Christmas Concert 2011

Well, it's Friday morning. Which means the Christmas singing competition is already over. it was great, the kids were awesome and Archimedes House did really well! We are anxiously awaiting the results today, but in the mean time, here are some shots from the whole thing:

I'm Sorry! It's So Busy Here!

Ok, so I know I haven't posted in like over two weeks. I am terribly sorry about that. Really, I care about you all still, I do, but it has been so hectic and busy here. I haven't had a moment to sit and do this since the last one!

Where to even start? Well, let me first explain why it has been so busy here for us. Right before a major break, this one being our 16 day Christmas Holliday (yes!!!!), things go a little insane at our school. Everything that we have been putting off until "later" needs to be accomplished before we lose the kids to their parents again. So the "later" has become the "right now!" and we pack it all in. In the three weeks leading up to break (we are on the last and final week right now), I have had zero days off. don't be confused, I mean weekends too! Yikes.

So it all began with two weekends ago. I always teach on Saturday's so that's a day I don't get off every week like the normal teachers you all know. But two weekends ago I also worked on Sunday: my roommate and I took her World Religion class students up to Taipei for the day to go to a museum. It was a really cool experience and I loved the kids in her class, but it was still work on a Sunday for me.

Then last weekend I again taught on Saturday (a wicked cool Jeopardy SAT Math game that the kids totally got into. If you teach or just want to learn SAT Math, shoot me an email and I can hook you up!) and again, needed to be at school on Sunday. Every year we invite the Down Syndrome Society of Taichung to school for a concert and we generally donate money to them at that time. So we had that little party at that time. Again, fun to see the kids and listen to the singing, but it was working again on Sunday.

And finally we are on the home stretch. However, the light at the end of the tunnel seems dim right about now, even though it is Thursday of our last week. This week has been the most hectic of them all- I have been putting in 10-12 hour days each day this week and right now I'm at hour 5 of my epic 15 hour day. Ugh. At least today should be fun. Here's the schedule:

Thursday starts just like your average day. I teach all of my four classes, just like a normal old school day. Then after school, instead of having normal activity, we will all gather in our houses to practice for the singing competition tonight. At 6 the formal Christmas dinner will start where we get pineapple glazed ham and other treats. Finally at 7:30 the house Christmas carol singing competitions will begin. Since there are 8 houses and each house sings two songs, I think we will be here for a while tonight!

Lucky for us, tomorrow we only have a half day. So in 24 hours I will be done! After 18 consecutive days working, we will be free of all obligations and children until January 4th. Sigh....I can't wait! I promise to be better at posting, I'll even try to take some pictures tonight at the singing contest and post them tomorrow!

A little Late, but Happy Thanksgiving!

Ok, so I know I'm really late on this one, but I just got some pictures sent to me so I figured I'd write a blog post on it now anyway. Better late than never, right? Hmm, well here goes anyways.

Spending holiday's away from home and especially, away from your home country, is odd. You feel displaced, obviously a little sad, and sort of awkward. It's awkward on holiday's like Thanksgiving especially since it is an America specific one only; the Taiwanese have no idea what we're talking about when we bring it up and I don't blame them at all. So Thanksgiving can be a little rough when living abroad. For me, it is really the first time in the school year when I miss home with all the smells of a big Thanksgiving meal and the sounds of our incredibly loud family. It sort of reminds you how far away you are from the ones you love.

The nice thing about our school however, is that it is filled with teachers just like me. We are almost all from the Midwest so we all know the pangs of homesickness come Thanksgiving time. Thus, we band together and throw our own Thanksgiving feast! Now I must admit that it cannot compare to the wonderful food and festivities from home, but it isn't too bad for a few expats throwing together a potluck meal. I even made the stuffing this year, compliments of my Mom's recipe, and we had a big bird to carve from a local restaurant. There were cranberries and mashed potatoes, pumpkin and apple pie, and of course a fun time had by all. If I can't be home with my own family for the holiday's, I'm glad I at least have this adopted family to keep me company here. Happy holiday's everyone!