Hi Guys,

So the meeting with the president was utterly casual.

The first thing he told us was if we had questions for him.

Well, since no one was told to prepare anything, no one had anything to say.

I asked him what was happening with the school in Shanghai.

His answer was very disappointing. Yes, there will be something in Shanghai in 2008, but

it will not be what I anticipated. I am not sure if it will be possible for me to move there

permanently. Oh well, we'll see what happens.

Cheers,

LeTouriste 

Hey Guys,

Long time, no see...

Yeah, I've been quite busy and things are not cooling down.

Tomorrow, I will have lunch with the president of the company.

I am a little nervous because I have no idea why he wants to do this.

Is it to have a brainstorming of ideas?

Is it to congratulate us on a great year?

Is it to get ideas for expansion?

I guess I'll see tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste

 

Hey Guys,

We took the kids out to the zoo today. It was pretty cool. The day started out badly because a kid was sick on the bus. Fortunately, we were close to the school so we just dumped him there and took off again. The Taipei Zoo is pretty nice with lots of animals crowded into a small area, so the kids don't have to walk too much. There were flamingos, giraffes, elephants, horses, zebras, antelops, emus, ostriches, beavers, otters, koalas, monkeys, kangaroos and many more that we did not see. The kids loved the otter because it was swimming and it came over to the window where they were standing. They loved the monkeys because they of them were in an aerial acrobatic competition. They were swinging madly in loops around their play area. Finally, they also loved the koalas because they looked so cute while they were hugging trees.

 

Kids could describe all these animals and could spell certain of them. I feel that I did a pretty good job on this unit! Yeah for me!

 

 

Today, I felt really exhausted. I had a nightmare last night. I can't remember what it was about, but there were a lot of girls. I said nightmare... I don't describe my fantacies online! Anyhow, when I got on the bus to go to the gym, I fell asleep. I woke up just in time for the MRT stop. Then I slept on the MRT. This time, I did not wake up until I was in Taipei Main Station, hence 9 stops past the gym! Jumped on the next subway North. Got on the next bus and managed to be 15 minutes late for my gym session. The session was productive nonetheless, but my coach laughed at me a bit. She always says that I should eat more and sleep more. I do eat more now and my body is responding very well. I like the bumps that are growing on me. Soon, I'll post my new physique. After today's mishap, I guess she is right about sleeping too, but I don't have the time for that now. After Saturday's Xmas show, Speech competition and a friend's bday, then I'll have time to sleep.

 

I booked my tickets for Japan. I'll go there for Chinese New Year from Feb 6 to 10!

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste

Hey guys,

You may recall that I will host the Christmas party on December 22 for kindy.

They asked me to dress up as a Taiwanese boy... so here is my new look.

Given the reactions from both teachers and students, it is successful!

What do you think?

Please feel free to tell me!

LeTouriste

Hey Guys,

 

Yesterday marked my 2nd anniversary of landing in Taipei.

I didn't do anything special because I have so much work right now.

I did share this info with my kids. The kindy ones found it funny, the older ones

clapped in delight for some reason.

How many more years will I be here?

I don't have plans to return home anytime soon.

Cheers,

LeTouriste 

Hi guys,

 

Today was our Thanksgiving brunch and party. It was held at the restaurant of the fancy San Want hotel in Taipei. Everything was vry cozy. The Chinese staff from all the schools had dressed up and some girls looked... hum... gorgeous! I noticed that some teachers were married and some had kids. This is shocking because no one at our school has a boyf! There were a few games, I didn't win any prizes

 

After lunch it was time for bowling. One game only because the other teachers wanted to go sing at KTV. I nonetheless finished 1st and 2nd against 5 players! In the schools, though I finished 2nd (overall). KTV was OK, but I much rather go there with 1 or 2 friends because this way I get to sing more.

 

I heard the funniest thing today from a girl teacher. She pulled her earings out. That's when I noticed that she did not have pierced ears. She said that she would like to be a boy in her next life. If you have marks on your ears, you can't be a boy in your next life. I had never heard of such a superstition. I don't know if it is wide spread in Taiwan, but her family seems to believe in it.

 

LeTouriste

Hey Guys,

Let me update you on a few movies that I saw.

Good Luck Chuck -- hilarious, but needlessly crude comedy that was shot in Vancouver. You could not imagine how much I missed Vancouver while I was watching that movie. The shots of the city going down 4th Ave or Burrard Island and the North Shore. I was ready to pack my bags and leave. The next day, I rented The Cleaner, another comedy shot in Vancouver. This one starred Lucy Liu (my fav Asian actress because of her utterly sexy and dominating role in Ally MacBeal). Last weekend was really a Vancouver-memory missathon! I got myself back together and now I'm OK.

 

I attended a head foreign teachers' meeting. I heard a most interesting news. My school is expanding into mainland China officially!!! Hurrah! The first thing I did was to run to the director and said: I'm In!

 

This weekend I watched Beowulf in 3D, it was alright, not much more.

Today since it rained all day, I did not go to Maokang, instead I watched Hairspray. Great movie, great themes. But not really my style of movie. Of maybe it is the size of the characters. Yes, I am vain and hollow, but size 60 isn't for me.

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste

Hey Guys,

Our boss finally approved our pay raises. Two teachers have been retroactively paid since June. Imagine the joy these teachers will get because they get almost a Canadian dollar per hour for almost 400 hours.

Hi Guys,

Ouf! I had a terrible scare during the past week. As I said, I developed a certain skin rash. I check on the internet and found pictures

that looked somewhat similar to what I have. The only problem is that the pictures came from patients with severe and nasty diseases.

I was at a lose about how I could have gotten any of those. I saw a first doctor on Sunday. He just said that I had an infection, but did not

explain more. Today, I went to see a specialist with over 40 years of experience. He gave me tons of pills (as they always do in Taiwan)

and sent me my way. He said that I would be fine and that I did not have anything related to those diseases. What a relief! I feel the sunshine

coming out again for me.

 

On a sad note however, a friend of mine has a sister who was diagnosed with heart whispering. I don't know what that means in the long term, but

it does not sound good. Also another friend of mine is in mourning for her dear friend. Life has it's mysteries which we can't understand. I can imagine your

pain, but nothing that happened is your fault. She must have enjoyed her time spent with you. Live with no regrets.

 

Bye,

LeTouriste

Hi Guys,

Yesterday, I hung out with a former co-teacher and his friends. We had a great time despite the fact that no girls showed up to his party.

 

Today, I feel totally blue. The bitter coldness has permeated my skin and I feel sad. There is no reason for me to feel this way, but I just do.

I am not sure what is wrong with me, but ever since I returned from Shanghai, I have never picked up the pace. I've done my job, but with little

enthusiasm. Around the kids, I'm OK, but without them, I'm down. I've also been dreaming of home on a very regular basis. Is this foreshadowing

some sinister event or am I just lonely deep inside? I hope it is the latter, cuz I wish no harm to anyone.

 

I went to the hospital this morning to treat my 5th skin infection since my arrival in Taiwan. I guess once you get the infection once, it is easier for it to

reappear. No harm happens, just pop a few anti-fungal pills three times a day for a week and the mushroom is gone.

 

How can I reboot myself? Go on a trip?... can't I work weekends until Christmas.

Work more?... I just don't feel like it.

Exercise more?... I go to the gym 3 times/ week.

Eat more?... I am out of cash currently... pay day is Wednesday.

Reorganize me room?... that is what I'll try next.

 

I just finished reading 2 great books about China.

The first China Rises describes the evolution of China from a Third World country to the modern state that it is. It is very well written, but they always have a negative view of the changes in China. To avoid sounding too harsh, they water down their speech with a last paragraph stating that things aren't really as bad as what the previous chapter mentioned. Why do this? It sounds like they tried to please some sort of authority by adding postitive points. Nonetheless, it is a great read.

 

The other is an awesome travel log into the Terracotta Army pits and a depiction of the first Emperor who unified China. Thrilling and delightful. So great that I want to visit the Terracotta Army next time I go to China which should be in August 2008 for the Beijing Olympics. I found decent airplane tickets, now I need to find a hotel. I want to the see the Cycling races which are held during the first weekend, then I'd like to visit Xian.

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste 

Hi Guys,

I've just added some new pics. The first is from my weekend trip with my schools to Sun Moon Lake and Puli. The second ones are from my Halloween decorated classrooms and from a story telling event that my school held at KFC. I'll write longer about those tomorrow.

 

Gym is getting so much better, but my posture is still my stumbling block. Time will come because I can see some improvements and I can feel them too!

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste

Hi guys,

I've been going to the gym for one month now. I totally see the changes on my body and my shape. The most incredible effect is on my posture because I did not know that I was standing crookedly. Now, I stand straight. My coach always pushes me to do more. This is good, but it is terribly embarrassing when my arms fail or when my brain feels the pain and decides to stop everything. I "crashed" after doing only 2 push ups in front of everyone at the gym. I failed to push more than 10 pounds on the bar bell! I have to remind myself that things will get better with time.

 

Tomorrow, I am leaving with a group of teachers for Nantou. It is a school-organized outting. This will be interesting althought it does not appear to be a touristic outting. There will be treks in the woods, yatch tours of a lake and visits of distilleries. Sadly, all the big temples and sights in the area will be forgotten. Maybe not, that's why I have to go and check it out myself.

 

On Tuesday, I'll post pictures of my Halloween classrooms. Both are scary and most of the decorations were made by the kids themselves. They are quite proud of their feat.

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste

November 24 - I'll go see Jose Carreras!

One of the last two great tenors.

LeTouriste

Hi Guys,

 

On Thursday, a close friend of mine underwent a surgery to remove some fibromas. An operation similar to the one my mother had, but in a different location. Her ordeal seemed to have been worse because she was conscious during the operation. That must be a horrible feeling to know that and hear people cutting you open, except that it is happening on the other side of a green curtain in front of your face. Both my mom and my friend are courageous and strong, so they went through it bravely. Kudos to both. My friend is now recuperating in the care of her family. I wish her the best and the quickest recovery. Take care. The fact that she was doing well today was my good news.

 

The bad news is that my cousin's fiancee had a miscarriage last week. I got the news today, I am sad to hear this because they had just started announcing the news to their extended families and friends. I had dreamt of them this morning. I dreamt that I returned to Canada this summer for their wedding. I would have seen their kid too. Now, it is still possible that I return to Canada this summer for the wedding, but there won't be any kid around. I'll just have to make a day trip to Vancouver to see D and J who just got their second adorable daughter of October 3rd. Cheers to both, they are such a wonderful and beautiful family.

 

That's it for now,

LeTouriste

Wow!

 I can't believe I managed to place all my pictures on the net within two weeks of coming back from a trip.

This is a first and it will not be forgotten.

Enjoy browsing through all my pics. Eventually, I'll add the story that goes with them, but give me some time.

 

I renew my ARC today, so I had my blood test done. I am heavier and taller than last year??? Heavier probably because of the gym

and the somewhat bigger muscle mass that I am developing and the fact. My blood pressure is still high... only when I go to the hospital.

I check my pressure at home and I am fine.

 

Parents day tomorrow again. I hope the kids are as good as the other class was today.

 

Cheers,

LeTouriste

I have three more sets of pictures to add

Shanghai (120MB), Mt Huangshan (640 MB) and Guilin (940 MB)

It might take me a while to label and/or sort out which pictures I want to publish.

Take care,

LeTouriste

Hey guys,

I just returned from China.

I had a wonderful time with some great friends there.

Sadly, I had to come back to the reality of work.

Work just booked all my Saturdays from now until Christmas!

 

Today was tough because I got a bug in my stomache. I don't know if it comes from me, the kids or the food, but I was glad to go home at 4pm. Unfortunately, another teacher was sicker than I was. Since she wanted to go to the hospital, I had to agree to take her night classes.

They were very tough to teach. I felt my tummy shaking and churning at every twist that I took. Now, I just want to sleep, but I have more work to prepare.

 

Talk to you later,

LeTouriste

Woke up an hour before the alarm, so I got up and got ready for work.

Shortly after getting into the shower, I heard weird thumps.

Little did I know, but a thunderstorm had just begun.

It was not a little rain, it was a typhoon-style amount of rain. I was drenched from head to toes while running

the 2 minutes that separate home from work! My shoes and socks were soke all day, while my pants were blow dried

with two hair dryers simultaneously. All this was done to finish the props for the Moon Festival Play.

The three teachers improvised and it worked out pretty well.

The kids enjoyed the activities we had planned afterwards: decorating yo-dze, pasting ChungEr on the moon, and yo-dze 2X2 relays.

A yo-dze is called a pomelo in English. It's an egg-shape grapefruit.

 

Then in bushiban, the kids were horribly naughty... you know the storm before the sunshine or before the holiday kind of thing.

My trip to the middle of Taiwan is still going. I'll ride the bullet train 3 times in the space of three days. Hooray!

 

Talk to you on Tuesday or Wednesday,

LeTouriste