Wandering Soul

It has been a little while since my last post, but not much new has transpired to be completely honest. The wheels of routine and continuity are in motion for now and it is a comforting feeling. I am starting to grasp a little bit of how to run a classroom and how to convey the lessons I am trying to teach to my kids. I still have a long way to go until I am fully confident in my teaching abilities and it obviously would be arrogant and unfair to my kids to become complacent at such an early stage of my teaching career.

I feel as if I am often torn between wanting some routine in my life, but I also enjoy the thrill of sporadicalness that life can deal out when you are just going with the flow. Maybe I just have a little of gypsy in me because it seems to run in my family, at least with my siblings and myself. Taiwan offers me a chance to kind of fill the duality of my personality and so far it has been a nice fit for a wandering soul like mine.

I find it funny to come across things in Taiwan that are just utterly bizarre to me and yet so natural to the citizens here. I have mentioned before that I turn the heads of about 90% of the people I walk by, but there are some occasions when it is I that is making the double take. Case in point, these leopard shoes that the guy in front of me at a restaurant was wearing. I do not think I will ever be fashionably trendy here in Taiwan, but this is something I am used to since I was far from the trend setter back home.

Or another case of my head being turned was upon sighting what is probably my favorite billboard that I have seen in English so far. The real kicker is spoken English is quite rare in a city like Taichung, let alone being able to read the language, so I can only imagine what the Taiwanese think when they see this on the outskirts of one of their more popular parks.

Well since coming to Taipei, I have lost somewhere between 20-25 pounds that I slowly put on my last two years of college from binge eating/drinking. Rutgers is a haven for the most absurd drunken delicacies you can think of and for that, I am happy I have stepped away from the good ol’ New Brunswick. There are many things I miss about college and Rutgers, but the constant pressure to eat grease loaded foods is not one of them.

I think my weight loss has been a combination of eating healthier things, eating less in general, exercising, the constant heat, cutting back on the drinking, and just other random things. Like today, I have played basketball a few times midday and 30 minutes of semi-running around in a half court game leaves me literally able to ring out my shirt with sweat. I have not had as sweat inducing workouts as I have had here since my short stint at the military academy. I am excited at the chance to become even more healthy while I am over here. I saw my dad struggle with weight in his older age and I never want that for myself. So here is to trying to better myself in more ways than one. I hope upon my return to the states that I will bring back many things from my time in Taiwan, but excess weight is not one of them. I hope this finds all of you well and that you are enjoying the remaining days of August and summer. Love and miss you all and wish you were here enjoying this sunset with me. Cheers.

Forever My Father’s Child

Today has been a day filled with reflecting, remembering, lots of smiles, a few somber thoughts, and some tears. Today is my Dad’s birthday. I used to say “was my dad’s birthday” until I realized that this day will always be his as long as I am here on this earth to celebrate the life that he lived. He would have been 59 years old today and still a young man by many standards.

Almost 7 years have gone by since he passed and yet parts of me feel as if I just talked to him yesterday. He was a mountain of a man, both physically and in spirit. My dad was the best man I ever knew and it hurts me to think that all of the new the people I have encountered in the past 7 years will never have the chance to meet such an awesome human being. There are often times in my life where I wish I could console in him and ask him questions about “adult” things, but for the most part I have taken those unknowns in stride and learned through trial and error. My father laid the foundation for who I am and without him I would not be the man I am today.

Both my mother and father taught me how to love. They taught me how to make decisions. They taught me how to prioritize things in my life and they showed me through example how to just be all around good people. I am very blessed to have the parents I have and I try everyday to make them proud. My mom is one of the best teachers I have ever encountered and I still have countless friends who had her in 2^nd grade who will attest to this claim. My dad never had a stable job, but he was a people’s person and a natural teacher at heart. Being in the classroom these past few days, I have thought often of my parents and the impact they have had on countless people they have been in contact with and how I now have that responsibility with the kids I am teaching. It is exciting and I am ready for the challenge. It makes me happy to think that the teachings my parents instilled in me are being passed on, however minutely, to these kids here in Taiwan.

Although my dad is no longer alive to see the man I have become and although we might have different opinions on certain things in life, I like to think that he would be proud of the things that I am doing. I have always loved and will continue to love that man every day that I am granted. Although I do not think of him incessantly, he is a part of me and his spirit lives on through me. I hope to become half the man my father was and I live every day of my life with this goal in mind.

I wrote this song for him two years ago on his birthday, but I am still proud of the lyrics and it still rings true to this day. Have a listen and read the lyrics if you feel up to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta0jj_d87JE&list=UUIuU65GQDtNlcVis0Ekr2uw&index=5&feature=plcp

Happy birthday pops. I miss you immensely and love you unceasingly.

Forever my father’s child,

Ethan

I’m in Taiwan.

Since I have been here, things have been a whirlwind of changes for the most part. I haven’t had many opportunities to stop and think about where I am and what I am doing.

That being said, there have been a few moments where I come out of my traveler’s haze and my mind begins to think about the here and now. These moments I now like to call “I’m in Taiwan” moments.

I have been in Taiwan for over three weeks now and yet sometimes I forget that I am literally half way around the world from my tiny comfort zone back in the US.

The times in which I am reminded of this distance are often the times when I have my “I’m in Taiwan” moments. Often they come with me trying to communicate even the basic of words to the people surrounding me. Man, it is crazy being in a place where you literally cannot communicate with 99% of the people that are around you. I have never appreciated language more than I do now at the moment.

Other “I’m in Taiwan” moments are when I get frustrated with people staring at me like I have five heads. Never have I appreciated where I lived in the US more as far as the racial diversity and general accepting nature of all people. I have traveled a few square miles outside of my apartment the last few days and I have yet to encounter another white person besides the ones I work with at my school. It totally gives me the “I’m in Taiwan” feeling when it hits me that I am very strange looking to the people I encounter and I just need to accept the stares.

Not all of these moments are negative. On the contrary, a lot of them excite me and drive me to expand myself. I remind myself that this is part of the reason I came here in the first place. I am growing culturally every day with every step I take in this country. Culture shock was harped on quite a bit in my training group and it makes sense as to why they focused on it so much. I have to get used to being looked at and treated as the equivalent of a babbling 2 year old for the time being (a behemoth of a 2 year old mind you) and just use it as motivation to expand my Mandarin skills with every chance I get.

Well I’m off to observe another class and start prepping for my own classes that I’ll soon be teaching, exciting stuff! I’m ready to get into the classroom and start applying the skills I’ve been equipped with in these past few weeks. Hope all is well with everyone who reads this and feel free to leave any questions or topics you want me to blog about in the comments section!

If The Shoe Fits…

Physically, I do not know if I could have picked a country that adhered any less to people of my stature. I am constantly ducking, squatting, and bending to fit my massive frame into spaces that are made for other humans of the Taiwanese persuasion. In the states, I became used to people occasionally staring at me, but here I am constantly gawked at, frequently pointed at, and my favorite, hysterically giggled at.

All that being said, this country is quite groovy!

I am sorry I have not updated the blog since I have been here, but it quickly took the back burner with how busy our training regiment kept us. The city of Taipei was unlike any other city I have visited. At times it had a New York City vibe mixed with the bright lights of Las Vegas and the cleanliness of Toronto. Trashcans are almost impossible to come by and yet you would be hard pressed to try to find a piece of trash on the ground. The subway prohibits eating/drinking onboard and I have never seen a more efficient, clean way of transportation. The clubs were fun, the beer was….not so great, the people were friendly, and the food was tasty. I met a ton of people throughout my training that I quickly became great friends with and I am excited to have expanded my roots even further throughout the world.

I was scheduled to leave Taipei on Wednesday morning, but instead I experienced my first typhoon, which kept me in Taipei one more night. Thursday morning I hit the road on the nicest public transportation bus I have ever ridden on with 3 other people from training towards my now new home city of Taichung.

After a day of apartment searching, I had to decide that night on which place I would be living in for the next year.

The place I chose is a rather small studio located about a ten-minute walk away from the school I will be teaching at. The place is brand new and I really have no complaints. It is small, but it has everything I need. There is no kitchen, but in Taiwan, it is actually more expensive to cook than it is to eat out. There are restaurants upon restaurants everywhere you turn and I know the basic words of chicken, pork, beef, rice, beer, and vegetables in Mandarin to get me by for the time being.

Currently, I am sitting on the public roof deck that my apartment complex has and drinking a Hoegaarden that I stumbled upon earlier while exploring the city. This city is brightly lit and a tad noisy at times, but the beautiful thing is mountains surround the city and they are only a short scooter ride away. 

Tonight, I am thinking about all the people in my life that I love and the list is long. Some have passed away, some I have not been in contact with for a while, and others I think about on a daily basis. I am a blessed man to have had so many people in my life that have helped shape and mold me into the person I am today. I truly am grateful for you all. You know who you are and I love and miss you all dearly. Where ever you are or whatever it is you are doing currently, I hope that life is filling you with an abundance of joy. Smile my friends; soak this life in. I look forward to reuniting with you all down the road, but while our paths are separated, I wish for you only the best that life can give.

Till next post, cheers!

The Joys of Flying

Well what a better way to start the day off then with a 3:30am wake up to get to the airport by 4:30 for my 6am flight only to find out once you’re checking in at the airport that your flight itinerary has been completely changed and now I do not leave Philadelphia till 12:40. That info would have been much more useful as I was trying to shake off anxious jitters this morning while my body screamed for more sleep.

Such is life.

The jitters are starting to fade and the zombie like insomnia is already starting to set in. Who knows what I’ll feel/look like after this excruciating 28 hour traveling experience.

I do feel bad for the person stuck next to me on this long flight though. I realize I am a fellow passenger’s worst nightmare seeing my large body come ducking down the isle and turned sideways so my shoulders fit. I sense the glares from people already sitting and their silent cheers as I pass by the empty seat next to them. Airplanes are not built for the big or tall and unfortunately I am a combination of the both. I apologize in advance to my seat mate every time I fly, and often they become sympathetic for my long legs after they get battered by the attempt of a recline from the person in front of me or they comment on my large feet after they are run over by the drink cart.

Oh the woes of traveling. But life is good! I’ve taken the first step towards the future and soon I’ll be flying again, both literally and figuratively.

Hope you all are having a great day. Many of you are on my mind and I miss you already.

It’s Time to Collect the Harvest

Who are we but a culmination of all our experiences?

The routes in my life I have chosen to take and the many detours that were forced upon me have led me to where I am today. Highly weathered trails from New Jersey to West Point to Arkansas to Africa and back to New Jersey have left me thirsting for more traveling.

My last semester of college at Rutgers consisted of many countless hours (often during class) of perusing eslcafe.com looking for just the right opportunity to let me spread my wings again. My dreaming mind and searching fingers landed me on the homepage for HESS International based in Taiwan. After a short process of writing, interviewing, and waiting, the e-mail came welcoming me to embark on the opportunity to teach in Taiwan. The celebrating began.

The following months were filled with great moments that I will continue to cherish. The friends I have made during my travels the past years are held dear to me. It always hurts to part ways, but I know the strength of these bonds are the type in which distance does not even begin to affect my friendship with these people.

I put my time in with my wings at bay and slowly found my way to finish college knowing that this day would come. I have been mentally preparing myself for this trip long before I knew it would actually come to fruition. Here it is at hand, 3 days away. So much to see and so much to experience. So much good in this world to delve into and I am ready to soar off into a new chapter of my life.

So cheers to the adventures to be had!

Here is what I say:

Get busy laughing uncontrollably. Get busy smiling. Get busy meeting a complete stranger and learning their story, for we all have one to share. Get busy passionately loving another. Get busy filling your palate with exotic tastes. Get busy drinking your cup down to the bottom and filling it up again. Get busy dancing like a fool, close your eyes and let the music take you. Get busy living this life to the fullest, for we only have one to live my friends and there is just so much good to not take advantage of it!

Our existence is fragile and our time is limited. This life is not promised to anyone.

This world is a place overflowing with opportunities waiting to be experienced by anyone who dares to reap.

It’s time to collect the harvest.