Hey all,
I’ve posted four new albums on the pictures page – pics from Megan’s time in Taoyuan, trips and fun in March, and other random stuff. Oh-and, all the little tiny poor-quality videos I take on my digital camera are now accessible on Picasaweb, by going to the newly created “Mini-Videos” page and clicking on the picture there. It’s not much, but it’s what we have. I think they’re pretty neat, myself 
Our internet at the house is FINALLY working again, after I think three weeks of absence. It felt like even longer. Our house owner is such a great guy, bending over backwards to make this a good place to live, but when we have a problem it’s really hard to communicate correctly. He really has tried several times to make the internet work for the whole house, and it seemed to be working for everyone but us. Yesterday his son came, was able to speak English with us, and by switching some wires around (or something), we are now miraculously up and running again. hurrah!
In other news, I have decided what I want to pursue for next year, and hopefully the following two years as well. This year I’ve had only one subject: Mandarin Chinese. Instead of jumping into my degree right away, Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, the school basically told me I needed to learn some Mandarin first. Of course. I thought that one year of intense study would be enough, and then I’d go on to learn grammar, teaching styles and other important stuff for four years. Afterwards I’d be a fluent, fully qualified teacher. What I have found out is that no, there aren’t really any classes teaching actual Mandarin. The degree is aimed at Taiwanese students, whose first language is Chinese. So, the courses are at best loosely associated with the degree’s title, as are so many classes required for so many degrees. This being the case, I can’t see how four years of classes and textbooks in English are going to get me to the level of fluency I desire.
Therefore, I have requested of the Taiwanese Ministry of Education (the people who supply my scholarship) that I be able to change study plans. I want to study at Shi-Da Mandarin Language Center, perhaps the best of its kind in Taiwan. They have programs reaching all the way up to “High-Level Expert,” so there’s no worry I’d run out of stuff to learn. There are culture classes, Chinese history and calligraphy, etc. In short, just thinking about it I get excited! My wish is to study there for the next three years, while Michael finishes his degree at Ming Chuan. That way, we can both be in Taipei, both be able to travel a short distance to school, both have friends in the same area, and both have a life in the same town. It sounds so wonderful.
All that said, I have yet to receive any kind of news from MOE. Please pray with me that I would receive favor and be granted this request! For the first time since we arrived here, I am truly, really, actually excited about what God has for us here. He has sparked my heart with a love for what I’ve chosen to study, and given me a much-needed vision for how He can use the gifts I’ll acquire here. Thank you Lord, and thank you to everyone who’s been praying for me. You’ve helped me so much!
love love love,
Emily
PS Look back through our Philippines pictures – we finally got the underwater ones!
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