Erin’s Bloggity Blog

Hey kids, it’s time for another bi-weekly(?) update!

I know Taiwan was on the news back home today for the earthquake last night.  It was pretty intense, not going to lie.  Some of my friends who were further up in their buildings and in different parts of the city were affected more.  Things moving and falling over and a lot of shaking.  I was actually outside our building at the time, and it started as a small rumble that got bigger and bigger.  It was quite neat seeing and feeling it all from outside.  It was the biggest on the other side of the island, so it wasn’t a 6.4 over here -  only around a 4/5.

Yesterday was also spent booking a lot of flights and hostels for my trip home.  The Vietnam part of my trip is fully booked (leaving Taiwan on Feb 6th) and am working on the next section – Cambodia!  I’m getting pretty excited, but it still seems hard to believe that I’ll be going to all these places – so soon!

Today we finally made a trip down to Tainan, Renee and I have been trying to go see the city for a few weeks now and it has just been put off due to other plans coming up and just poor timing. We started off around 10 this morning and made it to Tainan about an hour later on the train.  We took a free tourist bus through the city and stopped at the Confucious temple and saw the beautiful red buildings and huge old trees. It was very pretty! There was a kids art workshop going on, so kids were painting everywhere.

We decided to follow a walking tour in the Lonely Planet and made our way down the street to the red gate.  It had an even bigger tree and a neat ‘fort’ building.  We kept walking and made our way to lunch at the same Indian restaurant as our last trip to Tainan. A necessity when travelling to bigger cities is different food! It was very yummy! We walked our way back through the area and ended up doing a big circle.  We came across another shrine and took some pics and shopped in a gift shop.  In Chiayi there isn’t a lot of ’souvenirs’ that I’ve found – so I bought a few things that I thought were neat.

While walking back to the train station we saw a lot of Christmas demonstrations and astronauts! We had seen them walking through the streets on our bus ride earlier, and found the store they were advertising for.  Why they had astronauts for advertising we dont know, but we definitely took the photo op!

We got home a few hours ago now and are settling in for the night.  It’s cooled off a lot here – still in the teens and twenties, but seems a LOT colder in our apartment and while driving.  I never thought I would think 18 degrees was SO cold! It hopefully will be the coldest it will get!

This week is going to be busy with getting ready for Christmas.  My kids are enjoying singing Christmas songs with me and reading a lot of stories.  They really liked watching ‘Frosty the Snowman’ last week – and they ask to hear about him all the time.  I’m going to have a lot of fun stuff planned for my kids, crafts and a party on the 24th.  We’re having a breakfast at a friends house on Christmas, and then drinks and Christmas movies at night when everyone is done work.  On the 26th there is a big parade in town, and of course my school is participating in it. My kids are marching and doing a performance as well.  I don’t have much information about it, but I hope it doesn’t last ALL day.

For New Years Renee and I are going to Taipei to see the fireworks, then we are making our way to Hualien (on the east coast) to see the mountains and Toroko Gorge.  It’s been on my list of things to do for awhile and we FINALLY have a long weekend to go and not be as rushed.  It’s a long train ride around the island.  I’m trying to figure out what else I need to see around here before I leave in Feb.

That was a big post!
I’ll try and add pictures – the uploader doesn’t like me so we’ll see how far I get.
Have a Merry Christmas!!!
Miss you!
xoxo

Hey kids, I know I’m having more and more time in between posts.  I’m sorry. I’ve been hiding out in our apartment, planning trips and activities, watching Christmas movies and just hanging out.

Here is a recap on the last few weeks.
Open house came and went – I spent a lot of extra time at the school for a morning of ‘fun’.  The decorations are still up as I refuse to take them down….but this week most of them might come down as I’m going all out for Christmas.  I’ve decided that any of my free time with them will be filled doing Christmas-y things.  I’m going to make them love Christmas!! haha

After Open house we started planning for a Thanksgiving at our apartment.  Renee moved in and it’s her favourite day of the year, so we thought we’d have a party.  It turned out to be a Christmas decorated thanksgiving feast.  It was a good night! Wasn’t as good as home, but we made some delicious food on the stove and in a TINY toaster oven!

This weekend has been fairly laid back as well….spending hours on the internet looking up airfares, hostels, hotels and tours.  It’s mindboggling how prices vary! On Friday night I FINALLY got to see New Moon….eeeeek! There was also a big political rally in the middle of town.  For the past two months there has been trucks driving down all the streets with loud speakers spouting the candidates views and objectives.  I dont know how many people were up for election, but the trucks can be found on almost every street for most of the day.  It was really annoying.  The rally was actually really cool and exciting.  They drive up and down on ‘floats’ and chant and set of firecrackers and confetti cannons.  It was SO loud and so many people.  I’ve added some pics (the pics don’t really do it justice…and my uploader is taking FOREVER).  The video’s will be edited and hopefully put on fb.
I think politics back home would interest a lot more people if it were a little more exciting and a lot less old men in suits.  Just a thought… Who doesnt like a parade???

Other than that there hasnt been anything crazy exciting going on.  Of course my school is going all out for Christmas and we will be doing a performance at city hall and marching in the parade.  I’m looking so forward to it – although someone had come common sense to figure out that my kids are a little young to be doing a dance routine where they plan on raising a Christmas tree….somehow.  We will be ringing bells…as far as I know.
I’ve also taught my kids Jingle Bells….I will regret that by the end of the month.

Hope everything is good back home!
Love you and miss you!

Wow, I haven’t written in a while.  Sorry kids, but I’ve been really busy with school, and well havent been up to anything really crazy exciting!

My last post was about Changhua and anticipating the Halloween party (man I suck!).  Halloween was good, had a good night out.  There were a couple of bands, but most of the night was spent on the front deck with everyone (and sneaking off to 7-eleven…).  Sunday we stayed in watching movies – i think….the Sunday back up plan it seems.

The weekend after that was at another cricket tourney and a night out at the pub – which turned out to a night at the park.  It was low-key hang out. Wasn’t out too late.  The Sunday was spent fairly low-key watching the same movies over and over again – and putting my friend to use cutting out paper for my Open House this coming Friday (she has some awesome talents in cutting out palm leaves ).

My week was busy with school and gearing up for Open House. The super fun event that it is (boooerns).  I just spent the evening in my class making it look like a jungle.  I’ll probably be there for the next few nights as well pulling out all the stops…. My chinese teacher has been away so it’s kinda more hectic than usual in class.

This past Saturday I ran some errands and hung out at home – we went out to the night market that night and met up with a new girl in town.  We stayed for a really long time and explored the vast array of products.  Sunday we trekked to Taichung on a mission to find Theresa a computer.  She was looking for an HP mini and was having no luck around our city.  She ended up going a different route, but bought her laptop successfully – the system just needs to be put into English, she’ll get it in a couple of days.  We ended up going to Chili’s and having delicious (long awaited) ice cream!!

Anyways, I’m off.  Gonna try and buy tickets for Bon Jovi today….stupid time change has me trying to buy them at 1am.

I’ll talk to you soon!
Miss you!

Hi kids, hope all is well in the homeland.

I’ve been up to lots and have been fairly busy with school.  We have Halloween this weekend, and a huge performance at the local department store to look forward too.  Open house is next month, so that’s just more work for me to do in my ’spare’ time.

Last weekend was just spent around Chiayi.  We were searching for Halloween ideas, and it was quite hard! Renee put a great costume together, and it should be neat to see it this weekend.  I went out to a couple of stores looking for specific things, but no luck.  That night we went to the pub and hung out for a bit.  Sunday was spent watching cheesy girly movies on TV.

My week was spent dancing and working with my kiddlettes, and planning Australia with the momma. This weekend was kind of low key.  Friday night was spent around the house, and Saturday was spent running errands. Saturday night was also spent in the house, but it was a little more fun with the girls.  A big giggle fest really and acting silly – it was a good night in!

Sunday we finally made a day trip to Changhua – it’s been on the list for a long time. We took the train for an hour north, and found our way through the streets and up the hill to the giant buddha! It was really nice to see, as it was a gorgeous day.  Blue skies, sun and cooler weather – it was great! We walked around the gorgeous grounds and took our shoes off and laid in the grass (an uncommon thing round here…) .  I’ve added some pictures – and check facebook for the rest. Our train ride home was more ‘exciting’ as we had standing room only tickets and a long train ride ahead of us.

This week is getting ready for Halloween at school (Friday night) and the much-anticipated Halloween party on Saturday.  It should be a lot of fun!

Have a great week
Miss you!

Hi kidlettes, been a slacker yet again.
I’ve been up to lots and keeping busy.

I’m busy at school teaching kids songs for Hallowe’en, we have this big performance that I’m not excited about, as well as songs for Open house at the end of November.

Last weekend there was a party at a friends house, and there was a massive earthquake.  It was the coolest one I’ve felt because we were so high up in the building that it was swaying (we live on the 2nd floor, so we haven’t experienced loads of movement).  On the Sunday we tried to go visit a small town, but because it was a holiday weekend all of the trains had no seats.  After a few goose chases with buses and other destinations we decided to take a street out and see where it leads.  We ended up at the beginning of Alishan Park and saw a neat temple and saw some areas that had been affected by the landslides.  There are picutres of the massive amounts of dirt and reconstruction going on. Check out the pics.

This weekend we (Theresa, Renee and Talitha) made our way down to the very tip of the island to Kenting – a big beach town.  We arrived very late Friday night and bartered for a hotel room at 2am. It was a very nice room, and had a great view from our massive balcony.  We swam in the morning and made our way to the main street to look at all the shops and see the sights. We met up with the rest of the girls (Tarcy, Nikki, Delight, Lynne and Jenna) at the camp ground and set up everything and hung out on the beach.  We had a bbq and took over the bar area with our dance party and created quite the attraction.  It was a fun night! Today we roasted ourselves on the beach with killer waves – almost literally! The undertow was really bad and the waves were massive! It was a lot of fun when you were right side up! There were also 2 earthquakes today too! It was really close to us to – and I learned that if things shake up and down that means you are close to the centre, if things move back and forth then you are safe.  Neat eh?

This week is fairly low key – work, work, work! No plans for the weekend as of yet, we’ll see what trouble we can get up to though!

Happy Turkey day! Eat lots of turkey and stuffing for me, I’m craving it all!

Talk to you later!
Miss you !
xoxo

Hi kids, hope things are swell!

I’ve been fairly busy with school and work for back home that my life hasnt been terribly exciting. I took the weekend off from work and enjoyed some outings.  There was a big Cricket tournament in town, and we went out and supported a friend on the southern team.  I put my small knowledge of Cricket to use, and enjoyed a day in the sunshine! I then recruited a few more girls to come play Ultimate with me and the Taiwanese boys – it was a lot of fun! We went out for the night – mine was cut short but that’s a whole other story.

Today I hung around the house with Theresa and my new friend Renee watching movies, hiding from the rain clouds, and waiting for Mimi to get picked up to go to another foster home. The dog is now sitting outside my door, and trying to find the cat around the house.  It’s really cute.

Last weekend we made a trek to Tainan to watch a band play – it was a lot of fun!

This week I don’t have much planned, just working lots. Slowly putting all of my travel plans together. If any of you would like to contribute to the “Erin needs to get to Australia fund” donations are gladly accepted!

Anyways, have a good day!
Later days!

Hey kids!

Hope you all had a good weekend – I had a pretty good one myself.

Friday night we trekked out to Minsong to the ‘Ghost Festival’.  This month has been Ghost Month – “Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.”  They have a big festival with a lot of food offerings and performances to the spirits.  It was basically a giant night market, with a lot of food, games and people.  I have a couple of pictures below.

Saturday I stayed in most of the day doing work, and later in the evening we went out for drinks and an impromptu KTV session and painting party. Some pics are below as well.

Today we spent doing some more work and watching movies.  I just got back in from dinner with Jeannie and will be heading to bed “early” to make up lost sleep from this morning….

At school we were given our theme for Open house in November – as Disney Theme Park.  Each class has to have a movie theme and the kids have to sing a song from the moive or related to the theme.  I’m having trouble picking one with an easy song for them to learn.  I first was leaning towards the Jungle book (cool decorating and a good lesson plan), then onto Lion King and now maybe just doing Winnie the Pooh.  If you have any ideas – I would welcome them!

Anyways, I’m going to get back to work and then head off to bed.
Talk to you soon!
Miss you!
xoxo

Hey kids,

Hope you all are enjoying your long weekend!

My week was alright, nothing crazy.  Been working lots for both here and back home.  It’s been good.
Friday night was a quiet night, went out for a bit and came back early to veg on the couch.  Saturday I got my hair did and Theresa and I watched a movie called ‘One Week’.  Michelle had reminded me about the movie, and it was really good! AND when you’re away in a foreign country you get really excited for all of the Canadiana in it.  Also he goes on a road trip that I’ve always wanted to do – see all the big monuments across Canada.

Saturday night I played poker with a group here and was not as lucky as I was the first time.  After I just went home and went to bed.  Sunday I did some more work for back home, and hid inside from the rain.  Jeannie, Theresa and I went for hot pot and then I got dragged into Junes for a drink.  It ended up being a really good night as we met a couple of new people who were in Taiwan helping out with the Typhoon victims.  They volunteer for an organization called ‘Shelter Box’ and they hand out these tupperware boxes full of essentials to the people in need.  It sounded so interesting to hear about the organization as well as first hand accounts of the destruction that Typhoon Morokot caused.  You should look it up, I think it’s awesome.

This week I don’t have any other real plans.  This coming weekend either.  Maybe we’ll try and go somewhere on the Sunday again, hopefully without getting soaked.

Hope you all had a great long weekend!
Miss you!
xoxo

Hey kids!

It’s been yet another week, it’s had to believe sometimes.  My week was alright, just busy working.  Not much new going on around here.  Thursday night I went out for my friend Jeannie’s son’s goodbye party.  He is such a cool kid, and I’ve spent a lot of time with him while I’ve been here.  He is moving to America to live with his grandparents to go to school – as the kids in Taiwan go to school all day and most nights.

Friday I ended up just staying in and watching movies.  Saturday was mostly spent watching ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and then playing Frisbee again.  That night we had a temple party, for Sam’s goodbye party.  It was a good night just hanging out and lighting off fireworks.  Today I did some work for back home, and then had dinner with friends.  Another really good night.

Now it will just be an early night, to prepare for another week of crazy kids.  One of my favourite kids is moving up to a different class, so that makes me very sad. 

Hope everything is ok on your side of the globe.
Miss you!
xoxo

Hey kids, hope all is well.
I’ve had a very busy weekend, a change from the movie weekends and lazy days of summer!

My week was ok.  I’m feeling very tired at the end of the day as I have kids STILL crying.  I’m starting to lose my patience with them.  It’s getting a little better at times, but I dont know what I’m going to do! Plus another cryer (Daniel) is going to be coming back in September so it is going to open up a whole new can of beans soon.

Thursday night we went out for a friend’s birthday party at Junes, had a good night talking with everyone.  Friday we ended up going out to the Calgary and saw a Taiwanese band play, it was really good! After that we went to a friend’s house and hung out there until the wee hours of the morning.

After sleeping a few hours and cleaning a bit, Theresa and I were invited to go play frisbee.  It was so much fun! It was me, Theresa and 20+ other Taiwanese people.  They were all really nice, and I learned how to play ultimate frisbee.  I think it’s going to become a weekly thing, so I’m looking forward to that.  We went to a pub after for drinks, and ended up having Thai for dinner.  I then went to this place called MTV – which is basically a private theatre for movies you can rent.  We ended up watching ‘Grand Torino’  and ‘Zac and Miri’.  ‘Grand Torino’ was SO good, better than expected for sure.  I cried at the end, it was so sad (I got made fun of for those of you who would do the same back home).

After another early morning bedtime, I got up early to head out to Guanziling.  Guanziling is a hot spring town about an hour away by scooter up in the mountains.   We drove through the town trying to find hot springs, only to realize that there are no outdoor hotsprings in the mountains – they are all within hotels and spas.  We had followed signs that said ‘Fire and Water Mix’ figuring that might be the right direction.  It turns out that it was just a little fountain like area that had fire and water mixed together (see pics below).  After taking our tourist photos we made our way back into town to try and choose an outdoor spa.  We finally picked one, gooped ourselves up with mud and bathed in the pools for a few hours.  It was very relaxing, and fairly cheap! We might be going more often now…

After the long ride home we went for dinner and then I met up with the Aussie’s who are leaving on Tuesday.  We had a drink and chit chatted for a bit before saying our goodbyes.

With that said that brings me to the end of my crazy long weekend! I’m pooped!

Take a peek at the pics below to see the hot springs and mountains.
I’m off to bed shortly to try and catch up on some sleep.

Hope you’re all good, missing you tons!
xoxo