Taiwaneers

As you may have picked up from a few previous posts, I have been holding two teaching jobs since November. Each is at a “Cram School,” where students go after their normal school hours to get information crammed into them. This could be math, science, English…you name it. Both of mine were English Cram Schools. I’ve been loving the jobs SO much and to my perception, they were loving me back. Last week however, I got to experience my first Taiwanese “canning.” Yep, I got fired. Or let go… The thing is I’m still not exactly sure how to respond to the situation.

Basically, I’ve been teaching at this school for  almost three months. The kids love me, the other teachers were beginning to be my friends, and the owners kept trying to get me to work there three days instead of just the one. This is an indication of job security, no? Imagine my surprise when, after the normal, cheerful “See you next week!” and arrival home, I opened up my salary envelope to discover an unusual note. It read “Sorry, Mark [another teacher] can take your classes so you don’t need to come back again. Thank you!” I couldn’t believe it, and for awhile tried to extract some other meaning from the words…sometimes translation into another language can produce funny things. Just to make sure I understood correctly, I called the school owner and asked her about it. She sounded embarrassed and answered my questions with “Well, Mark can teach three days a week so we don’t need you any more.” Still totally blown away and not sure if she was being mean or nice, I said thanks and told her I’d substitute teach anytime if I was needed. And that was it.

But THEN, the next week, I ran into this same Mark - who happened to be on his way to teach that very moment. Turns out he didn’t know about my situation, and they had never even asked him if he could take over my teaching slots. Further, he was going to tell them that day that he wouldn’t be working there the next semester. Ironic, eh?

Suffice it to say, I’m still laughing and bewildered at the whole thing. If this was the US, I would have drilled this lady to give me a reason for being let go. But because I know nothing about the polite Taiwanese way to handle situations like this, what else can I do but be nice and laugh about it?

And now comes the good part: God’s faithfulness. Last Sunday, I was approached about a private tutoring job for a college student. This week it was confirmed, and we had our first session yesterday. It just so happens that our time together falls during the time of my previously-held teaching job, is 15 minutes closer to home, and pays almost the same amount of money! Thank you GOD!!! Further, I think I might come to love private tutoring even more than a classroom setting. I’ve been getting so excited about what I can teach, what we can work on together, his success in this language…I’m allowed to care so much more about this one student than my 100+ others. Wonderful!

That concludes the story of my first Taiwanese canning. Laugh with me!

Well MCU posted my grades for the first semester……….drum roll please…….I passed Calculus!!!!!

From what I’ve heard a lot of professors here in Taiwan grade on a curve. Now this is only talk and I can’t substantiate it but apparently a lot of university’s encourage the bell curve so that, in every class, at least a few students fail. That way students will have to retake classes spending more of their money on tuition.

I’ve begun my month long winter break. I’ve played a little basketball with some friends, started looking for tutoring jobs to earn a little extra cash, and taking it easy. I’ve been reading the Bourne Identity and I have to say its pretty good. The movie definitely took some large liberties in changing the story and characters. The other day I rode the scooter to another university about a half hour from our home to ask about transferring. I’ve been researching other universities online here in Taiwan that have English taught degree programs and this one was one of them. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to visit another university near us later on this week.

Emily is still in school until the end of this week. Its her birthday this Sunday!!! My sister, Megan, is in town as well and we’ve been having a great time spending time with her.

My Chinese is improving. I still can read and write nothing and I mean nothing. However my comprehension and speaking is improving. Its slow and no where near Emily’s ability (she’s incredible, you should hear her and everyone says her writing is beautiful) but I’m definitely better than when we arrived five months ago. Speaking of which, the end of January marks the halfway point of our first school year here. In five more months we’ll be on a plane headed to the U.S. and A!

Lately I’ve been reading in Acts. The early church is so inspiring to me! The living daily for Christ exemplified in their actions is something I desperately want. I want to be able to live so unattached to material possessions and communally “giving to every man as he has need.” Lately I’ve been convicted that I’m wrapped up in myself and my desires and my life and my goals. I want freedom from me, to live completely and wholly for The Father. In Him, through Him, and with Him.

Each January 23rd marks another year for this fabulous man. Yesterday, we celebrated the entrance into his 24th year with a yummy meal and company. Megan is in Taoyuan for two weeks, helping out with a children’s camp, so she was a part of the festivities!

I met Michael during our transition into adulthood, and love knowing that we’ll be together through all of life’s further transitions. Here are just a few snapshots from the past 4 or 5 years…

2003 - Just after we started working together at SSI. One day while out grabbing lunch together, we walked into Subway, where the woman asked “How may I help you ladies?” Though all that hair is quite an accomplishment, he got a haircut.

The “cool man” haircut. He looked very suave. This is 2004.

Summer 2005 - the famed Mohawk!!! oooohhhh it was so cool.

Thanksgiving 2005, in California. He came to visit me!!

Being crazy in 2006, at our friend’s wedding. Notice how his hair keeps changing?

Engagement night, January 2007. Yippee!!!

Summer 2007, the week before we tied the knot. Look how handsome and happy he is…

And now, a married man. A good husband, provider and friend. The best one could ask for!

The most recent look for Mr. Michael Jefferies: shaggadelic, baby.

Please join me in acknowledging this one life that God has created… a life with purpose and meaning, destined and designed to do great things for God.

We love you Michael and wish you all the joy this world has to offer! Happy Birthday!!!

Funny how Michael is so verbose compared to me - on here, anyways. In real life I believe I still solidly hold the role as girl - the one who talks more. However, Michael tends to have more actual things to say when he does open his mouth…which is infinitely better than my habit. Anyways, thanks to my dear husband this blog is still alive. I’ll celebrate by writing something

Yesterday was so fun. We spent a few hours after Church with five kids, whom we are responsible to watch and to teach some English. Their parents all have a meeting after the Church service, and thought it would be a good idea for them to do something productive instead of wreaking havoc inside the building like usual. We were so glad to be presented with the idea - finally, a way to repay the kindness that’s been shown us! Yesterday was our second time with them, but we all really bonded. Michael had an idea to take them outside, so we all walked down to the local park and played tag, English-learning style. If you speak Chinese you’re out! Of course we’re old fogies compared to these 12 year olds, but we definitely kept our own. It was so invigorating to scramble around a playground, watch Michael wrestle, hear my own laughter and feel out of breath. I have a feeling we’re going to come to love these children! We stopped our game when it began to rain, running to a nearby pavilion. At this time one of the girls found my camera and sort of went crazy - I’ve posted those pictures in the albums section. More to come I’m sure, as the weeks go on.

The last post from me was depressing and lonely-sounding, because that’s what I was. Apologies for not posting again once I had gotten over the hump. For a few weeks I was really questioning why we are here, what God’s plan is, why I had to be so far from home to accomplish this plan, etc. And while it’s always a good thing to ask God these questions, instead I just asked myself…because what I really wanted was to feel sorry for myself. Wimpy eh? My family and especially Kathy Jefferies helped me to see what a moron I was being, encouraging me towards trust in God and awe at His majesty. Like every other time I stray and come back, this time was no different! The journey home is so sweet and lovely. Christmas with Michael in this strange country was more rewarding than so many other comfortable holidays with my family. God is binding us together in ways I never thought possible, and this was just one of them. I went to sleep on the night of December 25th so contented and joyful, my husband laying beside me, Jesus in my heart, and the only thought in my head was one of thanksgiving. I’m so grateful for our families and friends. Thank you all for showing us how much you love us!

Now life is both settling down and picking up…sometimes I feel as if every thing’s dragging, I don’t have anything to do, and I’m not using my time wisely. Other days I lie down in bed wondering where all the hours went, and go to sleep dreaming of all the things that occurred that day. I guess that’s just life in a transitional stage…? Either way, here’s a list of what makes this life so incredibly wonderful:

~ Kissing my husband goodbye in the morning, directly before hearing “I love you.” I watch through my silly looking helmet visor as he climbs the stairs to the train station, then start the moped engine up and weave my way home. It’s wonderful to drive through a city that’s waking up, smelling the crisp morning air and feeling the wind on my face. Sure, it’s cold most of the time, but I can feel it - and that’s the thing that tells me I am so very alive.

~ Opening the door to one of my classrooms to reveal the craning necks of my students, whose faces instantly light up upon the realization that it’s me! It’s a special feeling to know that I was looked forward to. There are also dozens of those lightning bolt moments - where the space behind their eyes suddenly goes from being dark to being illuminated. The look on their faces is different in a flash, their shoulders pushed back more confidently, head held up higher, voice louder… this is what I have come to love! That moment where confusion turns to understanding is where I belong. God has made me a teacher, and if for nothing else, I am here to learn that about myself.

~ Turning a corner, only to realize that it’s not strange anymore. I have memorized the directions to certain places, know what’s along the way, what to expect, what will be waiting on the other end. I have become accustomed to my little space in the world, and am no longer surprised or confused by the differences between it and me. In the morning, the dogs on our street bark incessantly. It doesn’t keep me awake like it used to…now it makes me smile, even more so when I hear the yelling of a man and woman, I suppose arguing about if the dog should shut up or not. The surprises are now where they should be - in meeting a new person, discovering a new amusement, or receiving an unexpected gift. Such comfort can be found in the simplest of things! Knowing exactly how the key will sound when it turns in the lock does worlds of good to the soul that’s far from home.

I could go on. God has given us so much in just each other, but continues to add and heap the goodness on our heads! What a beautiful life it is. Thank you for being a part of it.

Love!

Emily

So I looked at drudge today and saw Iowa’s primary results. I got the feva and read all the articles there related to it and I still haven’t satisfied my need. Therefore I’ve decided to grace all 2 of you with my ramblings in hopes that if I say something where someone might read it I’ll find some relief.

Look at these results!
Obama 37.53; Edwards 29.88; Clinton 29.41
Huckabee 34; Romney 25; Thompson 14; McCain 13%; Paul 10%

That is crazy. I knew it was possible for these people to win but not by that much! Obama was 9 points ahead and Huckabee the same. I thought a landslide would be a win by 4 or 5 but 9!!! 9 is crazy!!

Also notice that Thompson beat McCain. For those of you who don’t even know who Thompson is he’s the guy that can’t decide whether to campaign or not…..and he even beat McCain in Iowa!

This is great news for Obama. A win here is crucial and the fact that Hillary couldn’t even get second is a really good sign for him. Huckabee still has a battle I think since for the past 4 months he hasn’t left Iowa at all. There are other early primary states besides Iowa and a win there is good but you need more than that to win it all. It will be interesting to see what he does next with this win.

My guess is Hillary goes dirty, really dirty immediately to ensure she doesn’t lose again. Unfortunately because Obama has never done anything before there’s not much to be negative about. I bet Romney either forgets evangelicals altogether after this and goes after Guiliani’s country club republicans or he starts mentioning the Bible, values, and God in every stump from now until the end of the primaries. Obviously his “both and” strategy didn’t work out too well in Iowa….and he spent a ton there.

Sitting here I’m thinking of my friends on the Romney campaign who all probably feel completely deflated. Its tough in the biz to take bad news because you’ve already worked so hard and you can’t let up at all for a pity party but at the same time the thoughts of “its all over and I lost” keep coming back to your mind. Thankfully the next bit of good news invigorates you and the same curse of campaigns moving fast becomes a blessing.

I miss the trail. I miss having a dog in the race. I’m a junky still and read the news like a hack. Who even cares who wins Iowa since every state this year is an “early state.” The Michigan Democratic Party this year wanted to be an early state so bad they sacrificed even being able to give input on who their nominee is…..in case you haven’t heard the MDP violated national party rules by having their primary too early and because of this it won’t be counted in the actual nomination and will basically be a big waste.

Ok, now I feel better. I still miss the ‘big dance’ but that ramble was good.