Wrapping It Up

Wow! I can't believe I've been home nearly a month. It feels like I never left but at the same time there's a part of me that's envious of the new group of Foreign English Teachers. I wish I was them starting out a new year in Taiwan again. I have my moments of Taiwan-sickness and I'm finding ways to cope. I've found some places in C-bus where I can get pearl milk tea aka bubble tea. I've also found a couple of good Asian markets where I can get my fix with all those yummy Taiwanese treats like mochi and red bean filled steamed buns. I realized that all these places were here before I left. I just didn't have my eyes open wide enough to see them. Now, I do. Thank goodness I went to Taiwan.

It was a whirlwind week for me last week. First, I had an old friend from high school give me a lead on a job. The principal called me in for an interview for kindergarten. By the day of the interview, the enrollment had shifted and they needed a third grade teacher. That was fine by me. I student taught in third grade and that's my favorite grade to teach. A few hours later, the assistant principal called me and said they loved me and I was a top candidate for the third grade position but they thought I would be perfect for a fourth grade opening they had. She wondered if I could come back in to meet with the fourth grade teachers. Of course, I would. I'm just not licensed to teach fourth grade. Fortunately, they're a charter school and that won't be a problem for next year at least and Ohio has added a 4/5 endorsement for the early childhood license that I can get with a few classes. I met with the other teachers and we clicked. They offered me the position about two hours after the interview. I'm excited and scared at the same time. I always loved subbing in fourth grade classrooms and I love teaching Ohio History which is a big part of the fourth grade curriculum. However, fourth grade math scares me to death and after a year of traveling from classroom to classroom teaching English, I'm afraid I've lost my chops for regular classroom teaching. I'm pretty sure once we get into the year, I'll be fine. It's just those new job jitters getting to me. I'm more excited than anything. The school has a great philosophy and I think I'll be working with a great team. I'll be fine after the first week with the students.

Now, I have a job. I needed to find an apartment. That didn't take me nearly as long as I thought it would. Craigslist to the rescue! I found an apartment in Grandview, a really cute neighborhood in Columbus. The best part is that I'll have two bedrooms, a basement, a garage and a back yard. Yipppppeeeee!!!!! I can walk everywhere except to work. The price of the apartment was a lot less than I thought I was going to have to spend. It's priced way under the market but right in my price range. Now, I just have to wait for the current resident to move out so my landlord can clean and do some upgrades that he's had planned for a long time. He said I'll definitely be able to move in by Sept. 1 if not sooner. I was so excited to be moving there that I bought a bike with a basket on it to ride around my new neighborhood.

Well, that's it folks. It looks like things are falling into place for me for the time being. Life doesn't always work out this nice and tidy. I'm just glad it did for me at this moment. I'm ready to start the next phase and see what's in store for me.

What a Year!

I've been back in the U.S. almost two weeks. I thought I would have time to write a few more posts before I left Taiwan but that didn't pan out. I guess that always happens when you move. There are always things that pop up at the last minute and of course all the farewell meetings.

It was difficult leaving Taiwan. I've made some wonderful friends that I will sorely miss. They became such an important part of my life and I plan on keeping them in my life for as long as they want to be.

I had moments of panic in the Taipei airport and the Detroit airport. While waiting in the Customs line to re-enter the U.S., I nearly broke down in tears. That's when it finally hit me that I really left and wasn't in Taiwan anymore. Just as I experienced uncertainty when I left last year, I'm feeling similar trepidation now. I could have easily continued living and working in Taiwan. I had some job offers but I wanted to teach the way we do in America and that would be very difficult there. However, the job situation is uncertain here in the U.S. (yes for teachers too...it's not a recession proof career). It was the risk I had to take.

When I arrived in Columbus, I was greeted by my friend, Bridget, and her husband, Rich. It was so nice to see familiar faces. Everything smelled so much stronger than I remember when I left but other than the smells I felt like I had only been gone a few days not 11 months.

I was prepared to experience reverse culture shock. Friends warned me that I would be depressed and have moments where I just want to return. My reverse culture shock hasn't been as bad as I expected. I credit this to a few things. One, I was prepared for it. I read about it and my friends who have lived outside of the U.S. shared with me about it. Two, I've found I'm pretty flexible about different cultures. I didn't experience much culture shock when I first moved to Taiwan. Three...I have a wonderful support network here, in the U.S. I was immediately involved in going out with friends and being welcomed home. This was probably the most important factor. Without the warm welcome from all my friends, this transition would be much more difficult

Now, I'm wrapped up in my old way of life (sort of). I've been busy getting back to my regular workout and eating schedule. I've been enjoying doing laundry with a washer and a dryer (laundry done in 3 hours vs. 3 days). I spend hours a day searching for my next teaching position. There are some things that have changed, though. Now, I also include a trip to the Asian grocery store for some mochi and hong dou (red beans) when I'm running errands. I make early morning Skype and Yahoo Messenger calls to get the latest news from my friends in Taiwan. I still carry my chopsticks with me, just in case. I listen to my Mandarin lessons just to feel like I'm back in Taiwan.

This year has been such a valuable learning experience for me. I knew going into it that I would learn more than I would teach and that's so true. I'm a much better and stronger person for it. I also know that I can call anywhere home and now I have two homes. Taiwan has forever touched my heart and a little piece of it will remain there.


Vincent and Vivian were students that I tutored every Saturday. I'm going to miss our conversations about Twilight and Harry Potter.


My best friend in Taiwan, Vina, and I at our favorite hangout, The Armory.

Weird Habits

I'm sitting here on my last day of work with nothing to do so I've had a lot of time to think. This has been an amazing experience with both good and bad points. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to come to Taiwan. I've met so many wonderful people here and I've even learned a little Chinese.

But I'm not ready to write my good-bye article quite yet. As I've been thinking, I realized there are some habits I have now that might seem a little out of place once I get back to the good ole' U. S. of A. I'm just going to apologize for my actions or words ahead of time. It might seem strange to you but to me some of these things have become a way of life.

1. When I'm ordering food and the person asks "For here or to go," I will most likely say "Wai Dai" meaning to go in Mandarin. Sorry, it's a conditioned response at this point.

2. Be patient with me as I check for Western toilets in public restrooms because here there are two choices when you go to the bathroom.

3. When I say "dui (dway)", I'm saying "Okay" just nod your head and smile.

4. Don't fall asleep while I'm speaking. I've gotten used to speaking slowly here. It doesn't mean I think you're stupid. It means I've been teaching English to non-native speakers for a year. Never fear, the rate will pick up after a few weeks at home.

5. If you get a call from my phone number but the person sounds Canadian, it's just me. I've been around a lot of Canadians the last year and I've been told I have the accent. Some of my students have even said that I speak Chinese with a Canadian accent...go figure. Just give it time. Either you will adjust or the accent will disappear.

6. My vocabulary has diminished so just be patient with me as I stumble to find the right words sometimes. It will all come back to me soon enough.

7. I speak Chinglish now. If you don't understand what I just told you simply say "Please translate" and I'll understand.

8. Don't be surprised if I walk out the door and don't grab my car keys. I've been walking or riding a subway everywhere for nearly a year. I'm actually afraid I forgot how to drive. I guess we'll see very soon.

9. The cost of living here is very low. I just might burst into tears when I hear my first total at Wal-Mart and they won't be tears of joy. Like my friend Sarni says "Like poop, this too shall pass."

10. If you can't find me, look anywhere that people might speak Mandarin. I'm going to have moments when I miss hearing that language.

11. Don't be surprised, if I get overwhelmed in public places. I have just spent the last year not being able to understand what people around me are saying. Hearing English all around me is going to be information overload at times.

12. If it's 60 degrees and I'm wearing a parka, gloves, scarf and hat, just smile and look the other way when you laugh at me.

13. I'm apologizing now for all the times I will start eating before everyone at the table is served. That is the way in Taiwan. You don't wait until everyone has their food. You eat as soon as your food is set in front of you.

14. Okay...I carry my own chopsticks and I'm not afraid to use them. Again...just look the other way when you start laughing at me.

15. I have the habit of posing for any camera within 20 yards of me. This is a photo crazy country and I've become accustomed to random strangers asking for my photo. I'll break the habit soon enough.

16. Another photo habit...I carry a camera with me everywhere. Everyone does here. You never know when a Kodak moment might arise. This is a habit I don't want to break.

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I'm sure when you see me again in America you will notice other little idiosyncrasies, as you should. I'd be concerned if I lived half-way around the world for a year and didn't change at all. This was meant to be a life-changing experience. I'll never regret my time spent here.

That being said returning home won't be so easy for me. I've already read and heard from friends who have traveled that the reverse culture shock can be worse than the initial culture shock. I didn't really experience horrible culture shock after arriving in Taiwan. I think that's because I did everything I could to make sure I was prepared. I'm trying to do the same in this case but I still will have my moments. Just be patient with me while I go have a good cry. I'm returning to a lot of uncertainty. Once the dust settles and I get back into a routine, I'll be just fine (just with some new personality quirks).

Teacher

The title says it all. That's what I am and I think, in my heart, that's what I've always been. I didn't take the direct route to get to a career I love but I'm here now and I can't imagine doing anything else.

I just finished watching a movie about a teacher named Brad Cohen. Brad has Tourette's Syndrome and he didn't get very much support from his teachers growing up. He was always considered the troublemaker. He wrote a book about his experience which became the movie I saw. However, it wasn't Brad's struggle or his illness that resonated with me as I watched. It was the kind of teacher he was.

Brad was hired to take a class three weeks into the school year. The second grade was overcrowded so he was taking the overflow. One of the other teachers on his team apologized for putting Tommy in his class. She said Tommy had a whole alphabet attached to him and she told Brad her advice was to "just let special ed have him." Later in the movie, Brad is working with Tommy on his reading during a detention. Tommy complains that he doesn't like reading and Brad says "I'm not giving up on you." I immediately began to cry.

In my short career, I've had plenty of Tommies (and I'm sure there will be more). I've always felt the same way as Brad. Not once did the option of "giving up" ever cross my mind for these students. More than anything, I just wanted to find what worked for my Tommies. I wanted them to succeed.

There was another scene where Brad attends the funeral of one of his second graders (she had cancer). He was hesitant to attend the service for fear of disrupting it but the mother said he was her daughter's favorite teacher and he should be there. I hope I never have to deal with that situation but once again, I felt his loss acutely. I know if that would happen to one of my students, I would do everything I could to help my student and I know I would be devastated by the loss.

Watching a teacher as committed to the profession as I am just reinforced my passion for my career. It also made me feel good that there are others out there who "get it". I want to be that teacher that a student remembers 20 years from now and says "Yeah, Ms. Kayla believed in me and I achieved my goals."

All that being said, it also saddened me to be thinking about that. My contract is quickly coming to an end in Taiwan. When I left the U.S., the economy was in a downturn but not quite this bad. Even so, teaching is a little more stable than other careers and I have teaching in Taiwan on my resume. Everyone told me "You'll get hired right away."

Now, I'm facing uncertainty. The numbers are against me. Schools are increasing class sizes and decreasing faculty. As that is happening, more people are entering teaching because they lost their jobs in other fields and think education is a good option for work now. Even urban school districts, which are notorious for always having openings, are cutting back on hiring.

After three years of finally doing my dream job, I'm facing the possible reality of not being in the classroom next school year. This scenario fills me with dread. There are the financial concerns involved but I've always been able to get by when it comes to supporting myself. I'm a hard worker and will do whatever it takes to earn money and pay my bills. The paycheck isn't my concern.

The thought of not walking into a classroom everyday starting next fall is a nightmare to me. I feel like that's a year lost to making a difference in this world. My students give so much to me. What's more, there is so much I want to give to them. I want to tell them, just like Brad Cohen told Tommy, "I'm not giving up on you...I never will." My greatest fear is that I will lose that time and not have that opportunity.

My heart is heavy with the possibility of being a teacher and not teaching next year but I haven't given up. I found a job in a tough job market before and it's still early in the game. I still have two weeks of teaching left in Taiwan and I hope to make the most of them. When I get home, I'm hitting the job search process with determination.

My goal is to teach for Chicago Public Schools where there are some amazing things going on in education. However, I want to teach and so I won't rule out other places where there is a job for me. It just means I'll have to try for Chicago another year. The reality is I am a teacher. As long as I'm doing that, everything else will work out.

Just Desserts

Desserts in Taiwan are more than a sweet treat. They're an art form. You'll find little cafe/bakeries on every other street corner. I have one right across the street from my apartment. I've been told this is a newer trend that's only popped up in the last five years or so. You can get a cup of Starbucks-esque coffee (for a third of the price) and a slice of cake (or some other yummy confection). You can also have whole cakes made. The one for my birthday (see October posts for a picture) is the perfect example. These exquisite works of art would cost more the $50 USD just to start in the States but here they're only around $10-$15 USD.

I am a writer but this is truly a case where a picture is worth a thousand words. Thank goodness it's not worth a thousand calories in this case. Enjoy the delicious photography below.