Trip

Tomorow I leave for a 7 day trip, so there will be no post next Tues. I should have plenty of pictures when I come back, and hopefully a magnet or two. Love you!!!

Zai Jian!

Keeping Order

So this post is going to be about how teachers and student relationships work in Taiwan. If it sounds boring then feel free to skip it.
So students start learinging how Taiwan school life works right away. Once a week in the kindergarten the students go outside stand in line with there class and do exercises (they dance, it is adorable). This eventualy evolves into twice a week school wide gatherings in high school. Mondays we all stand outside with our classes. Military style. Someone in front yells out the way we are supposed to stand, hands held behind our back, hands at our sides, or on had on the hip. There is no slouching or talking, unless no one is looking. We have 3 military officers on campus. They help everyone stay in line. Corporal munishment is not alowed, they just yell. Luckily I don't get punished. Though, I could waltz off campus and no one would think anything was wrong (don't worry Mom, I don't ditch school). On Wednesdays we also meet, same place same time. Except this time we do a 5 minute exercise routine.
When class starts and the teacher walks in, everyone stands up. Then we great the teacher and do a little bow. Students don't ask questions in class and rarley is student participation activly used. I have some great teachers that don't always follow this ideal, but it is very different from America. In the U.S. the teacher demands attention, in Taiwan it is readily given. When students pass teachers in the hall, they say hello.
I think Taiwans system is a bit too strict, but that America's is deffinetly to lax.

Thanks for reading this and for everything else. I love you!

Zai Jian!

Speeches

I have to give a speech in a few days. It is my Rotary Club's birthday, and it is the job of the exchange student to give a speech. The speech is all written out and now I just need to add the finishing touches to my memorization. I didn't have school the other day, so I went and took some pictures. Sorry this post is short. Love you and thanks for everything!

Zai Jian!

The Taizhong Art Museum

Last Saturday I spent the day out and about. My morning was spent sitting in a MacDonald helping one of my friends prepare for an English exam. It didn't actually involve me needing to say too much English. Mostly I had to make sure she understood the questions. Then, I took the train to Taichung. It is a 45 minute train ride, and I was very glad to have my mp3 player. Then, I hoped on a bus. Of course, I accidentally hoped on the wrong green number 75 bus. I went to the end of the line, and then hoped on a bus going the other way and eventually made it to the museum.




I had a great time. They had some great exhibits, and beautiful sculptures outside. I had a great time, but was quite exhausted from my bus rides. I spent most of the next day asleep, which was quite a nice change from waking up early. Thank you sor all your love and support!

Zai Jian!

Taiwan Exchange Student Confrence

Last Saturday and Sunday I went to Tainan for the giant student conference. Only one district from Taipei wasn't there, so I didn't get to see Taylor. I did get to meet some great new people and see my other friends. We listened to a lot of speeches and had two discussion. The speeches were... interesting. The discussions were good. I was in one discussion about how to learn Chinese, and another with the Americans and outbounds going to America. We mostly told the outbounds to be outgoing and talk to people. None of them had any questions, so either they didn't get the message or they are very well prepared. I had a great time, but was exhausted by the end. We road the bus 3 hours back to Taizhong. Then, I took a train home. The train was packed. Close your eyes and imagine for a second. People were pushed close together and piling onto the train. I had to pass up 4 or 5 doors onto the train because there were so many people. It was just a wall of bodies. I ended up getting home just fine. Thank you for all of your love and support!

Zai Jian!