is none in the school except for our dorm rooms.

This week the students have been taking their final test and have been doing some creative fun things too. First of all the First and Second graders made pork dumplings which I also learned how to do. Third, fourth and fifth graders made fruit sculptures and this morning they went to Hengchun for a swimming competition. Also they have been raising silkworms which I have included a picture.

Yesterday the third graders ask me to eat lunch with them and so then the fourth graders wanted me to eat with them today. Also the today I took my nap in the third grader in their classroom, which they were fighting over who would sleep beside me!

Edward's Wedding

Edwards Wedding was on June 20 in Kaohsiung. Upon arriving at Edward's wedding you have to sign in and give them a red envelope which contains money. Then they seat you where they have assigned you to set. The pictures are from dinner reception of the newlyweds. The bride wears between three to four different dress during the dinner. The first is the white wedding dress and the picture is of Edward and his wife Fiona with their parents. During that time they are giving a speech to honor their parents. After the speech I was called upon to speak at his wedding and to read a poem in honor of the newlyweds. Next Fiona and Edward return to the front and sang a song together as they proceeded to the stage. Next Fiona threw her boutique of flowers to the single women at the dinner reception. No one got the boutique because they all backed away from where it was thrown. Next Edward and Fiona and their parents went to all the tables to toast their marriage. Again Fiona changed one last time to signal the end of the dinner reception. During the entire time we were their they continually brought out varies dishes for us to eat. The last one was a desert soup which was for us to have which is a tradition in Taiwan for fertility for Edward and Fiona. The last thing that happen is that Fiona had her finally dress on and she and Edward held basket of candy to hand out as you say good bye to them and wish them luck in their marriage.