English Department Barbecue in Pictures

Last week I said goodbye to many friends - colleagues and students. Here are some pictures of our English Department Barbecue where the team gave me a book of Taiwan and all signed it. I had a great time eating grilled barbeque chicken (the first in 10 months!!!) and fellowshipping with everyone.

It was a bunch of fun. A great way to say goodbye.

The Greatest Gift...

Today I mustered up the courage to ask Helen, one of the Chinese staff at the college, where I could buy a Taiwanese flag. She did one better - she gave me one that the college uses. I am fit to be tied. Not only do I now have my own Taiwanese flag but it is one from Christ's College. Thank you so much Helen and Kevin for this gift - it is so meaningful. Because this just happened I have no picture but I will be sure to add one when I take one.
So excited...

Kenting

So last week I went on a short vacation. Kenting is on the southern coast of Taiwan. The little town has a vibrant street market at night and beautiful views of the ocean and bays. In one day we saw the Taiwan Strait, the Bashi Strait, and the Pacific Ocean. The waves were strong and I loved just listening to the constant roar of the ocean. My friend Fiona and I went all over the area enjoying different sights. We did a little hiking, lots of motorcycle riding and hours of chilling at Starbucks. One funny (not so funny for my body) thing that happened was that I got sunburned really bad on one small area of my legs - I wore shorts and didn't think about putting sunscreen on my legs so a hand-size area of my thighs got "fried." It's pretty funny now that's not as painful because you can see exactly how I rode on the cycle!! Fiona got a nice looking watch tan and sunglass tan - which I gave her the fun nickname of goggle eyes!

All in all it was a great time of chilling, enjoying the beauty of this country, and escaping the busyness of life.

Here are some pictures...

My mom and I have to see the ocean at least once a year - it is just a must. This trip was my "ocean experience" this year. It was unique and fun.

Now I am back in Taipei and packing away. 7 days and counting until I go home.

Until next time...

So this me living it up at Kenting - the southern tip of Taiwan. The waves were turquoise and big. The sand was beautiful and the water clear. We rode a motorcycle all over and saw great views of the ocean. It was great to hear the waves and let the water rush over my toes. I am back now in Taipei and trying to enjoy my last week in the country.

Until next time...

Crazy crazy CRAZY

Life is so hectic right now I can't see straight. So I am not going to be posting anything elaborate but I wanted to share a song that sums up how I am feeling right now. All the activities and things that I am doing are great but just happening all at once.

Time Takes a Toll on us

By: Bebo Norman

Have I become a soul so numb

All too familiar

Words of gold have all grown cold

Over and overI need to see you in the sunrise

Time takes its toll on us

And it tries its best just to steal our love

And we bend and we break but we don't give up

Time takes its toll on us

From the start you touched my heart

And turned it in to something more

Beautiful, you're beautiful

So why does it have to be so hard

To see you in the sunrise

Time takes, time takes away

Love remains, love remains

Here are just a few pictures of the week:

Mrs. Barbara and Dr. David White (MTW team members) celebrated their 50th anniversary. We had a party for them at the school on Friday. It was fun - I made a powerpoint of many pictures throughout their fifty years of marriage as a surprise gift. It was a fun project.

Well, I will write more soon. Right now I am too pooped!

Until next time...

I love this picture: it is just a snapshot of life here. We are taking time to talk and walk and look at the beautiful Danshui River. The girl on the left is a student named Kiddy and on the right is Becky White - both of these people have been special to me this year. I will miss them dearly and miss our walks on the river. Just wanted to give you a glimpse of my "normal" life here.

Unitl next time...

Ever since coming to Taiwan I have wanted to buy a Taiwanese flag. I have searched high and low, deep and wide, in big and small stores - nothing, nada, no flag. However, all over the highways and around the city are hundreds of flags. But I can not find one - I think it is a conspiracy. So since my time in Taiwan is coming to an end and it looks like I will not be buying my own Taiwanese flag I decided to take a picture of me draped in one. And I was ever so tempted to pull that stake out of the ground and end the flag search right then and there. But there were too many people around and I figured it wasn't a big enough issue to risk deportation! But man I really want a flag...

My favorite Phoebe

This is one of the most adorable little girls I know. She is two and although we literally cannot communicate (that language thing you know) we have become friends. She is a happy little girl and I can see how she has really changed and grown from a clingy, scared baby to a bold, happy, passionate, social two-year old. Her laugh and smile just melt me. I have had the priviledge of babysitting her once, which I was a bit intimidated about because of the language barrier, but it was great. We had so much fun. I will dearly miss little Phoebe and I hope she will miss "jie jie Amanda" which is what she calls me and it means big sister Amanda.

Graduation Time - the first of the goodbyes

The seniors had their graduation ceremony on Saturday and it was so much fun seeing the senior English majors walk on stage. I have gotten to know many of them and helped them get through their classes so graduation was not just merely watching people complete a degree but seeing students that I had encouraged, helped, cheered on, listened to, and shared the gospel with end one part of their lives and begin a new chapter. At Christ's College, graduation occurs two weeks before the undergraduates finish. So this was the first of many goodbye experiences. I will dearly miss the seniors and hope to keep in touch with some of them. Even more, I pray that God will use what He has taught them to glorify and further His kingdom.

Senior Banquet

Last week the seniors hosted a Teacher Appreciation Dinner to celebrate their last days as students at Christ's College. It was basically a feast with lots and lots of picture taking. I was excited to get invited since I have gotten to know many of the senior English majors and it was a formal event so I got all dressed up. For those that think they know me well, surprisingly I do like to wear dresses and dress up but I don't do it often because pants and shorts are more comfortable for every day attire. People make such a big deal when I wear a dress and usually it drives me nuts but this time I just thanked everyone when I got compliments. Better to get compliments than the other option!