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Student Forum + Soap DIY

We spent Thursday and Friday at Ming-Der Senior High School.  Teachers from Junior High Schools across New Taipei City nominated 2 students to be invited to participate in an English Summit with American Teachers.  It made us feel very official.

This last workshop was the best by far because we learned a lot about students.  They had many concerns about suicide, a growing problem among teenagers in Taiwan.  Once we heard about their demanding schedules and pressures, it's obvious why some students make the unfortunate decision to take their lives.  I wanted to hug them all but Taiwan people aren't huge on affection.  Smiles and kind words were the best I could do.

Some things students shared:
-They have large HW loads for all subjects
-Many go to cram schools for tutoring until 9PM at night, mostly for Math, Science and English
-Cram schools also give homework
-Most sleep 7 hours or less
-Many know someone who or have been victims of bullying
-They are overwhelmed by the pressure to do well on exams so they can get into good high schools (its a competitive application process based on test scores) and college
-They are tired of lectures, want opportunities to foster their creativity, and are just straight up tired.

We shared information about schools in my county and gave them a taste of how we teach.  In terms of comforting them, there was really only so much we could say or do.  We encouraged them to speak up, ask their teachers for alternative learning opportunities, and to be kind and supportive of one another.

We received the best celebrity treatment here.  One student requested to sit with me at snack time and many requested pictures and autographs. Wow.  They were so bright and had great English skills.  Good luck to you all!

Thursday afternoon was spent at the local tea soap factory.  Cute and fun but way too hot.  We made soap molds and hammered impressions on pre-made soap bars.  Then we learned about the tea + soap making process.

I found another Chinese baby! :)  Only 10 weeks old.

Aboriginal Athlete's Foot

We had our last week of workshops - yahoo!

Monday's was different. These teachers were the youngest and most motivated to see a change in the standard Taiwanese classroom.  They understand the need to move from a sterile, lecture hall format to an engaging and cooperative classroom of learners.  It was relaxing because we had the entire day to get to know the campus.  We stopped by a handball game and I saw my first lab classroom.

Puppy love

We spent Tuesday at two different schools: Anshi Junior High and Sanxia Junior High.  Anshi compiled a list of theoretical questions for us to discuss.  This bothered me because I'm a teacher - I can share practical experiences but I'm not expert in theory.  Turns out, the teacher who wrote the questions wasn't even there and she was sharing her graduate research.  The teachers at this school said they admired our passion and ideas.  I saw them as stuck in their ways and unwilling to consider trying something that might make learning and teaching more enjoyable.  They said it sounded like too much work and that it's hard to motivate students. Hmm.

Sunxia Jr. High was the first school that presented to us and expected nothing in return.  We met a teacher who leads a class on the Sunxia neighborhood, its history and its people.  He showed us artifacts, told us stories, and shared Hinoki oil from the Hinoki tree.  He instructed me to take the bottle, that has a roll on applicator, and put it on my face.  "It wakes you up!"  I asked him how he normally uses the oil, and he said "Also to wake me up and athlete's foot."  I smiled on the outside and couldn't believe I just put that stuff all over my face on the inside.  Damn Chinese got me again. 

The school has an awesome Aboriginal Student Dance and Drum team.  They performed several songs and dances for us.  The bamboo dance was the most impressive.  We walked away with a souvenir shirt and CD with tribal music.  These students truly blew me away.

That evening I tried acupuncture to help me with my cough.  Claudia went first and loved it.  I went in open minded and wasn't bother much by the small pricks on my forehead.  But something took over, I felt woozy and my vision was getting darker.  The doctor immediately removed the needles and gave me herbal medicine instead.  The medicine tastes awful.  Three days of nasty powder medicine later, I feel the same! :)

 

On Wednesday, we had a half day at Shuling Senior High.  We did a mini 1/2 hour presentation (sweet!) and rushed over to the San Shu Gong Food Company.  We had a DIY demo on how to make our own treats.  These desserts honestly taste pretty bad - bland, gummy, and sticky.  It was cute being in a room with a ton of rugrats and I loved seeing the YWCA group.

Love my blowfish warrior face

Pampered chicken

On Saturday, Mindy took us around town. We started at the local yoga studio - my request - where I soon realized that the beginners were far more advanced than me. These toilets must give them extra flexibility skills that I haven't built up yet. Then, we got manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages.  I think there is some feeling of guilt on her part because we've been working like dogs.  It was nice and relaxing.  The girl who did my nails took a bunch of photos and made this really funky collage.  I know I must be a celebrity on her Facebook wall.

Oh you know they wanted a group shot!

I spent the night with Mindy's and Mindy's sister's families.  We went to a really nice, local restaurant located on one of Yingee's mountains.  There were beautiful city views.

Papaya Tree

The chef/owner Amy is actually also the owner of the restaurant next door to my home stay.  She let me watch her prepare and cook our food. (Mushrooms, bamboo, chicken parts - eek! - and fish caught fresh from the backyard pond and beaten to death in front of my very eyes).

 

   

Like every other Taiwanese feast, just when you think the last dish has been served and you can't eat another bite, another plate of food is delivered to the table and expected to be eaten.  I am not a fan of the 10 course meals but I do love watching the kiddos eat with their chopsticks - it's the American in me.  For dessert, a stranger from another table let me hold her 7 month old baby! :)

random Chinese baby love

On Sunday, we visited a local organic farm.  Like other organic farms, free range chickens ran about.  I even found a goose in the hen house.  Then, the lead farmer lectured the visiting group for way too long about farming practices.  It's a good thing I understand Chinese; it was very interesting.  I also loved the mosquitos in the bamboo forest.  They gave me lots of love bites to remember them by.  At least it was a good day for pictures.

 

Mama cluck + clucklings

 

Joa-Way's feather

Giant piece of bamboo root