I made It

Since today is the Dragon Boat Festival, I made delicious rice wrapped in bamboo leaves(種子). It was so difficult to learn, But I finally made it. It is so good and delicious. Alan had a great time in doing that but at the same time, everything was really messy.

Dragon Boat Festival 端午節

Today is the Taiwanese national holiday, it is the Dragon Festival (端午節). This special day, we need to eat rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. This holiday is occurring on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday originated and celebrated in China. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. They will divide into teams, each team will have thier own leader. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat racing to reach the finish end first.

According to Mid Magazine,"The boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional customs to attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. Chinese citizens now throw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water. Therefore the fish could eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating tzungtzu and rice dumplings. "

The celebration is a time for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. It is done so by different practices such as hanging healthy herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions, and displaying portraits of evil's nemesis, Chung Kuei. If one manages to stand an egg on it's end at exactly 12:00 noon, the following year will be a lucky one.

The Dragon Boats

The boats can be up to 120 feet in length with depth of about two and a half feet crewed by up to 40 paddlers. There is very little freeboard and a boat can easily become swamped. A large drum located in the middle or stern of the boat is beaten to maintain the paddlers rhythm.The bow of the boat is decorated with a dragon's head and the stern with its tail. These are detachable, and when the boat is not in use, are often kept in the local temple, reflecting the religious significance of the festival.

Special Food

To this day the Chinese people all over the world, even where there are no dragon boat races, celebrate the festival by eating the specially prepared glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves (種子).

Terminating Employees

This week has been a terrible week for some of my coworkers. At my school, they are cutting more than half teachers, it will be only three of us will be teaching next year. This situation made some people very upset. They are worried where to go and where to teach. I felt so sorry for them.

Another Appointment With My School Principal.

Today, at 11:00 A.M. was my appointment with my school principal. She was talking to me about my teaching and how students think about me as a teacher. The school gave the survey to each students and they can write what they think about their teachers. The result of my performance in the classroom were great. Students like what I am doing in my class. They gave me in the first place.

I am so happy that I can continue teaching at Sheng-Kung Girl's High School for next year. Without knowing, I am in the first place. As compared to the last semester, I was in the second place. This means I improved. Now, what worries me is that I need to make the conversation class more interesting and I need to see what kind of materials are good for junior ones and twos. I am hopping with the change and with all of my hard work, I can get a good result in my teaching and importantly, I am hopping my students will like the way I am doing things.

Eight Entire Hours of Teaching

Today Tuesday, I have been teaching for entire long day. It was 8 classes long in a day. I was so tired, I never had that much class before. Wenesday, we have vacation. I am glad we have vacation because I am so tired, but I break the record in my school. None of the teachers had entire 8 hours of teaching before. After returning to my house, finally, I could take a rest, I could sleep for a while and I could spend time with my son and my husband.

My Poor Alan

Alan started with his final test already. Tomorrow May, 30th, 2006, he will have his first Chinese listening test units 9 and 10. Alan was studying very hard and he was crying because it is a lot to study. At the same time, Alan has extra classes like math, piano, and drawing. Practically, he is really busy. My poor baby cannot play and he just seat there and study and study. Unlike American children who can play after school.

The education system in Taiwan is very competitive. Parents compete with other parents in the same classroom. In Alan's class, every one Studies very hard. There's 51 students in Alan's class and 25 people can get 100 out of 100. Even I practice with Alan and teach him what he do not know, he cannot get 100 out of 100. Alan just got 90's. For me 90's is great for this little poor child in all eight subjects.

Alan is in the first grade only and his school tests one time 8 subjects. Total he has 9 subjects, but only 8 is for testing only. It is still a lot for little kids and they will have a lot of pressures already.

Appointment With The Principal

Camille called me today and she said that our school principal wants to talk to me tomorrow at 11 A.M. I am so afraid, I do not know what I did wrong. I am so afraid that tomorrow she will fired me. She did fire Ronald today, he was very sad. Ronald is a good teacher but he has some positives and negative sides. I do not know what happen to Rich, he was kind of different. I am hopping that tomorrow everything will turned out ok for me. I am hopping to hear good things of course. If I cannot continue at Sheng-Kung, I will continue my higher education, I will get PhD. My dream is to buy a bigger house with everything I need. Right now I just need to work and work hard for that.

Final Test

Alan's final test is approaching. He will start tomorrow may, 30th, 2006 with his Chinese and it will continue until June 15th, 2006. Alan needs to study very hard from now on. He won't have more vacation to spend. Now, not only him will get tired, but also I will get tired with him too. However, our hard work will end up very soon. I am just hopping the result of his final test will be great as the same as the last one.

Janice's Commencement

After hard working at university life, Janice, my cosin from my mom's side has graduated from college already. She is graphic designer major, so she should get a great job in her future. Also, she is working from home creating DVD's, homepages, editing and more. She earns a lot of money making these things which she is very good with computer. It is so valuable after spending so many years at San Francisco University of Graphic Designer. My uncle and my aunt must be very proud of her.

More pictures of Janice Commencement

Talking To The Principal

I am so excited to go to Australia, but I cannot bring Alan with me. I went to talk to the principal and she says no. After talking to her, she is right in one thing. I need a vacation and I need to be alone for a while. Sometimes is better to be aways from home and be in other place. My husband and a child will miss me very much.

A Spanish Teacher

I got this e-mail from my coworker and I thought it was very funny, so I decided to publish into my blog.

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. "House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa." "Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lapiz." A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?" Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"), because: 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic; 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else; 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it. (THIS GETS BETTER!)

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computador"), because: 1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on; 2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves; 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model. The women won.

Choosing A Car

My husband and I were looking for a bigger car. I wan to buy kind of jeep. However, here in Taiwan, the price of a car is so expensive. I like RAV4, Toyota, and David likes Subaru. Also, he likes outlander, Mitsubishi.

Toyota, RAV4

This is a very funny propaganda of RAV4. The just got married couple seemed to love each other but because of wonderful RAV4 car, they want to kill each other, too.

Ice Sculptures

I was teaching for the entire morning, finally I can seat for a while and relax for a little bit. During my relaxation, I got an e-mail from my cousin Ruth, who send me a lot of pictures of ice sculptures. They are so nice and cute. It is just amazing how human beigns can do a such nice and wonderful work.

Another Day, Another Week Of Teaching

It is another week already. It is like the weekend is not enough for me. It was very short weekend where I was working and working all the time. After comming back to school, it is like my job is not finifhed. I have to do a lot of work and teach for a long day. I feel vacation is too short with a lots of work at the same time.

Delicious Steak

We finished the church, Alan and I left church and we went to the Taichun's market to buy what we need. After comming back from Taichun to Tainan, we were so hungry, we did not even had lunch in Taichun. We went ot eat steak house. This is a big place in terms of a country side. There's a salad bar, ice cream, coffee, juice place, main course area, soup area and there's a place where people can cook thier own noodles.

This place is so cool for every one. Alan loves this place because he can cook, he can prepare his own fruits, he can have lots of fun. Both of us ate a lot and we did not eat anything for dinner. After ariving home, David left evything dirty, so I decided to clean my entire house. Also, Alan's piano is comming and we need to find a space for it. Alan and I cleaned and cleaned, both of us are sweat and tired. After the hard work, we had a clean house. It is so comfortable, also, I made some decorations in my house.

More Wonderful Food

Rest Area in Taiwan

Alan and I were so tired while we drive to Taichun. We decided to eat and take a rest in the rest area near Taichun. The rest area has everything that a person needed. There's a bathroom, restaurant, street booth food, play area for children and there's a pound of flowers and fish. It is good to see the nature and the mountain in the city. Alan enjoyed playing basketball with the machine. This rest area is very close to Yuan-Lin (員林). Yuan-Lin is kind of small town closer to Taichun. My car doen't have cruise control. I need a car which has a cruse control, it is so tirering to drive in a long distance.

Arriving To Taichun

After teaching at Sheng-Kung Girl's High School, I departured right away to taichun, but first I had to stop at RT-Mart to buy cookies and chicken for my grandma. She likes cookies and chicken, also I gave her $6,000 NT for her to buy anything she likes. After doing shopping, we drive right away to Taichun. It was a long trip, I was so tired and sleepy at the same time. After arriving to my grandma's house, it was so difficult ot find a parking space. I put my car under the ground for $200 NT dollars overnight. It is ok not too expensive. In the early morning, I moved my car to the free street parking. It was so stressful to find a parking space. I do not know what happen, I think the Taiwanese government should have a better control in parking cars on the street.

Grandma's House!

Today Saturday, it is the third Saturday of the month, so we have to go to school and teach. It is half day of class today. I have to teach for half day and after that I am driving to Taichun (台中)to see my grandma and Alan's great-grandma. She is so happy that we are going back today. Every time when I went back, I did not know what she likes to eat, so I will give her 6,000 NT for her to buy anything that she likes to eat. Also, Alan can practice his piano. I am planning to move my in-law's piano from Taipei to Tainan for Alan to practice at home.

Sheng-Kung's Human Resource Office

Yesterday, I went to ask to the teacher secretary that if I could bring Alan to the Aurstalia trip. She told me that in the past there's a teacher who brought her son into the trip. She thinks there's not a problem. I have an appointment with the principal and I am hopping that she will say yes, so I can bring Alan with me. My poor baby was crying all night long. He wants go to with me to see and hold koalas. If Alan can go with me, there's will be much fun.

Typhoon Day In Tainan, Taiwan

Today is the Typhoon day with a lotd of winds. In Tainan city and county, there's no class. Alan and I were sleeping until 8 A.M. In the windy day, we decided to go to have breakfast at McDonald's. After eating, we went back home and pick up my in-law parents to have lunch at Matow. First we went to buy some food and then we went to have lunch, "rice bowl," it is very delicious, but I was not very hungry, so I just had only soup. Alan had a great day and he really enjoyed his one day off of school.

Chanchu Is Approaching (珍珠颱風)

This morning, when I went to my school to teach. It was a big rain storm. I could not see when I was driving. At the noon time, the weather was very very hot. The weather changed when I picked up my son and Came back to Sigang.


This year's typhoon is Chanchu. Chanchu is approaching to the Island of Penghu (澎湖) and Island of Kinmen (金門). Everyone should check with your school before going to work tomorrow, Thursday may 18th, 2006. Usually, the typhoon will come from Taipei (台北) all the way down to Tainan (台南).


I am just hopping everything will not be destroyed. Also, I am hopping, tomorrow won't be a school day. Please also take care of small children as well as adults and more importantly do not go outside.

Brighton - Australia 布里斯班

This morning, after teaching, I came back to my office, I saw a note that the school Sheng -Kung's principal wanted to talk to me. I was so scared, at that time, I did not know what I did wrong in my teaching job. I was so nervous, I called the principal and she told me to go upstairs to see her. She saw me and she said, "I have a good news for you." She is going to send me to Australia, Brighton. When I got that news, I was so exciting and I was so happy, my heart was very very happy. We have 22 days to be in Australia and there's a lot of programs and studies for us to be there. We will visit the city, go to thier restaurants, visit koala zoo and more.

This year, the international study program will be three groups total. Two groups for Australia, one group is Brighton-Brisbane (布 里 斯 本) another group is Adelaide (阿得雷德．墨爾本) and the third group will go to Edinburgh, Britain (愛丁堡) and London (倫敦). In Brisbane, Australia, we will be at Nudgee International College. In Adelaide group, they will be at Charles Campbell Secondary Schoool and the England group will be at Basil Paterson Edinburgh.

I am hopping everything will be fine in my group. Also, I am hopping my team will come back to Taiwan very successful. I am hopping that stududents will understand what I said and followed my suggestions. There's no words to express my happiness for this trip. Unfortunately, I cannot bring Alan in this trip. Alan will cry and he will miss me, as well I will miss him too.

Here is the schedule of our trip to Australia and England.

Brighton - Bribane, Australia (布里斯本)

Edinburgh, Britain (愛丁堡) and London (倫敦)

Adelaide (阿得雷德．墨爾本)

Jujube 棗子

Before the Chinese New Year, my husband, Alan and I went to Ping Tung to see Jujube place. The Jujube place was own by David's classmate's brother - in - law. it is a huge place with a lot of green trees with a lot of green fruits. This fruit is called Jujube in English and in Chinese is 棗子. Personally, I like jujube a lot. I bought a lot of boxes for everyone in my office. Also, the principal and the vice principal got one big box. Alan enjoyed to be at jujube farm.

Funfest 園遊會

On Saturday, May 13th, 2006 was Alan's school's Funfest (園遊會). This was the first time for Alan to enjoy his own school's Funfest. He had been to my school, at the begining of year 2006. He went to Sheng-Kung's Funfest (園遊會). My school's Funfest was held on satudrday and every single class was preparing very well thier roles. Every class was very unique because every single calss was wearing something different. Seniors classes were doing better. Thier outfits were very authentic and they were enthusiastic in playing games with everyone.

Also, at Alan's school, two classes were putting together one booth. Parents of each class were helping to sale thier stuffs. Children were outside playing with others and some of them were inside of the classroom watching TV. It was great day because Alan was enjoying with his friends. Also, Alan was very nice because he was waiting patiently for me to pick him up. Alan is a good boy, he always listens to me and sometimes he makes me angry.

Mother's Day

May 14th, 2006 was mother's day in Taiwan and all over the world. This year's Mother's Day, Alan gave me a lot of presents. He made cards with his little hands, he bought roses with his own money and he bought panda (toy) for me. Also, he wanted to buy shoes and cloth for me. I told my baby that he needs how to save money. Alan is in the first grade and he knows what to give me for mother's day. I also, bought small cake and give $6,000 NT red envelop to my mother -in- law.

During mother's day, Jorda invited me to her house for lunch. It was nice and great lunch. It was also the day taht Sigan people would Send off Regent. In this day, there were a lot of people everywere. It was extremely difficult to drive, but I had a great time.

Fun Pictures

Sending Off The Regent

Every three years in Sigang, the entire village will send off the regent. Sigang receives most of the praises among the temple festivals with patrol marching, which implement “the regent” in command, from the Taiwanese public. No matter if it is about the occasion or impetus, time, or history, it can be placed as the best of all; especially, the royal ship ceremony.

The greatest feature of the royal-ship ceremony in Taiwan is the regent patrolling held in between ‘ inviting the regent” and ‘ sending off the regent.” In around the Donggang River zone, they call the regent patrolling held between ‘ inviting of the regent” and ‘ the sending off of the regent” as a “ welcoming for the regent” and in Zengwen River zone, they call it “ the incense festival” or “cruising through the villages.” The flare-ups of both locations are all very competitive; regarding Zengwen River zone, the incense festival of Chingan Temple in Sigang is the one place with the greatest cast among the areas in this zone and also the temple with longest history and shortest interruption. The people and events that it affects are broad and deep, presenting the public vitality, so vigorous and vast that it can be regarded as one of the greatest spectacles in southern Taiwan.

When people send away, they will have performances. At 5:00 A.M. people will start to dance and sing or perform karate in the street. The performance can be good and sometimes it can be really bad and boring. It depends on what kind of people is performing what.

On the streets in the Sigang Village, they will have decorations of traditional Chinese lanterns. Each lantern will represent each house. If there's ten houses in one street then, it will have ten lanterns. During at night, it can be pretty and colorful. Also, during these short three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), people will sale food, little things for decoration, books, clothes, and more. People will come all over the viallge to stay in our Sigang Village.

Even Thursday morening, when I was going to my school, there's a lot of traffics already. Even tonight when I was comming back, the traffic is very very tight. I do not want to think what will happen tomorrow morning and evening. I will bring Alan to the Sigang downtown to see the show, see things around what they are salling and eat something. I think tomorrow night, Alan and I will have a lot of fun.

More than that, one of the traditions is that each house has to inviate thier best friends or families for dinner or lunch. Most of Taiwanese people in my Village, they will prefer to invite thier friends for lunch not dinner. In my case, Sunday, I will go to my coworker's house (Joda) for lunch. She invited Alan and I.

Piano Lessons Tonight

Again, Alan is having is piano lessons. The teacher told me that he is improving a lot. He could listen to the music notes in the piano and he could recognize which note is which. It is so wonderful to see how my own son is learning and improving at the same time. I am happy!

The Hard Work Is Finished!

After weeks of study, finally, Alan can take R and R. He can run, eat, and watch TV but not for a long time. Tomorrow, during lunch time, I will pick him up and I will bring him to eat KFC. I am hopping, he will like it.


I am so proud of Alan, he got 9o's in his tests. Compared to the last test, he got 70 - 80's and only one 90. This time he should get the price for his hard work. This is a good mother's day present for me, I am so happy for him.

First Time Homeroom Teacher

Because of new comers, they settle me to be one day homeroom teacher. I am the homeroom teacher for the Junior One A. I am so excited about it. I took pictures and my son Alan was with me today. I picked him from the fun feast at his school.

Fun Pictures

After a Hard Study

Finally, after a hard study and work, Alan could take a rest tonight. Today, he will be finishing his esams. He will finish with reading and math. We woke up at 5:00 A.M. to study math. Alan will have math test today, he is not good at math but when I say something to him, he will understand. At shcool when he asnwer the test by himself, he turned out empty head. I do not know where his brain goes. He will asnwer some of them wrong and some of them write.

In the Taiwanese tests, specially in his school, it is extremely difficult. The child should understand sentences in Chinese to be able to do math. The question is are they testing him reading comprehension or solving problems? For some people, math can be both and for others math is only one type, "Problem Solving." That could be an arguemnet. I am hopping Alan can do okay and I am hopping he will understand everything written in his math test.

Monitoring The Exam

Today, our school started montly exam. I have to monitor eight exams in three days. That's a lot. Monitoring the exam can be boring but is better than teaching because I do not have to say any word. I just have to give to them exams and they will start to answer, af ter asnwering, I have to collect it. That is a easy job!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

In the past two weeks, I was too busy doing my own thing and prepare Alan for exams. This week is almost turn to the end, and Alan will have his last two tests. After that, Alan can be ok and he can relax for a while.

Meanwhile, our school started exams, this week, I have to grade exams. I have 500 students and I have 500 tests to grade. i will be very very busy. I want to finishing grading by Friday, so I can relax and be with Alan, he is my baby honey.

I got Another Year Contract

Today, I just signed the new contract with my school. I will be at the same school for another year. This year's contract doesn't look the same as last year's contract.

Bununn Cultural Educational Foundation, 布農文教基金會

The past weekend, Miso, the head of English Department went to a Bunun Cultural Educational Foundation; in Chinese is called 布農文教基金會. This place is located in Tai-Tung up to the mountains. This organization is foundaded by the native mountain Taiwanese.

Over there, you will not only enjoy native people's singing and the church but also, you will enjoy the nature and the hot spring. They have cabins, hotel and camping sites. there's a lot of choices for people who like something different. Also, you can overnight and learn more about thier lives.

When Miso came back, she was talking to be how wonderful is that place and also she brought a DVD for me to see. After watching the DVD, I really want to go over there. I am hopping one day, David will bring me to Tai-Tung.

I recovered It!

I was typing in Chinese all night long for the cultivating talents. Last night, I went to sleep at 3:00 in the morning. When I arrived to school, I did not feel right, I really want to go to sleep but I am really busy today because I have most of my classes. I am really tired, I had to fix my file before giving to the administrator, downstair people. My senior one students came to help me during thier sweeping time. They finished typing and suddenly, the computer did not save the file. I am in trouble, I did not know what to do, but I had to go to teach.

When I came back home, I had to retype everything again. I spend a lot of time doing Chinese typing. It is kind of wasting my time. But I am glad that after this, I can take a little bit of rest, it is too much stress for me in these days. Finally, I will be able to handle to the office tomorrow morning.