To start this blog off, i am going to quickly tell you about the last thing that has just happened or the most recent event in my life. I just paid 300NT or $9 for the best hair cut ever (sorry Lorrie). The actual hair cut looks ok, but the lady was fast and precise, which also included a shampoo with a long head rub/massage and finished by rinsing my hair and giving me a shoulder, arm, and hand massage. she has some magic little fingers. haha
So back on track with the main story. December started as any other month with lots of school work and group projects coming closer to their deadlines. A friend of mine has asked me to substitute for 3 weeks while he went back to Canada for the holiday's so it he showed me the two school where i would be teaching which are both about 20mins scooter ride from campus. Tuesdays and Thursdays i would teach at a new elementary school from 4:30-6 then have to rush back for class at 6:30 on my tuesdays and wednesdays i would teach a soccer class for kids about 4-6yrs old who are all really cute and just funny to watch as they try to kick the ball that is almost at there knee's. I started December 16th substituting and it has been easy money so far (well once i get paid the last day). The kids at the school where i teach english are not motivated what so ever to try to learn, but i can not blame them because they go to school from 7:50am - 6pm and even 8 or 9pm for some students taking extra classes. They are also the typical lil brats since they are from rich families and allowed to do whatever, and they only want to play a game called "Big Two's" which is a card game and pretty boring if you ask me. so its pretty much a joke everytime i go and the soccer classes i just have to entertain 12 kids for 1 hr a week which is a lot harder than i thought it would be since they have the attention span of about 3 minutes so its always hard to come up with another drill that they could possibly try to do since they are so young and just want to run in circles or pick their noses. haha
My MOM class has the FORD project we are working on and have the chance to win our group of 6 $20,000NT which is almost $500 and from the looks of our groups rough draft, we seem to be the favorite pick by the Ford Manager Jesse who is helping us create an Automotive industry plan the Taiwan Government can put into place which is based a lot off of the Australian Auto Industry plan their government has put in place. My group is looking at new technologies and alternative fuels which would best fit Taiwan. I am researching Bioethanol fuel made from sugarcane which Taiwan was one of the Largest sugarcane producers in the 50's and 60's so the possibilities of becoming a mass producer to support a new biofuel economy seems reachable to me.
A big highlight of this month was our IMBA Kenting and Taitung trip where we only stayed in Kenting for one night and left in the early morning, but ended up being a very wild and late night/early morning from having a few drinks at a bar/dancers (not naked ones, sorry guys) and then a fire on the beach and late night dip in the pacific ocean. It was one of those nights where you have to just cut yourself off and head to bed which was around 3:30am and wake up at 7:30am to leave for Taitung. We visited Taitung University and the head professors gave a speech and just introduced their school. Kenting is the Southern most point or close to it of Taiwan and Taitung is on the East coast which is very beautiful and they do not allow commercial developers so its very clean and just beautiful views every where you look. The school their over looks the ocean which is a pretty site to see. After the school we went to visit a farm that had some horses and cows and even a sled ride down a large hill where some people were rolling round hay bails just for fun which their hands. haha it was a hot tourist spot their surrounded by mountains and their main selling product was milk, milk ice cream, and other healthy snacks. The pictures that will be loaded from this trip will back up my story so far of all the natural beauty. So that night we stayed at another hotel that had some natural hot springs (not as cool or nice as in Green Island) but still relaxing. I did not drink this night given the fact i was pretty hammered as you could put it the night before. After our dinner was a very interesting show put on by two russian girls our professors hired at a KTV or karaoke bar. Well the owner was creepy enough and i dont have pictures of this place, but the girls ended up being strippers, but kept their small outfits on due to the presence of a few young children of parents in our program. I was very shocked to see our entertainment provided and later found out it was acceptable and very common to have strippers at weddings, parties, and even funerals. So you can see the reason i was so shocked because this would NEVER be allowed or happen especially at a wedding or a funeral. But a fun fact to know.
The next day we left early again and i was able to get a good nights sleep with no drinking and prepare myself for the bike ride which was 11K or just over 6 miles. This was for me the best part of the trip because it was exercising and i had a plane ride in a mini plane for about 20mins and $30 dollors or 1000NT. I was very very hesitant at first, but did not want to pass up the chance to see a birds eye view of such a beautiful place and for such a cheap price. There was not need for any documents to sign or waviers, just got a helmet and jacket and took flight. I finally relaxed about halfway through the flight and then became scared again when he was coming in low and fast (to fast to land) until i realized it was just a fly by and the landing came later. It was such a rush and great experience and i am glad i got up the nerve to take a ride. At the end of the big loop was a go-cart track where 8 of us battled for for glory. I did really well and would have had 2nd, but Pablo from Bolivia spun me out towards the end giving me no time to try and catch him. I dont blame him for wrecking me because there were no rules about bumping so i was trying to wreck everyone when i had the chance. haha rubbins racing....well that was the main points of the trip and was a great getaway from a busy month of work.
So xmas eve, i had sander and maria come over to my new apartment i moved into Dec. 17th and we cooked a big relaxing dinner and watched Fred Clause, a movie my mom sent me for xmas. I was able to skype the family on xmas eve and it was great to see everyones face since this is the first time i have been away from home for any holiday really, especially xmas and soon new years. Its really sad to be away from home, but its just one of the things i have to deal with for having this amazing trip so far in Taiwan. I woke up early the day after xmas to call home and chat with everyone again and i even got to call Amber who was at Uncle Jims with everyone and see that whole side of the family and share some laughs and quick stories. Also on Xmas i asked Nina to be my g/f and i am now in my first relationship over seas and i think things will be great with us. There is a language barrier, but it motivates me to learn more chinese and it gives me the chance to better her english so its a good tradeoff. She is very beautiful and nice and ill try to get some pictures of us soon.
Well this sums up my December and my head is still tingling from my hair cut earlier haha. I love all of you and want to wish everyone happy holidays again and ill be in touch.
Love Always,
Logan