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.

6th grade graduation

June 22, 2008 6th grade graduation was Thursday June 18 at 4:30 pm. It was a two hour long ceremony with both the sixth and kindergarten students graduating. First they had a short play then awards and certificates for both the sixth and kindergarten. At the end the 6th grades handed their candles to the fifth graders like passing the torch and walked between the fifth graders as they left. After graduation the teachers and sixth graders were treated to a dinner at a local restaurant.

June 16th

Ok I know it has been awhile since I have updated my blog but I have been very busy. With the English Village test, the end of the year and trying to do as much as possible before I leave Taiwan. The pictures are of the kids going body boarding, tree climbing, kindergarten practicing for graduation, and my trip to Sansia. When I went to Taipei last weekend I went to Sansia, Yingee and got tea sets and to a tea doctor which was really interesting. This coming weekend I will be going to my co-teachers wedding which will be very interesting and different. I have 28 days until I return to the States and I am torn about leaving Taiwan. However, I am very excited about going home! Also there are pictures of the 6th grade triatholon.