Ashleyhughes’s Weblog

It’s been a while since I have updated…you know, the whole computer thing.  Well, I did finally get a laptop!  Now I just have to find a coffee shop where I can use free wireless, and I’m all set! 

On Sunday I went with Colleen to a church that I found online, and it was great.  We had so much fun and met a lot of local and foreign people.  The pastor invited us back to his house and we all watched the kind of scotland, which was a great movie.  I was out all day and after that a new friend helped me buy the laptop.  It has a lot of neat features to it. 

Just some random stuff again, I’m pretty scatter brained right now because I haven’t updated in a while!

-Yesterday I felt my calves and thought something wasn’t right….but then….wait!  Those were muscles!!!  They are getting huge, I’ve done far too much walking and running and stair climbing, and now it has all paid off.

-I forgot to mention that when the garbage men come down the street, they have a song playing really loud and it sounds like the ice cream truck.  I feel sorry for any American kids who come over here and run to find the stinky garbage men rather than their favorite ice cream.  (

-Oh, and the young Taiwanese guys are very trendy with their hair, they really wear it more stylish than most girls.  Kind of a layered cut going on there…a bit strange, but I’m sure they think we are strange too.

-And, I finally found out why I don’t see many white girls with Taiwanese guys….apparently they think American girls are “open.”  I would like to personally thank Britney Spears for that stereotype….now in order to defeat that I have to walk around in a turtle neck.  Thanks. 

-On the other hand, Western men in the 40’s-50’s come over here and pick up Taiwanese girls half their age without even trying…that just doesn’t seem fair!  Go figure.

-In conclusion, don’t worry, no dating for me…I don’t think anyone would like me over here, thanks to good ole’ Britney.  But that’s fine…I have plenty of other things I want to do here!

-Oh, one more interesting tidbit…so apparently Taiwan really liked the Backstreet boys, because pop is huge over here.  I can’t help but laugh when I watch the music videos!  Hilarious!

Hey Everyone!

So, I haven’t posted in a while, I have been very busy and haven’t had much access to a computer, I’m using a friend’s laptop right now which I am so thankful for. 

I was finally able to buy a cell phone, Mitch from Reach to Teach helped me buy it and did some negotiating.  For those of you who don’t know, Reach to Teach is the company that hired me to come over to Taiwan.  They almost operate like a temp agency and find a school to match my preference.  Here is the website for anyone who is interested in checking it out:

 http://www.reachtoteachrecruiting.com/

We usually have events at least once a month and meet other teachers from the area.  Recently, they held one at the Taiwan Beer Pub and I was able to meet other Americans and teachers from all over who are staying in Taiwan for a while.  It was so nice to speak English to other people as I sometimes feel lost here because of the language barrier.

 Right now there is a typhoon coming through that will be hitting at 3pm on Sunday, so not many people are out right now.  I had a bunch of plans today too…we’ll see what happens with that!  One thing that I want to do within the next few weeks is visit the aborigines.  There are still a few tribes left in the mountains, and I have to see them and get pictures!

While I’m on the language topic…I really feel the desire to dive into the Mandarin language.  A friend of mine (Colleen, who’s laptop I am using) suggested some people who she knew were interested in doing a language exchange.  Basically, they would teach me Mandarin, and I would teach them English.  We will hopefully get to meet up with them within the next few days.  I think my priority vocabulary words will be directions for the taxi, and how to order food! 

As far as my adventures go…the other day was amazing.  I went to the renai hospital to pick up my medical papers for school and decided to walk around outside to see if I could find a store that sold sheets (no, I still don’t have any and I have been in my apartment for about 5 days haha).  No such luck, but, I did end up walking a ways because I could see Taipei 101 from a distance and it just drew me in.  For those of you who don’t know, Taipei 101 held the record for the tallest building in the world until the recent Burj Dubai was built on 7-21-2007.  I just missed it!  So while I was walking toward 101, I went through the Sun Yat-sen memorial park, it was so beautiful!  There were statues everywhere and old people practicing yoga.  There was also a lake that I took some pictures of.  Well, I reached 101 and walked around, they had all designer stores, nothing I could afford!  When I got to the fifth floor I noticed the observatory section where people go up to the 89th floor and look, it costs $400 NT, which is about $15.  I ended up meeting people from Serbia and Jordan that were here for a while and we walked around for a bit.  They were all at the Grand Hotel with this pharmacy school event that they called congress and they were headed back home the next day.  It was neat talking to all of them, they were an interesting group…I was just glad to find someone who spoke English! 

As far as class goes, it has been a hectic schedule and I’m just trying to figure out a routine and lesson plan that won’t bore the kids.  I think I have nearly lost my voice from constantly yelling, “no talking, ” “be quiet” and “LISTEN!” For the most part the kids here are really good, but they tend to have a short attention span.  During the mornings I teach the younger kids from age 5-7, then in the afternoons I teach the older ones from age 7-10.  They are both interesting but I tend to like the older classes as they seem more laid back, and the kids can actually understand my jokes.  Oh, and in the school I have to change into my slippers, so that is a funny site for the kids….they point to my slippers and laugh because they are huge and fuzzy.  )   The dress code is pretty laid back here, I can wear jeans and a t-shirt which is nice. 

I’m all settled into my apartment, except for the sheets thing, I keep making my way to a night market and then something happens and I can’t go…the past two days the rain has stopped me.  When I moved in, I spent about an hour scrubbing down my bathroom.  I just found a shower curtain last night, and that made me so happy!    Before that I was getting discouraged because I kept having little things happen to me throughout the day that were so frustrating, but it all worked out okay.  Oh and hey!  I did my first load of laundry last night!  (How about that mom!)  I don’t have a dryer, so I had to hang all of my clothes all over my apartment to dry…wherever a knob was, that is where my jeans went.  Oh and let me say, the view is so beautiful, especially at night, you all will see from the slide show.  I am on the 19th floor!  In my complex, there is a game room, gym, swimming pool, and library.  I haven’t had time to check any of them out, but hopefully soon I will!  I feel so blessed to have found a nice place to live…God just gave me a peace about it and it was wonderful.  I got the lady to go down 500NT in the price too. 

Well, I’m heading to the shower and maybe plan out what I’m going to do today…not sure what because of the weather.  I’m hoping to go to this comedy club tonight that some comedian handed me the flyer of.  He was american and seemed thrilled to find us and said, well it’s all in English!  haha.  So, hopefully I will have time to write more soon.  Thanks for reading!  Love you all!

Click here to see the slideshow: http://www.slide.com/r/dlD1YCxN0j_6NN0wAQXVFKNCtS4NCq07?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Hi All!!

I just wanted to first thank everyone for leaving comments and taking the time to read my blog.  I love getting messages from everyone and I feel so thankful to have so many friends and family!

Well, I found an apartment and am moving in today.  I was beginning to get concerned that I wouldn’t find one and was constantly praying that God would give me a peace about where I needed to move.  I looked at a few and one was very nice, but I was not at peace and began to get discouraged…well the next day, I found one that was just right for me!  It is a studio with a big bathroom (which is NOT common over here) and it has a beautiful view of the city!!  It came furnished with a fridge, bed, desk, washer and more.  I definitely feel blessed, and it is only 10 minutes walking distance from school!  It is funny over here, I walk more than I ever thought I would, but it has become a way of life.  I laugh when I think about how LAZY I was back home!  Yesterday I worked an 11 hour day!  I have so much more energy here though because I am doing exactly what I love.  I am able to use my creativity in class with the kids, it is a wonderful thing.

Last Saturday I was able to meet some other Reach to Teach Teachers in Taipei, it was nice to be familiar with others as they are in the same circumstance.  I was just telling a friend that I know what it is like to be a minority now.  Granted, the Taiwanese are very friendly people, but it is that feeling you get when you walk down the street and people are staring, you can’t communicate with them, and you don’t know anyone!  I used to criticise people who didn’t speak English while in America…let’s just say I’m a little more sympathetic now.  I feel the need to dive into my Chinese and have been practicing it a lot more.  It is so frustrating when I can’t order food, take a taxi or a bus because of the language barrier.  I have so much more respect for people who have left their home to go to a new country and learn the language; it is not an easy task.  I have already been challenged in more ways than I thought I would, but my attitude has made up for any difficulties I may have.  I have become an optimist over here.  I can’t afford to be negative about anything.  Each day brings a new challenge, and I anxiously await the lesson that is about to be learned. 

One day I decided to walk through the city with a friend with a map and get more familiar with it..well, haha…that was a journey.  She went back home, and then I went on my way to meet a friend.  (I know, people tell me don’t go anywhere alone, but this is a very safe city, and has that reputation with everyone.  As a matter of fact, I think Palm Bay is more dangerous than Taiwan!)  So, I crossed the bridge and walked for what seemed like forever!  Just me and my map in hand…it was an amazing feeling!  Most people would be scared but I felt like I was at the top of the world!  After I crossed the bridge, I took a taxi (who didn’t speak any English) to the MRT, then met a friend in Guting.  I felt like I had climbed mount everist by the time I got there.  I was supposed to meet him in 20 minutes, but that turned into an hour!!  One thing is for sure, I definitely know the city and the MRT a lot better, and that is one reason why I decided to take that move on my own.  I will never learn how to get around here unless I navigate on my own with a map in hand.

Onto teaching…today was my second day of classes on my own.  I’m getting the hang of it.  I teach classes of all different ages ranging from 5-10.  I really love what I do and find that my creativity flows when under pressure!  By the end of each class, I feel as though I have accomplished something worthwhile.  I never understood people who aim for making money in life, that is their ultimate goal, to have a certain car or house or job.  Well, we can’t take those things with us when we die, and you can be utterly miserable with your mercedes.  No, forget the nice car, house, and fortune.  I want to travel the world and experience life to its fullest extent.  That is more valuable to me than any material thing on the planet.  There are so many countries that I want to see and live in, I can definitely picture myself making a career out of this.

Anyway, it is a wonderful feeling to know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, using the gifts that God has given me.  I have finally spread my wings…

Well, no such luck so far.  I’ve been sleeping on a friend’s couch for a few days since I got here.  I looked at a nice one a couple of days ago, and the shower was unbelievably tiny!  No joke.  If you were to turn on the shower, it would be hitting the toilet.  They don’t like to separate the showers from the rest of the bathroom here.  I have resigned myself to this sacrifice, but that one was just not enough showering space.  So the search continues.  I’ve looked at a couple more with someone who wants me to be her roommate, but honestly, I’ve decided that I want to live on my own for now.  So today, I’m moving into a friend’s apartment, she has 3 bedrooms and it is really cheap for her even though she is staying by herself.  I convinced her to let me use the empty bedroom and I will pay her.  So that is where I’m going today, then hopefully find my own studio soon. 

One thing I’ve noticed is that people tend to sugar coat things here.  You have to really focus on the fine print.  This one woman was bragging about this studio, turns out it was attached to her house and she was using a bookshelf on wheels in order to create “privacy.”  Not happening, no thanks. 

Last night I went to the night market with some friends.  It was very interesting!  It seems to be the place for food and shopping for most young people.  I’m telling you, the food here is a little scary, but I have to atleast try it once!!  In my pictures above, you will see the different types of things that are sold there.

Well, that is all that I have time for now, I’ve got to get ready for work!  I’ll keep you all posted some more later!

Hey Everyone!  I was hoping to get this up sooner, but I have been extremely busy the past few days.  I decided to keep a blog because referring everyone to this site is easier than writing the same thing to 10 different people.  So….where to start?

The flight-

 Was miserable.  I was only functioning on 3 hours of sleep for 3 days because of the level of my excitement!  I hit a road block at the Orlando Airport and thought I wasn’t going to make it, but it worked out.  I flew United to San Francisco and some lady bumped me out of my window seat!  Well, she had 3 kids and wanted to sit with them so I could have claimed it back, but would have looked like a jerk.  So I couldn’t sleep on that flight because I had no where to rest my head.  Then, I got to San Fran Airport and my flight to Taipei was delayed by 2 hours.  It was freezing in the airport!  Once again, no sleep.  Finally, I got onto the plane and was not too thrilled about being stuck in between two people.  I only caught minimal sleep on that flight and kept waking up everytime I felt frost bite.  They keep the plane below freezing level and give you this paper thin midget blanket that is supposed to keep you warm?  I finally had to use the bathroom and had an extended Chris Farley scene from Tommy boy…it was all too comical.  Reaching my destination, I wandered around the airport like a lost puppy until I found someone holding up a paper with my name on it.  And, no, he did not say “Ash-er-rey!”  Too bad…I needed a funny moment like that.  There was another teacher that helped me right away who was also in the car being picked up from the airport.

One thing I have noticed is that these foreign teachers are from all over the world: South Africa, Germany, Australia, U.S., etc.  It is an amazing thing to be around so many people who make traveling a living!  I feel like these people know exactly how I feel.  Some of them have been at it for more than 10 years teaching across the world!  They are very intellegent and informative.  So far, only a few Taiwanese have stopped me off of the street to ask me where I was from.  They seem to be very nice here.

Currently, I am staying with a few other teachers and looking for an apartment in the meantime.  I’m hoping to have one this weekend.  Everything here is super small though.  And dryers are unheard of, so I will be line drying all of my clothes!

I’ve been taking the MRT and bus throughout the city to get me to work and other places.  I would be lost without the friends who are helping me because of the language barrier. 

I LOVE the food here!  I had sushi the other day and it was excellent!  I also get a different kind of juice every day, you name the fruit, they have it!

As far as classes are concerned-I observed for a half day and was then thrown into substitute teaching on my second day!  I had barely any notice and had to wing it, but it was a wonderful experience.  I’m already falling for the kids here, they are so cute and have such amazing personalities.  I’m surprised at how much English they already know at age 6 or 7, they are extremely intelligent here.  The school I’m teaching at is private, and the parents pay a pretty penny to send them there.

Random facts-

 -I have not had a blow dryer since I’ve been here, all natural baby!

-I can’t flush the toilet paper.

-When on the bus, I have to give my seat up to an old person.

-Father’s day was August 8th- baba=father. ba= the number 8.

-I have been sweating more than I ever thought possible.

-My friend almost got run over by a scooter, and yes, I observed this.

-Our students are taught the word “poo poo” and tend to overuse it.

-I have seen a living dog…

-Apparently, dentists are not very popular here judging by the kids’ teeth.

-I have truly earned my nickname “Narky” seeing as I have fallen asleep during conversations every single day.  I have never felt so tired!