Teaching English to Nepali Monks

I have a new STUDENT! She's in second grade and is from Nepal. She hasn't been in America very long, so she does not understand a lot of English. When I first met her, i thought she didn't like me, 'cause she was so quiet. But, of course, she can't understand the crazy white person who keeps blabbing at her. I'm pretty excited about working with her. I'm going to print up as many pictures as possible to teach her colors, shapes, numbers and work on opposites. Oh and I've been watching Nepal tutorials on youtube. I'm going to greet her in her language next week! She probably won't understand me and will think I'm still speaking English, but hey, I've got to start somewhere. Anyways, YAY I FINALLY GET TO KEEP ONE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oil28IxqSq8&feature=related

ESL

So, for one of my classes I have to tutor one student in English for ten different sessions. It should be pretty easy, considering my background in tutoring English, right? I wish...I first taught a boy named Arbeth. He's super sweet and his English is actually pretty good. BUT his classroom is too busy and he can't work with me and keep up with his classmates...so I found a new kid, Dina, she's from Iraq and has a beautiful accent. I instantly like her. The funny thing is she even looked like I did at her age. After one session, she moved to San Francisco...Then I had my next student, Hector. He was a lot of fun and I enjoyed doing more hands on teaching with him. But, he was not to be my student forever, for some reason or other. next (today) I had Ashmita, a little girl from Nepal...she was a little bit unkempt and couldn't speak much English at all. I sat next to her and we played with my alphabet beads...it was amazing watching her come out of her shell as we looked for different letters to spell her name. She even started naming the colors of the beads. It was fun giggling with her and helping her make her own bracelet and using it to reinforce English...but at the end of the time, her mom came and got her. I heard she isn't coming back to that school. I've tutored four times and had four different students. It's sad, because I've connected with each student and really enjoyed working with each of them. I wish I could keep them all, but I don't get to keep any. I'm a little bit sad. Now I'll have to find a new student and I really hope I get to keep this one. I don't know if I can handle much more of this.

Too big?

Arachnophobia-the fear of spiders

Arachnophobia, tends to be a very prominent fear for a lot of people. I for the most part feel that if you leave a spider alone, it'll leave you alone. I admit that I like to look at them and to examine their webs and sometimes I like to throw a fly or two into a spider's web to watch the spiders wrap it up. I find there's a lot to learn from watching spiders. The other day I was taking a bath and noticed a miniscule little spider hanging on to the shear, wet walls of the tub trying to climb up to safety. I couldn't help but admire the poor little devil, becuase here it was soaking wet and exhausted, but still determined to climb up the cliffs of the tub and into safety. I think if it were me, I would have just given up and died, but this little guy had loads of courage. I found myself really wanting to help this courageous spider, but I couldn't. I was just too big. If I reached over and tried to help him off the wall, my shear bulk would have crushed the little guy. So instead I had to watch him try on his own and eventually give up and sink into the depths of the bathtub. I admit I was really sad for him and more sad that I was so big that I was unable to help something so small and needy.

After contemplating the tragic death of the little spider, I came to two conclusions.
#1 that I don't want to be so big in my own eyes that I can't help someone who is broken and needy. I don't want to crush them by the shear bulk of my pride and self-righteousness. I want to be humble enough to help the small and struggling people around me.
#2 I'm so glad that God doesn't just sit aside and watch me drown and struggle. He is so big and powerful and yet He's merciful and gentle enough to lift me out of suffering without crushing me with His greatness. Praise God.

For the hesitant cook

Today, I was cleaning out our kitchen drawers when I found some measuring spoons for dash, smidgen and pinch. I wonder what the difference between them are and why we even have them? Does it really matter if you put a smidgen in a recipe instead of a dash? or a dash instead of a pinch? Why is this so amusing to me? I don't know, it wouldn't make a smidgen of difference to most people, but maybe a dash. ;)

two months later...

So, if anyone has been following my blog, then they'll know that it suddenly stopped at a very depressing place. Well, that is because I stopped at a very depressing place. It hurt so bad just thinking about leaving them, but that was nothing compared to actually leaving them. Yet, when I got home I didn't want to be sad with my family so I just buried it, which is why I haven't blogged in a while. I didn't want to deal with the thought that I had abandoned my kids. I want to believe that I'm capable of being there for the people I love, but it's not possible to be home and there at the same time. So, when I went home I felt like I was letting all of my Taiwanese friends and family down. I don't like it when people hurt my friends, but when I'm the one doing it it's even harder...so yeah...It hurt and it hurts that I left them...I know it was the right thing to do, but it was dang hard and after two months I'm finally able to acknowledge that this is the way it should be.

I'm writting this instead of sleeping. What if I forget it>

Today, I went to Da An school even though I had heard I had no class. I wanted to give my students a class picture and to say goodbye. I wasn't expecting to actually get to teach a class. My most naughtiest class was waiting for me with gifts and cards and cameras. They wanted to make sure I'd remember them and that they'd remember me. In class they asked me why I was going back to America. I told them it's because my family misses me and one girl piped up "But teacher, we're your family. Look he is your brother and she is your sister and there's your grandmother and you grandfather..." It was too much. I know now that I'll always have family in Taiwan. Then we got to go outside and toss a football around and run relays and swing and goof off. It was magical. I've never gotten to just play with this class before. They're really precious kids and if the Lord wasn't on my side I don't think I could have made it through all of the goodbyes.

I know it's a weird thing to say, but I hate leaving these kids...I keep expecting my heart to explode in my chest. I think at any moment it'll all be over and I'll cease to exist. It isn't an easy job God has given me. First he made me love these kids with all of me and then he asked me to leave them...ouch. Praise His name, I'm not doing this without His help!

From my home to Taiwan...directions

Driving Directions
Link:


8. Turn right at 9th St (signs for State Hwy 70/Oroville) - 0.2 mi
9. Turn left at CA-70 N/B St Continue to follow CA-70 N - 31.6 mi
10. Take the ramp onto CA-149 N - 4.4 mi
11. Take the ramp onto CA-99 N - 49.2 mi
12. Continue onto CA-36 W/Antelope Blvd - 2.0 mi
13. Merge onto I-5 N via the ramp to Redding - 625 mi
14. Take exit 169 for NE 45th St - 0.3 mi
15. Slight left at 7th Ave NE - 262 ft
16. Take the 1st left onto NE 45th St - 1.0 mi
17. Turn left at Stone Way N - 0.9 mi
18. Slight left at N Northlake Way - 0.2 mi
19. Kayak across the Pacific Ocean - 2,756 mi
20. Continue straight - 0.1 mi
21. Turn left at Kuilima Dr - 0.5 mi
22. Take the 3rd right onto HI-83 W/Kamehameha Hwy - 12.4 mi
23. Continue onto HI-99 S - 6.5 mi
24. Slight left at HI-80 S/Kamehameha Hwy Continue to follow Kamehameha Hwy - 2.1 mi
25. Take the Interstate H2 S ramp to Honolulu - 0.2 mi
26. Merge onto I-H-2 S - 7.9 mi
27. Merge onto I-H-1 E - 4.2 mi
28. Take exit 13A for HI-78/Interstate H3 toward Aiea/Honolulu/HI-78 E/Kaneohe - 0.2 mi
29. Keep left at the fork to continue toward I-H-201 E/HI-78 E - 0.8 mi
30. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for HI-78 E/Honolulu and merge onto I-H-201 E/HI-78 E Continue to follow I-H-201 E - 3.7 mi
31. Merge onto I-H-1 E - 4.1 mi
32. Take exit 23 for Punahou St toward Waikiki/Manoa - 0.2 mi
33. Turn right at Punahou St - 0.1 mi
34. Take the 1st right onto S Beretania St - 0.1 mi
35. Take the 1st left onto Kalakaua Ave - 1.9 mi
36. Kayak across the Pacific Ocean - 3,879 mi
37. Turn right toward 県道263号線 - 0.3 mi
38. Turn left toward 県道263号線 - 0.2 mi
39. Turn right at 県道263号線 - 0.3 mi
40. Slight left to stay on 県道263号線 - 200 ft
41. Turn left to stay on 県道263号線 - 0.3 mi
42. Turn right at 国道125号線 - 0.4 mi
43. Turn left at 亀城公園北（交差点） onto 国道354号線 - 0.4 mi
44. Slight left at 千束町（交差点） to stay on 国道354号線 - 2.0 mi
45. Turn right at 中村陸橋下（交差点） to stay on 国道354号線 - 1.0 mi
46. Take the ramp to 常磐自動車道 Toll road - 0.3 mi
47. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for 東京 and merge onto 常磐自動車道 Toll road - 23.8 mi
48. Take exit 三郷ＪＣＴ toward 首都高・銀座・湾岸線 Toll road - 0.7 mi
49. Merge onto 首都高速6号三郷線 Toll road - 5.7 mi
50. Take exit 小菅ＪＣＴ toward 湾岸線・銀座 Toll road - 0.4 mi
51. Merge onto 首都高速中央環状線 Toll road - 0.4 mi
52. Take exit 堀切ＪＣＴ on the right toward 銀座・箱崎 Toll road - 0.3 mi
53. Merge onto 首都高速6号向島線 Toll road - 5.4 mi
54. Take exit 江戸橋ＪＣＴ toward 新宿・北池袋 Toll road - 0.4 mi
55. Merge onto 首都高速都心環状線 Toll road - 3.8 mi
56. Take exit 谷町ＪＣＴ on the right toward 東名・渋谷 Toll road - 0.3 mi
57. Merge onto 首都高速3号渋谷線 Toll road - 6.9 mi
58. Continue onto 東名高速道路 Toll road - 189 mi
59. Take exit 豊田ＪＣＴ toward 東海環状・伊勢湾岸道・豊田東出口・土岐ＪＣＴ・四日市・新名神 Toll road - 0.3 mi
60. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 伊勢湾岸道・四日市・新名神 and merge onto 伊勢湾岸自動車道 Toll road - 19.8 mi
61. Take the ramp onto 伊勢湾岸自動車道 Toll road - 12.1 mi
62. Take exit 四日市ＪＣＴ toward 東名阪道・大阪・伊勢道 Toll road - 0.6 mi
63. Merge onto 東名阪自動車道 Toll road - 13.8 mi
64. Take exit 亀山ＪＣＴ toward 新名神・京都・大阪 Toll road - 0.6 mi
65. Merge onto 新名神高速道路 Toll road - 30.9 mi
66. Take exit 草津ＪＣＴ toward 草津ＰＡ・名神・京滋・京都・大阪 Toll road - 0.2 mi
67. Take exit 草津ＰＡ on the right toward 名神 Toll road - 0.5 mi
68. Merge onto 名神高速道路 Toll road - 30.1 mi
69. Take exit 吹田ＪＣＴ toward 中国道・山陽道・宝塚・岡山 Toll road - 1.1 mi
70. Merge onto 中国自動車道 Toll road - 18.8 mi
71. Take exit 神戸ＪＣＴ toward 山陽道・岡山・徳島 Toll road - 0.9 mi
72. Merge onto 山陽自動車道 Toll road - 192 mi
73. Take exit 廿日市ＪＣＴ toward 山陽道・岩国・北九州 Toll road - 0.9 mi
74. Merge onto 広島岩国道路 Toll road - 7.3 mi
75. Take the ramp onto 山陽自動車道 Toll road - 59.2 mi
76. Take exit 山口ＪＣＴ toward 中国道・下関・北九州 Toll road - 0.8 mi
77. Merge onto 中国自動車道 Toll road - 39.9 mi
78. Continue onto 関門橋 Toll road - 5.9 mi
79. Continue onto 九州自動車道 (signs for 九州道・福岡・熊本) Toll road - 215 mi
80. Take exit 高速鹿児島ＩＣ toward 鹿児島出口・南九州道・川内・伊集院 Toll road - 0.2 mi
81. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 川内・伊集院・南九州道 and merge onto 国道3号線 Partial toll road - 0.4 mi
82. Take the ramp to 南九州道 Toll road - 0.4 mi
83. Merge onto 南九州西回り自動車道(市来~鹿児島西)/鹿児島道路 Toll road - 12.7 mi
84. Take the ramp to 国道3号線 Partial toll road - 0.9 mi
85. Turn left at 市来Ｉ．Ｃ入口（交差点） onto 国道3号線 (signs for 川内・串木野) - 4.5 mi
86. Turn left at 串木野駅（交差点） onto 県道38号線 - 1.0 mi
87. Turn right - 0.2 mi
88. Turn left - 0.1 mi
89. Turn left - 325 ft
90. Take the 串木野~里~中甑~鹿島~長浜 ferry Toll road - 40.3 mi
91. Continue straight - 66 ft
92. Turn left toward 県道349号線 - 190 ft
93. Turn right toward 県道349号線 - 187 ft
94. Turn left at 県道349号線 - 7.1 mi
95. Turn right at 県道350号線 - 2.1 mi
96. Jet ski across the Pacific Ocean - 486 mi
97. Continue straight onto 塘后支路 - 0.2 mi
98. Turn left at 塘后路 - 0.4 mi
99. Continue onto 淞宝路/淞寶路 - 0.4 mi
100. Slight right to stay on 淞宝路/淞寶路 - 0.3 mi
101. Turn left at 牡丹江路 - 0.1 mi
102. Take the 1st right onto 泰和路 - 0.8 mi
103. Slight right to stay on 泰和路 - 0.1 mi
104. Take the ramp on the left onto Ａ２０公路 - 22.6 mi
105. Take the exit toward 沪杭高速/滬杭高速 - 0.1 mi
106. Keep right at the fork to continue toward 沪杭高速/滬杭高速 and merge onto 沪杭高速/滬杭高速 Partial toll road - 38.6 mi
107. Take exit 杭浦高速/嘉兴港区/宁波-杭浦高速/嘉興港區/寧波 to merge onto 跨海大桥北接线/跨海大橋北接線 Toll road - 15.3 mi
108. Continue onto 杭州湾跨海大桥/杭州灣跨海大橋 Toll road - 22.2 mi
109. Continue onto 沈海高速 Toll road - 35.5 mi
110. Take the exit onto 宁波绕城高速/寧波繞城高速 Toll road - 18.3 mi
111. Take exit 甬台温高速-甬台溫高速 toward 甬台温高速/甬台溫高速 Toll road - 0.3 mi
112. Keep right at the fork to continue toward 甬台温高速/甬台溫高速 and merge onto 甬台温高速/甬台溫高速 Toll road - 204 mi
113. Take the exit onto 福宁高速/福寧高速 Toll road - 81.9 mi
114. Continue onto 罗宁高速/羅寧高速 Toll road - 12.5 mi
115. Continue onto 沈海高速 Toll road - 73.3 mi
116. Take exit 宏路/福清 Toll road - 0.8 mi
117. Continue straight through 宏路收費站/宏路收费站 - 0.7 mi
118. Turn left toward 福玉路 - 0.2 mi
119. Turn right toward 福玉路 - 0.3 mi
120. Continue straight onto 福玉路 - 0.2 mi
121. Turn left at 清榮大道/清荣大道 - 0.9 mi
122. Take the ramp onto 福人路 - 0.8 mi
123. Turn left at 清昌大道 - 1.6 mi
124. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto 龍江路/龙江路 - 1.1 mi
125. Slight left at 龍江路/龙江路/305省道 Continue to follow 305省道 Go through 1 roundabout - 29.4 mi
126. Take the ferry - 2.0 mi
127. Continue straight onto 305省道 - 6.4 mi
128. Continue onto 万宝西路/萬寶西路 - 0.7 mi
129. Continue onto 万宝中路/萬寶中路 - 0.8 mi
130. Turn left at 西航路 - 1.2 mi
131. Turn right at 龍鳳路/龙凤路 - 0.4 mi
132. Take the 1st left - 279 ft
133. Swim across the Pacific Ocean - 102 mi
134. Continue straight - 0.7 mi
135. Turn right at 領港大道 - 0.5 mi
136. Slight right to stay on 領港大道 - 0.3 mi
137. Turn left at 商港路 - 105 ft
138. Continue onto 台64線 - 6.9 mi
139. Take exit 五股二交流道 toward 國道1號 - 0.1 mi
140. Take exit 五股二交流道(五股交流道/五股) toward 國道1號 - 0.3 mi
141. Take exit 五股二交流道(國1五股交流道) on the left toward 國道1號 - 1.2 mi
142. Take exit 五股交流道 to merge onto 國道1號 - 82.2 mi
143. Take exit 台中系統交流道 toward 豐原/清水 - 0.2 mi
144. Take exit 台中系統交流道(國4東 豐原/東勢) on the left to merge onto 國道4號 - 3.9 mi
145. Take exit 豐原端(北 東勢/石岡) toward 豐勢路二段/台3線 - 233 ft
146. Turn left at 豐勢路二段/台3線 - 1.2 mi
147. Turn right at 明德路/台3線 Continue to follow 台3線 - 3.9 mi
148. Slight right at 中正路/中部橫貫公路/台8線 - 1.3 mi
149. Sharp left at 豐勢路 - 0.1 mi
150. Sharp right at 東坑街/專1鄉道 Continue to follow 專1鄉道 - 6.3 mi
151. Turn left at 大雪山林道/專1鄉道 - 0.4 mi
152. Turn right to stay on 大雪山林道/專1鄉道 - 2.7 mi
153. Turn right at 大雪山林道200線/專1鄉道 Continue to follow 專1鄉道 - 4.0 mi
154. Turn right - 0.9 mi