Best Class

For the first assembly of the semester, my K2A class won "Best Class". It doesn't really mean much, as everyone wins it eventually and it just goes in a cycle, but it's still fun. We got our picture taken and were given a bag of cookies (which were actually crackers, but whatever) to eat as a treat.

Go K2A!!

New Duvet Cover

I managed to order a duvet cover for the blanket I bought at RT Mart. Overstock.com now ships to Taiwan so this worked out well.

It was my first package in Taiwan.

Here's a close-up of the pattern.

And here it is on my bed. Love it!

Jason's Marketplace

We had time to kill on Saturday after seeing Wrath of the Titans before our showing of The Hunger Games started, so we decided to explore the mall a little bit more.

We'd heard from another foreign teacher, that you can buy Western brands of food in the basement so we decided to check it out.

It was true!!!! Jason's Marketplace was beautiful.

There was real cheese and Captain Crunch ($9 a box, but still), and margarine (as close to butter as I think I'm going to get out here) and even Babybel cheeses. I geeked out over these. Craig thought I was nuts.

Right as I was going to check out, I saw a spice rack with Italian seasoning. And minced onions. 2 things that I had, that very day, put on a list for my family to send to me in their next package. I use the two to doctor up my Prego sauce, which I managed to purchase here. I'm so excited for a taste of home. I giggled to Craig and he thought I was crazy.

We also found Dr.Pepper and A&W Root Beer that we haven't found prior to now. At first we thought each can was $125NT or over $3 each and decided we weren't that desperate yet. We saw another sign later that said each can was $35NT, or a little over $1 USD.

It was exciting to be sure. I want to go back this week and see if there's some fun stuff to make for Easter dinner next week. We saw some stuff to make mini-pizzas, and might do that. It won't be the same as ham and delicious potatoes, but it will still be a treat.

3D

We saw Wrath of the Titans in 3D today while we waited for our showing of The Hunger Games to start. The movie was so-so, but the 3D glasses were pretty legit.

Exercise Period

Every week, one of the foreign teachers is in charge of running an exercise period. There are 2 songs, one the children dance to, and the second they do stretches to. Last week it was my turn.

I think the kids really enjoyed it. The songs I used are posted below.

Song # 1- Twist by Patty Shukla


Song #2 - Reach by S Club 7

Field Trip to Zhunan Station

One thing I'm quickly realizing as a teacher in Taiwan, lesson plans and schedules mean nothing here. Not a day goes by, that something doesn't get switched around or changed.

Take last week's field trip, Craig and I found out about it the night before, after work. Totally threw off my teaching schedule. Anyways, we get to the train station and I fully expect a guide to come out and show us around.

But no, my friends. I was the guide. They all said, "Miss Kristi, meet us downstairs at 10:30 (the wrong time, by the way), show the kids around."

Ethan

Hank

Ian on the bus home

Thomas

Okay, I'll show these kids around a train station I've been in fewer than 10 times. It was ridiculous. I hat feeling unprepared and for this I was just walking around pointing at things. "This is a ticket machine, this is also a ticket machine, a trash can, another ticket machine." It was thrilling stuff, people. I wish you could have been there, I'm sure you would have been riveted.

Thomas, Beckham, and Ian

The kids seemed to enjoy it, even though we didn't see even one train in person, just a few in old pictures.

When it rains, it pours

Saturday Craig and I had to walk to the school to attend a demonstration in Hsinchu. It was pouring outside and both of us had left our umbrellas in Hsinchu the previous weekend.

Lucky for me, I have a smart mom who asked me no less than 3 times if I had bought a poncho. I thought about buying one, but my mom really sealed the deal. This pretty pink poncho kept me dry, while also keeping me humble. I got laughed at for sure!! Mostly by Craig...