Hey everyone!
So, since this has become a once a month thing, I'll catch you up on the rest of my March and all of April...
It's been mostly uneventful, but also very busy. The most exciting things in the second half of March (so, after my mom left) were an afternoon of volleyball and a trip to Kaoshiung. Kaoshiung is the second largest city in Taiwan, and Nick and I made the weekend trip with a few of his coworkers. On Saturday night, we went to a dance club, where we all discovered how old we're getting. The dancing was fun, but there were tons of people and lots of smoke (back in the good old days, I never even noticed those things!). On Sunday, we went to the Kaoshiung "Dream Mall" in hopes of finding me an outfit for a wedding. We had lunch at TGIFridays, a much welcomed and needed break from Taiwanese food, and spent the rest of the day looking at clothes that were about two sizes too small for me. That was a highly frustrating experience because, by Taiwanese standards, I'm HUGE! : ) (It was a bit of a shot to the old ego, but I've since rebounded - and revamped my workout routine.) Then, we went for a ferry ride on the Love River, and headed home. It was a fun weekend, all in all, and it's always fun and interesting to see a new town.
At the beginning of April, Nick's "brother" and now "sister-in-law" got married. (A bit of explanation is needed here, seeing as Nick is an only child. When Nick's mom was getting her master's degree at the University of Oklahoma several years ago, she met a brother and sister from Taiwan and kind of took them in and they became like family to Nick's family. They call Nick their brother. While I don't get along with the sister the greatest, the brother, Ginget, and his wife, Yisan, are two of the kindest and greatest people I've ever met. Nick is living with them in their family's house now, here in Chiayi.) Anyway... Yisan asked me to be a "bridesmaid" (different thing here) and Nick was a "groomsman" for the wedding. It was really interesting to see a traditional Taiwanese wedding, and we were both really happy to be a part of their day.
Last weekend, we made a trip to Taichung (another bigger city) to spend the day with one of Nick's students and her family before she headed off to the US for 6 months. We went hiking (pictures below) and went to Chili's for dinner (ANYONE STARTING TO SEE A TREND HERE???????). It was really great, and nice to hang out with her. We have been lucky enough to make some really wonderful friends in his adult students, and we're sad to see them all start to head off in separate directions now.
Another new development in the last couple of weeks has been that Nick and I came to a mutual decision that he will be staying in Taiwan for another year while I come back and start grad school. He really loves his job and just isn't ready to leave it. He's finally found something that he's really passionate about doing, and he's really happy. I know it's important for him to get to explore that, just like it's important for me to start grad school. I fully support him in this decision, and hope that the year apart makes us stronger together, and even more certain about what we want from each other. I'm confident that it will. (Remember this when I'm crying to you next year about how much I miss him... : ) We're going to take a short trip together before I come home, so that will be wonderful. I'm thinking: laying on a beach somewhere all day, drinking fruity drinks, and walking the beach at night... Doesn't sound half bad, right?
I have been missing my family and friends and home a lot recently, but am trying HARD to take one day at a time, and enjoy what I've got while I've got it. I found a great little gym across town, which has been my savior. I've been working really hard to get back in shape, and am just about back to the shape I was in when I left (Taiwan has reeked havoc on my appearance in every way - think helmet hair from riding a scooter around, no gym facility until now, and hot and humid weather - BAD combination!!!) Now, I'm going to keep working hard and see what happens! : )
Well, I guess for an "uneventful" last month and a half, I sure had a lot to say... There's a lot coming up that I'll have to tell you about next time: Nick and I are planning a weekend trip to Kenting, a beach resort city in the south of Taiwan. I can't wait - it will feel absolutely wonderful to do nothing but lay on the beach for two days (another trend, anyone?).
Only about 3 and a half months until I come home (my tentative arrival date in Omaha is August 18th). Can't wait to see you all!
As always, with love from Taiwan,
Katie
Sorry - pictures
#1 Nick and I at the wedding
#2 Ginget and Yisan on their wedding day
#3 hiking in Taichung
#4 Nick and his student, Veronica, who is in Boston now, then L.A. - she's hillarious, I love that girl...
#5 with Nick, after a day of hiking and SWEATING MY BUTT OFF!!!!!!!!!
