Taiwan is the Most Beautiful Country in the World

Today was an epic, awesome, beautiful day of relaxation: a perfect Sunday! I woke up and had breakfast with the kids, one of the perks (?) of living in a boarding school. At noon, three coworkers and I took off on our scooters for the waterfall that we know about up in the mountains. I had never been there so I was very excited. I had no idea what was in store for me.

After about 35 minutes on the scooter, driving around switchbacks and up steep climbs through some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen, we reached our lunch spot. Not only is the food/tea absolutely delicious up there, but the view is breathtaking to say the least.

Perched on the edge of a mountain- nice lunch spot!

Fresh apple tea and some taro, a staple of Taiwan food.

After that, we drove back down the mountain a little bit and parked our scooters. We came to a river bed after hiking down for five to ten minutes. Then another twenty minutes of somewhat strenuous walking/hiking up the river bed over large boulders, we came upon a scene from a movie. I never thought things like this existed anywhere but the silver screen to be honest. The pictures do not do this place justice either, too beautiful and peaceful and relaxing to capture on camera.

Getting to the waterfall.

So pretty.

My friend Chris jumping off. I did not do such a thing: I love having the use of my legs and don't particularly want to die. He didn't actually die, but I'm just saying.

After scrambling over large rocks in 90 degree weather for a while, a dip in cool river water is probably the best reward. It is days like today that make me realize how lucky I am to live in a country like Taiwan: I'm starting to seriously believe it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I've never seen anything else like it yet. I love it.

Gotta love a staff that hikes to waterfalls together on the weekends.

Graduation 2011

This past weekend was graduation: seniors walked across the stage, cried a little bit, and gave their speeches of farewell and encouragement. It made me think of my own high school graduation a lot and how long ago that seems. I think it's safe to say I have changed and grown a lot as a person since then, 5 years ago now. However, I did truly feel like a teacher as I was giving some students final tidbits of advice and guidance for college in the States. It's scary to think we just release these kids into the real world now :)

Not seniors, my junior Algebra 2 students Minnie and Teresa, but so adorable in their little dress uniforms I just had to get a picture with them on graduation day.

Maggie, class of 2011. Didn't teach her but you can see we were obviously still pretty close!

Faculty had to wear the robs just like at college/university graduation ceremonies. It felt oddly familiar seeing as how I just graduated from UWL about a year ago...

Wrapping up the School Year

It is somewhat of a surreal sensation to know that in less than a week and a half, all students will be going home and classes will have ended for the year. It seems like just last week that I first landed at Taipei International Airport and was getting ready for the school year to start.

In the past year, I feel as if I have learned more than I have ever learned in any other calendar year of my life. Not only did I make it through my first year teaching, with all of it's natural ups and downs, but I moved to a foreign country without knowing a soul there and figured everything out on my own. It is an understatement to say that I've learned life lessons this year.

As the year draws to a close however, I am realizing more and more that I am going to miss my students this summer. That's how you know you're a teacher apparently! In all seriousness, we send so much time with them here, seeing as how we all live under the same roof, that it will be strange to be away from all of them for so long. I'm sure we could all use the break from each other, but I'm also oddly getting excited for next year to start already...I think that's a good sign! :)