Kaohsiung Harbor

Today, I received a little treat. The teachers and volunteers at Wu Fu got to go on a tour of Kaohsiung Harbor. This is one of those things that you say you want to do when you live someplace but never actually get around to doing. I was happy to spend my afternoon on a boat in the harbor. Even though I might say I'd do it on my own, I know that, in reality, I would probably never get around to it.

Kaoshiung is one of the busiest port cities in the world. The majority of those items you have around your home that say "Made In Taiwan" make their way through Kaohsiung Harbor. Today, I might have just seen the container with your new computer or your next pair of shoes. You can read all the details about the port in this Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Kaohsiung

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for a boat ride in the harbor. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and only a light breeze. The late afternoon sun shone brightly overhead. At first, I wasn't sure I'd find such an industrial tour interesting. In fact, I didn't understand a word of the actual tour because it was all in Chinese (hopefully, that'll change with a few more Chinese classes). I enjoyed the company of my colleagues and the scenery instead.

I remembered to bring my camera along and I hope you enjoy the pictures I took. This tour provided some of the best views of Kaohsiung 85 that I've seen since moving here. Kaohsiung 85 is the tallest building in the city and overlooks the harbor. It's certainly the most distinctive feature of the Kaohsiung skyline. I bet you can't guess how many floors it has?

We finished our tour around 3:30 and some of us stayed at Fisherman's Wharf to talk and enjoy the view. The wharf is just a string of trendy restaurants, bars and coffee shops. It's an amazing place to see the sunset over Cijin Island across the harbor. I got to watch the light of the sun make the water glisten as it slowly disappeared in the sky and thought about who I would like to share this view with.

Fortunately, I got pictures of that sight so I'll be sharing remotely with all of you in the blogosphere.

Visitors and Taiwanese Opera

Wufu gets a lot of visitors from all over the world. In the last couple of months, we've had principals visit from Canada, the Philippines and Japan. We also had a group of foreign exchange students visit from Finland (they're attending a local high school) and a Turkish television station was here filming.

Wufu always rolls out the red carpet for these groups. Our students are very active in a number of activities and they are put in classes based on that. We have students that perform Taiwanese Opera and Taiwanese plays. These students are in a performing arts group. The students who are gifted athletically are in a class together. We have on of the top Diabolo teams in the country (that's version of Chinese yo-yo). The students who are in band have their own class. We also have a very competitive table tennis team.

Whenever there are visitors at our school, the get to see the skills of many of these students. I love watching them perform because these are my students as well. I'm always extremely proud of them whenever I see them on stage. They work very hard every day to cultivate their talents.



I have included some pictures below. I will continue to add more as I can get them. Many times I'm teaching a class when they perform so I can't record the performance. If the last few months are any indication, I'm sure we'll have more visitors and thus, I'll have more opportunities to show you my students' various talents.

Taiwanese Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is an exclusively American holiday. That doesn't mean there was lack of opportunity to celebrate here in Kaohsiung (what I so affectionately call K-town). I still had to work but I got my dinner on later that evening.

The day was actually fairly interesting. The government selected me to judge at an English competition. I know I've mentioned the English Fever in Taiwan in earlier posts. These competitions are one of it's manifestations. There are a number of categories. In storytelling, students memorize and tell a story, in English, to a group of judges. There is also the recitation category where students practice three English readings. They are assigned the reading they will do for the judges right before they get on stage (this isn't memorized). The final competition (and the one I was fortunate enough to judge) was the singing competition. Student groups prepare a song in English with choreography, props and costumes. I had a lot of fun and my fellow judges were great. In fact one of the judges lives right down the street from me. Jade is a professor of American Literature and we might meet for coffee sometime.

When I got home that evening, I met my friends Lauren, Martin and Alice for Thanksgiving dinner. Lauren and Martin are from Indiana and Martin had family in Columbus (it's kind of nice having someone who knows what I'm talking about when I mention the Bogey Inn). Alice is Taiwanese and this was her first time celebrating American Thanksgiving. We had a great time sharing our traditions with her and with each other. The food was great and Xiao Hu got her first of many bites of leftover Thanksgiving Turkey. It was great enjoying my Thanksgiving in Taiwan at a Mexican restaurant. Like C. J. said, at least it was a North American restaurant...close enough.

I've included some pictures from the day below.

Election Day Part II

At about midnight EST, around noon in Taiwan, Barack Obama made his acceptance speech to the country and to the world. I was eating lunch at a vegetarian restaurant attempting to explain our electoral system to a Canadian when she pointed to the TV and said, "It says 'Obama Wins'." I immediately stopped talking and attempted to listen to his speech despite the voice track of the translator drowning out his voice.

I have to admit, when I saw the Chicago skyline behind the him, that tears welled up in my eyes. This is such a historic time for our country that I just wanted to be there. I wasn't necessarily a supporter of either candidate but I am proud of our country finally breaking down some of the walls that have been standing for too long.

Now, I hope we can all move forward together and begin making those changes that our country needs. In the end, we are all Americans. I left a country that was despondent and losing hope. I will return to a country that will be refreshed and optimistic.

In cased you missed it or are out of the country like me. Here's the next president's acceptance speech.

Election Day

Today is a HUGE day in the USA. I feel some sorrow for not being there. History is about to be made and I'm living and working on foreign soil. I want to be a part of it and I feel left out...like a teenager who didn't get invited to the party of the year.

Of course, I had an invite. Everyone who's a U.S. citizen has the right to vote no matter where he or she is living in the world. I just got so wrapped up in my life and surviving my time abroad that I couldn't be bothered to send my R.S.V.P.

Now, I'm forced to go about my day in a country that doesn't care (nor should they) about who the next Commander-in-Chief will be. However, it's all that is on my mind.

America is at the edge of a cliff right now. In my mind, either candidate could push us over the edge or he could pull us back to safety. Only time can really tell what the result will be.

Either way, there's a part of me that wishes I was there to be a witness to this dramatic moment. It's one of those moments where everyone remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news...like JFK's assassination or 9/11. Except, instead of hearing of tragedy, we'll be learning of triumph.

I know America has hit a dark time. We experienced such a long run of prosperity that I think it's only natural (and inevitable) that we have our share of struggle. However, I always have hope.

Hope is what is getting me through the regrets of not being present in my home country and not casting my own vote. I hope my fellow Americans make the best choice for our country. I hope, no matter the outcome, our country will finally get the change we so desperately need.