Well it has been a month since I last posted on here. I think it's about time I gave you another dose of me. Since I last wrote on here a lot has happened. I have been sick twice, the second is still currently taking hold of me. Nothing serious I assure you, and it is very common at this time of the year here. The weather is constantly changing. Every day the climate has a struggle on whether it should stay spring or turn to summer. Hot one day, cold and rainy the next. Add to this the stress of being in a new place and having a new job that you thought you would be better at, and you have me, the sick Denise. I should clarify, it is not that I am bad at my job. Actually I think I am improving rather quickly. That being said have never taught before, not like this anyways, and the demands here are sometime unrealistic. They don't really clarify what they want from you, although they say they do. They will tell you many things to do, but doing all is impossible and they tell you THIS is the most important thing, when really what they test the students on is not THIS, yet when you teach THIS they tell you to spend more time on what they will be tested on. And what they will be tested on is just memorization of the textbook, which granted can familiarize them with words and sentence patterns, but that doesn't mean they know the language. So you can see my stress. I have just decided that I will teach the textbook until I feel they have memorized it enough then do something more meaningful and useful, if time permits!
Also this week for school we had Parent's Night for some of the classes. The whole school administration gets stressed out and begins stressing you out. Because everything needs to be perfect and you need to make more props and "this is good, but can you also do this and add that oh and don't forget to smile more." How could I possibly smile anymore? Anyways, it is over and it went ok. The parents seemed to like me, the children had fun, and I had props!
As for not school related things, I went to Wulai about 4 weeks ago. It was beautiful there, and we swam in the river because it was to hot for the hot springs. We were going to sit with our legs in a special pool filled with flesh eating fish, that exfoliate your feet, but the there were to many of us so my small group of friends from my school and I decided we wanted to come back anyways and that we could do it next time.
I also had the best vegetarian burger of all time at a great restaurant, excuse the name, KGB. It's a New Zealand burger place. The letters stand for Kiwi Gourmet Burgers. Being a vegetarian is very easy. There are many good options for food around here. I also tried spicy stinky tofu, and wasn't a fan. I felt I could taste the stinky. Next time I will try the fried one, perhaps it will taste better.
I looked into fostering a dog from the place I volunteer at while I am here but my landlord said no. Which is understandable, but I also feel like if he knew the dog then it wouldn't be a problem. His concern is noise and barking, but this dog is so shy and timid that she would never draw attention to herself by barking. The people at AT said she is super quiet. Anywho, that leads into my next point. I may be looking for another apartment. Not only for this reason, but also because I would like an apartment with a gym, and when I got here I choose this apartment, out of only two, within 3 or 4 hours of being here. I had no other options. I am only paying month to month here, so I'm not under lease. I would like to at least look to see what my options are.
Other than that, nothing exciting has happened. I am getting used to living here, and am getting better with getting around. My ARC will be in soon then I can get my teeth cleaned for cheap, and get cheap medicine if needed. I also found out that although I will be paying 20% taxes because I am only teacher here one year, I can apply to get a tax refund so that I am only paying the 6% that everyone else pays. The difference will be paid back to me.
Well thats all for now!
