My Bathroom

I think this room of my apartment gave me the greatest concern. Although, the rest of the apartment is small and so very different from what I know. My bathroom could be called an all-purpose room. There is a toilet and sink, of course. But where is the shower? Oh dear. I see a faucet coming out of the wall and a showerhead hanging over it. No partitions or walls. Just a drain in the floor and a water source on the wall. I considered it a blessing to discover a mount on the wall where the showerhead could be placed. At least I didn’t have to hold it during my shower. J So my bathroom floor is the tub for my shower. How odd.

Ah, I miss my shower/tub back home. Going to a motel with a true shower sounds like an amazing treat.

The Golden Arches

Only those who have travelled the world can relate to my feelings upon first seeing those golden arches – a sign for McDonald’s. Oh the joy of something familiar and American in a street full of Chinese signs, Taiwanese people, and new smells. (Not all of them lovely)
I saw this sign while riding in a taxi with my Dad on our way to my apartment from his motel. I chuckled and said to him, “Funny how happy I am to see those golden arches when at home my response would be ‘Yuck.’” At home I would look for a different restaurant.

Small World

At church we saw quite a few missionaries. One was a senior couple. We talked with them and discovered the man is a cousin of our neighbor. Wow! They were very nice and informed me they’ll be doing a gospel doctrine class in English. Yeah! I’ll get to participate in at least 1 chunk of church.

After church, my Dad & I met Scott’s family. We talked for a while with his wife and 2 oldest daughters. The daughters asked if I had seen “Camp Rock” yet. I just had to chuckle. I told them my sister watched it and loves The Jonas Brothers. They said they love them too. I forgot how similar people are. And I didn’t guess the Jonas Brothers would be known in this part of the world.

Scott’s wife, Sarah, asked what my major in school was. I replied math education and her reaction surprised me. She gave me a big hug! And said she loves math. We chuckled as her 2 daughters wrinkled their noses and expressed opinions opposite hers. Who would’ve guess I would find a “math friend” here in Taiwan?!
Sister Frandsen. Her husband is the cousin of my neighbor.
Scott and his family - Nathan (#5), Sarah (Wife), Jessca (#4), Michelle (#3), Grace (#1), and Rebecca (#2).

Firsts

On Sunday morning, my first morning in Taiwan, I got up and took my first shower in the little bathroom (more on that later) then I got ready. I went downstairs where the guards were helpful, although they only spoke Chinese. Thus our source of understanding was hand signals. They called a taxi and while waiting for it, I went to a little breakfast shop next door. Time to purchase breakfast for the first time. Only problem: the signs were in Chinese. A gentleman patron pointed to a picture and I mutely nodded my consent. He spoke to the workers and they began making me a breakfast sandwich. I pointed at things to show what I wanted (bread instead of roll and the type of meat). Then I sat down to wait. One worker came over and tried to get me a drink. That was interesting. She said coffee, I said no. She said something tea, I said no. Then both workers tried to tell me another option, but I didn’t get it. A few minutes later the first worker said Cola?, I said Yes! With some relief too. (I didn’t actually want cola for breakfast. But I finally understood them and cola is usually a good option. We were communicating!)

They brought out my sandwich and drink in a little bag. I paid them ($40 NT, about $1.30 US) and then my taxi pulled up. It was now time for my first taxi ride. I was apprehensive as I didn’t know where I was going. And I was alone. Oh and I had no way to get back to my apartment if I had a problem. I had the church address in Chinese and I gave that to the driver. He looked at it, nodded, and I got in. So far, so good. I settled in to eat my breakfast and look (well, stare) out the window. My sandwich was actually good. Egg and a chicken (? I think) patty with some veggies on toasted bread. I didn’t drink the cola as they put ice in it, and I was told not to drink the tap water (or ice made with the water). I actually wasn’t too hungry, but I had to eat to help my body adjust to the new schedule.

During my 20-minute taxi ride, I probably saw 100 scooters. And we stopped for a train. I saw a few 7-Elevens (yeah!) and some Chinese temples. Eventually I saw a nice building & felt relieved. It was clearly a chapel and had the signs in English and Chinese. We had found it with no problems. I paid my taxi driver and stepped out (my ride cost about $8.50 US). I was greeted by Scott and my Dad. We took some pictures (logical if you know my Dad) then stepped inside. I finished eating most of the sandwich, and I drank my cola (Dad gave the go-ahead). We then got into the elevator and went up to the chapel {So weird to have an elevator in church! And it was big. Scott said it fits a coffin. And he was surprised we were surprised by the elevator.} I attended church and added two more firsts to my list: 1-church in Taiwan and 2-church in Chinese.

Thoughts

When landing in Taiwan, some of my thoughts were
“What have I gotten myself into?!”
and
“We’re, not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
I was just a little nervous.

Then as I tried to fall asleep late that first night, I thought “I want to go home.” But I reasoned that I signed a contract and came all this way. Plus I had yet to see the school and meet the students.

The Beginning

My aunt Tiffy told me I should get a blog during our last phone call before my departure. I was a bit hesitant, but then 1-year-old Jackson added his support of this idea. How could I resist that cute boy? (OK, he only made a noise that could mean anything, but Tiff & I chose to think it was his approval of the blog idea). So here is the beginning of my blog. I already have 2 1/2 pages of info to put on here. It's written in a notebook and will be added once I find the time. I'm working on getting settled in. My apartment really needs to be scrubbed!