A Great Day

I haven't been in the mindset to really blog the last week or so. I've been cranky and frankly, no one would have really wanted to read anything I wrote, so I saved your eyes and my fingers the effort. Yay for efficiency. Right? Right.

So when orientation ended yesterday I set the reset button. I went home, and treated myself to some Pizza Hut and spent the rest of the evening and most of today chilling out alone in my room while I reset myself and sorted things out.

Things that you've missed since my last update:
• 中山国小 (Zhong Shan Guo Xiao in pinyin)
• My co-teachers will be Yvonne and Richard
• I will be teaching grades 4 and 5
• On Thursday I will move into one of the 雪山 (Xue Shan) apartments with Brittni and Carolyn

Tuesday I'll be taking the written test for the 50 CC scooter. I did manage to get back on the scooter after the accident with my foot. It's a learning experience. I also plan to better acquaint myself with the wonderful world of bicycling (after the move...no sense in hauling it out here and hauling it back to Yilan City).

Today I started looking at options for what to do when the Fulbright ends in June. I've thought about teaching elsewhere overseas or maybe trying to get a job with the Department of State or AIT. When I looked at teaching abroad my first instinct was Bermuda--it's close to home and I have family there. I slowly found myself drifting back towards Asia. When I realized I was looking at listings in Taiwan, I knew that I was going to be okay here.

I went out tonight to a little dumpling place by the super market that was pretty good...and I now know the word for shrimp and won't be ordering that particular dish again--I do however know where to get awesome dumplings in Luodong. After that, Courtney and I went to the stationary store and bought calligraphy brushes, practice paper, stroke guides, an ink stone, a pestle to grind the ink stone on...and went back home to attempt to become great calligraphers. You can tackle any mountain...an inch at a time.

Feeling much better about life, the universe, and everything, I'm ready to call it a night with a smile on my face.