LIFE IN THE FAST LANE!

May 17,2009 Life in the fast lane has worn me out completely and I can not believe it is already Sunday May 17! It all began on Wednesday April 29 at 1:00 p.m. when I bought my bus ticket to Kaohsiung loaded down with two suitcases, a carry on bag and a backpack for my whirlwind trip to America. I was totally excited to head home to see my family but also a little concern about the jet lag and cultural shock. Once arriving in Kaohsiung I took the MRT to the High Speed Rail to Taoyuan where the international airport is located. They call it the Taipei airport but it is actually located in Taoyuan. Once I arrived at the airport I had about three hours to wait until we left and those three hours seemed like days to me!!! I was so excited and hyper I could not seat still and wonder how in the world would I sleep the 13 hours to Los Angeles. While roaming the airport I found this awesome exhibit of art work done by Taiwan children which I have posted those pictures. They are farmers hats that they decorated and painted, as well as bulls. Once on the plane and sleep started to kick in I was able to sleep may be six hours of the 13 hours in flight. Upon arrival in Los Angeles I felt like I was in a dream state and was around mostly Americans which seem strange to me since I have been with Taiwan people for eight months. The first thing I did was to fine a water fountain and drank from it like a kid in a candy store. I know it seems stupid but you can not drink the water here in Taiwan. Also all the smells I never noticed before while living in America. Seems strange to but you do not realize these things until they are not part of your daily life. Los Angeles to Atlanta which was another four hours where I was totally antsy
and could not wait to get there to take the flight to Columbus my final destination.
Fortunately, I was able to doze on and off before we arrived to Atlanta. Thank goodness it was only an hour lay over because I was way over stimulated and could not wait to see Joe and Julie Thursday morning!!! The flight to Columbus was very short and once I got there it was how fast could I make it to their house!!!!! First off it was totally awesome to be driving a car!!! Seems small and unimportant but when you have not driven or have access to the convience of a car it makes a difference. Well, I last for about six hours visiting them before the jet lag kick in so I went to check in to my motel and crashed! Thursday night was I went back to Joe's and Julie's house and we all went for dinner and then hung out for awhile but again I did not last long because of the jet lag. My concern was how was I going to be able to stay awake and be alert for their college graduation on Saturday. Friday was very busy with picking up my sister at the airport, mom arriving from Marietta and Chad arriving from Cleveland. Saturday arrived and the big day of college graduation! Picture of Joe and Julie before graduating. I managed to stay awake and was so happy that they both graduated summa cum latte the highest honor from a college. Way to go kids!!!!!! Sunday was the family brunch before everyone headed back home. Linda took off for Alabama, Mom to Marietta and I had two more days in America! However, I was a little homesick for Taiwan too. I wonder how I feel once I am back in the states? Monday morning I headed to Marietta to surprise a young man who was honoring me as an honor educator. He had no clue I was coming to the dinner and it was going to be a big surprise for him. While in Marietta I visited with a few good friends but was unable to see everyone because of time. I went to the dinner at the very last minute as his mom and I had planned. I walked up behind him and gave him a hug and kiss and said honey I home. He was in totally shock and surprised!!!! He asked his mom and dad if they knew and they said yes. I explained to him he was lucky because I was in Ohio for Joe's and Julie's graduation it happen to be around the same time. The picture is from the paper of us at the dinner. That Monday night I had to drive back to Columbus for an early flight to Taiwan. The flight back was way to long and I was experiencing confusion with the times and jet lag. My body and brain were on auto pilot! I left Columbus on Tuesday morning arrived in Chicago and had a three hour lay over which was way to long since I had another 13 hour flight to Japan. The flight to Japan was alright since the lady beside was very friendly and we talked on and off between sleeping which help past the time. Arriving in Japan Wednesday night we were not allowed to get off the plane because of the Swine Flu. It was something like a sci fi movie where they came in wearing some thing like space suits and had an thermal device to see you body temperature as well as a paper you had to fill out before leaving the plane. There was one person on the plane they keep going back to and finally questioned them for at least 15 minutes. Once we were off the plane it was going through security and finding the next terminal for my flight back to Taiwan. Arriving in Taoyuan at 9:30 it took over an hour to go through the quarantine,immigration and customs, which made me miss my connection to Kaoshiung. Stayed in Taoyuan and got up early to head back to Kenting which I arrived around 11:30. They all wanted me to take the afternoon off because of jet lag and I said no I wanted to stay awake so I could he adjust my body! Thursday night I was totally out of it and headed to bed early.
Friday was auto pilot and after school I headed to Taipei for the weekend because my friend James was coming in from China and everyone was going to meet Saturday for a big dinner party for him. Pictures are from the dinner. Sunday Rachel and I did some touring and taking pictures of places in Taipei. The one is a blind man playing the accordian in the MRT tunnel, the other pictures are of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the benches made from the wheels of the railway, and pictures of Taipei out my hotel room. Sunday afternoon head back to Kenting to prepare for a busy week at school with exams and camping/sports day. Thursday we had the afternoon off to get ready for a night of camping with the kids and sports day the next day. I was still running on auto pilot and really had not notice jet lag little did I know! Thursday we all headed to the branch school where each grade had a variety of dishes that the parents prepare. Everyone asked me to eat with their class so I went to 12 different classes and sample a little of everything and made sure the students saw me trying somethings off their table. They were so cute when they would say Connie teacher try this very good. I was so stuff I could hardly move. After dinner they showed the movie Free Willy outside against one of the buildings and the teachers sat in the back and talked. 10 was bed time for the kids so they all went to their tents and I one of the lucky ones got to go back to my dorm to sleep! Friday they picked me up around 8:30 for sports day. When I got there the tents were down and the playground was clean. The games were so fun to watch and help out with them. The activities from sports day were the little kids grade 1,2 were blind folded and spun around and had to walk to the other side. 3rd and 4th grade were to run to the desk step over and run to the other side and back. 5th and 6th grade had to do a somersault, crawl between the desk legs and then run to the other side and back. Next was the tug of rope which was branch school against main school. Next came the parents against the teachers and of course parents won. The last big event was the kids form a circle and the teachers or in the middle with the water balloons. First round the teachers get to have the water balloons and hit the students then it is a free for all where the students and teachers grab water balloons to hit each other. It was really fun! Then the shocker came after wards when they were cleaning up the balloons and someone came up behind me and poured a bucket of water over me! I screamed in shock and then just laughed! I was totally drench but it felt good because it was really hot here in the 90's in the morning. Friday afternoon we had off since we had camping and field day so I went for a 30 km bike ride to the west coast to explore another part of the island and went swimming. Well, yesterday it finally hit jet lag!!!! Or just exhaustion from being on the go for the last three weeks and that is why this entry is SOOOOOOOO Long! The other pictures are from sports day and camping at the branch school. Enjoy!