There is a pot hole with my name carved in it.

Yes, it's true there is a road, with this NEARLY invisible pothole on it.
I've walked there a few times in the past few months.
I try to be careful.
However TWICE, it has has eluded me and I've taken a tumble, nearly spraining my ankle both times, and scrapping up my knee beautifully.
If knee scrapes can be beautiful. Which I highly doubt. But there you have it.

I woke up earlier than usual, got myself out the door. Missed the bus, decided to try and jog down to the other bus stop (which is an age and a half away) and in the process, scrapped my knee and hurt my ankle. For several minutes I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to carry out my plans, and I would have to cancel them, and I had been terribly anticipating them for almost two weeks.

I limped back to where I am living here, and one of my roommates was awake, she asked if I had missed my bus, and I told her I had, as I settled down on my bed to bemoan my pain, and think of canceled plans. She looked at the bus app on her phone (which I can't get to work on mine,) and said that there would be a bus in 2 minutes, literally, that is how long it takes for us to get from our place to the bus stop. I made it as fast as I could, and barely got on the bus. BUT I MADE IT!

I rode the bus, alone (a first for me). Then took the train for the first time...ever... well once before but that was only for 15 minutes so I don't REALLY think that counts, because I didn't even buy my ticket someone else did. There were no seats on the train, standing room only, so I stood. It was a long ride back but

And took an hour train ride to meet up with some friends, that really refreshed my soul. After helping out with some shopping at Costco our group then skipped off to one of their homes for a few hours, at this point my ankle was getting stiff and sore, but I kept going...and fell asleep on the train to the Lantern Festival. This was my third time back to the lantern festival (it's the end of the New Year celebration here in Taiwan.) It's a BEAUTIFUL place with all kinds of lanterns, but with a giant ram for the main event.

I filmed it, and uploaded it to youtube but failed to double check my spelling *head desk*

Hope you enjoy a little trip to the Lantern Festival here in Taiwan!

Happy Year of the Sheep!

Since pictures are worth a thousand words...here are a few thousand!

Teacher, teacher...

Teacher, teacher take my hand,

Welcome to my beautiful land.

I will try to learn your English,

But to me it sounds like gibberish.

I want to talk to you, and know.

From where does all the love flow?

I will try, and will you, to know me as I you?

There are so few that come, cross the ocean blue

To tell me of a Saviors love that I feel,

It’s in your smile and in your eyes, it is real.

Student, dear student, take my hand.

I am falling in love with your beautiful land.

I am trying but I know so little of your language

Together, somehow we manage,

But little student it is my prayer.

That you will put your soul in the greatest Teacher’s care.

That you will take His hand...

That someday, we will meet in a His heavenly land.

I am still learning how to do these things...

That Silent and Invisible H

a.k.a. Teaching Bloopers.

It's true, I was teaching some children the other day, and I completely, and totally missed putting H on the board. It wasn't until we reciting it together backwards that I realized my deadly and grave ERROR!!!!!!

The H had gone missing. In fact I had failed to put it write it down all together. It's rather terrifying realization.

I "spelled" the alphabet without the H! It was rather a horrifying realization.

Especially with the co-teacher standing in the back of the room leaning against her desk and her arms crossed staring at me. I felt rather like shriveling up and disappearing. An earthquake would have been a welcome distraction, especially if it would have opened the floor and let me hide somewhere. However since no earthquake appeared wearing a cape and shouting something heroic, I faced the class laughed it off, wrote H on the board, and sang the song.

It wasn't exactly the first impression I wanted to make on my first day at that school, however, such a mistake hasn't haunted me since...or rather yet. I am sure there will be more to come.

Each and every day I spend teaching, I am grateful for the opportunity to teach, even if I make silly mistakes like forgetting H's.

However, I must imagine what would happen if it continued...I'd just have a whole class walking around and talking just like Eliza Doolittle. In 'artford, 'ereford, an' 'ampture 'urricane's 'ardly, ever...'appen.

Now teaching H's and double checking her Alphabet.

Jessica

Q&A

Now that I am settled here in Taiwan...do you have any burning questions for me?

Ask, and I shall answer, vlog style!

Jessica

Settling in....

Dearest Readers,

Well, I am settled happily here in Taiwan, even though I am battling a cold, well more like whooping cough, which is also known as the cough of 100 days. Pretty much once you get it, there really isn't anything you can do about it, just cough through it. So, that is what I am going to do.

However, enough about myself, I want to tell you about TAIWAN.

I've been here for almost a month, and things are starting to find a routine. I know my schools, I know my kids...gah!!!! I have some of the sweetest kids ever, I want to adopt them...well I would like to but that's not going to happen obviously. Though, I will tell you, there is a little guy on Friday that has totally stolen my heart, he's in first grade. OH HE IS SOOO CUTE!!!!

My routine is pretty regular every week:
Monday:
I teach at a Junior High...the kids there are a lot of fun, Then I teach across the road at a elementary school, which is a little harder to teach at, because the teacher there isn't quiet as helpful as the others, but overall, it's fun, and the kids are cute. I teach 7 classes that day so my voice is pretty gone by the end of the day.

Tuesday:
I teach 6 classes and oh, I am in love with my kids. The girls in the 5th grade are super awesome, There are an adorable pair of twins and their friend, who really make my day bright and sweet, teaching the 5th grade is always a highlight, but then again so are my ...I keep forgetting what grade they are, either 2nd or 3rd but they are sweet and so lovable. Than again all of the kids are, but you know what I mean, there are those special places in your heart.

Wednesday.
It's MY DAY OFF!!!!!! We tend to do team activities this day...fun stuff like... visiting Sun Moon Lake or just seeing places around here in Taiwan.

Thursday:
 I teach four classes to 5th and 6th grades...they are rowdy and loud but a pile of fun, and hard to keep in line.

Friday:
This is my favorite school. This is where my first graders are that I adore and melt for, I seriously want to bring these kids home. My driver is always awesome from this school, and she takes me to special places sometimes. I really enjoy her.  All of the kids here are pretty priceless, and are completely fascinated by my blonde hair, they also wanted their school guard to ask me out. :P No thank you.

Saturday:
We teach some kids at an orphanage for 2 hours, there are youth group meetings and other things going on at the church we attend on Sundays. So this day is usually spent doing all kinds of stuff from lesson planning to laundry.

Sunday:
Church and some R&R.

So that is what I am doing here on a pretty weekly basis here in Taiwan, if you have any questions let me know!

On His Journey,
Jessica