Just a quick note... There's a huge evergreen looking tree in the middle of town square here in Puli and this time of year, they put a bunch of toys on it. I asked someone if they then donate them to charity and they said "no"... so... alright then? Checking out some lights in Taichung …
Main differences of Taiwan vs America (Part 1)
Food - The Good and the... different Of course coming to Taiwan, I knew that things would be different from what we eat to how we eat it and even a little bit when we eat it. I talk about some obvious things like utensils and different spices that are more common but also things …
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Our 3 day weekend in Kaohsiung
Thursday Night Anthony and I both had to work a regular school day on Thursday but we knew that after what felt like such a long week, we would get to vacation in a much larger area of Taiwan than we have been living in. We are city people, just having lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin …
Garbage in Taiwan
Taiwan is a very interesting place: a mix of high-tech amenities next to run-down buildings, some with all of its plumbing outdoors. Because of its past, Taiwan is stuck in a limbo of developing its smaller rural areas like Puli to architecturally stand like its larger areas like the capital of Taipei. Taiwan's past lends …
My Week of Training with MOE
Shortly after we arrived in Taiwan, we learned that we would be attending a training on the north part of the island in the biggest city of Taiwan sponsored by the Ministry of Education (or MOE). We needed to spend a week in New Taipei City at the National Academy for Educational Research and receive …
Preparing for the Move Series (Climate Change)
From swimwear to pajamas, walking/teaching shoes and water bottles, everyday essentials and work clothes, everything needed to be carefully calculated. I needed to really pick apart my closet, see what I could take and all the shopping I needed to do to make sure I was 100% prepared for this change in weather. Growing up …
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Preparing for the Move Series (Cards & Banking)
Credit Card Newbie Before planning for this great life adventure, I did not have a credit card. I got a debit card in 2012 when I started college because it seemed like a necessity but I also thought that was all I needed, not thinking about the lack of credit I was setting up for …
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Moving to a new country…
Almost everyone I know had a story of their sister, friend, roommate from college, etc who had decided to travel abroad and teach English. When I started considering doing this as well, I felt very comforted knowing that so many people have done it but also that everyone told me that their whoever loved it. …
An ESL Teacher Abroad 