Substitute English Teacher

Hi Steve, in case you're checking into the blog...  (Steve's travelling on business this week.)  Today, I filled in for an English Teacher at a bushiban to teach grammar to ten 3rd graders.  I did NOT know what to expect.  It's only for a few days before the regular teacher returns from a family emergency.  

Despite not having a joke at the ready (per Steve's suggestion), I think it went pretty well.  A few of the boys were disruptive, (talking to each other etc... and not raising their hands), but generally they're a bunch of bright kids.  At times, it felt a little out of control (hope I wasn't too soft on them).  It feels likes they were absorbing what I was telling them, but hard to tell.  Anyhow, it was fun interacting with the kids and hopefully they know all about "Adverbs" now and that "xx is a good people" is not proper english.  =)  I'll be happy if they took away one thing from my class.

Tyler's a bit moody ( I think from the antihistimines he's on ).  Because of his allergies, there's some fluid build up in his ears.  This was news to me that this can happen with allergies.  So we're on watch this week...  

Opera Night

Placido Domingo came to Taiwan to perform at the Miao Li Music Festival.  When we happened across this information,  Steve and I knew we had to get tickets.  His voice was absolutely thrilling, and I really enjoyed the evening off where it was just Steve and I.

It was at a sports stadium so it was quite a crowd - really people mountain people sea.  They made us park about 15 minutes away and they had shuttle buses that took you to the stadium.  In the few seconds before the performance started, you heard fur elise, the garbage truck music playing faintly in the night.  No mistaking that you weren't at the Met... Once the performance started though, it was easy to overlook all the little "quirks" about the logistics.  (too numerous to mention)

Domingo sang with a Chilean Soprano, arias from Tosca and LeCid and quite a few Spanish Operas we weren't familiar with.  Towards the end there were a few crowd pleasers, like Besame Mucho.  In total, there were 7!! encores - one being a Taiwanese folksong where everyone went crazy, and another a song by Placido Jr. set to a poem by Pope John Paul the II.

My voice was a bit raspy from all the Bravo's... it was quite an operatic evening.

Hot Wheels!

Tyler put on his first pair of rollerblades yesterday.  A friend's daughter was taking free lessons at the Zhubei Sports Center and invited us to join.  The coach even provide the blades and all protective gear -- a nice way to try the sport without investing in all the gear.  The practice area was right next to the stadium, "underneath the bleachers" which was a wide open area and provided some cover from the drizzle yesterday.

The first lesson is to learn "to walk" on skates.  The coach tied the front and back wheels so it wouldn't be so slippery.  A bit of friendly competition developed between Tyler and his friend.  Nothing like a bit of competition to really motivate.  =)

At first his legs were very wobbly. The challenge for Tyler was learning to take smaller steps... He's so eager to emulate the older kids zipping around.  After about 20 minutes of walking back and forth the pillars, Tyler was ready to go on his on without mom holding on- in fact he was pushing my arms away. The trick is to support them just enough that they don't fall hard, but let them still carry most of their weight so their legs get used to it --  kind of like parenting really....

He really had a blast and can't wait to go back next week.  

For his birthday, Steve and I got him a soccer ball + practice cones (the ones he was wearing on his hands on his bday).  When daddy gets home, they practice a little bit to our neighbors chagrin (I'm guessing, since they haven't complained yet.  I know, we're bad neighbors.)  He has this special fancy move where he's jogging in place before he kicks the ball -- it's really super cute.  I think he would really enjoy playing a team sport.

Tyler's Fourth Birthday

From Tyler's Bday 4

Tyler just celebrated his Fourth Birthday.  There was so much built up anticipation.  Just like Christmas, half the fun is in the waiting leading up to the day.  All of February, Tyler asked -- How many days until?? He couldn't wait for his party and all it entails -- presents, playtime with his friends, balloons, games, cake, and being the center of attention.  Anything and everything was related to preparation off his birthday.  We were watching a Japanese program, a bake off...  Tyler asked were we choosing his birthday cake from those?  

We celebrated it twice, once with his friends a few days earlier, and on the day with family in Taipei.  It was a nice little gathering at our house for lunch and some cake.  Many of his friends he knew since he was one and a half -- it's hard not to look at this group and just wonder where the time went!!  

From Tyler's Bday 4

My Birthday

From Liu Huang Family Blog

My birthday started out with Steve and Tyler taking me out to a nice out of the way Italian restaurant in Jhubei for lunch (our day starts late you see).  The decor was eclectic, cozy, cute.  They had a full functioning bar, so I ordered a Green Apple Martini...  What's in that, they ask?  Oh, nevermind.  How about a cosmo?  We can do that... Oh good. Ten minutes later, Steve points out the waiter who just came in the door has a pint of cranberry juice in his hand.  Makes me smile....  Reminds us of the time in London when I ordered a Milk Tea at an Indian restaurant years ago and same scenario... waiter comes back with a pint of milk.  It must be a gift of mine.  The cosmo finally comes 20 minutes later.  Ahh... it hits the spot.

Had a lovely day... For dinner, met grandpa, Da Gio Gio, Er Ar Yi for dinner at Ding Tai Fong.  Everyone was in a jolly mood... So good to see them...  I was "sharing" with them how at nearly four years old, Tyler now has an opinion of his own about EVERYTHING.  They chuckle, and remind me of when I was little recounting the story when I was angry at Grandpa and secretly threw his watch into the garbage can.  I've heard this story a million times, but it makes me smile to see them reminisce.  

So for dessert we go to our favorite French Bakery, Paul's.  In the picture above, you see Tyler can't wait for his chocolate Macaroons...  We wandered around the streets of Taipei, (really miss that about being in NYC) for a while, and took the High Speed Rail home.   

So for my birthday wishes, I had three   1. was to be able spend more time with Steve and 2. for Tyler's health.  3. keep in touch with loved ones more.  One already came true... Tyler's ear infection is nearly gone so we can avoid surgery.  Hallelujah!!  What a great way to start out my 36th year!!

From Liu Huang Family Blog

From Liu Huang Family Blog

Chinese Medicine

Last week, I took Tyler to a Chinese medical doctor in Taipei.  (is this the term in english?)  Anyhow, the doctor came highly recommended by a friend.  And most importantly, my friend's son avoided getting tubes in his ear after getting treated by this particular doctor.  So I have high hopes.

This is really my first experience with Chinese medicine.  It took me by surprise that all the doctor did was to "take his pulse", looked at his tongue, and asked about bowel movements.  That was all before she wrote her prescription.

So when Tyler finished his course of Antibiotics today, I started him on the Chinese meds.  In my mind, I was dreading negotiations with him after every meal explaining why he needs to take the "strange smelly" medicine.  So to my pleasant surprise he drank the concoction within a blink of an eye.... saying it "tastes a little bad, but it's sweet."  The honey added in seem to do the trick.

February 2009

For about a week and a half now, I had Tyler stay home to get over his hacking cough and to avoid catching anything else so his ear infection will go away.  For the last few months most our days are spent shuttling from class to class, play dates, trips to Taichung or Taipei, so it was a nice change of pace just to stay put.  But after the umpteenth puzzle, the umpteenth story... Tyler and I had cabin fever.  I was still worried and reluctant to let Tyler go back to classes since his ear infection hasn't gone away, but Steve convinced me I couldn't keep Tyler in a bubble.  So back to classes he went last week.  Here are some pictures of our week back:

 

A beautiful day at Four Ways Farm in Miao Li - It felt like spring. Feeding the geese and Koi fish.

From Feb2009

Tyler's caterpillar - first day back in English class.

From Feb2009

Lantern Festival

From Feb2009

Teacher Pei Yu introduced Andy Warhol to the kids. Here's Tyler's rendition of pop art (on left).  Pop Art is called "pu pu" or literally translated "common common"- something new I learned.  Under Marilyn's picture it says Andy Warhol, the godfather of "pu pu".  =)

From Feb2009

Took Tyler to the Warhol exhibit at CKS Memorial.  I'm not a big fan of Warhol, but thought it would be interesting for Tyler to experience his first art exhibit.   

From Feb2009