Reflections about teaching in Taiwan

I am 4 and a half weeks into school. I am teaching 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th grade math. Teaching in Taiwan has been a fascinating experience. I feel as though I am getting an upclose look as to how the hierarchical culture is ingrained from such a young age. While many of the students have been at this international bacalaureate (IB) school since a young age, it has been difficult for the students to adopt the culture of questioning and independence that the ideology of the IB purports. Oftentimes, my class-wide questions are met with silence. This is caused by a combination of not wanting to be wrong and lose face, feeling insecure about their English ability and not wanting to stand out. This last notion is wholly unfamiliar to me as a Saint Ann's alumna and teacher. I am trying to be extremely enthusiastic and open with the students so that they will feel comfortable asking me questions. It will be a challenge but I have already seen some progress. Here teachers are revered as gods and even the biggest clown in the class would not even think about questioning the decisions of the teacher. Along with that, the "clowns" maybe make one or two jokes and then get back to work. While there are certainly students who lack good work habits and do not fit into the stereotypical "Asian student" prototype, the majority of the kids care tremendously about understanding and getting ideas "right". Those who are slacking are the ones living in the dorms Monday through Friday and I am convinced they are not trying as a cry for their parents' attention. The school day is long, from 8-5, and I do not have my first vacation day until January. There are 210 school days a year and there is almost perfect attendance every day in each class. My students generally have strong math skill ability but have a very low level of understanding as to how all the pieces fit together and what the conceptual underlying ideas are. After school, most students go to buxibans, after schools where they get math and English language tutoring. These schools are mostly teacher-centeredd where the students get skill and drill. Students oftentimes do not get home until 8 or 9PM. Then they start their homework.

After a trying week, finding serenity and peace at Fo Guang Shan

This week was quite trying for me. After a student hacked onto my Facebook, I was feeling annoyed and violated. I thought this wasn't supposed to happen in Asia????? I guess 13 year old boys are little hornballs everywhere.

From Fo Guang Shan. Sept 2012

From Fo Guang Shan. Sept 2012

From Fo Guang Shan. Sept 2012

Spent Saturday at KHH's gay pride parade and the entire day today at Fo Gunang Shan, Taiwan's largest temple complex. The main temple houses some of Buddha's ashes and offers opportunities to get blessed. One of the monks invited my friends and me to look into the Buddha statue's eyes and then pick out a ball from box that had some words of wisdom on it that the Buddha tailored just for us. The advice I received from the Buddha today was, "A cause will become an effect, which in turn will become a cause. All dharmas are formed by the combination and unity of different causes and conditions." Gave me a lot of food for thought. Sue's friend brought her four-year old child that I played with all afternoon. She was so precious. Feeling rested and rejuvenated for tomorrow.

Fo Guang Shan. Sept 2012

Missing hugs from back home

My friend Derrick's wife just had a baby yesterday. Even though he lives in California and I only see him once every few years, I started to feel this deep sense of sadness about missing out of the lives of all of the people I love back home. Seeing pictures of my parents at a birthday party, looking happy and having a good time, reminded me how wonderful it is to have them as an active presence in my life. I talk to them on the phone regularly but I miss their hugs. Today is the first day that I have really missed being home. Sure it won't be the last but, to my family and friends, I love you all very much. Wish I could be there for all of your joys and all of your struggles. XOXO

I am now a Kaohsiung Rugger

Today another expat Melinda and I showed up for a rugby practice that happens around the corner from my house every Sunday. It is a Taiwanese women's team and, apparently, they play 7's (a less-popular game with 7 players, instead of the traditional 15) and they play against men in the 40 and over category because women's rugby teams are rare in Taiwan. Melinda had showed up to last week's practice and told the coach that I was coming this time around. When we arrived, he took down our ID cards and said he was going to put us in the register for the next game. The team is in desperate need of new players. We got our practice jerseys, team shorts, and a rugby ball keychain with the team's logo on it. I think the mascot is the WHALE.

From September 2012

It was a guys and gals scrimmage today and I completely got my butt kicked. I have not played rugby in 8 years, am out of shape and did not have cleats. I kept wiping out in the puddlse and got completely soaked.

From September 2012

Good times. Going to brush up on rugby rules this week and try to get in better shape before the game on the 29th of this month. Also starting pilates this monday. Classes are monday and thursday for the next month. MISS YOU ALL!! Click link below to see photos of highlights from this past month:

September 2012

Best Weekend So Far!

Met 4 of my 5 classes this week. The kids seem great and I am looking forward to working with them. One of the funniest parts of the week was when I tried to teach my students the word quadrilateral. Because the Rs, Ls and Ds are very breathy in Chinese, it sounded like each of my students was saying, "Qua-ri-ra-ruh-rur". Below is a photo of me on the first day.

From kaohsiung

The first day of school assembly started with a long winded speech by the principal where she made the students raise the left hands into the air and promise to say no to drugs and not not sexually harass anyone. Friday night- karaoke with a new friend of mine and his friends in the Taiwanese Navy.

From kaohsiung

From kaohsiung

Saturday- took the train to Tainan and explored the old city and the streets of the old town. Then went to a Taiwanese BBQ at a friend of a friend's house. Much better than an American BBQ. I ate chicken hearts, pig's blood, shrimp, slied beef, pork, bacon, tofu and lots of vegetables. Click on photo below to see pictures from my trip to Tainan.

Tainan