I'm Back!

So I got back from Taiwan Monday night after 17 hours of travel. It was a long Monday. But now that I am back I am completely back(I miss Taiwan, but I can't think about that now). I have a triathlon this Saturday that I have not trained for at all. So I have some work to do this week. I've been swimming twice and I need to run and bike. I haven't been on a bike in over a month, so when 25 miles comes Saturday I think I might die. No, seriously I might die...I'll keep my cell phone with me just in case! The run will be hard too, but I did run while I was in Taiwan, so hopefully that won't be quite as difficult. We'll see.

I have also been to work already. Yesterday I had to sign my contract, sign up for insurance and meet with my principal. I start work on Monday and I have nothing ready. I will be doing a summer school with the 2nd grade Chinese dual Immersion at my school. I am pretty excited, but I don't think I am ready. The Chinese is there, but teaching 7 year olds in Chinese and dealing with their lack of understanding. I wonder how many will be crying? I'll keep a count!

The following week I will being doing the same thing with the 1st graders (the ones that will actually be in my class this year). I know they will be having a hard time because they haven't had any exposure to Chinese. I will be praying for patience.

Then I have a week to prepare for the rest of the year. Life is crazy...busy and I love it. I have learned that all I need to do is hit the ground running and never stop.

My Final Blog From Taiwan

You know, it is crazy...I have already been in Taiwan 3 weeks. It went so fast and I don't think I am ready to go home. I need another couple months. Don't get me wrong there are some things I do miss...American bathrooms, soft beds, not sweating all day long, my family...but when I am in America there are things I miss about Taiwan...the people, the food, how green it is... It seems odd to love two places so much, but I do. Too bad they are so far apart.

Lots of good things have happened while I have been here. I have been able to reconnect with people I love, I have been able to go to the temple twice, I have been able to eat some amazing food (which of course caused me to gain weight...oops!), I've seen new places in Taiwan, and revisited places I already knew I loved. I've met husbands, and babies and fiances and new friends. I even went on a date. It was fun, and he was nice guy. I even made a bet since I've been here. Really not all that surprising for those who know me, but this bet has nothing to do with exercise or food. I made a bet with one of my new members that who ever got married first me or her, the other one would have to attend the temple ceremony. Yep, I might be returning to Taiwan sooner than expected...well unless I win, then she gets to come visit me. That would be even better. I will certainly miss this place. It is my home. Well, one of my homes!

Here are some pictures from the last few days!

Me and Xiao Yen on a scooter - the only way to get around!

The Qiu Family (the family I am stay with)

Me and Mei Zhun!

Me and my Companion Sister Liang (and Liangs baby) and Zhang Jing Jie

Me and Zhen Yi and Gao Fang Zi and a wind park on the ocean!

Me with Wu You's parents! She makes the best shui jiaos!

Me and my date!

Me and one angry god.

Me and Liao Shu Hui.

So, there are some pictures of some great people. I am glad they are a part of my life. So, long...from Taiwan!

Puli

So, no pictures because I don't have my computer with me, but Puli has been awesome. I went to Sun Moon Lake both this morning and this evening and it was beautiful. I love being in the mountains and around a lake. The things is...every sign says NO SWIMMING. Once again that is totally LAME!

The date is not happening until Saturday, so no news yet...we will see what I tell you all anyway! Later gator!

One Long Day

So I woke up this morning thinking I was going to spend the day in Puli with Mandy (the one who spend Christmas with my family while I was on my mission). Well she called me before I went to the bus station and asked if I wanted to go to Miaoli and Xin Zhu first and then go to Puli. I really didn't care. I just wanted to hang out with her. Well it turned out to be the whole day. I was stuck in the car all day with people I didn't know. I knew Mandy, but that was it and we were lost most of the time. It all ended well though. I got a good dinner and now I am in Puli. Originally I was supposed to go back to Miaoli today, but for some reason I let Taiwanese people make decision for me and I am now spending the next two days in Puli. It should be fun. We are going to a beautiful lake and a buddhist temple. I think I have seen most of Taiwan by now! I don't have my computer with me so I can't show the lastest pictures, but they will come on Friday...I think. I hope everyone is having a good time and if you see Nanna wish her a happy birthday for me. Ohhh... and get this, I have a date on Saturday....how do you like that. These Taiwanese really think I need to get married and they are doing everything they can to speed the process along. hahahahaha;)

I promised some pictures, so here they come...

A beautiful lake in Hua Lien!

The girl who took me to Hua Lien. Actually, here is a cool story... When I was a missionary here, she was one of the investigators that got baptized. Well she is marrying the son of a couple of investigators my mission president baptized 30 years ago. Kind of cool how things can interconnect!
So there are rock beaches rather than sandy beaches. Kind of fun, but more difficult to play on. Plus there is no swimming in the ocean here. Taiwanese people are typically very afraid of the water.
Ok, so anyone who knows me, knows some day I will have a mini cooper, but I just wanted to give everyone a look at the car that started this fascination, and it is a ton cheaper...too bad they don't sell this car in the states:( I love this car!
This is what a city in Taiwan looks like. This isn't even a big city, it is just a small to middle sized one. The roads are small and there are tons of people everywhere.
So, those are some pictures, I hope you enjoy! This place is wonderful. The heat is still hard to get used to, but the people make it worth it. They are so nice. The Chinese is coming, not as quickly as I would like, but faster than it should be.

I might not be able to write again until Thursday night, so don't get worried, I am just traveling to another city for a couple days to see some more friends. Love you.

On Vacation

Coming to Taiwan is a vacation in and of itself, but to tell you the truth...last week I went on 2 more vacations. I went down to southern Taiwan and visited an old mission companion. It was fun, but much to the distress of my older sister I did not use the internet. I am sorry Carlye:( I am back for today and tomorrow, but then I am going on another two vacations!

The other place I went was Hua Lian. I have been told since my mission that it is the prettiest part of Taiwan. I might agree. Yesterday we went to the ocean, and then a river and lastly to a lake up in the mountains. It seriously is beautiful! Last night I went to a traditional aboriginal dance. It amazes me that no matter where I am in the world, the aboriginese of that area reflect the aboriginese I have seen in every other part of the world. I love it. And get this, I got up and danced with them.

Being in Taiwan changes me. It is crazy. When I come here I revert back to patterns I had as a missionary. For example Taiwanese are much more touchy than I am, but I know when I am here I will not go anywhere without holding a friends hand or arm. At first I am unaccustomed to it, but then it becomes natural again. I love being here and becoming the person I do when I am here. I am such a better person in every way while I am around these people.

Tomorrow I will add some great pictures, until then, Tessa.

Oh, and Carlye I fly in on Monday July 26th around 7PM I think. I'm not sure about the time. I will see if someone else can pick me up. No problem.

I'm Back Again!

Have I stated how wonderful Taiwanese people are. If not, they are. They are some of the greatest people I have ever met. I come to Taiwan, they let me stay in their house, they give me a cell phone to use while I am here, they feed me, make sure I always have something to do, they help me with my mandarin and they simply take care of me. They are wonderful!

I have been here almost a week and guess who came to speak at a fireside? President Uchtdorf! Crazy right, the first week I am in Taiwan and a general authority comes to speak. I think that is kind of awesome. He spoke so fast I think the translators tongue must have gotten tired. There were times he didn't even wait for the translator to finish. It was great! He said one thing that I really agree with...when you return to your mission it feels like you are returning home. As I have been walking around I have been thinking the same thing. When I am in Taiwan I don't feel like I am in a foreign country. I feel like I am home...it is just a different home. So, I have two homes!

I also got to go to the temple on Saturday and walk around TaiPei. I ran into one of my old companions and now I am going to go stay with her for a couple of days starting tomorrow. This has been a great start to my vacation....

Someone Might Like This...

So, when I was in Taiwan before there were some things I got used to, but now I see them and although it doesn't bother me, it is still crazy! I went to a market today with Sister Qiu and found a cute dress for my sister, and then I saw all of this! I have more pictures of the food, but let's be honest most of you don't want to see them.

While in America I forgot how many things they have here. This is just one example of shoes, they have it for everything. Sometimes they are cheap sometimes they are not. If there is anything you might be wanting from Taiwan, let me know and I will see what I can do!

Until next time, Tessa

I should get an award!

Day 3 in Taiwan and I am blogging again. It is so strange to have the time and a computer to use for blogging. As the title says, I should get an award...Jenny you should be proud! So, the sickness has gone away (it must have been a 24 hour thing), but my stomach is still a little queazy... I can't really eat all that much...I don't think that's a big deal though.

Anyway, today I went running at 5:30 in the morning and I seriously thought I was going to melt. I have never sweat that much in my life...I did get some good pictures though! I would like to delete the last one, but I am too lazy to figure out how.

I have arrived!

So, I was sitting on the plane thinking, what if my bus doesn't pick me up...what will I do? I got totally anxious, but let me tell you that everything worked out great! I got picked up from the airport, drove only an hour to Miao Li (where I will be staying for the most part), and arrived at my friends house. I have to say that the Qiu Family are some of the greatest people I know! With all my anxiety about being in Taiwan again, they made me right at home.

I got into Miao Li around 7:30 and then went with Sister Qiu to a Melaluaca introductory meeting (all day). Random right, but they had some pretty cool products...I used there shampoo last night and my hair is super soft...I think it's a keeper. We returned around 8:00PM and I had dinner, showered and went over to the church to see two of my greatest friends...Jia Pei and Xiao Yen! I was super tired, so I didn't stay long, but we planned to see each other today!

Everything was going so well until I woke up at 12:00AM and started puking and having the runs. Definitely not my favorite....it lasted until 6:30 (and I think it only stopped because I finally told the Qiu family and they gave me some medicine. I have slept most of the day today with out a problem. I can't believe I got sick, but hopefully today will be the last of it and I can start working on my Chinese tomorrow. We'll see! I'll write again soon. Love you all. Tessa

The Airport

I am truly off to Taiwan. Sitting in the Salt Lake Airport waiting for my flight. It is Sunday at 6:50 PM and I won't arrive in Taiwan until Tuesday at 6:00AM. I don't know how I will be able to sit for that many hours in a row. I might die!

Beginning of the Summer

My SUMMER began with an incredible trip to Lake Powell with my family! (ALL 19 of us!). It was wonderful. To have a family that gets along so well that we can hang out on a houseboat for 5 days (without any escapes) and still not want to go home. I feel totally blessed! During this trip we enjoyed tubing, wake boarding, skiing, hiking, pirate treasure hunts, wake skating, hiking and much more. It was an adventure!

When we got back from Powell, I packed up and began moving. To my much disappointment I had to move to my brothers house until I get back from Taiwan and then I get to move it all over again to my new house where I will be living with Carlye (my sister) and Michelle. Lucky me!

The following Monday I began my Dual Immersion conferences. They lasted for almost two weeks. That is a lot of Chinese all at once! It was very overwhelming and frustrating and an acknowledgement of the amount of work this next year will require. I should have been practicing my Chinese for the last 5 years, but lets be honest...I'm LAZY! Now I get to pay for it. YAY!

I have to say that through these conferences I have met some great people, felt inspired and learned a lot. I am excited for this coming school year! I get to leave for Taiwan tomorrow for three weeks and I am really hoping that it will help my Chinese improve to a level I find acceptable. So, I will write soon, but it will be coming from Taiwan!