update

Ok so I realise and apologies for the fact that I haven't updated this for SERIOUSLY long. I have no excuse except that November passed in a blur, I actually can't remember too much of it. There are two note worthy things that happened. The first being a school staff outing to Tainan. Which was really great and I plan on putting a post up about it in the next few days. The other is that got a new job...WHOOP WHOOP! not a new job as in I left the other one, but I got a new part time job. And its quite a cool story. I have been praying that God would provide a way for me to make more money, because although I am slowly pegging away at my loan, I have battling to save to much for other things like a laptop and my visit from Simon. Separately I have been praying that I could find something to do in the evenings after work. My problem is that I have been finishing work at 7.00pm which is too late to do anything, because all my friends live a good 40 minutes away, but its too early to go to bed.

Well God answer both my prayers together. I went to the hairdresser 3 weekends ago (it was a pretty good cut, and the R30 massage was AWESOME! Anyway while there the lady next to me started speaking to me, which might sound normal to you but in Ching Shuei, having someone sit next to you who speaks English is unique. Anyway so we started talking and she said that her and her husband have been looking for an English tutor. And just like that I got a job. The pay is the same as the school. And its every evening for an hour - although sometimes its more. The best thing about this job, besides the extra money - of course - is that I am getting to really experience Taiwanese Culture. Spencer's family has lived in Ching Shuei for the last 100 years or more. Already they have introduced me to so many interesting aspects of Taiwanese life.

So thank you Lord for killing two birds with one, really attractive stone! I am loving this job, its SO SO great to be teaching adults. I only realised how much I missed it when I started teaching them again. All the classes are basically just conversations...THAT I'M GETTING PAID FOR!! Of course, I do preparation and I do approach it all with learning in mind, but all round its alot of fun!

So those are the two significant events in November. I'll put the Tainan post and pictures up sometime this weekend.

Bakwa Buddah Mountain

Two weekends ago Nandi and I hopped onto our scooters and drove an hour and a half to Chunghua. It was a cool drive, although our motivation wasn't the drive it was the mountain. More specifically the HUGE buddah on top of the mountain named Bakwa.

Changhua city is in Changhua county...I'm in Ching Shuei City in TaiChung County if you were wondering...so I crossed boundaries

Anyway the whole experience was REALLY cool. The Buddha was impressive as was the whole park. There is also a MASSIVE temple up there and it has really intricate details on all the pillars. The whole thing is really impressive,with the attention to detail.


A few interesting things worth commenting on. Its a moderate walk to the top of the mountain, and all along the steps to the tops there are vendors selling food and stuff... the picture shows the Chinese idea of GOOD PADKOS... good times.

Also you can go inside the buddah and look through its eyes to see the view, but unfortunately that part was closed, i nearly snuck across the red tape, but then some people came. And I couldn't think of a way to explain my 'not understanding red tape'.

After we were tired of the Bakwa Buddha we went and had sushi at Carefour... it was incredible. R7.50 a plate, for any plate, even if it was piled with caviare. Too great.

After that we made our tired way home at dusk... got lost but thankfully Nandi managed to figure it out. I had never travelled in that direction so it was all foreign to me.

Ok this is overly late, but better late then never.

A few weeks ago was moon festival. This is a Chinese festival and coming together is celebrated. It runs on a lunar month so its when the moon is full and round, also signifying unity. Apparently all family members try to be together at this time and people normally BBQ as they say... or just braai. People also give gifts and everyone eats moon-cakes, which are cakes that are round and have special fillings... some are especially yucky and others especially nice.

I got quite a stash from my kids which is really cool.


The Pomelo is the official fruit of moon festival, the kids wear them as hats and they do all sorts of crazy things with them. Also there is this really cool vibe and atmosphere, everyone is happy and excited... it was very cool


This is a kid with the whole pomelo thing going on. Her name is Sherry, I teach her, she is only 3!!! All the teachers love her, i think she looks like a monkey, a cute monkey, but monkey nonetheless.

Ghost Month

In Chinese Culture there is a lunar month called ghost month (it was in Sep this year) when the gates of the after world are open and the dead visit the living. During this month Chinese people will burn LOTS of 'God Money', (which is money you buy from shops near the temples and which is thought to be currency in the afterlife) they also leave out food for the ghosts so that they feel welcome. You will see people burning all sorts of things in these little drums outside their houses (so be warned if you ever visit Taiwan those little ornate drums are not rubbish bins)

Obviously there are a whole pile of superstitions that go with that, like no whistling because whistling attracts the ghosts and children are not left alone because ghosts will sometimes 'take' children with them when they leave.

So on the last day of Ghost month when the 'Gates close' the temples put out HUGE amounts of food, and there is incense burning EVERYWHERE and there are all sorts of things going on. All of this is set up in the street... so the road is just closed off... interesting.

Its all really interesting and a little weird. Please don't quote me on this description because its only what I've been told and seen, I keep on meaning to research the actual festival but haven't had a chance yet. (Terrible historian, I know)There are tons more photos on facebook.

Teacher gifts

The Taiwanese sweets/things I got

So the Chinese kids and parents like to give their teachers gifts. I'm not complaining its a great way to experience their culture. So far I have been given these Taiwanese 'sweets' or 'pudding' I dont know what to call it cos its not like anything I have had before. I guess sort of like Turkish delight in texture but not in flavour. I'll find out the name and add it later. Also been given yams, milk, forrero rochers and chips. Its quite fun getting random gifts from your kids I wont lie.