Green Island- a few days of Paradise!

I just had a most needed and fantastic weekend! I confess that while I love it here- there are times where I definitely need some R&R. Green Island is on the south eastern side of Taiwan. We got on the train at 5:30p.m. on friday and didn't arrive until 6:00 a.m. on Sat. It was an interesting 12 hrs to say the least! We bought our tickets in advance- but still didn't have seats for some of the trains. This first picture is of Lindsay and I crammed in the doorway in between cars! We took pillows to sit on!



Once we arrived on Green Island- we got our scooter rental and found our hotel! It was a pretty sweet little flat!


Once we unloaded our packs- we immediately set off to find a Scuba shop to set up our dive! I was really excited because this was my first real dive! This is a picture of our scuba instructor!

These are some other dive friends we met. They were really fun to talk to- and very helpful with translation! haha!

This is me! I am so happy to be diving!

Lindsay and I diving with the fish! They kept nibbling our fingers. Crazy moment on the dive- we were headed back toward shore when Lindsay and I noticed a Spotted Moray Eel down below us. It was following along with us- and they are kinda scary looking- but I decided that if it wasn't a big deal to the Instructor- it shouldn't be to me! Then he looked down and jumped! He then pulled out this long, thin metal stick and started to jab it at the Eel. The Eel would advance toward the inst. then retreat as he jabbed at it. He kept motioning for us to swim around and get ahead of us. He repeated the jabbing a few more times until the Eel finally started to retreat. It was a little freaky and I am glad he was there to help us. We later found out from our dive buddies that that kind of Eel likes to bite divers! Dodged a bullet! haha!

Fantastic sunset and some weird foreigner jumped in the picture!

The scenery around the island is gorgeous!







Lindsay and I met some Germans at the hot springs we went to, and they invited us to dinner with some other foreigners they had met! Denmark, Germany, America and South Africa were represented! It was really fun to talk with them and trade stories and adventures. It is always amazing to me when you take the time to meet new people and learn a little about where they are coming from and the experiences they have had. It was a really fun dinner and fun to be united in our foreign-ness!

This is the boat ride home. I love this little asian man in his huge hat and small shorts! He is too legit to quit!

These are some more friends we met! They were very helpful with getting tickets to and from the island- and also helped us figure out our train ride home- WITH seats! haha. We had a fun time standing outside on the trip back- trying to stay up right. They call this the barf barge because so many people throw up on it. They have bags at every seat- it is one of the rockiest boat rides I have ever been on! I never felt sick- but I saw plenty of others who were.



Lindsay's hair was pretty wild after the windy boat ride back! It took her about a gallon of conditioner to comb it out! Loved it.

We were pretty exhausted on the train ride home- but it was an incredible weekend and I am so grateful that everything worked out so well! and I LOVE scuba diving! I live for the next dive!

Old MacDonald

This is a video of my new baby Kindergarten class! I have them for an hour everyday and I just want to eat them! They are so adorable. This is only half of my group. Gerald and I switch off.

Taipei Trip

So last Saturday Lindsay and I ventured into Taipei by ourselves and it was AWESOME. We had such a fun time bumming around together and finding things on our own. We didn't really have a set plan and ended up at this really neat Museum of Taiwanese art. There we had a light lunch that hit the spot- and there are beautiful gardens outside to enjoy. We also went to the Chiang Kai-shek memorial and to the top of the Taipei 101 (still technically the worlds tallest until Dubai is finished- haha) It was a great day and I am excited to continue to explore this vast city!

This is at the top of the Taipei 101- I am about 91 stories tall!


This is the Super Big Wind Damper- counterforce for earthquakes and such


Cute Taiwanese girls that wanted to talk to us and take our pictures- naturally we had to take theirs as well! They asked Lindsay for a tissue- then as she gave it to one- the other took a picture of her giving the tissue- it was really random and funny!


Little bit of the USA on the 91st floor of the 101


Linds and I listening to the audio tour of the 101- spared no expense!


This is at the gardens outside the Museum


Entrance into the Chiang Kai-shek - Grrrrrr baby!


Gardens outside of the memorial


You know that where there is danger- you will find me!


View from the top of the Chiang Kai-shek


The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial


Sweaty guard inside the memorial and his personal sweat wiper- no joke- cuz they can't even blink!


Part of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial


Lindsay and I enjoying our delightful lunch at the Museum!

More Toilets!

Hey everyone! Good news! I finally got a new power cord for my computer so I can finally post some new pictures! Hope you enjoy!

This is my health insurance card- and upon seeing it- Lindsay told me that I look like a secret spy- whom she then named Morgana Ufmoo! Not what I would have choosen- but maybe I will meet Charles Carmichael- aka CHUCK!


This is a quaint little city called Lugang!








This is at the Toilet Restaurant in Taichung- yes- you heard me correctly- the Toilet Restaurant! You sit on toilets- you eat out of mini toilets- even the sink in the bathroom is a toilet bowl. I don't know how they come up with this stuff- but I love it. Maybe this is my destiny for when I get home- opening my very own toilet restaurant! I would also like you to note that the toilet I sat on was marijuana leaves...hmmm...inspiration?!


This is part of our group chillin on their toilets- with a bathtub as their table!


My delicious Thai coconut chicken in a toilet bowl! Also they cover their dishes with poo! Emmm...yummy!


Lindsay and her toilet delights!


My ice cream came in a squaty poty! Love it!


I got a free lip-liner with purchase so I decided to give it a try!


This is Shannon by a tunnel that was flooded during the typhoon. This was really the only damage in our little city!


This is on the inside of the tunnel that is higher up for the scooters to drive on. You can see the flood waters through the window.


Just trying to rescue the world one tree at a time!

Wet-Wet-Wet

So I guess I should first start off by saying that our little city of Feng Yuan is just fine as far as the Typhoon goes. We had a lot of rain and wind- enough to cancel school for two days as well as church- but we are protected by the mountains surrounding us. I didn't even realize how badly Taiwan was hit unitl I started to hear things from my kids and people back home. My heart goes out to those who are suffering at this time- but I was personally grateful for the break from school. It was nice to get caught up on some much needed sleep. I have 8 new students and they all keep me busy! I will also be gaining a new class in September- 2-3 yr olds that do not speak any English at all- so that should keep me busy!
Funny story! Yesterday I got a new student in kindergarten- and his dad has been coming to class to help ease the transition- so he sits in class with Henry. The first rotation I do is P.E.- and this week we are doing different things with different sized balls. So to start off- I had the kids do some stretches (and some of you know how much I love the stretches)- and we stretched our hands way up to the sky- and mind you while I am going through all of this- Henry's father is sitting by the wall watching us- and it was really hot yesterday- so naturally I was a bit sweaty in my armpits- some of you may refer to them as Tacos- anywho- as I was stretching my arms up to the sky- 3 or 4 of my girls thought my sweaty arm pits were funny- so they ran up to me and started to stick their fingers in them! Not only was I giggling because it tickled- but I am trying to get them back to the wall while they contuinued to stick their little fingers up my pits! I am very aware of the fact that a)this is gross that they are doing this, and b) Henry's father is sitting there watching the whole thing! They continued this activity even when I modified the stretches to keep the arms at the side- and thought it was hilarious. I didn't dare to look over at the father- not wanting to see the look on his face! I kept thinking about how much more serious they take education in Taiwan- how this was the most expensive English cram school in the city- and how he must think I was a perspiring pansy who can't control her students. It is a bit unsettleing to have the parents watch you while you are teaching their children- especially when they also speak English- and consequently understand what you are saying to them. I must confess I was quite shocked when during the break/rotation- he told me that I was very patient with the children! I have no idea if that was in general or in reference to the armpit adventure- but it was nice to hear all the same. Good work Miss Sa-rah!

Tower, Temple, Tidal Wave

I was trying to think of a title that would be catchy- but now that I look at it- it looks like some story from the Bible and all the people were destroyed. Luckily for myself and all of you- each of those are separate stories! Last weekend our Branch took a bus to Taipei and we went to the temple, which was marvelous. It is a smaller temple and so you come around a corner and there it is amidst many taller buildings. When we came out of the temple, it was raining so hard that I wondered where my ark was. The ark came in the form of our bus- which by the time we made it on to- we were all completely drenched- and I loved every minute of it. We then went over to the Taipei 101- which is technically the world’s tallest building until the one in Dubai is finished. Lindsay and I were going to go to the top, but due to the extreme weather conditions, we decided to wait for a clearer day. We did find Macaroni Grill- which was a little slice of heaven- because sometimes you just need some good old American food! And yes I realize this is Italian food- but American nonetheless. It was a really fun trip and we are going to try and go up there once a month. Taipei is a really cool city and I am exuberant in my desire to explore.

Yesterday we decided to go to a waterpark in a city to the north called Houli. It was really fun and we had two of the secretaries from our school with us: Jaren and Fenny. It was pretty similar to water parks I have been to before- with the slides, lazy river, kiddy pool and wave pool. There were two main differences that made the trip that much sweeter to me! And I must say that this has been my favorite waterpark experience by far. First of all- everyone in Taiwan is required to wear a swimming cap when they go swimming- so likewise we too had to purchase said cap. Since you will NOT be privileged to see a picture of that, I have two words: elf ears. My very favorite part of the waterpark experience was the wave pool. But this isn’t just any ordinary wave pool- oh not like the wimpy wave pools we have all been to- this wave pool also had massive tidal waves. But they didn’t just send an 18 foot wave of water slamming your way- the lifeguards had microphones and pepped up the crowd! They would ask ‘Are you ready!?” (of course this had to be translated for us by Fenny and Jaren) and this drum beat would begin and everyone would slap the top of the water twice and on the third beat we would fling water up into the air and scream WOOO! This was repeated several times until the wave came hurdling toward us. Now if this weren’t exciting enough- they sent the wave toward us about 8 times- and each time the wave would get a little bigger- and Sarah would get a little more excited each time- and soon she was screaming at the top of her lungs- with the excitement many of you have witnessed when she gets really excited and hyper about something- and the Taiwanese people around her were laughing- and it was just about the most fantastic thing she has experienced so far! And she will now stop referring to herself in the third person.
I am sure this experience will be an instant replay when I get to review them back in heaven! Ciao!


This is the entrance to the waterpark- and upon first glance we thought it was called Mold Boy- which could be legit since they sometimes struggle with their English. To our great relief- we were not swimming with Mold Boy- but at Mala Bay!


These are the warriors of Mala Bay- and a Taiwanese Barbara Bush!


This is my 2nd grade class- they are a handful but I will keep em!


This is my other 2nd grade class and I call them my little angels- because I never have to write their names on the board- and I don't get headaches on T,Th,Sat.


These are my kindergartners and they keep me on my toes- but they are just so darn cute! Some of them just woke up from their nap before they came to class- so they are a little sleepy!


I just had to include this picture because I feel this captures the relationship that I have with my dear little Jerry!


This is Lindsay and I at the Macaroni Grill! Yummy.


This is the Taipei 101 at night.


The Taipei Temple! And two wet kittens!


Lindsay and I pre-soak.