Hi everyone! I can't believe I'm actually here in Taiwan! Well, I've got the pictures to prove it :) So, I finally found some time to start up a blog ... here it goes!
I made it safe and sound to Taiwan Monday August 4th. There were no real snafus, except getting picked up an hour after I arrived. Really it was no big deal ... I actually got there at a strategic time because some famous guy who works in the Taiwanese government came in about 20 minutes after me. There was a big show with about 20 reporters and cameras chasing after him trying to get an interview. There was one guy that looked like he was causing a ruckus because he was yelling things at the reporters and cameras. Since I don't speak Mandarin YET, I really have no idea what he was ranting about. I arrived after the 12 hour flight at 6:30am Taiwanese time. Needless to say I really was exhausted.
Lee and C.K. (Catherine and Aspen's friends) met up with me at National Tsing Hua University (their school, they are both Ph.D students in Sociology). I stayed at the guest house there for a couple of days until I found an apartment. Lee and C.K. were INSTRUMENTAL in helping me find a place. They took me all over town to about 8 different places. In the end I ended up choosing to live with Katrina and Patrick. Katrina is from Taiwan and is currently a Mandarin and English teacher. She just recently graduated in Civil Engineering. Patrick is from Quebec, Canada. His first language is French. He actually is my colleague at Hsinchu International School, he teaches Math. Both really are great people and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better as the time goes on.
Today I got the keys for MY classroom!! How exciting :) I'm actually writing my first blog from here! Also, today I got to meet some of the other new teachers. It's kinda funny, but just about all of us are from not only the U.S., but the Midwest too!!
That's all for now folks :)
8 comments:
Wow, Alissa, how wonderful to be able to visit your blog and catch a little glimpse of your latest adventure! The photos are amazing. Your school looks incredible, so stately. And your classroom and the enthusiasm and excitement you share are wonderful. Looks like things are falling nicely into place in your new home away from home. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this up for us to share your new world view with you. Love you always and everywhere, Mom
Alyssa,
Thanks for the blog. We bought rural land in Mexico this summer. I'm really excited and looking for extra work! HOw's the technology at your school? What grades/subjects did you end up with? Any prep you should have done differently for your job?
Write soon! I only see one How does one subscribe?
Are you going to absentee vote?
Campie!
Ann
Hey Dude! I love the photos! Keep on blogging so we can all keep updated on the Taiwan life! Hope you are doing wonderfully and adjusting to the humidity! Remeber: 5 1/2 yards=1 rod,
40 rods=1 furlong,
8 furlongs=1 statute,
3 statutes=1 league,
1 league=6,076.11549 ft.
Oh, wait, you wanted celcius to farenheit conversions...
Tons of love! Bri
So exciting! I met a girl at the new teacher orientation for my school district who taught it Taiwan last year, and just loved it..!
Mom!! Thank for posting a comment :) I will be blogging more about school as things get going. I can't believe we start MONDAY!!! Please keep commenting on my blog!
Love, Lis
ANN! So great to hear from you!! I'm glad Mexico was wonderful and that you purchased some land down there. I would love to get the chance to go and visit and help out where needed (sounds like it will be an ongoing project!) The technology at school is amazing. Every student has a laptop which allows us to really use technology to help learning. I JUST found out what I will be teaching (actually on Wednesday evening ... keep in mind school starts Monday!!). I will be teaching one class of Spanish: mixed level 2 and 3, and co-teaching Language Arts 7th gr - 9th gr. Basically most of our students are ESL and they haven't yet been getting the support they need. I'm excited to co-teach, any tips?! As far as prep goes, there really was NO WAY to prep for something as dynamic as my situation because I just had no way of knowing what I know now about my teaching situation. I'm pumped to start the year ... will keep you updated. Please let me know how the students are doing. It might be cool to see if I could skype with the 3rd graders (our 2nd graders last year) and get them to talk in Spanish to my students taking Spanish.
And yes, I am planning on voting!
Great to hear from you, comment again!! :)
Alissa
Breezy!
Thanks for leaving a comment, glad you're checking out the blog :) I will definitely keep everyone posted and keep taking pictures :) I'm going to post a few soon ...
Thanks for the help with the measurement system :) I'm slowly picking up Celsius ...
Love you, Lis
Chelsea!!
Thanks for the comment! I saw pictures of your new classroom on Facebook, it looks wonderful! I wish you the best for our first year teaching :) Keep in touch!
Alissa
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