La mei

I know it's been a long time since I've added anything new, and there are many important things that have happened over the last couple of months. But for me, this one is at the top of my list: I was out for my usual Wednesday evening post-stressful school day run, when I passed a man in his late 40s. He gave me a big smile and said "Oooohhh! La mei!" Directly translated, that means "spicy girl" or something like hot girl, loosely translated. : ) Talk about a self-esteem booster!!! (I do, of course, realize that this same man did not see me AFTER my run, looking much less spicy and much more sweaty, but obviously, I don't care.)

Anyway, BESIDES that extremely news-worthy event, there has actually been a lot that's happened since my last blog. I've been to Taipei twice, once over Chinese New Year with Nick, and once when my mom came to visit. Both times were totally different and great. When Nick and I went, it was a very laid back week. We did lots of walking around, ate plenty of American food (think Chilis, Macaroni Grill, Subway), lots of shopping (not buying), and stopped in at some of the important sights like the National Palace Museum (http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/home.htm) and Taipei 101 (http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/Tower/index_tower.asp). Mostly, we just spent a lot of time relaxing, which was much needed and wonderful!
My mom came to Taiwan about 3 weeks after Chinese New Year was over (about two weeks ago from today), and I met her in Taipei. We spent 3 days there, in a whirlwind, sightseeing, shopping, eating, and doing very little resting. We had a really good time, though, I mostly just enjoyed seeing her! After Taipei, she came back to Chiayi with me for about a week to see how I live here. She got to meet all of my friends and coworkers, and I showed her around town. She was very adventurous in trying all sorts of new foods - many of which I won't try (think chicken feet and something called "stinky tofu"). She also came to school with me and met all of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) students : ) We had a really nice time together, and I think she enjoyed meeting all of the extremely kind and generous people that Nick and I are lucky enough to be friends with here.
While my mom was here, a VERY exciting thing happened for me (and her, actually...). I found out that I was accepted to the University of Nebraska Anthropology Graduate program!!! This is something I've wanted for a long time, and I was (and still am!) so excited and relieved that it's actually coming true. UNL's program is excellent, and exactly what I wanted, as they have a very well-respected staff with a great reputation for placing their graduate students into top PhD programs. I also feel happy that I get to go back to Lincoln for a couple of years. After spending a year away, it will be nice to be home, even if it's only for a while.
So, I've written a WHOLE lot now, and I think I've caught you up on mostly everything that's new with me (new is a relative term, of course).
I hope you're all well, and would love to hear from you soon!

As always,

Katie

Welcome 2008!

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their New Year's Eve and their day of rest afterwards.
After work on New Year's Eve, Nick and I went out to the home of a couple of my coworkers to ring in the New Year. When midnight hit, it was a whirlwind of action - shooting bottle rockets off the balcony of the apartment (everything is legal in Taiwan), drinking champagne, watching fireworks from across the lake. In the midst of the (fun) chaos, time sort of slowed down for me... I'm celebrating New Year's Eve in a completely different country, and am lucky enough to be on this great adventure, with so many exciting possibilities ahead.
I've spent some of my time over the last month being homesick, missing my family, and missing Christmastime at home. But, with the end of the holiday season comes the beginning of a new year. One to enjoy and explore, where anything can happen, and one to celebrate. I'm not saying I won't be homesick, or miss my family (or my kitties), because I'm sure there will be times when I do. But, I'm saying that I'm happy that last year brought me to Taiwan, and I'm ready for this year to start. I'm ready to have fun and enjoy the freedom of being young.
I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, because they're often forgotten by the second or third week of January. This year, instead, I will set goals for myself. I plan to spend the next few days (or maybe months) deciding what those are, specifically. But... to name a few:
#1 Be accepted to anthropology graduate school for the Fall 2008 semester.
#2 Become more serious and committed to running and yoga (both the keys to my inner peace, I believe).
(side note: more concrete goals to come)
#3 Take better care of myself, physically and emotionally. I need to treat myself with love and compassion, and simply just stop being so hard on myself!
and...
#4 (and most important) When I hit a bump in the road, I want to remember what I felt like at midnight this New Year's Eve. Luckily, I have all of you to help remind me of that.
I hope this finds you all happy and well, and I wish you the very best in 2008.
Much love,
Katie

p.s. These pictures are from my New Year's celebration!

Shocking!

The two artistic bones that I have in my body worked together to make this Christmas tree picture for the classroom. The kids each made their own ornament to hang on the tree. They also made stockings to hang on the wall, and wrote their Christmas wish lists. We decorated the rest of the classroom together with some shiny garland. Quite a good time, and the classroom looks so pretty I don't want to take it all down!

Pictures from the Christmas party

Picture #1 Mark from the kindergarten class (he's a cutie!)
Picture #2 Two of my girls playing one of the Christmas games
Picture #3 All of the afternoon classes and their teachers, bosses, secretaries... Give or take a few.
Picture #4 Me with my class
Picture #5 My kids doing their song and dance (Away In a Manger)

Pictures!

A couple of Nick's students took us up to a sort of amusement park/tourist location outside of Chiayi. We had a good time!

Quickie

I'll post a new blog this weekend to let you all know what I've been up to over the last month. I've been SOOO busy, so I've really been doing badly on this blog thing for the last two months! Anyway, I hope you all are doing well, and watch for a new post after this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

First, I should make an amendment to my last post... The pictures go: Vivian, Christine, Samuel, Kitty. Christine is the cutest and sweetest little thing and I could take her and her sister home forever! : )
So, I have survived my first major holiday away from my family! Those of you who know me well know that's quite a feat for me. It wasn't easy, and I'm sure Christmas will be much harder, so I'm bracing myself now...
I did have some turkey rice and a pumpkin muffin on Thanksgiving Day, so I still remained festive! : ) Also, Nick and I are going to celebrate together tomorrow. I'm going to make some chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, maybe green beans in the make-shift kitchen in my apartment and there's a place here to buy pies, so the meal will be complete! It should be nice. I'm so happy I have him here because it certainly made it much easier to miss the family gathering.
So, in the true spirit of the holiday, let me say how thankful I am to have a wonderful family who loves and supports me, and who I miss very much. I am thankful for Nick who makes makes me laugh and who lets me be myself (for better or for worse). I am thankful for my friends who are great people and whose words of encouragement and support keep me going sometimes and who I love hearing from. And last, but far from least, I am thankful for this opportunity that I've been given to experience a new culture and to learn about myself and find what I'm really made of.
I hope everyone had a great holiday and I hope to hear from you all soon!

Love,

Katie