Round 2 Here We Go!

Well, I'm back in Taiwan again! It is the very beginning of my second year teaching at the same boarding school in Taichung, Taiwan as I was at last year. The plane touched down in Taipei last night and I hit the ground running; no stopping anytime soon as far as I can tell!

Today we had the first day of orientation meetings for staff and I got to meet all of the new teachers for the first time. There are a lot this year and it seems like they are a pretty good crew. We made a Carefore (like the French version of Wamart or Target) run this afternoon with some coworkers in one of the school vans and got the essentials for our new apartment. Shelves, mops, brooms....all stuff that doesn't fit on a scooter!

Unfortunately we walked into our apartment this year to find it dirty and cluttered with things that the previous tenants (our coworkers/"friends" from last year) didn't bother to pack or throw away. So it has been somewhat of a stressful arrival since I can't really unpack my things before I get rid of the filth and excess crap first. We also have nonstop meetings and other obligations right up until we have to start teaching so it is a little intense right now. And of course the real reason I'm here, I have to start teaching a week from today.

On top of that, I am the mathematics department chair this year. Last year when I agreed to the new position I wasn't all that concerned with the extra work load it would bring. However, just in one short day's time being back I am starting to realize just how much responsibility and extra work it will be for me this year. I guess I might have to grow up a little more and go out with friends less. Lucky for me I am living with a good friend of mine this year, Nichole, who is also a first year department chair for Social Studies. We are in the same boat and I think we'll have a lot of fun figuring it out together.

Right now it sort of feels like there are not enough hours in the day (especially when you are jet-lagged and can't accomplish much when you are awake anyway) so at this rate the year will fly by! But in the end, it will all get done because it always does so I'm trying to just take it task at a time and keep perspective. I'm just excited to see the students now since they will be arriving so soon and it will be a good reminder as to why I'm half-way around the world teaching!

When we get things cleaned up a little more I will take pictures of our apartment to post. Stay tuned!