A Day at the Beach

As Kalan mentioned earlier, last Saturday we went the beach with Ben and Beth. It was a refreshing day for all of us.





Also, last week, we received our first package from our Green Bay family! I was SO excited when it arrived!



Contents included popcorn, rice cakes, and coffee nips (some favorites I had been missing), a sun dress I had forgotten at home, pictures of our families and friends, letters from both my sisters, and some plastic forks (which really made us laugh, and actually have been quite useful!) It was packed in a nice black and white box that I am using for storage. Thanks Dad, Mom, Natalie, and Grace!



As I type this, I can hear Kalan in the other room trying to catch our newest pet...a little lizard that has found his way into our bedroom. The other day, one also jumped out of my bicycle basket as I was riding. They are really small and rather cute.

This coming weekend, we are going on a missionary retreat with some other foreign workers as well as Taiwanese believers. The purpose of the retreat is to learn more about Taiwanese culture and increase unity among the foreigners and Taiwanese people in our church. I am really looking forward to it. More stories and pictures to come!

Finally Sick of Taiwan

This weekend treated me (Kalan) rather like a skitzophrenic. On Friday night, Kayt and I hung out with Ben and Beth for a late dinner, made plans to lead the English Prayer Meeting on Sunday and hit up the night market for a 12:30 a.m. bubble tea-I still love the night life. The adventures continued on Saturday with a day at the beach. We traveled as far north as possible on the Metro before catching a bus to a coastal town.

I have never loved the beach because I always leave feeling dirty, sweaty and sunburned. This beach trip proved the exception to the rule. Large-grain sand kept sand out of unwanted places, a nice breeze and cool day helped me enjoy the water as more than an escape from scorching sand and Taiwanese sunscreen could protect an albino in the Sahara.

Mood-swings took full effect the next day. The highs of Friday and Saturday disappeared and a brutal Sunday took their place. I woke up with a headache, fever, sore throat and runny nose: Hello sinus infection, glad you could join us today! We proceeded to attend church, lead the English Prayer meeting, have lunch and two hours of Chinese class. Other than my awesome wife and the $6 prescription drugs I purchased (without a prescription) from the pharmacy, the day gave few highlights.

But, a morning off of work and numerous "prescription" pills later, I find myself greatly improved.

English in Asia

I (Kalan) haven’t posted anything in quite some time in spite of the fact that a lot has happened. Although business may have overwhelmed my creative impulses, I suspect I have actually had a case of “Idontwanttoblogocitice”. Thankfully my symptoms have almost entirely disappeared.
Returning to school marks the biggest event of my week. For the first time in my life I stepped into the classroom as a teacher instead of a student. I teach kindergarten every morning from 9-12. Each class includes the young-learner requirements of naptime, snack, ten minutes of exercise (a.k.a. running around the room in a single file line), ball tossing, play break and lunch. Unfortunately I also have to squeeze in reading, grammar, phonics and English. Each subject lasts for 45 minutes and teach three subjects a day.
At 12 O’clock I step out of the classroom for my break before returning to teach older children in the afternoon. Like the morning classes, I teach English, Grammar, Phonics and Reading but each subject corresponds to a different group of students and the students vary in ages and ability. The new semester begins on Monday and will bring a set schedule through the end of January. More to come on work as it develops…

Things I Like About Taiwan, Part Two

Maokong: playing games at the mountain tea houses for hours


Red Bean and Taro Shaved Ice: our new favorite dessert (yes, it IS a dessert! That is sweetened condensed milk on top.)


New friends: (from left) Kelley, Kikki, me, Beatrice, Chloe, Yuko


Tall buildings: this is Taipei 101, the second-tallest building in the world


My job: last week I taught a summer art class


My students: on Friday I took them on a field trip to an art museum, and it was so fun!


A new place to dry our clothes: our clothes were starting to smell like food (since we were drying them in the kitchen), so I finally got the courage to hang them outside our window. We live in the third floor, but so far none have fallen off.


My amazing husband: I am so thankful to have him here with me. He is such an encourager, a hard-worker, a good listener, and a fellow adventurer.

The Longshan Temple

Saturday we visited the Longshan Temple, considered by many Taiwanese to be the "most powerful" temple in the city.


People come to the temple to worship a variety of Buddhist, Taoist, and folk deities such as Matsu.


Perhaps because it is still Ghost month, the temple was quite busy. I saw an old man with a tattered shirt piously chanting prayers next to a young man in a business suit, holding an incense stick in one hand and his cell phone in the other. People of all kinds worship together at the temple.


As we walked among the worshipers, food sacrifices, and incense smoke, we were overcome with feelings we didn't expect. Instead of talking, we spent most of our time in prayer. May Jesus continue to draw more Taiwanese people to Himself, and transform this beautiful country for His glory.

-Kayt

Our New Home: a Video Tour

Finally...you can see what our apartment looks like! It came fully furnished, so I just added a little decoration to make it feel like home. We love having our own place and especially enjoy having friends over to eat, hang out, and play games. We are living in the Da'an district of Taipei, and our address is:

台北市金山南路1段89巷8號3樓台灣

(Yes, I'm serious...I still don't know how to write it or say it! Hopefully soon...)

Ghost Month

Lately as I've been out walking, I've noticed many more sacrifices than usual in the streets. The reason? It is Ghost Month here in Taiwan. Here are some quick facts I received from a missionary friend:

What is Ghost month?
Ghost month always occurs during the seventh lunar month (usually August for us Westerners). During this month, the Chinese believe that ghosts and spirits, including those of the dead ancestors, come out from the lower realm and roam the earth. On the fifteenth day of the month ("Ghost Day"), the deceased are believed to visit the living.


What happens during Ghost month?

During Ghost month, the Chinese perform extra acts of worship to honor their ancestors and appease the spirits. They prepare ritualistic food offerings, burn incense, and burn and joss paper (papier-mache form of material items such as clothes and other goods for the visiting spirits). Elaborate meals are served with empty seats for each of the deceased, and miniature paper boats and lanterns are released on rivers to guide lost spirits.



All over Taiwan, Ghost month is regarded with a great deal of superstition.