School Begins! 開學

I taught 10 classes in 2 days. It was the most worthwhile and rewarding experience of my life. Each class was an adventure. Sometimes the students didn't listen, other times they were extremely polite. The younger students are so cute and so fun. The older students are sometimes loud, but they are still kind. No matter what age the students are, when I see them outside of class, they say "Hi Natasha!" Although our classes weren't perfect, me and my co-teachers prepared well and we got to know the students in our classes. At lunch time, I eat with many of the teachers and talk, I have even learned a bit of Taiwanese! On the first day I didn't have my own bowl for lunch, so the school gave me one. My desk in the office is really nice, and right next to one of my co-teachers. Most surprising is that all of the students at school in Taiwan clean the school, and everything is spotless because of all cleaning they do! The students and teachers make me feel so welcome at the school. I already know this is where I want to be, my heart feels full. 
在兩天內我教了十節課。在我的生活中，這是最值得和有益的經歷。每一節課是一個冒險。有的時候學生不聽話，有的時候學生超有禮貌。最年輕的學生們都很可愛和很好玩。最大年輕學生們有的時候吵，但他們還開朗。不管學生多大，在教室外面看到他們的時候，他們都說“Hi， Natasha！”雖然我們 的課不完美，我和合作老師準備好了，都認識我們的學生。午飯的時候我跟其他的老師們講話，我學了一點點台語！因為第一天我沒有自己的碗，所以學校 給我一碗。在辦公室裡我的桌子很好，在我合作老師的旁邊。讓我最驚訝的是在台灣每一個學生都需要打掃學校，每一個房間非常乾淨！學生們和老師們都很 歡迎我。我已經知道這個地方是我所屬的地方，我的心很充滿了。

 

 

New Experiences- 新的經歷

I have only spent one day in Yuanlin and already there have been so many new experiences. I think yesterday was the most important day of Ghost Month, because every store and house was burning money, food and incense. Outside you could hear loud firecrackers. Also, since it is election time, people will campaign throughout the whole city using loud speakers. Another interesting thing is that we have to bring our garbage to the streets and wait for the music of the garbage truck.  There have been so many experiences in this one day. 

雖然我只過了一天住在員林， 但是已經有那麼多的新經歷。我覺得昨天是鬼月最重要的那一天， 是因為每一個商店和家庭有燒香， 燒錢， 還有各種各樣的食物。在外面你會聽著大聲的鞭炮。除了這個以外， 因為現在是選舉時間， 所以為了競選在整個城市人們會使用揚聲器。另外一個很有興趣的經歷是我們需要把我們的垃圾帶去路上， 等垃圾車的音樂。這个一天有很多經歷。

I moved! 我搬家了！

Last night I moved to Yuanlin, which is in Changhua County. It was a long and tiring day, but once we unpacked our suitcases, we could rest a bit. My roommate and I went shopping for household supplies and cleaned the apartment. I feel more comfortable in Yuanlin, it is smaller than Taichung and easier to find my way. My apartment is in a very quiet area and is spacious and comfortable. This is where I will be living this year, it is a place that I can call home. 
昨天晚上我搬到員林，在彰化縣中部偏東位置。雖然那一天很長， 讓我們疲累， 但是打開我們的行李箱以後， 可以休息一下。我跟我的室友購物，買家居用品， 打掃公寓。在員林我感覺更舒服， 員林比台中小， 很難迷路了。我的公寓是在一個很安靜的地方， 不太小和舒服。這一年我會住在這裡， 是一個地方我可以叫家。

Tungfang Elementary School- 東芳國小

Today we went to the Changhua Government building and were assigned our schools. I will be teaching at Tungfang Elementary school this year! I will be teaching grades 1-6, along with two wonderful co-teachers! My co-teachers and I got to know each other very well today! I am so fortunate to be a teacher at Tungfang Elementary School, this is an incredible school! This is truly day one of my year as an English teacher in Taiwan. 

今天我们去过彰化市的政府中心， 我们被政府分配了不同的学校。 这一年我会在東芳國小当老师！我会跟两个超棒的老师们教一年级到六年级! 今天我和老师们一起很认识了！我很幸运在東芳國小当老师， 是一个很棒的学校！这真的是第一天在台湾当英文老师。 

Rainbow Village- 彩虹眷村

Today we went to Rainbow Village! Rainbow Village has a very interesting history! It was originally a small veterans village, but it became old and dilapidated and people moved out. The village faced a crisis of demolition, so an old war veteran called Grandpa Huang began to paint it. He did not expect his paintings to become so popular, he just really enjoyed painting. Now Rainbow Village is a very famous village! 
今天我们去彩虹眷村！ 彩虹眷村有一个很有意思的历史！本彩虹眷村本来是一个小小的眷村， 但变成了老而破旧，人们搬出去了。因为眷村面临拆迁的危机，所以一位退伍老兵叫黄爷爷开始画画。他没想到他的画这么著名， 他只很享受画。 现在彩虹眷村是一个非常著名的眷村！

2 Week Reflection- 两个星期的反思

It has been around 2 weeks since I have arrived in Taiwan. There have been many different kinds of feelings. Some days I wake up and realize that I am in Taiwan and I miss home. Other days I feel like there is no better place in the world than Taiwan. Some days there are translation problems, like when I accidentally order meat when I am a vegetarian. Other days I feel successful because I can finally go to the night market and return home without using a map. There are also days when I can just accept the cultural differences for what they are, like when the trash trucks drive by playing Beethoven. Overall, I feel like every day I am growing as a person and becoming stronger. Next week I will move to Changhua and begin the next part of my adventure!
我到了台湾大概两个星期以前。 台湾的生活方式给我很多不同的感觉。 有些天我起床的时候， 发现我在台湾， 很想家。 有些天我觉得在世界上台湾是最好的地方 。有些天有翻译的问题， 比如说我点肉， 但是我吃素。 有些天我有一种成功的感觉， 是因为我可以先去夜市， 然后回家， 不需要用地图。 有些天我可以容易接受文化的特点， 比如说垃圾车有贝多芬的音乐。 总体， 我认为每一天我长更大， 也更强。 下个星期我会搬到彰化， 开始冒险下一部分。

 

Food and Nature- 食物和自然

Since I have many pictures of food and nature, I want to share them here!
 因为我有很多食物和自然的照片， 所以想在这里分享!

Ghost Month- 鬼月

This month is Ghost Month in Taiwan. This means that every day on the streets I see tables, and on the tables there is burning incense, burning money, and many different foods. These are offerings to the spirits. The many different ways that I have seen the Taiwanese respect the deceased and spirits is really beautiful and touches my heart. 
这个月在台湾是鬼月。 这个意思是每一天在街上我看到桌子， 在桌子上有烧香， 烧钱， 还有各种各样的食物。 这些东西都是灵魂的产物。 这些不同的方法台湾人尊重已故的人和灵魂是真美丽的， 都打动我的心。 

Traditional Culture 传统的文化

Last week when we were visiting schools, I noticed a very interesting part of the Taiwanese culture. If some of my Chinese is incorrect, I am sorry, some topics I am not too familiar with . If words like "deceased elderly man," "funeral," etc. are not correct, I am sorry, this is a relatively complicated topic and I don't know how to say everything. While I was on the bus, I saw a kind of funeral or ceremony. There was a very large portrait of a deceased elderly man attached to the top of a car. Lined up behind it was a long line of many people with painted faces and ceremonial outfits, drums, dancers, etc. I heard that this ceremony was done to send a spirit up to the sky. I have never seen anything like this before.

上个星期我们看学校的时候， 我发现了一个很有意思的台湾文化的事情。 如果一些中文生词不对， 不好意思，  有一些话题我不太熟悉。 如果一些生词不对， 比如《已故的老男人》，《葬礼》， 等， 不好意思， 这是一个比较复杂的话题， 我不知道怎么说。  我在公共汽车的时候， 看到一种葬礼或仪式。 在汽车的上面有一个超大的画，画了一个已故的老男人。在汽车的后面有很长的排队， 有很多人穿礼仪服装和化面漆, 鼓, 舞者， 等。 我听说这个仪式的目的是把灵魂发送到天空。 我以前没看到这样的事情。

School! 学校！

These past two days we visited 7 different schools in Changhua. We went to both Elementary and Junior High schools. The teachers were so welcoming and gave us many gifts. The teachers gave us tours of the schools, did presentations for us and answered our questions. The kids that we saw at the schools were so cute and polite, it made me very happy and optimistic. I still have to think about which schools I would like to work in, there are pros and cons to each school. Whatever school I select, I know that I will be happy. 
这个两天我们在彰化去了七个不同的学校。我们去过小学和中学。老师们都非常欢迎我们， 给我们很多礼物。 老师们当辅导员， 介绍他们的学校和回答我们的问题。我们看到的孩子们都超可爱和有礼貌，让我很高兴和乐观。 我还需要想一想在什么学校想当英文老师， 每一个学校都有赞成和反对。 无论我选择什么学校， 知道我会很高兴。

Unexpected Surprise 意想不到的惊喜

This evening when we were walking home, we saw a hand puppet booth near a temple. We stopped to take a look and a man from the temple came out. He started a show for us and invited us to sit down at a table with him and his family. Him and his family ran the Daoist temple, promoting peace and happiness. We drank together and talked, and they invited us to dinner there. This certainly was an unexpected surprise. 
这个晚上我们走路到家的时候， 我们在一个寺庙的旁边看到一个手偶亭。 我们先停着看一下， 然后一个男人从寺庙的里面出来了。 他开始一个表演， 请我们跟他和他的家人坐在桌子旁。 他和他的家人一起拥有这个道教寺庙， 提倡和平和快乐。 我们一起喝酒和讲话， 他们请我们一起吃饭。 这一定是一个意想不到的惊喜!

My Feelings- 我的感觉

This morning was the first time that I really realized I had moved to Taiwan. I woke up with a bit of homesickness. The majority of the time in Taiwan has been incredible, and I have already grown so much as a person. I love the 7 Changhua girls, we are all very supportive and kind. Each day is a new day, with new experiences and new feelings. Each day I am becoming stronger. 

这个早上是我第一次真的发生我搬到了台湾。 我起床的时候有一点儿想家的感觉。 在台湾大部分的时间棒棒哒， 我已经长了很多。 我爱7个彰化女生， 我们都很支持和开朗。 每一天是一个新天， 有新的经历和新的感觉。 每一天我越来越强。 

Day 3- 第三天

The third day was Friday! After a long TESOL orientation, it was the weekend! Us 8 Changhua girls went out for a fun night!
第三天是周五！一个很长的TESOL会议以后, 周末到了！我们八个彰化的美女出去玩儿！

Yum! 好吃!

This past few days at the night markets, at restaurants, at school, etc., I have eaten some delicious food! I have also found some great breakfast places that have my favorite food...DAN BING~
这几个天在夜市， 饭馆， 学校， 等，我吃了一些很好吃的东西！我也找到了一些很好吃的早餐， 都有我最爱的菜， 蛋饼～

Day 2- 第二天

Day 2 was a new day, we visited a couple of schools in both Changhua and Taichung! We spent the majority of the day in Changhua looking at our future home. We shopped during the night and had fun!
第二天是一个新的天， 我们在彰化和台中去了一些学校！大部分的时间是在彰化看我们未来的家 。晚上的时候我们买了东西， 玩儿的开心啦！