Taiwaneers

Emily and I are a week into our summer job. This summer we have been fortunate to get jobs detasseling corn thanks to my dad who, in his words, “badgered” our new boss until he agreed to employ us. Thanks dad! Our new boss is an Amish gentleman named Levi Bontrager who runs a 200 person detasseling crew. Not only that but my little sister is doing it with us so we’re having lots of fun!

Unfortunately though the weather hasn’t cooperated. Normally the season starts around the beginning of July and goes really strong for 3-5 weeks and ends. This year the planting didn’t happen until later because its been such a cold summer and even now, towards the end of July, different fields are becoming ready to be detasseled at different times. Because of this we’ve only worked 4 days during the last week. Not only that but the four days have been half-days so its really more like two, short days of work. Its kind of a bummer because we could’ve used these days to visit more people but as it is we work from the early morning until around noon and then a trip up to Lansing or Milwaukee or Kalamazoo or (insert a place here) isn’t as justified. Oh well…we are very grateful to even have summer jobs to begin with.

I’ve been reading The Odyssey and it made me think how great adventure and travel narratives are. With this in mind I’ve created a category in the sidebar appropriately titled “travel.” All of our posts from our Philippines and Korea vacations are there along with posts about our travel back and forth between Taiwan and America. While they are adventure and travel narratives they probably won’t become quite the classic that Homer wrote though. I guess a lot of our posts about Taiwan would be considered of the adventure/travel variety as well but I just don’t think of Taiwan that way…it being my home and all. Maybe I should create an “exploring Taiwan” category for those or something.

Anyways its been fun reading The Odyssey. I feel like I understand a lot more than otherwise having taken that Classical Mythology class first semester of this past school year. It hasn’t been a page turner for me or anything but I’ve enjoyed it. Its crazy to think that the same story I’m reading was told at dinner parties before Jesus Christ even made his earthly appearance. Part of me thinks its still read only because its so old but then another part of me thinks there’s got to be more to it then that.

Thanks to Dan & Roberto (two friends) my computer is back on Windows XP and I’m able to use my video editing software again! I’ve already taken advantage and put up more Korea footage. While its not as flashy as the other “Michael and Emily go to Korea” videos its up and you can watch it here.

One more thing I must mention is food. The other day I had my first Qdoba burrito of the summer and LOVED it! This evening I had scrumtrulecent Chili made by my wife and my mom who followed a recipe from my sister-in-law…the double-F: Family & Food! Life is good!!!