January 26, 2011

I did not think this through obviously because you still need an account to comment on this blogger thang.

SIGH. Why?! technology.

Ok, anyway. I moved everything over to this blog so if you have a Gmail account, I think you can comment. SO COMMENT AWAY ^____^ Pretty please, of course.

Tell me what you think ... what you think I should do next in my wonderful Motherland.
BESIDES eat.

I am looking forward to hearing from y'all.
------------------------

I'm posing with 多多綠 aka Yogurt Drink + Green Tea!
Although it separated because yogurt + tea is usually not put together, it tasted DELICIOUS! Green Tea in Asia is the REAL DEAL, yoz.
So I obviously haven't been posting everyday like I said I would.
I have a new idea for posting everyday - you will have to stay tuned (like a TV SHOW >0<) to see what my FANTASTIC IDEA is. Mmk?

For the past few days, I have been doing my assignments that the University has assigned us TAB students with... Lots of reflecting. Which is good, I have a lot of feelings.
Chinese New Year's is coming up soon so everyone in the neighbourhood is cleaning their houses.. doors.. windows.. cars... house... dogs.. cats... children... grandparents... you get the idea? My family is also buying a ton of snacks because as the New Year comes, more family members/guests come over so you should always have snacks to feed people. YES! My kind of life. Hahaa~

My grandpa's house is literally less than a minute away from my Aunt's house (where I'm staying) - I want to post videos to show you guys Taiwan but I will wait until February because I AM GOING "TRAVELING" THIS WEEKEND!

On Friday, I am going to Khaosiung with my dad's side of the famjam. Lots of aunts and probably a few cousins (out of how many cousins? REMEMBER? Please leave an answer if you remember ^_^) . We will probably go buy some more peanuts (not kidding) and maybe look at some clothes. Oh and probably go to Costco because Tainan (the city I'm in) doesn't have Costco yet. I have a Costco membership btw. WORLDWIDE YEEUH.

On Saturday, I will be heading up to Taipei with my friend Andrea (aka my brother-I-never-had's cousin whom I befriended in Canada). THIS IS SO EXCITING!!! Taipei is like Vancouver. Khaosiung is like Calgary. Tainan is like ... I'm not too sure. somewhere kinda G though. >0< I'll be going by High Speed Railway - it will only take me 1 hour 45 minutes from Tainan to Taipei. (Usually a 12 hour drive!!!) My cousin Kyle told me that the HSR goes 300-400 km/h ... WAAASSIIGHHHH (sound of amazement).

I am sure I will have more adventurous stories to tell you guys after my little "vacation". I don't know if you guys can comment on my posts but I think you should (if you can).
Tomorrow, I'll be teaching my cousins' daughter named Sherry how to overcome her fear of riding a bike. She's 15 btw. And some of my cousins' friends are coming over to "learn English" in the evening. Let the games begin.... ENGLISH GAMES that is. Any suggestions??

PS. HOW COULD I FORGET?!!!
Guess who has DUAL CITIZENSHIP now?!
Oh, the answer's me - in case you didn't know.
I have a Taiwanese Citizenship Card AND a Canadian Citizenship card.
Oh wait.. I already blogged about this. oops.
But here's a picture - I figured out how to nerd this site up. YEEUH!
They photoshopped my face btw. To make it less "swollen" - mmk, thanks.

HOLLA BACK ~
Pray often, love always.

January 19, 2011

So I told you guys this year was going to be my GOLDEN RABBIT YEAR yeeeuh?!
So here's a picture of me with a RABBIT and my newest Taiwanese FOB gear. aka just my hat. It says TAIWAN + map of Taiwan with TAIWAN written in Chinese on it. >0<
I have been in Taiwan for a week and a half now. It feels like I've been here a lot longer though. CRAZY! I would like to say my mandarin has improved since I can speak at a faster pace now and use some Taiwanese. HOLLA BACK!
I uploaded an album on FACEBOOK that shows the food / random stuff that reminds me of my sister. I have included a link here in case you haven't seen it yet!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1210&id=140500011&l=0593a0a7ce
Let's hope that works - please let me know if it doesn't. thannks!
SO TODAY, I went and got my Taiwanese Citizenship Card! It was pretty awesome.. I'll put up a picture of my Canadian picture and Taiwanese picture when I figure out how to use this "tumblr" business.
I went bowling yesterday and they have lucky numbers for the day - the numbers were 50, 93, 168. If you bowl exactly that number by the end of your 10 rounds? - you get a game for FREE!
So uhm.. yeah. Guess who got a free GAME?!
ME - That is RIGHT. Guess what my score was?
........ 50.
I do not think playing sports is my forte - I better stick with music. hahahaa!
But isn't that cool? If you get the special number, you get a free game.

Taiwan is so different from Canada. I've only been here for a week and a half but I already feel like an outsider - I don't quite fit in here even though I was born here but I'm also an immigrant to Canada. OOH stuck in the middle. Maybe I should live on the ocean. HAHAA

I am hanging out with my cousins on my dad's side of the family this Friday! I am so excited... I have 36 cousins by the way. So I don't know all of them. I'm determined to meet every single one this time in Taiwan and remember their Chinese names. WHAT A GOAL, eh?
Hope you guys enjoyed my post... and I will be posting more frequently aka I will try and do this EVERYDAY cuz I'm a nerd like that.
Pray often, always love!
I don't miss home yet... not... yet. HAHAAA!
Enjoy your -30 degrees, Calgarians >0<

ilha formosa! - January 9, 2011

This is the school I will be doing my practicum at starting tomorrow!
3pm - meeting with the teacher tomorrow.
So being a teacher is different than in Canada, I think.
You're not allowed to hit the students anymore but if the students don't like you.. or disagree with something you did, they can most defs harass you - if they really wanted to. GREAT. That makes me feel... a little bit SCURRRRED!
But please, God is on my side so what do I have to be afraid of? Did you say NOTHING? That is correct. >0<
Oh, and this school is pretty much an all-boys school. Some people from church last night told me that the boys might bother me because I am a young, female teacher. This is going to be interesting. hahaha!
-------------
Quick rundown of what I have done/eaten. (Remember, I skipped Friday, Jan. 7 by being in the air or... at the airport all day. haaa)
First "day" in Taiwan - Jan. 8, 2011

• Arrive in Taiwan ... drive from Kaohsiung to Tainan where I will be for the next 4 months!
• Eat "wa gway" (Taiwanese), drank intestine soup - YUM, wasabi peanuts - Taiwanese people don't eat chips, they eat peanuts and everything else but chips. It's crazy! There's peanuts everywhere .. and in all sorts of colours. This is what they eat when they watch TV and to celebrate Chinese New Years!
• Saw my grandfather and cousins' kids who are so BIG now! Age... and size. hahaa - the youngest ones don't remember me. My grandpa doesn't really either.. This was a sad day. T_T 
• Went on a motorcycle. My cousins take me... it was scary at first. Okay, it still is - their traffic is just insane. 
• Went to church service on Saturday night... for young people - it was so loud.. it was awesome to see so many young people on fire for God. Makes me think about my own spiritual life.
• Ate some more at small group ... so. much. eating. 

Second day in Taiwan - Jan. 10, 2011

• I slept in and Skype'd with my mother for almost an hour 
• Had deep friend pork chop rice and soup at the church - the church sells it for 50NT aka ~$2ish CAD. INSANE SAY WHAAT. 
• Went shopping - there must be something in the water that makes the fruit in Taiwan grow so big... steroids perhaps... hahaa just kidding. Got some pudding - my fave pudding.
• Had my eyebrows done for free at a cosmetics store - the people who work in the cosmetics section are actually professionals. not like the ones in Calgary... where anyone can work at MAC as long as you wear makeup. hahaha. 

Now I'm in my room typing this up...  I need to find a cord for my camera so it can connect to my laptop. I want to show you guys all the pictures I've taken! I've taken a lot ... It's just so different here. Every time I come back, I'm older and see things with a different perspective. I've never realized how good we have it in Canada. The air, the water, the people, the way we live ... how money is so easily spent there. My family that I'm staying with are amazing and remind me unknowingly how important family relationships are and how you don't need to spend money for simple things even if it is so easy to.
I can't believe I've only been here for 2 days. I have another 4 months here. This is indeed going to be a life changing experience - without my parents, sister or Oreo. I am looking forward to it and nervous.
Please continue to pray for me - so far, NO COCKROACHES! My aunt's house is super clean so there aren't any but still. the thought of them. ew.
I'll be praying for you.
THANK YOU FOR READING - leave me a note, mmk.

livemusiclove. - January 3, 2011

                                            
live -> music <- love
(did you get it? not only must you love music ... you also have to live it out ♥ ♫)
2011 is the year of the Rabbit - that's me!
It's also the start of my independence. Funny how things work out, hey?
In a few days, I will be flying back to my motherland aka Taiwan and will live there for 4 months. This will fulfill the last practicum required for my Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Calgary! This is going to be interesting because this is the first time I will be living away from home for a long period of time - time to live without mother and father or my little mei. Taiwan will be fun because the majority of my family live there.. cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents ALL THE TIME!
December was an emotional month - tears were shed for happiness and sadness. Everyone around me has been so supportive and I am so thankful for this. Friends, family members, even past coworkers. I never really realized how blessed I am to have so much love surrounding me at all times.
After Taiwan, the plan is to come back to Calgary for a week - play for a friend's wedding then drive out to the beautiful land of Vancouver as I start my new life there! Starting in May 2011, I will continue to pursue my love of music and education together with my Masters of Education degree in Music Education at UBC- ultra nerd? OH, I know. I am still in shock that I was accepted. It is such an amazing feeling! I really do love school - no matter how much I complain about it ... >0<

Timeline... so far
JAN 6 - APRIL __ : Taiwan - Practicum teaching at TSSHS!
MAY 9: Vancouver - First day of classes as a UBC Master's Student
JUNE __ : Calgary - U of C Convocation for BEd
THANK YOU for reading my first post ... hope you enjoyed it.
Let me know that you read it.. by commenting... so I don't seem like I'm talking to myself... >0<