3rd Place in Volleyball tournament

I somehow became the coach of the 7th grade girls' voleyball team a few weeks ago and took a bunch of students up to Taipei last weekend for an all day tournament at Taipei American school. Four teachers and about 40 students took a 5-hour bus ride up to Taipei on Friday and we spent the night on the floor of a school's gymnasium. On Saturday, the day of the tournament, there were 6 schools from all over Taiwan and there were 99 games played over the course of the day. The kids had a great time and my team won third place in the tournament (out of 12 schools). Fortunately, when we left Taipei on Saturday evening, the kids were so tired that they slept oo the bus. A really fun but completely exhausting weekend. I really bonded with many of my students and have already seen the positive effects in my classroom. Photos below of my silly, quirky and weirdo children.

ISHOU volleyball tourney oct 2012

Feeling Challenged and Tired

I am, at the moment, questioning my decision to move here. Not because I am unhappy. But because I am overwhelmed by so many new things all at once. There is so much paperwork over the next few weeks that my school requires and it takes away from my ability to plan great lessons for my students. I am in the process of making friends and don't yet have levels of intimacy with people as I did back home, which is to be expected. I am realizing some people I thought I could be friends with are crazy and others that I wrote off are actually pretty cool. Each day is new but the excitement is becoming tiring. I miss being able to just be comfortable in my surroundings. I wanted to move abroad because I wanted to challenge myself. I am certainly being challenged in many great ways but, at the moment, it feels pretty overwhelming. I do not regret my decision but I await when my life is a little more settled here. Love you!

i was a cheerleader in my previous life

this past Saturday-ISHOU School Anniversary Day. House Teams Competition School Mascot too much fun!! in one of the activities, the teachers got to throw water balloons at their students. i kept pegging my students and getting them soaked. after dozens of my students were hit, they all teamed up against me and chased me around the field. i dodged many balloons but 20-something to 1 is not a fair competition. i left the anniversary day drenched from head to toe. it was great fun! some photos of my wonderful students and me.

school anniversary 2012

A day in the life of a teacher

Student: Teechah. I-hahve-ah da blahda een my-ah nohsah. I-ah goh-ah to da nursah.

Me: (looking up student's nose and only seeing crusted blood):  I do not see any blood coming down.

(Student exhales only through his nose, spraying his nose blood all over my shirt).

Me: Ewwww, Isaac! Okay, go to the nurse.