Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Ever Evolving Sue!

Oh boy. So much has happened in the past few weeks...where to start? (That's the problem with being a slack blogger, Sue!).

The BIG news is that I was hired to teach at a nearby pre-school called Child's World.
You can check out their website HERE, if you'd like.

Thanks to my very sweet friend and present TAS PTA bookstore manager, Hilary, I called the director,Jackie, who is a friend of Hilary's (and the visiting author coordinator) and arranged myself an interview! Well, by the time I made it to the interview, I think Jackie's mind had already been made up that she was going to hire me! She didn't even look at my resume.
So I was hired as a substitute, and next week will teach a Reading and Writing class two days a week. I will ALSO train with her in the office, and I will eventually run the school one day a week, then this summer I will take her place while she goes home to Colorado. When she returns in September, I will again go back to teaching p/t, subbing and working in the office...then in January '09 I will take over as the director/principal! Please don't be impressed - I was hired for a few reasons - the most important being that I am an American who will be living in Taiwan for the next nine years (until Anjoli graduates from the Taipei American School). I do have a lot of experience with kids from pre-school through 6th grade - but not a heck of a lot! Oh and I haven't worked in an office since 1999! HELP!
Honestly, I prefer teaching to being an administrator, but I will give it a whirl, why not?


I have been subbing for a kindergarten class at the school this week - tomorrow is my last day of this assignment. I am enjoying it SO much! It's a total blast. I love singing, as most of you know, and I taught them this "Name Game" song - which is a great ice breaker for new subs and a great way to learn kid's names. Well, the brightest kid in the class (a 5 year old boy) came in this morning and handed me a rolled up piece of paper. He had written, in perfect handwriting, the words to the song! I was really impressed and touched by that.
It's so sweet - I end the day with storytime and by that time they are all clamoring to sit on my lap!
I can't believe how smart these children are. There are only 7 in the class - one American autistic boy who is just a gem of a kid (and he has a one-on-one aide), a red headed Italian boy (adorable),a super smart Indian girl (who has become my shadow), 2 Taiwanese girls, and 2 Taiwanese boys.
They were a bit out of control today (day 3 of my assignment) because they have figured out that I am a softie. My biggest flaw is that I do not rule with an iron fist...I guess I need to learn to be a bit tougher...but that just isn't ME. I did give the brightest boy (who is my favorite - even though he is the most mischevious) a TIME OUT today - oh boy! I was amazed that he actually sat in the chair for me! I plunked him down in front of a chart of numbers from 1-100 and pointed to them and said "HERE- READ THESE NUMBERS FROM 1-100!" Lo and behold, he did!

Yesterday, the same boy had all the teachers in stitches. We made Valentines and I told them that they could write a poem if they'd like. Here is what he wrote (spelling was nearly spot on):

Oh Carol , I Am But a Fool
Darling I Love You Though You Treat Me Cruel
You Hurt Me And You Make Me Cry
But If You Leave Me I Will Surely Die

It's a Neil Sedaka song! The teachers were saying that he must have been doing Karaoke over Chinese New Year break. Too cute.


Other happenings: Last week Anjoli was off for Chinese New Year (It's the Year of the Rat). Sujoy was also off from last Wednesday until February 11th. We all went down south to a city called Taichung for 3 days with our friends Thomas ( he's Sujoy's business partner), his wife Alice, their daughter Joanne and other family members. I enjoyed the city - the architecture is WAY nicer than Taipei - the buildings are newer. There are some very hip, cute areas...we went to a great little cafe for breakfast one day (where we were served the BEST coffee and "scrumbled" eggs!). The shopping is fantastic - Alice's brother took us to a really cool arty area - I bought a cool shirt, a very English looking angora hat and a Peruvian scarf. (It was FREEEEEEEEZING!!! It still IS!).

Here are a few pics from Cafe Uno (I am such a sucker for nice cafes, and breakfast is my favorite meal):








We went to a beautiful area close to Sun Moon Lake to a theme park which was like an "aboriginal Disney Land." Surprisingly, it really wasn't very tacky! I found it heartening that the Taiwanese are so proud of the 9 indigenous tribes on the island and that they have paid tribute to them and are celebrating their culture. Anjoli still has a bum ankle so we had to cart her around in a wheel chair. The crowds were slightly unbearable, so we didn't bother standing in line to go on the rides. We'll have to go back though because there were some fun ones. Here are some pictures from the park:







BE AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID!!!!




This is better (but I accidentally cut off the top of the guy- ouch!)








My skull will be featured here one day, I'm sure...




A cute little Aboriginal house




The Interior - These are not real aboriginals...hee hee...they are wax figures of a Shaman and a sick young man.




The "kitchen"








Cute little chairs








I really love their pottery, sculpture and art















From a pottery workshop - you can try your hand at a pottery wheel - I've always wanted to learn how to do that. It's extremely difficult though and I am not the patient sort.





Thomas and one of the cutest, sweetest kids on the planet, his daughter, Joanne








I will post more about our trip to Taichung tomorrow (I promise!!). Time for bed - it's VERY late!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love to all,
Suexxxxx

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

congrats on your new job, and it's great to hear you're doing so well and are happy! Sounds like you're having a ball! Keep up the good work, and good luck with the new job!

MargieCM said...

Mega post, Sue, and what a beauty!

Your trip sounds (and looks) magical, although that phallic totem is scary indeed. It was lovely to read the joy in your descriptions of the job, too. I'll bet you're an inspirational teacher.

Melbourne has been celebrating Chinese New Year too - we have a large Chinese population (actually, we have a large multicultural poulation generally. which is wonderful), so the rats are out in force here too.

I must be tired; I read "with our friends Thomas (Sujoy's partner)", and thought "hang on, have I missed something??? Oh, der ... BUSINESS partner!

Love to you all,
M x

MargieCM said...

PS; Oh, and of course I'm impressed! That is brilliant news. You don't land a job like that just because of your nationality and circumstances. Go you!

PDBT said...

Amazing shots, Sue
I wish I could see such beautiful places...



just took a break and went on a ski vacation to Vermont
got home yesterday
very relaxing
oh, to be on a mountain top with my friend and my board and my ipod and having a majestic view whilst CRANKING 'Love Reign O'er Me' in my ears and taking off down the slopes at about 35 M.P.H.
there is nothing better for me...

what a spectacular time we had

thanks for checking up on me, though

-Lin

gypsy noir said...

Hello Sues!,

The school Child's world looks adorable, i'm sure you will be so happy working there..

Love the photos from your trip too!..

Got to rush now, Neil's on his way home early, OOh!, Valentines night tonight! ;0)..heh heh!..

Speak soon sweet-Tootle-loo!..x..

lryicsgrl said...

SO happy for you...congratulations!
What fun your students are going to have....lucky them ;-)

Oh man, that TOTEM, cracks me up...WTF?????
Did you have to explain that to Anjoli??
What did you say??

Miss you!

stay happy
xo

lryicsgrl said...

" I think it's a fertility statue - or a place where women go to pray for well -endowed husbands!"

take me to that church/temple/synagogue...ha ha!


It's almost over....VDAY...it's a Hallmark holiday...this is a direct quote from my husband ;-)

Laura said...

You. Rock. Learn to deal with this.

Seriously.

I'm out of pith. But I love you dearly. And your photos are taunting me. "Come to Asia Laura, We're waiting for you!" (joke about the statue censored) Find me a gig in Taiwan...I'll be on the next plane over. Again with the Seriously.

Oh well. A jill of all trade's work is never done. I'm galloping out of the house again.

Feb's story is in danger. I fear this could result in a few late nights come the end of the month.

Holy disjointed comment batman!

Love you x 100. L

Delbut said...

Think i'm in the time-out chair at the moment. god thinks i've been naughty.

Nice Cock - As Neil Sedaka once wrote.

Vallypee said...

CONGRATULATIONS Sue!!! That is great news and it sounds as if you will have a great time with the kids. No wonder they love you - it's YOU!

Thanks for all the photos too. Stunning artefacts and pottery. Looking forward to seeing more of the pics too. Good luck, take care and well done you again! xxVallyP

Fleur de Bee said...

Hello Love! I did get your email and am so so happy for you!!!Keep me posted on the position and how well you enjoy it! Sounds like fun to me as I do love children and serving in their happiness! What a perfect post for you!!

Oh I LOVE the photos. You have made me blush indeed! LOL! Check out that skull! Ah I am not sure I would have liked to handle it, brave Anjoli!

xoxo

Holly said...

Congrats Sue!! I work at a Pizza chain here in the states, Pizza Inn. Yeah I bus tables...it kinda blows.

grace said...

Sue, things are looking up my friend!! You are awesome. I love your posts because you really write a diary. Me, just a pic or vid. I don't have that writing expression ability.

I am so glad to read you are doing well.

I am switching over to invite only, so I am gathering e-mails to to do so, if I don't succeed in doing it perfectly, you know you are there?!!! k ?

Suesjoy said...

Thanks so much everyone!!

Yeah the phallic totem pole - definately the highlight of the trip! I could say more but I WON'T!!

Love yas.


xxxxxxxxx

off to write another post now...

pictures of lily said...

Well, I had to come and see the "pole" you spoke of!
NICE!! BIG!!

The trip looks marvelous, and fun!!
..and the jobs are wonderful for you!! I may need a "time-out" tho. soon too!!
love ya!!