Introducing...

...The Polka Dot Girls!!!
So last weekend we went downtown to explore the markets and stores down there (sadly I wasn't super good at taking pictures). When we left it was a beautiful sunshiny day, but 3 hours later when we were starting to head home it changed on us and turned dark and rainy--smart me I had worn capri's and a short sleeve shirt (with no jacket or sweatshirt) and got very wet very quickly. We passed a 7-Eleven (I know surprise surprise) and I decided to dash inside and see if they had umbrellas or a poncho that I could buy for super cheap. The first one I saw was a white umbrella with black polka-dots, I was hooked, I LOVE POLKA-DOTS!!! I purchased it and we left, we started to talk about how we could do a super cute photoshoot with it. Andrea had a jacket but she was pretty wet by this time, so when we passed the next 7-Eleven Andrea ran inside, we were hoping that maybe they would have a black one with white polka-dots but they didn't so she bought the same one. We love our polka-dot umbrellas and have decided together that it was a very wise purchase and that they have already been worth the $100 (about $3 USD) that we paid.Anyway back to the photoshoot idea, tonight we did it! And here is the result...
(Go HERE for the pictures)

Singin' in the Rain

Well Saturday seem to be where a lot of adventures will and can happen. We walked downtown because I was still sore from hurting myself. Beth is so patient with me I am very grateful for all she does. It breathe taking to see the store and shops and want life is all about. Something that I see at most corners is a 7 Eleven are everywhere. I saw Mc Donald’s and KFC we stopped there for a bathroom trip safer then hole which they have I have been told about but have yet to see. It was just fun to go into shops etc… I looked for some shoes that I can easily slip on and off the hunt continues but I did get some left handed scissors so I can help the children cut!!!! Well I had brought a jacket and well I was grateful I did it decided to down pour sheets of rain. I had a hood on my jacket but is did not help for very along. Beth and I both ended up buying matching black and while pock a dotted umbrellas on the way home. I decided that I was going to sing and hop on the way home we were socking wet … by the time we were home but glad home... We took break I changed out of my wet clothes and then we go to a few more places. Walking or riding a bike I will be in better shape when I get back to the states. I still will jump and the dogs barking. I love it here it fells like my home but wait it is for the next 5 months;)

Teaching...And Day to Day Adventures

Well it keeps on my toes !!!! I love it but it is not easy. I am still trying to uncover what material I have to teach with. There are three rooms full of stuff they never throw away anything so eight years of stuff and counting. . I am learning and hopefully getting better day by day. The grocery store we buy food from I try to purchase something new to try every time. It was ice cream, milk, meat, new juices, crackers, biscuits or yogurt. The five year old Chinese teacher has not been able to control the children it has been a little rough. Well we have gas stove to cook with we both are still trying to master the art of how to not get things not so crispy ;) We have made a vegetable scramble egg omelet and yellow curry, pork meat scrambled eggs from scratch … The meat I cooked chicken that looked tough and chewy but it didn’t taste bad in the curry. We eat dumpling at home and at the night market fried rice coffin bread, sweeter spaghetti with veggies. I still have not that I hang of a bike I am trying the third bike in month pray that I can get the hang of it for Beth sake and mine too !!! We would get place a lot quicker then we are at the moment. We tutor in the evenings most evenings with a breaks hear and there but Thursday are long for me... it averages about 6-8 students a week!!!

Visit Beth's Blog for pictures
Mystery Meat
Curry Night!!
Vegetables

What I Am Learning in Taiwan

I went to some members home and had dinner in their home ;) We have walked most places as of late. The member family Chu is a doctor and teaches at the university Tzu Chi the Beth and the girl that taught with her Natalie last time did a lot with this family because one of Natalie family member baptized their family. They live on campus in like a cooking dorm set up I believe that many that teach or work at the university do the same. The university and Beth tells me that ground that covers this campus is made all recycling materials so the ground sparkles with glass we believe. Taiwan is very big you have to recycle everything you get fine if they find it in the trash too. Then food is composted back into the gardens something that I am still getting the hang of is it real trash or not. They have toilets but you don’t put any paper down the it goes in the trash so I’ll leave it there ;) At the members home I learned that when you eat it is rude to not hold your bowl up to your face so I guess that I will be rude because that is not possible for me to physically do ;) I am trying everything they serve I had some kind of fish halibut or cod would be my guess. They speak English and were nice about the eating thing when I told them about being born with CP. They had some single adults over and the sister missionaries to eat and then we watch a movie. We were the only ones that stayed to watch the whole movie. The wife or mother of the family drove us home. Another thing that I learned is that for lunch and dinner they always finish their meals with soup. I have soup at lunch all the time but they also have it for dinner too. It was nice they have a beautiful view of the city out side their porch.

There is hope that I will find my way around Hualien!!!

Sunday well I got to church all by myself with a map that Beth sent me out the door with but I did it!!! There is hope that I might find way around. She was sick and not feeling well so I walked to Church. I went to Relief Society and a sister the is the presidency from Wyoming translates for me. Then we attend Gospel Essentials Elders translate I will get the lessons twice this next six months they will not be the same I bet either. One of the Sister missionaries ask to write my testimony in a Book of Mormon missionary work I love it !!!!! I got home just fine ;) We had French toast for dinner !!!! and planned a good part the next six months. Loved life :)

Bruising and Cruising……on a bike

Life after… well we go to the store or night market to eat dinner ;) I have a bike that works to ride now that is good now I need to get better and riding it with traffic. Beth knows her way around that has been so helpful.. The first three days there was only one bike that worked so she would ride and I would walk. Know we have two bikes that work. I am sore but will get better and better… I have six months.. The night market we got coffin bread French toast with meat inside and fruit drink yummy. The bread store we try different pastries and bread. Then fruit stands have all types of fruit I tried a type of pear that was great ;) Beth tells me there is to grocery stores blue and yellow then the stuff store. A couple nights we have watched movies. I have discovered that huge bruise was the cause of the pain. We went downtown Hualien and well I rode a little but then it was hurting so I walked with my bike … lol if want I am on the other side of the world with people trying to talk to me in Chinese giving me weird looks everywhere I go!!! But it all part of the experience I have blisters on my hands from griping the handle bar to hard on my feet from riding and walking … I ride so fast that then the stopping hurts. But all smiles went to the mall to experience that Upstairs was like a department store and downstairs was like a Wal-mart. We walked around the streets around the mall and then came home after trying dumplings at the street market we headed home:)

Teacher Andrea :) who looks like Shirley Temple with brown hair

Well I have been in Hualien Taiwan for a week :)

My hair has taken a costumed to the humidity and rain so I have the tight curls in my hair. The start of every class I say Good Morning Class and they say Good Morning Teacher Andrea We love you !!!! I tell them I love you too!!! And hold the peace sign they laugh it is big thing here :) what a week getting to know all the children and their names!!! Trying to discover what they know and don’t know only just the start of journey over the next six months. I love the kids there are three classes 3 three year olds 4 year olds and 5 year olds. This is a day in my world … I am just starting to sleep through the night.. and not wake up the middle of the night a great start to begin. So I start about 6 to 6:30 and turn on the switch for warm water.. You need to wait 10 to 15 minutes to then you have warm water for a shower it’s wonderful !!! Then I read my scriptures pray and start my day;) breakfast has been eggs or toast and fruit. I start teaching at 9:00 am there are three classrooms green, orange and yellow. I teach in the orange first for 20 min. then I move to green and teach another 20 min and last to the yellow. The order I route is 5 year olds 4 then 3. then I have a 40 minute break while they play. Then I go to the orange classroom and stay for an hour and half. I am going to teach language arts to the kidos. So I have each class 30 minutes this time 5 year olds then 3 year old and then 4 year olds. Then it’s lunch time !!! I help get the tables set up and part of their bed cots with sleeping bags or blankets etc.. I eat what they have cooked and it all tastes great curry, noodles, fried rice, dumplings. The children eat and then take naps. We take a break too!!! This week it was planning and preparing.. Then you teach a mix of all the ages for 45 minutes twice. And then you are done for that part of the day :)
My first week has been very rainy pouring down as I went to sleep many nights. The kids were not able to go outside and play three of the five days so they had tramped up energy. The sounds that I go to sleep hearing dogs and more dogs trash trucks that sound like the ice cream truck coming and fireworks and sometimes planes.

Coming to Taiwan

I think that it is only fitting that I name this title this Coming to Taiwan :)

I left Phoenix well I was planned to take off at 8:05 am but the airplane had some computer problems so we were on the plane waiting about 25 to 30 minutes waiting I was tried so I sleep and asked my neighbor why we delayed. I got to LAX late but had all the time in the world there because I did not take off until 3:15 pm. I took at shuttle after getting my luggage well I got off at wrong place so I did a little walking until I got to the right place. It was about 10 am and well the plane doesn’t take off for awhile. The airline I traveled on only comes out and has signs etc three hours before you board. I went and found a place to sit down and rest. I will tell you I lugged around my luggage just fine it was not the easiest nor the funniest thing to do but I did it!!! It is much easier then you travel with someone else going into bathrooms etc... with them are not the most convenient thing to do :) I needed to get my last meal in America at Mc Donald’s a Big Mac meal that was the only American place on the international side of the airport. Then headed to first floor elevators are great. I stood in line want seemed like forever but I want to get the luggage off my hands ASAP. Then I made some money exchange in LAX airport before I left!!! I got better at taking everything out my carry on bag laptop etc… still slow but I had time ;) shoes on and off again jacket I was not beeped or waned. I waited at the gate for awhile tried to rest went to the bathroom with all my belongings... The whole time it has been hard because I have no watch or phone so time all run together now...

Boarding a plane so big I had no idea the process business, elite, economy classes. I still wonder how many were on the plane. I sat on aisle seat with only one other person to my right in the window seat. Then we could not put back the chair the bathroom wall was right there behind us. We took off and got in the air we watched a video about safety and then came around with slippers for us!!! to ware and take off are shoes if we wanted. I watched three movies Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Shark Tales and Michael Jackson movie too!!! Made my mix of music I took a lot from the children lists. They serve dinner I chose chicken and rice salad, fruit and Grandma Cookies. They would bring drinks every once and while. I didn’t except for them to wheel a chart around selling things from their catalog but they did and girl next to me bought some things. She also wore a mask part of the time to idea if they wear them because they are sick or are preventing getting sick :) She was nice we did not talk a lot she did know some English. I tracked the plane to see where we were on the compass that showed you. About 9:45 pm they feed us breakfast weird yes but I was grateful omelet, yogurt, sausage, hash browns and juice. The food was not bad I was hungry but no complaints from me. We landed I walked off the plane and felt the humidity in the air. You then had to stand in line from immigration and show your passport etc..

Then I stood in line to get my luggage again I swear it felt like it was then last to come out. The football and basketball tags saved me thanks Mom :) They had charts that you could get for free a family have up theirs to give to me I could not leave my belongings. It was lifesaver I found the calling card and purchased it to call and then called. Then the bus ticket was in different place but I got down there and when I could not find the money I exchanged so I went to the bathroom I was sweating like crazy it was there I was just mess it been going, going non stop for me !!! I got the bus ticket and rode the bus for an hour :) to the train station. Then I needed to get a taxi well the driver did not speak English I wanted him to call Yu Ling he did not want to listen but, that Chinese part on paper saved me ;) We got to the temple and well then he called and she came out to get me. It was 12:30 when I got there !!! Everyone was sleeping I tried to sleep but I am all messed up with sleeping times. I left Arizona its what I felt I had doing the last few days sleep, sleep, and sleep. I woke up it was Saturday and they wanted us to do a temple session so I did at 10 am it started late. Taipei is a huge city of two billion people everyone wants to live in the city. Scooters are big they seem more important then cars. The streets are narrow and I don’t know how they park etc.. Mom I think I know one reason why you not like to travel in big cities and traffic. Lol. The temple I had earphones that I could hear English :) I got back with 15 minutes to change and pack again. Then we were taken to the train station again to take a train to Hualien three hour train ride. We had to grab some sweet bread and water and head on the train. The country side is amazing it’s beautiful. We were picked up and we went to a store to buy food etc... I am grateful Beth has been here before I was clueless as to want to buy etc...

Then we were brought to our home for the next six months. The bikes we needed a lock and I need to get the bike fixed so I can ride it :) They already have enough tampons to last forever. I don’t know why they told me to bring them. grrr. grr. It was not cleaned very well for us either but we made do :) We had pork dumpling for dinner they were yummy and even ate them with chop sticks. Then Beth and I chatted I found out all about her family. She loves blogs so she is going help me out!!! I am only going to send it to family and close friends for awhile heaven knows all the mistakes I am making. I went to bed with sound of rain pouring. I woke up to something but have to idea what time it is because my alarm clock I left in AZ and my camera which I am most sad about in Utah :( My internet doesn’t work on my computer at the moment so I type and save on jump drive. Church was at 8:30 am I am excited that leaves the afternoon and evening to write and read catch up :) I walked and Beth rode the bike J not far Relief Society is first I had to laugh it was on eternal marriage crazy it made laugh because I have been tensed non stop about it sense I told people I was going to Taiwan. Sunday school the Elders translated for us I guess we will do lessons for RS and Sunday school from the same manual. Sacrament Meeting it was fast and testimony meeting. I sang the songs in English it was great then one lady came up to me and asked if I was in the Liahona because I looked like the lady in article :) A The old branch president family drove me home. I have tried to take a nap studied scriptures and writing you this long entry of coming to Taiwan!!! in 2010