I just finished my second year as an ESL instructor with Footprints in Taichung, Taiwan.
This past year has been really interesting for me. I really enjoy teaching--especially my younger students. I taught adults (17 and up) and I teach children over 6 yrs old. I usually taught 20-25 hours each week during the regular season, 35-45 hours during the summer intensive sessions.
I started singing with a blues band in Taichung. Our band's name is Boogie Chillin.' The Chillin' part doesn't mean 'children.' It's 'Chilling' shortened.
The guys in the band are creative, easy-going and extremely talented. It was interesting and fun to work with them. I have mad love especially for Will, without whom I would never have ventured to step onto a blues stage. Will's a catalyst, visionary, and virtuoso. He plays a sweet guitar. Just before I left Taiwan, our band had a busy weekend playing in Taichung and Taipei. The most fun for me personally was the Blues and BBQ Bash at Tiger City.
I shared an apartment with two American guys. I really love them. They are also my co-workers, so we get to see a lot of each other. The terrible thing is they know all of my bad habits and all about my mood swings. GRR!!
I studied Shaolin Kung Fu for a few months last year. I learned some basic forms but I didn't stick with it. To practice kung fu, you need to get up really early, and I don't really have that in me. I hope at some later time I'll pick it up again because it's really interesting, and it's so cool to be able to do all that stuff. My teacher was really cool. He's 65 and made of steel. What a cool guy! And I'm not kidding-- the guy has iron arms! He was very kind and let me try a number of Chinese weapons-- short staff, long staff, and fan. My roommate Patrick stuck with the class and his skills are really improving. I'm so excited about that.
My other roommate studies Tai Chi. It's great luck to be in the company of folk so interested in the martial arts, but I don't want to make any of those guys angry....lol. Nah, all are very sweet.
In my last three months, I took up learning to speak Mandarin. The conversation class was going really fast because I had a private tutor and was able to work through the course at my own speed. I unfortunately only had class for 4 hours each week, but it's easy to practice a language when you're immersed. My friends in Taiwan have been really supportive and helpful. They help correct my pronunciation and grammar. I hope that one day I'll be able to speak proficiently and write at least a short letter in Mandarin.
The church I attended was wonderful. We had bilingual service on Sunday evenings. I get to help out by being part of the worship team. My best friend and I sing together each week, unless something comes up. Taiching Holiness Church has morning services in both Chinese and Taiwanese, but I can't understand enough of either language to attend those services. I did play the flute on Easter Sunday with a small group at the Mandarin service. That was pretty cool.
You can learn more about that outdoor concert at the Blues Society on Taiwan's website:
http://www.bsot.org
Good luck in Taiwan.
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“Tomorrow is the big day! I finally get to meet my co-teacher and see my apartment! I just wanted to write to say thank you so much! To you and to all of the Footprints staff. I have talked to many people here about they agencies they went through and I feel like I was really well prepared in terms of what to expect. I really appreciate all of your help in answering my questions and helping me to navigate the extensive paperwork! Here's to a great year in South Korea !!! ”
