Just a quick one.
Here is my address. Everyone send me lots of wonderful things!!!!
Jonathan Joel Schanbacher
457 Dafung 2nd Road
Sanmin District
Kaohsiung, Taiwan ROC
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Something strange to see
So it's Sunday morning here in Taiwan. Moryam and I are hanging out at home now, probably will head to church around 5:30. English church is in the evening. Well, this week has had its ups and downs. For both of us, Thursday classes are the toughest. So its good whenever Friday morning hits. And yesterday we both had Saturday off, which was a nice change. So we were hanging out at donutes last evening, and we saw something strange. The wall of the building is made entirely of Plexiglas, and we heard explosions, and could see about a block a way, in the middle of the city, fireworks going off. We watched for a while, unable to see what exactly was going on because the view was obscured by the buildings. we figured the fireworks would stop after a little bit. They didn't. So we decided to check it out. We rode over there and ran into some ceremony/celebration. The people were lighting of tons of fireworks on the street. There were several men on stilts, and several men were carrying a shrine box on several sticks that look remarkably like the ark of the covenant. They were in the middle of the street, and they walked back and forth, almost dance like. Eventually, the fireworks finished, and they turned to go down a side street. But there was an archway above it, and someone lit hanging flame fir works that showered down sparks from the arch way. Them men with the shrine would walk up to the flames, stop, and walk back. They reaped these steps until the flames died, then they walked through.
Once through, figures with wild wooden faces and paper hair started dancing on the side street. Most of them had knives or swords or axes, but on had what looked like a ritual dagger. They danced around, getting uncomfortably close to the crowd with the knives. I saw several people jump back. Horns and drums were plain the whole time, and it was quite eerie. After they finished, the men with the shrine came forward and the ceremony was done.
From what I can make of it, my guess is that it was some sort of purification ceremony. I know that fire and water are two elements, at least for the Japanese, that are used for purification. I think there are a lot of similarities between the Chinese and Japanese religions. I'll see if I can find out what exactly happened.
Also, another plus, I got my Arc this week, which means I can attempt to get a drivers licence and buy a scooter. Finally!!!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Moon Festival and other things
Wednsday, September 26th.
Yesterday we celebrated the Moon Festival. It's a national holiday, and lots of people light of Fireworks. I lit off a couple. :) Moryam and I took a trip with friends from our church to the Ocean side cafe where we had sat enjoyed the afternoon with food and drink. I had a quesadilla, which, remarkably, tasted like a real one. Later we headed down to a rocky area that overlooks the sea. We were able to climb a bluff that overlooked the sea. Ii was pretty sweet. There was also a nice shaded area to sit....unfortunately it was really muddy. Later we went down to another beach and walked around for a little while. Its as a rocky beach, with hardly any sand. Definitely wouldn't want to go swimming there. Its pretty close to Kaohsiung, so the water that close is probably polluted anyways. But it was nice to get out of the city for a little while.
Today I have a make up class, but its Orals. Which are EASY!!! And this Saturday, we don't have class at all. The students need to make up a day at Chinese school for missing one for the moon festival. So they have to go to school on Saturday.
Yesterday we celebrated the Moon Festival. It's a national holiday, and lots of people light of Fireworks. I lit off a couple. :) Moryam and I took a trip with friends from our church to the Ocean side cafe where we had sat enjoyed the afternoon with food and drink. I had a quesadilla, which, remarkably, tasted like a real one. Later we headed down to a rocky area that overlooks the sea. We were able to climb a bluff that overlooked the sea. Ii was pretty sweet. There was also a nice shaded area to sit....unfortunately it was really muddy. Later we went down to another beach and walked around for a little while. Its as a rocky beach, with hardly any sand. Definitely wouldn't want to go swimming there. Its pretty close to Kaohsiung, so the water that close is probably polluted anyways. But it was nice to get out of the city for a little while.
Today I have a make up class, but its Orals. Which are EASY!!! And this Saturday, we don't have class at all. The students need to make up a day at Chinese school for missing one for the moon festival. So they have to go to school on Saturday.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Citris tea
I'm in Donutes again, this time with a citrus tea. I don't want to be kept up by caffeen. Its pretty good.
Well, I've been in Taiwan for nearly 4 weeks now. That seems crazy. What have I done in that time? Well, I've spend nearly a week in Taipei, taken a bus to Kaohsiung, started working at Kojen language school teaching english, started taking Chinese classes, ridden my bike a ton, joined a Taiwanese Church, eaten food--though nearly not enough, and generally tried to figure out what life is about. I am definately in better shape here then when I left the states. It's not much to walk a mile or two to get to a store. But I have a bicycle, so i don't walk really far now. I have been practicing taking the taiwanese scooter driver's licence test online. Of the five times I've taken the written part, I've passed once. But, I'm not in any hurry. I can't take the test until I get my Alien Registration Card, which still won't be for around two weeks. We will have next tuesday off. Its a national holiday here in Taiwan. The Moon Festival I think. Hopefully Moryam and I will be able to go somewhere and do something fun. I'll let you know what happens
Moryam and I were thinking the other day about what a strange and distubing tale the Pied Piper is. We decided it would make a great novel. maybe we'll write it.
Reflective thought:
Sometimes I forget the little joys in life. I was thinking today about all the great times I revenged myself on my brother for the things he did. He would come into my room and throw stuff at me. I would chase him out, and he would run and try to hide in his room. but I could often throw something across the stairway and hit him before he got behind the stairs. David, I hope you read this. HE HE
Small joys like that--seeing justice despenced on persecutors--is a wonderful thing.
Resolution: To seize each day, and make the most of every opportunity I have. To not let lack of discipline or laziness steal from me the true treasures that can only be bought with blood and sweat.
Thats all for now. Later
Love to all,
Jonathan
Well, I've been in Taiwan for nearly 4 weeks now. That seems crazy. What have I done in that time? Well, I've spend nearly a week in Taipei, taken a bus to Kaohsiung, started working at Kojen language school teaching english, started taking Chinese classes, ridden my bike a ton, joined a Taiwanese Church, eaten food--though nearly not enough, and generally tried to figure out what life is about. I am definately in better shape here then when I left the states. It's not much to walk a mile or two to get to a store. But I have a bicycle, so i don't walk really far now. I have been practicing taking the taiwanese scooter driver's licence test online. Of the five times I've taken the written part, I've passed once. But, I'm not in any hurry. I can't take the test until I get my Alien Registration Card, which still won't be for around two weeks. We will have next tuesday off. Its a national holiday here in Taiwan. The Moon Festival I think. Hopefully Moryam and I will be able to go somewhere and do something fun. I'll let you know what happens
Moryam and I were thinking the other day about what a strange and distubing tale the Pied Piper is. We decided it would make a great novel. maybe we'll write it.
Reflective thought:
Sometimes I forget the little joys in life. I was thinking today about all the great times I revenged myself on my brother for the things he did. He would come into my room and throw stuff at me. I would chase him out, and he would run and try to hide in his room. but I could often throw something across the stairway and hit him before he got behind the stairs. David, I hope you read this. HE HE
Small joys like that--seeing justice despenced on persecutors--is a wonderful thing.
Resolution: To seize each day, and make the most of every opportunity I have. To not let lack of discipline or laziness steal from me the true treasures that can only be bought with blood and sweat.
Thats all for now. Later
Love to all,
Jonathan
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Teaching began!!!
Sept 08, 2007
6:41 pm
Donutes coffee and cakes
Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
I have finally started teaching. Today was my first day, and I taught five hours. Three classes. I can say that the last hour was the best and that I grew more comfortable as the classes proceeded, but I think it will be a while before I feel truly at home in the class room, if that ever happens. Next week I will teach a class on Monday, Tuesday, two on Thursday, one on Friday, and three on Saturday for a total of 15 hours. However, there will also be a fair amount of preparation planning going on since I'm still so new to this.
Its hard to describe what I feel for Taiwan right now. It seems like a place where I could lose track of time, and suddenly find that weeks or even months had gone by. And it doesn't seem that foreign. Perhaps that's strange, but it feels a lot like the U.S. to me. Maybe because when you live somewhere and begin to get into a habit, you stop noticing the oddities. Of course, I haven't explored at all really. Got to get a scooter for that. I really look forward to heading down to the beaches at Kending, or up to Tainan, the Cultural capital of Taiwan. But who knows when that will happen. Hopefully soon!!! :)
Overall, I think Taiwan is a really ingratiating place. Most of the people have been really helpful. It's great if you know Chinese, though.
Speaking of which, ny Chinese class is going to be pretty sweet, but bites having to get up at 7:15 in the morning so I can bike the 30-45 minutes to class. And its crazy biking along with all the scooters. Very few people bike around in the main streets. It seems that if they want to go very far, they usually take a car or scooter. And on the way to and form class, I have to bike up a bridge over the train station. Oh, its a killer ride. I feel like a Tour DE France sprinter, biking as hard as I can for about 30 seconds. then i coast over the top and pant and get my breath back as i coast down the other side. Who knows that all the Taiwanese people think. "Whats that crazy foreigner doing biking over the bridge." Probably not. Most have been really nice. Yesterday, on my way to class, I stopped at a red light and a Taiwanese man who was also stopped at the light smiled and asked me where I was from, and what I was doing in Taiwan, and how long I had been here. I had just enough time to reply before the light turned green and we both went zipping our own ways.
We started learning actual grammar and vocabulary in class. I can now say, "I am a teacher." It is like this, but with different intonations: "Wo Shi Laoshi." I've got a lot to learn, but so far, its pretty fun.
Tonight there we may end up going out with some friends. My legs are pretty tired from teaching, but I'm totally jazzed that tomorrow is Sunday. If anyone reads this, I'm really sorry for not getting pictures and video up yet. I will hopefully very soon.
To my family and friends,
I miss you all very much!!!!!
Jonathan
6:41 pm
Donutes coffee and cakes
Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
I have finally started teaching. Today was my first day, and I taught five hours. Three classes. I can say that the last hour was the best and that I grew more comfortable as the classes proceeded, but I think it will be a while before I feel truly at home in the class room, if that ever happens. Next week I will teach a class on Monday, Tuesday, two on Thursday, one on Friday, and three on Saturday for a total of 15 hours. However, there will also be a fair amount of preparation planning going on since I'm still so new to this.
Its hard to describe what I feel for Taiwan right now. It seems like a place where I could lose track of time, and suddenly find that weeks or even months had gone by. And it doesn't seem that foreign. Perhaps that's strange, but it feels a lot like the U.S. to me. Maybe because when you live somewhere and begin to get into a habit, you stop noticing the oddities. Of course, I haven't explored at all really. Got to get a scooter for that. I really look forward to heading down to the beaches at Kending, or up to Tainan, the Cultural capital of Taiwan. But who knows when that will happen. Hopefully soon!!! :)
Overall, I think Taiwan is a really ingratiating place. Most of the people have been really helpful. It's great if you know Chinese, though.
Speaking of which, ny Chinese class is going to be pretty sweet, but bites having to get up at 7:15 in the morning so I can bike the 30-45 minutes to class. And its crazy biking along with all the scooters. Very few people bike around in the main streets. It seems that if they want to go very far, they usually take a car or scooter. And on the way to and form class, I have to bike up a bridge over the train station. Oh, its a killer ride. I feel like a Tour DE France sprinter, biking as hard as I can for about 30 seconds. then i coast over the top and pant and get my breath back as i coast down the other side. Who knows that all the Taiwanese people think. "Whats that crazy foreigner doing biking over the bridge." Probably not. Most have been really nice. Yesterday, on my way to class, I stopped at a red light and a Taiwanese man who was also stopped at the light smiled and asked me where I was from, and what I was doing in Taiwan, and how long I had been here. I had just enough time to reply before the light turned green and we both went zipping our own ways.
We started learning actual grammar and vocabulary in class. I can now say, "I am a teacher." It is like this, but with different intonations: "Wo Shi Laoshi." I've got a lot to learn, but so far, its pretty fun.
Tonight there we may end up going out with some friends. My legs are pretty tired from teaching, but I'm totally jazzed that tomorrow is Sunday. If anyone reads this, I'm really sorry for not getting pictures and video up yet. I will hopefully very soon.
To my family and friends,
I miss you all very much!!!!!
Jonathan
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Church and First Scooter Ride
Time: 11:29 pm - September 02, 2007
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
So Moryam and I decided that we wanted to try to find a church. We've had an amazing number of Christian contacts so far, be it teachers at the schools we work at, or Taiwanese on the plane trip here. Anyone who doesn't believe in God might label these coincidences, by my sneaky suspicion is that there is something else. The common theme in the conversations I've thus far had with the Christians here has centered around finding a church. When we first arrived in Kaohsiung, the director at school 1( we work at school 3) a Taiwanese lady, told me she was Christian. I asked her what church she went to, and she said she didn't go to church. However, she directed me to a man named Glenn, who gave me a card with directions to his church. It just so happens that a girl named Frankie, who is from England, goes to the same church, and she works in our school. She had a map, and helped us figure out how we could get there. Then it was up to the Taxi, or our New found Taiwanese Legs, to get us there.
As we had never been in that area before, we decided to leg it. It took nearly an hour. We left at about 4:40 pm (they have English service in the evening) and were in sight of the Church by 5:35. We grabbed some food and drink, I made a quick supper at the nearest pastry store, and we went in.
The service was great. The Pastor's name was Steve, who was born a MK in Hongkong but moved to England at nine, and studied at Cambridge. The sermon was very meaningful and convicting. Afterwards, they offered to take us to an American restaurant where they serve Mountain dew and Dr Pepper. YES!!!! We rode scooters.
It was my first Scooter experience, and I cannot wait to get one. I don't know what it is about the Taiwanese scooter traffic that makes it so insane. Maybe its that most of them are driving without licences. Maybe its the relationship first, laws second mentality. All I know is that it's a rush flying along the road with scooters on the left and right of you, with little room to move.
we eventually got to the restaurant, and it was nice. The DR Pepper was GREAT!!! They don't have it here, but the restaurant imports it. Then the pastor and his wife gave us both a ride to our apartment on their scooters. It was great, and saved us about an hour walking.
I would write more, but its late and I want to take a shower. Its now 1:30 in the morning. My blog got deleted once. This is the second attempt. Until next time.
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
So Moryam and I decided that we wanted to try to find a church. We've had an amazing number of Christian contacts so far, be it teachers at the schools we work at, or Taiwanese on the plane trip here. Anyone who doesn't believe in God might label these coincidences, by my sneaky suspicion is that there is something else. The common theme in the conversations I've thus far had with the Christians here has centered around finding a church. When we first arrived in Kaohsiung, the director at school 1( we work at school 3) a Taiwanese lady, told me she was Christian. I asked her what church she went to, and she said she didn't go to church. However, she directed me to a man named Glenn, who gave me a card with directions to his church. It just so happens that a girl named Frankie, who is from England, goes to the same church, and she works in our school. She had a map, and helped us figure out how we could get there. Then it was up to the Taxi, or our New found Taiwanese Legs, to get us there.
As we had never been in that area before, we decided to leg it. It took nearly an hour. We left at about 4:40 pm (they have English service in the evening) and were in sight of the Church by 5:35. We grabbed some food and drink, I made a quick supper at the nearest pastry store, and we went in.
The service was great. The Pastor's name was Steve, who was born a MK in Hongkong but moved to England at nine, and studied at Cambridge. The sermon was very meaningful and convicting. Afterwards, they offered to take us to an American restaurant where they serve Mountain dew and Dr Pepper. YES!!!! We rode scooters.
It was my first Scooter experience, and I cannot wait to get one. I don't know what it is about the Taiwanese scooter traffic that makes it so insane. Maybe its that most of them are driving without licences. Maybe its the relationship first, laws second mentality. All I know is that it's a rush flying along the road with scooters on the left and right of you, with little room to move.
we eventually got to the restaurant, and it was nice. The DR Pepper was GREAT!!! They don't have it here, but the restaurant imports it. Then the pastor and his wife gave us both a ride to our apartment on their scooters. It was great, and saved us about an hour walking.
I would write more, but its late and I want to take a shower. Its now 1:30 in the morning. My blog got deleted once. This is the second attempt. Until next time.
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