April 26, 2009 Cloudy and Windy today so no beach time or bike riding for me. However,the pictures of the guys are of them using a parachute and ski board to sail across the ocean which looked like fun. I asked my Taiwan friend Aneal what they call this but he could only give me the Chinese name not the English name. Also I asked if it was hard to do and he said yes so I guess I will not be learning that sport. The other pictures are of the kindergarten class who got upset on Thursday when I had not stopped in the morning to say hello. So I went out at recess to play with them and take pictures. The picture of the little boy and me is very special to me because every morning when I stop in their class he brings me his coat to hug and then he takes the coat and buries his face in it where I hug it so he can smell me. Also he brings things to me what he has brought to school. The other kids come over to say hello and show me what they our wearing or have made. It really brightens my day when I walk into there room.

A REAL RAIN

April 16, 2009 Day 246 here in Taiwan. YEA!! It is actually raining and I mean a really nice steady rain!!!! It seems silly to be excited about the rain but it has been since November since we have had a nice steady rain. What little things one misses when it is not part of our life. 13 more days until I get to go home to see my family!!!!! As of today I have 91 more days until I am home for good. Torn about leaving my home here in Taiwan and all the friends I have made.

Happy Easter!!!

April 11, 2009 Happy Easter everyone!!! It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be Easter. First off time has really flown by since the New Year and second I did not realize it was Easter because Taiwan or I should say at least in Kenting you would not know it was Easter because there is not the commercialism that there is the states.
On Thursday we had an aboriginal group of students come for English Village which was really fun because there English was very good. Afterwards we had a big meeting with the different officials and professionals and I was informed that I would now be the head teacher of the English Village until I leave. I politely refused because I am here to teach the students in Kenting not to be in charge of the English Village. Unfortunately, they did not except my refusal and said that I would be in charge and that it will not interfere with my teaching here in Kenting. I am very leery about this situation and afraid it will interfere with my teaching here in Kenting.

A Miracle Just Happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 6, 2009 at 9:09 A.M. a miracle happened today in the second grade class!!! Every Monday morning I have Granny Connie time where I read a picture book in English to the second graders here in Kenting. After reading the second grade teacher picks out two English words for them to learn and they teach me the Chinese word so when I see them during the week they tell me the English word and I say the Chinese word. Afterwards they go back to their desk to start Chinese class. Well, today a little second grade boy came right up to me sat down took the book from my hands and opened to a page and point to the picture of the boat. So I told him boat which he repeated. Then he went to the page with the story and pointed to the word and I said them and he repeated. He read the entire page in English with me. Amazing and a miracle that he was excited and wanted to read the page in English!!! A miracle!!!!!!!

APRIL ALREADY!!!!

April 2, 2008 Sorry I missed April fools day since I was going to post I was not coming home ever!! Then April Fools!! Oh well, my lost.Looking forward to this weekend which is the Spring Scream, which is a weekend of all kinds of bands and music here. This will be a real experience. I also got to witness the marathon here is Kenting. Some of our students ran the 5k like in Parkersburg Marathon.The pictures are from the marathon and the group picture of me with the students and teachers here at Kenting Elementary School.