What is a monsoon?

So just a quick update.

It's been raining pretty much constantly here in Taiwan. We're in the middle of a pretty heavy monsoon, I guess.

We thought it was going to be terrible weather last Sunday so we canceled our second trip to Fulong for our diving session. Of course, then the weather turned out to be amazing. We didn't know until it was too late to head out there and be productive though.

When it rains, it drizzles?

There are some classes that I honestly feel like you just can't win over and the WOW class I was teaching tonight is definitely one of them.

I can feel the 'tweens in that class judging my every move. I'm not nearly cool enough or thin enough for them and therefore anything I do in class hardly warrants participation.

Result: a very quiet classroom, a very irritated teacher, and some seriously bored kids.

I know I'm supposed to teach through games, but I just can't bring myself to reward them with games. They don't deserve it. Then again I may just be feeding the fire by only playing one game per class.

You win some, you lose some.

Outside the classroom, I slept most of the day (we stayed out too late for Danielle's birthday last night...) and then spent time looking ahead at what I might do after my year is up here in Taiwan. While it is always an option to stay here (and I am considering it) I am also looking at where (or how) else I can grow. Of course, my ultimate goal is to put that journalism degree to good use, so that's also on my brain.

Also, it started raining sometime this afternoon and it hasn't stopped since. That's the thing about rain in Taiwan versus rain in Texas.

Texas: When it rains, it pours. That's not simply a figure of speech. It literally pours whenever it rains in Texas and then next thing you know the evidence it gone except for some wet grass (and the aftermath of a flash-flood or two).

Taiwan: When it rains, it drizzles... OK, maybe it's a little more than a drizzle, but what I mean is that it pretty much rains softly all day.

While I miss being able to hear the rain (probably my favorite noise of all time), it's nice that it's not pouring down when I'm on the scooter driving to work.

Apparently it's supposed to rain through Saturday.

At least it will be gone in time to have a fun Sunday! I'm thinking I might go to the National Palace Museum. Suggestions?

Why won't it stop raining?

So I really love rain, honestly. Rain smells good, the sound of it hitting the windows is relaxing and the moisture in the air is great for my skin (I have inherently dry skin).

But wow, lay off already.

There was so much rain in three days that — for fear of it over flowing — they had to release some of the water from the Shihmen Reservoir, which as of Thursday night was less than half full.

There is so much moisture in the air that the laundry I hung up to dry 24 hours ago is still wet. Seriously! I wanted to wear those jeans today.

Note to self: give two days to do laundry just in case.

We don't have a dryer, so it's not even an option. At the dorm we had a dryer that you had to pay $40NT for. I was happy to spend the little extra cash simply to be able to get my laundry done in a reasonable amount of time.

The next two weeks are going to be super long.

I was supposed to start three new classes last week — one Tuesday, one Friday, one Saturday — but because of the typhoon I only ended up starting the Tuesday class.

Now they're adding another class to my schedule on Thursday so I'm starting three new classes this week. I'm also subbing both of Tess' summer classes which meet with the foreign teacher twice per week instead of once. That's an extra six hours on top of the usual two-to-four hours per night.

I'm clocking 33 hours this week and next. Of course, I suppose next week I could get even more if they decide to add even more classes to my schedule.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be getting new classes. The sooner I get a full schedule the better. I'm considering the option of teaching outside classes. Gloria sent out a flier to each teacher today asking if we want to teach outside classes.

I need to look at the details more closely. I don't know if these are at local public schools or other bushibans (cram schools) or what (and I'm not sure about the legality of it). I just really like the idea of paying down my debt and saving a lot of money.

I would be so happy if I could get my sister completely paid back by the end of September. Then I need to save for my vacation in October and my vacation to go home (whenever that happens). I also want to try to pay down at least one-third of my student loans while I'm here and hopefully go home with some cash.

I was also considering a month-long trip to Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand, but now that's starting to sound like I'm pushing it.

We will see.

Was I dead?

No, I didn't die. I think that could have been a step up though.

I hate when I'm just sick enough to be miserable, but not sick enough to really want to go to the doctor or to feel like I'm getting any better.

I've had this terrible cold. Normally I would just stick it out, instead I've been doing a lot of sleeping. I haven't really been on the Internet much at all. My poor computer is probably feeling neglected.

Wednesday was Canada Day, though, and given that more than half the people who live in the dorm are Canadian, there was celebrating to be done. This, however, cut into my sleep-and-get-better time.


It was fun though.

After we all got home from class, a bunch of us went up on the roof. It was set with music, ambient lighting (read white Christmas lights) and a million Canadian flags.


There was an attempt to sing the English and French versions of the Canadian anthem. It was pretty hilarious actually. How many drunk people does it take to remember how to speak French and then put it to the tune of Oh, Canada?


The day after Canada Day was terrible for nearly everyone. I stayed out in the humid night air too late, so my cold finally took over my body. Others had some of the worst hangovers of their lives.

The dorm was nice and quiet until late afternoon though. Then there was a lot of hustle and bustle to get to work.

Carly teaches at the school downstairs and doesn't need her scooter on Thursdays and offered to let me borrow it.

I drove for the very first time internationally. Driving a scooter in Taiwan was one of the most nerve-racking experiences of my life. I was shaking the entire time.

But I got there. I didn't scratch or wreck the scooter. I didn't cause anyone else to get into an accident. I didn't get entirely lost.

Notice the modifier there.

I was scared to death to take a left turn. Let's just say they're complicated in Taiwan when you're on a scooter. It's terrifying. But eventually you have to take a left turn or you just don't get to where you want to go. I took the long way around we'll say. But I pretty much knew exactly where I was the entire time.

During my last class that evening, it starting pouring down rain. We were in a classroom on the first floor of the building and we could hear it pouring. It was ridiculous.

First thought in my head, of course, was, "Great, I finally get to drive a scooter by myself and now I have to drive it home in the rain."

I thought getting TO work was scary. Driving in the rain was terrible. But again, I made it. No bumps, scratches, accidents, etc.

I'm proud. Now I just need to learn my way around.

Unfortunately, driving home in the rain certainly did not help me any. I ate some left-over pizza when I got home and then went to bed. I ended up not going to work on Friday.

I called in to work and then went to 7-11 to buy noodles, ice cream, juice, tea and cough drops. I spent the entire day sleeping and watching movies. It was great.

I really think I just needed a relaxed day where I did absolutely nothing. I still sound like crap and I'm stuffed up, but I have more energy and I'm not as dizzy.

Now it's Independence Day. I sort of wish I had stayed home to have a red, white and blue Fourth of July complete with barbecue and fireworks. It's OK though, I'm sure there will be something going on here. I'm restricting myself to tea, juice and photography though.

Tonight I have two high school kid classes then the whole day off tomorrow. Hopefully I feel infinitely better by tomorrow and can go and do some traveling of sorts. It's a shame to be here and not go running around.

Monday and Tuesday, I finally start my own regular classes. Yay, something to look forward to!