Wu Fu Elementary School

I know you are all just dying to read about what my school is like. First, it's huge. I think there are about 1500 students for grades 1-6. This is much bigger than most elementary schools in Ohio. Even with all these students we have empty rooms so the building is very big as well.

We start construction on an English Village this week. The English Village concept came from Korea and is very popular in Taiwan, especially Kaohsiung County, where I teach. There are various them rooms where students practice practical conversations in English. Students in my own school will visit every other week and students from other schools will travel to Wu Fu to use the English Village, as well. I spend most of my time teaching the English Village curriculum to fifth and sixth grade. The first unit was fast food restaurant. Eventually, my students will visit Wu Fu Burger in the English Village and hopefully, be able to order an entree and drink in English.

I also have the fifth and sixth grade advanced English classes. These students have to test into this homeroom group and they get extra English instruction. They have two 40 minute periods in a row with me each week. They also have class with the native Taiwanese English teacher for one period each week and they have another period with one of the other foreign English teachers.

School buildings in Taiwan are very different from in the U.S. The schools are all open. There are no hallways. You walk along balconies to the next classroom. Restrooms are different as well. They are shared by all boys and girls, students and teachers. This took some adjustment but you get used to it after awhile. We have a track and football (aka soccer) field on the side of the school and basketball courts in the center of the school. We also have various gardens and a waterfall with a koi pond.

The school schedule is very different. There are eight forty minute periods in a day. School starts at 7:50 but the students are there earlier than that to clean the school. They sweep and mop and take out the trash. There are three 10 minute breaks and one 20 minute break in the morning between periods. They clean during the 20 minute break and play on the other breaks. Then there is an hour for lunch and a following lunch a 30 minute nap. Everyone takes a nap, including teachers. It's so hot here that you need it by that time of day. My body is tired then but I can't seem to fall asleep. I'm used to being awake when the sun is out. The afternoon is much like the morning and students go home at 4.

I think this schedule is much better for the students compared to the American way. It gives them regular breaks throughout the day. They aren't expected to sit and attend to class for too long. They're given time to expend excess energy at regular intervals so they have an easier time paying attention. Of course, kids will be kids and I have pre-teens so there is still a lot of talking that goes on but they seem to keep it under control when they have to. They all laugh when I say "Be quiet" in Chinese, though.

Below you'll find some pictures of my school. Sorry I didn't place them all neatly dispersed through my post this time. I just have the time or inclination to play with the html code. I'll do better next time.

My New Home

I am finally settled in my own place and just completed my first week of school. It was an exhausting and crazy week and I spent most nights walking around my area of the city.

I live in a single apartment (kind of a studio apartment but smaller). There is a shared laundry and kitchen area. I guess the other residents here are all foreign English teachers but I never see them because they work at bushibans. Bushibans are English schools that students go to after the regular school day. They leave school at about 4 p.m., eat dinner and then go to bushiban until about 9 p.m. That means all my neighbors have the opposite schedule of me.

My room is fully furnished, including a refrigerator, cable and internet. I have a bathroom that is also my shower. I love this concept. I can wash my bathroom floor and myself all in one shot. I also have a small dressing are/laundry drying room. These rooms are common in Taiwan. They are situated where there is good ventilation because you air dry ALL of your clothes. Cloths dryers are rare in Taiwan and those who have them are usually westerners. I've rigged a plastic chain across my little drying room to hang my clothes from for drying.

I created a little bedroom by using my bookshelf as a wall. It's cozy enough for me. I made sure I can't see the T.V. from my bed so I'm sure to go to sleep right away. Although, I still managed to fall asleep with the T.V. and lights on last night. I guess some habits are hard to break no matter what country you're in.

My neighborhood is full of life. I live near a lot of different city parks. A few blocks east of me is a beautiful park along the Love River. In the evenings, the park comes to life with couples on dates and groups practicing Tai Chi and other martial arts. Just northwest of me is a brand new department store called Han Shins. It's out of my price range but fun to window shop at. They have a huge food court with all kinds of foods and a fancy grocery store right next to the food court. Koahsiung Arena is right next to it. A five minute walk south west and I'm at the KMRT station (their new subway system). I ride to work everyday and it's another 5 minute walk from that station to my school. I think I can get through this year without a scooter or a bike. I walk and ride the subway everywhere.

I live in a trendy and bustling urban neighborhood. There are lots of stores and restaurants as well as food carts. There are also plenty of Western restaurants. So far, I've found Subway, 2 McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Starbucks all within a few blocks of my apartment. I'm trying to avoid those places because I can eat there any time in the States (even though for the most part I haven't eaten at most of those places in over a year). The temptation is strong though because ordering is much easier there. Most of the servers know the English names of the sandwiches and I know exactly what I'm getting. For the most part, I've gone vegetarian since arriving here because I can't stomach how they prepare meat (with all body parts still attached). Even in the States I preferred to not have my meat on the bone because that was to much of a reminder of it's living state for me. I know...I'm weird. The vegetarian options are great here, though. The have all kinds of wonderful fake meats and they do some many things with tofu and mushrooms. I've been enjoying my new eating habits.

I think I'm adjusting fairly well. I have my moments of culture shock or homesickness. It's only natural to have them. I think living in such a busy city and also keeping active with work helps make those moments brief. Keeping myself occupied is the key and there is so much to explore here.

I'll be taking my camera to school next week. I can't wait to share with you about my school and classes. There are plenty of differences but also some similarities. I hope you will enjoying seeing them.