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I feel like this photo could be a coke advertisement. Coke is fun, free and refreshing. That sort of thing.

Sleep

Lately, I haven't been able to sleep well. I'm not sure why think it's the heat but I really can't put my finger on it. I've actually been sleep-deprived for a couple months, but that was self-inflicted. Having fun and being with friends is a lot more important to me than a few zzz's.
These pictures are dedicated to those who really know how to sleep.


Lately, I've been realizing how hard a goodnight's sleep is to come by. I've only experienced the amazingness of true comfort a few times, but those few times man, nothing's better. What makes a goodnight sleep? Can anyone tell me? Survey: When do you sleep best?

lost on a scooter

There are some nights when my lovely best friend Haku and I would go on adventures. Usually, these adventures were to get some tea or a nice trip to the beach or something like that. But, this night, our other friends had gone out dancing so we decided to get lost.

We took a rode near our house we'd never taken and drove. We drove for at least half an hour before we decided to get a hot dog and tea at 7-11. After that, my scooter desperately needed gas, so we asked for directions to the nearest gas station. We went back and forth, back and forth each convenience store giving us different directions...back from where we just came. Wandering the dimly lit deserted strrets for an hour before finally happening upon a morning market just opening and getting directions one more time; we found a gas station.
Somehow after all an excursion down a lightless country road, and one more stop at 7-11 we ended up on Hai An lu, and quickly found our way home. We stopped at Dong men Road's gate of the city to eat our hotdogs, drink our tea and take some pictures. At 5:30 am, about 5 hours later, we came home; our friend curled up in Haku's bed sleeping soundly. I really miss those kids. ^__^

the streets were filled with smoke

It wasn't a war zone, but it sure sounded like one.
I've never seen so many firecrackers in my life. Truly. The sound was deafening and the smoke was so thick, one could barely see one's hand. The smoke cleared and the harsh, shrill sound of reed instruments could be heard in th distance. Then came the parade honoring a god or two. Parades like this happen constantly, though I've never seen one with quite as loud an entrance.

it's been awhile

And this is how it is these days.

twice the fun

My camera's still broken, but I neglected to post several pictures I took in the before time. It's been awhile I know. Whenever I start to really enjoy myself somewhere, my posts get fewer and further between. Sorry about that. These few "gems" if you will, are from a trip I took to Chiayi with Bryan a couple months ago.

As for my personal news, I got a job as an English teacher to small children. I teach them about pilots and clerks etc... Over the last school vacation I worked 37 or more hours a week. We just started our new semester and I'm on scholarship. WOOH! But, I'm really going to have to try to cut back these hours. I don't want a boring no fun life. Oh, did I mention I moved in with two Mongolians? How are things for you?

edit* Erin Tanner is too funny. And in retrospect, this post is boring as all get out, so I'm going to try to pzaz it up a bit. So here are some stories from my adventures in teaching:
My first day really (solo teaching) a class of 6-year-olds I couldn't remember what time class got over and I let them out (much to their excitement and confusion) 10 minutes early. They ran downstairs only to have their dreams crushed by my co-teacher who herded them back into my classroom for a quick ten minute game. I could help but laugh as almost every student scolded me with the one word they knew "Teacher...!?!"
There's a very shy girl in one of my classes. I think she's perhaps 12 years old and quiet. I don't know much about her, except that she really enjoys taking extended bathroom breaks from class. Anyway, one day, I was standing by her desk while waiting for students to finish handing in homework and she tugged on my arm. "teacher." She pointed to her wrist. She had a new white nike band like the red one I wear on my wrist everyday.
I played a game with my older students the other day. We were practicing their -ed past tense verbs and playing a game with a sticky ball. I wrote their vocabulary from the last chapter on the board, plus a verb or two of my own. They had to throw the sticky ball at the board and could move their game piece based on the value of the verb. I made one verb worth twice as much as all the others...."Kiss Teacher Weber" Weber being the other co-teacher. I couldn't help but laugh as the class chanted "kiss Teacher Weber" for the 10 minute duration of the game.

blustery day

My uncle's favorite things to see in Taiwan are power plants and passenger ports. As a consequence, when he takes us sightseeing these are the things we see. On this occasion (after a full mornign of two power plants and a sprawling industrial park area), we snuck into a building and ascended to the 4th floor to get a better view of a closed passenger port. The wind was wet and fierce--we only stayed up there for a couple of minutes. I'm not sure the empty wharf and lone ferry were worth it, but this photo of my grandmother sure was.

As of late, I've been enjoying my lack of curfew and new found freedom. As a result, I haven't been posting as much. Moreover, my camera broke a few weeks ago and I don't have the money to fix it. But, all in all, I'm really enjoying my life right now. Most recently my company is either Mongolian or French. It's pretty sweet to practice my French and the French ids are very nice. I don't speak a word (well, I speak like 5 words) of Mongolian, so being with the Mongolian kids is difficult sometime, but I really like them.
It's amazing how good of friends you can be with someone, while not being able to speak the same language. I mean, we're all learning Chinese, but none of our Chinese is that good yet. Yet, we're all good friends. Relationships and love for fellow human beings never cease to amaze me.

Cheers and goodbyes

the tea ceremony

Members of the family pace about the room, chatting anxiously until the bride's arrival is announced. A flowing pink dress glides down the stares as the eyes of her family watch for her eagerly. Cheering bubbles slowly from the seated aunties, uncles as they begin to clap.
The bride's special bau-ling jie (let's call her a master of ceremonies) begins the event. Head bowed with respect and thanks, the bride carries her trey full of tea around the circle until every one seated has a cup. She pauses at each person to look up, smile and say a few words as they take the offering. After the tea is drunk, she returns with the empty trey and each emptied cup has a small red envelope tucked in it. Each family member gives his congratulations and well wishes as they smile and replace the cup.



Taiwanese weddings have two separate day long events, one for the groom and one for the bride. The bride's day is a sort of engagement/wedding melange. It was explained to me that after the bride's engagement ceremony the bride's family can say that the bride is married.


The groom places a ring on his fiancee's finger and various jewelry is given to the bride to wear. The groom is also given a special gold necklace and a small fortune is given to the couple.

the bushing bride

In Taiwan, the paler you are, the more beautiful. The light from the window fell on 廖老師's face, making her features glow gently。







One of my teachers last semester found out I was a photographer and bought me a train ticket to come to her wedding in Yi lan (a city about 7 hours away from where I live). The make-up process was fascinating, so took a few too many pics, but these are my favorites.