Busy Like A Bee

Bees probably have similes comparing themselves to me; I've been doing mad-crazy work this week. Consequently, I have a backlog of things to post, but no time to post them. Sorry for micro-blogging.

Today, I'll move from the hostel to my own apartment. Then, I'll spend a few days cleaning with bleach, buying some essentials, and making the space my own. Then, I'll spend a few days without internet.

Thennnnnn, I'm gonna post things things like it's 1999.

Apartment

I signed the lease for an ohhhh so sick apartment. I got a killer deal: 7000NT (230USD) a month. I'm also lucky because housing isn't the easiest to find in Donggang - lot's of places are at capacity.

I move my two backpacks of stuff into my giant apartment Sunday so expect pictures then.

Short term, I'll probably put baby powder on the floors and slide around wearing only tube socks and underwear. Long term, I hope to find a roommate or put up a couchsurfing offer because wasting space is uncool.

I can't wait to show everyone the view from the rooftop.

Surfin' the Web

Don't click on this link if you are studying/trying to be productive.

Long Day

Today was a loooonnnnggggg day.

I was up at the crack of dawn and on a bus for my new school in Donggang. In the morning, I watched a couple of the foreign teachers' lessons. Then, I taught some classes so the administrator and principle could evaluate and critique. There will be much more of that throughout the training period. Chicken curry, rice, and cabbage soup for lunch provided by the school. Free lunch = awesome.

After lunch, I had to get pictures taken for the multitude of documents that will be processed in the following week or so. The first of which was the physical examination from today. Cost: two photos, $50USD, and a test tube of precious blood and plasma. Benefit: I got to do a little scouting and was impressed with the nursing staff, mostly young and cute. I hope they live in the city.

Afterwords, more paperwork at the school.

The day ended with apartment hunting. The school administrator also helps foreign teachers find housing in Donggang. Today, we looked at two housing options.

The first was a huge apartment. Three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, two bathrooms, and two mini-balconies. It was somewhat furnished, ie., a couch, some chairs, a bed that looked like it came straight out of a telo, drawers, a refrigerator, and cabinets. I told Vivian that it was way too big for one person.

The apartment manager mentioned three Latter-day Saints living on the 4th floor interested in another roommate. I politely said, "No fucking way!" 

Next, I looked at option two, the suite. The suite is a dorm room. It had a bed. No kitchen, no refrigerator, and a shared bathroom. This is the more economical option, but frugal as I am, I don't want to live there for a year. It was dingy, even by my exceedingly low standards. 

Ideally, I'll find a studio or one bedroom apartment with a kitchen. Unfortunately, I get the impression that housing options are one extreme or the other.

I asked Vivian to call and ask about the rental rate of the first apartment. Hopefully I can justify the higher cost to avoid the suite and Mormons.

Bravo, Display Designer

I am not versed in advertising, but storefronts placarded with Chinese convey zero information to me. Thus, I rely on visualizations quite a bit more than I would stateside. I like this one.

Particularly, I think this display is effective because it elicits an emotional response and also a direct link to the product.

I saw this and was instantly transported from sidewalk to cockpit. The mental shift from pedestrian to pilot in command widened my eyes, perked my brows, and put Kenny Loggins on repeat in my skull while I visualized blue skies. Even if I wasn't a pilot, I know I would look at those instruments for a second and think, "I could do that!"

Then I start to think about how important those instruments are. And what they do? This is where, for me, emotions start transferring to the watches. How could I possibly fly a plane without an altimeter, attitude indicator, or engine gauges? How can I keep time with anything less precise than a Bell & Ross watch? This watch provides a direct link to badassness (think Iceman and Maverick) even when I'm not tearing up the skies.

This display does more for me than most. For example, pictures of food at a restaurant leaving little to the imagination - it's direct, and I get it - fair. Others, not so much: a scantily clad schoolgirl and air conditioners? Yeah, I'm thinking, but not about air conditioners. If anything, that advertisement transfers to the babe I just walked past, re-incarnated as a schoolgirl, and mindfu...yeah, you get it.

The watch display just totally nails it, and I can appreciate that.

Engrish

Are you white? A male? Well, I've got just the toothpaste for you !

What I'm Drinking

I had to try it...

It exceeded my expectations, however, was only 20% juice. Flavored sugar water never disappoints.

Decision Donggang

After plenty 'o deliberation, I decided to accept the position in Donggang.

I think I was hesitant because larger cities have a certain allure; being an urbanite is sexy. I say that because I grew up in a very small town. Aside from visiting my parents and seeing old friends, Chilton, WI has nothing to offer me - the routine of life there is pretty stagnant. On subconscious level, I equated Donggang with my hometown, and that made me cringe. After talking to a few friends, I realized it was an awful comparison and my aversion to Donggang was more emotional than rational.  Donggang will be plenty stimulating and more congruous with my goals on the island. I am happy with my decision.

So, yeah. Job hunting is officially over. Time to start the process of obtaining a work permit, finding housing, and planting some roots. Wooohoooo !

Kaohsiung vs. Donggang

I have spent most of yesterday and today agonizing over whether to take a job in the smaller town of Donggang, which is an hour bus ride south of Kaohsiung. Donggang is a harbor city most well known for fishing. Population is ~50k. 

Pros of Donggang :

• Few English speakers would force exposure to Chinese *
• Distraction-free environment for self-improvement **
• Cheaper cost of living
• More coconuts 
• A nursing school
• Seafood capital of Taiwan
• Closer to Kenting (scuba diving, surfing)  
• Ferry city for Liouciou Island

Pros of Kaohsiung:

• More resources, conveniences, talent and opportunity ***
• Higher salary 
• Cultural epicenter ****
• Nightlife 
• A really cute girl from Poland 
• A few universities 
• Huge network of foreigners 

* I am here to learn Chinese. Clearly, living away from other English speakers would force more exposure. Constant Chinese would be frustrating and unrelenting, but effective for learning the quickest. In a big city, I would speak English a lot. It would be hard not to, regardless of intent. Here, the smaller city acts as a commitment device. Click on the "commitment device" link and read a little - I like Thomas Schelling a lot.

** I would be relatively isolated living in the small town. That means a lot less distraction. It would be my Walden Pond, and I could really focus on self-improvement: reading, studying, and new hobbies like surfing or paragliding on the weekends. At my core, I am a party animal. I know my own limitations and would probably not be able to choose studying over swilling beer and chasing tail. Obviously, living up to higher pursuits would be easier with the latter far removed.

*** Bigger cities have more stuff. More stuff to eat, see, and do. This aspect worries me a little.. What good is the freshest seafood in all of Taiwan without a talented chef? I would be leaving behind Museums, restaurants, and a myriad of other venues. You find talent in big cities. End of story. However, thinking about all of the things giant Kaohsiung has that tiny Donggang doesn't is somewhat unfair. Perspective: after four years, Minneapolis still had a lot of things I hadn't done. It's time consuming scouring a city and taking advantage of everything there is to offer. I think it's a situation where ambition exceeds time constraints. If I didn't cover all the ground in Minneapolis in four years, why should I expect to here with the addition of a language barrier?

**** Lastly, I also think cities are cultural epicenters. There are museums, theatres, and orchestra halls. Again, not so in the small town. But how much would I appreciate a play I couldn't understand? I think eventually, I'll be able to check these things out when I have a basic grasp on the language. When I do, I'm an hour bus ride away.

I am clearly leaning towards moving to the small town. I just need to convince myself. It's not easy when everyone in Kaohsiung tells me to stay here. They even try to find jobs for me with a sense of exigence. Will I regret this six months from now because I'm bored and lonely? I don't know but feel like I should try and find out. 

More pragmatically, it's where I have a guaranteed job.

Input? Much appreciated, comments please.

What I'm Eating - Raddish Squares

My standard breakfast:

The white squares are [phonetically] lo bo gow. They are made from Daikon and rice puree. Their taste is crisp and fresh but more mellow than biting into a radish - could be the addition of rice. Anyhow, the puree is formed into squares, dried, and then grilled.

The green things are [phonetically] jee-ow bing. Bing is popular as a breakfast food and it's basically a crepe / scrambled egg combination. The "jee-ow" part is what signifies the green color - I think the addition of green squash into the mix. The owner of the hostel suggested that this may be a special recipe because dan bing [you guessed it, phonetic] is more popular.

Dan bing is white and pictured here with lo bo gow :

I prefer the green one because of a crispier texture and the squash adding a more-than-flour flavor. The details of "What I'm Eating" posts will improve as I learn Chinese.

Taiwan Nice.2

Today, I went to a nearby town to check out a school. When I got there, I asked for directions to the school and it was futile. So I went to a little restaurant and asked to use their phone to call the school. Well, gestured to use the phone, of course. Instead, the lady working called the school on my behalf and then gave me a ride there on the back of her scooter. We almost got hit by a car. I think scooters are somewhat dangerous, but I'll still buy one. The Taiwanese are nice.

Engrish

Couldn't resist. Engrish will be a series. Starting with ...

 

Gatoradesque ?

Pro Sweat: when there are no professional athletes around to lick.

Job Hunting Update

About one week into the search, here is where I stand:

1- job offer (start immediately)
1- waiting for a final decision 
1- currently interviewing
2- waiting for interview offer
3- rejected / no response

I'm happy with the progress, and having a definite offer gives me a little security. I like the administration and schedule where I was offered a job. I have reservations about the location because it is a smaller city. I'll probably make a T-chart tomorrow. Then I'll likely rationalize disregarding the T-chart and decide arbitrarily.

Typhoon Megi

Typhoon Megi is west of Taiwan tracking north towards Hong Kong. It's not likely the storm will hit Taiwan directly. Still, the school I visited this morning sent their kids home midday. Most businesses in the area have closed, and there is little activity in the streets. I'm holed up for the night with a Tsingtao and cache of instant noodles watching Nat Geo waiting for some action. So far, just some transient rain and gusts of wind. [update: I am on the southern part of the island.]

Taiwan Nice

Ordinarily, I'm pretty leery about all-inclusive, blanket generalizations but I'm feeling a little hasty. I'm convinced that everyone in Taiwan is abnormally friendly and good-spirited. Everyone.

Taking out a map and looking around is like Taiwanese bait - works every time. And they don't just point down the street to dismiss me because I can't communicate. Teams are assembled, maps are drawn, and phone calls are made on my behalf. Ok, maybe this doesn't sound that impressive. Or, maybe it's just because I'm noticeably a tourist and everyone likes to help tourists. Nope. Today, on my way to get bubble tea, scooterists made a blockade to stop traffic while a convenience store employee helped a really old lady cross the street. I bet the idiots in the store didn't even steal anything while the clerk was gone.

Next, let's talk about exploitation, which would detract from helpful in the kindness equation. Exchanging money presents a pretty good opportunity for exploitation. Let's start with my most frequent purchase: food.  I have been getting breakfast at a small place across the street from my hostel and lunch at a few nearby locations. Surely, I could be getting overcharged, at least slightly, but am not.

Being jaded, I realize choosing not to exploit me could be advantageous sans altruistic nice. Exploiting me at the breakfast place might not be an optimal strategy because the game is sequential. Thus, exploitation for higher profit in the present might prevent future payoffs from repeat business. When I get lunch, a manager type figure is eyeballing the bejeesus out of each employee. His tongue would touch the cashiers' ear if he stuck it out. Here, supervision is a barrier to exploitation.

We need a better example, and I think taxi drivers provide a nice indicator of exploitation. Repeat business is not likely in large cities. There is no direct oversight, and a fare meter is not an effective barrier to exploitation. Case in point: while studying abroad, I paid one hundred dollars for my first cab ride in Argentina. My host mom's jaw dropped before she explained the "idiot rate." Turned out, meters could be tampered with. Anyhow, you guessed it, no price gouging here in Taiwan.

Before my teaching demo, I found this on the table outside my room. It means big luck big profit.

I would have been content with, "Good luck."

I realize that I have only been in Taiwan a week but I'm still convinced everyone is nice. My inner skeptic beckons me to probe, though, so I'll probably start resorting to more desperate nice-sorting methods like leaving valuable things out in public, seeking out the more dubious types, and telling people I still use Windows Media Player.

Teach Me How To Bucky

I grew up in Wisconsin and went to college in the Twin Cities, where I cheer for the Gophers. Yes, four years of ridicule bordering harassment from close friends and my brother. Still, I'll concede, this is pretty awesome.

Teaching Demonstration

My first teaching demonstration was yesterday. After the demonstration, I spoke with the school's president for a debriefing. Here are the takeaway points from both: 
 
I have an energetic, clear, well-enunciated speaking voice. This was a major selling point and a good thing to have in the "well-done" category. Because speaking style is more a characteristic than behavior, modifying it would be much more painstaking. Cool.

Speed, idioms, and phrasal verbs. Before the lesson, I consciously reminded myself to speak slowly and avoid idiomatic expressions. Easy enough, right? Not exactly. Public speaking slow and ESL slow are different. ESL slow for a newcomer like myself seems patronizing and uncomfortably slow. And idioms and phrasal verbs pepper the English language. For example, look at the second sentence in this post: "Here are the takeaway points." For my English audience, the intent is clear : the synopsis of my demonstration. However, it's actually a sports term describing a backswing in golf or change of possession in other sports and we just make the connection. In a practical sense, asking,  "Class, what is the answer?" rather than, "Class, what did you come up with?" elicits a response instead of blank stares. 

This is a biggie: my awful whiteboard writing. I hadn't thought about this prior to the demonstration but should have. I have awful handwriting and that translates to awful whiteboard writing. Markedly, it's not precise, and usually that is fine. However, these little kids are like sponges. When they see semi-cursive, mashed letters or a mid-word capital letter, they get confused and wonder why they get yelled at for doing what Teacher Tim just did.

Overall, I left the school with a sense of accomplishment. I have one demonstration under my belt and know what needs to be improved upon. I am up against five other teachers who are interviewing and demoing throughout the week. I will get an e-mail after the school has made a decision. While I'm waiting, I'll continue job hunting.

Lesson Plan

Ok, here's how the teaching demonstration works. It's a one hour presentation with a real class that the owner of the language institute will use while considering me against other candidates.  I'll have one hour to cover two pages of material, one page phonetics and one page grammar.

My interviewer gave me the following tips, things "the boss" will like to see:
     1. Energy and fast-paced teaching
     2. Clear writing and use of the whiteboard

     3. Engaging the students and eliciting answers

Incorporating those elements and the well-received advice of my friend, here is my lesson plan. Thanks, Lauren. And Chris...?

Introduction [ 10 minutes] 

Tim from the United States will explain that it's very cold in Minneapolis and that is why I moved to Kaohsiung, where the weather is beautiful. I'll open the floor for questions about me to engage the kids and get a sense of participation levels.

Then, I'll start the transition to the first lesson by telling the kids a few things they should know about me. I'll introduce one of my favorite things and bro-essential, the high five. [Goals of high five: introduce an interactive cultural element that can be used to reward correct answers, encourage participation, or simply get kids moving if they become restless. Oh yeah, and it's awesome.] Next, I'll write a few things on the board and ask students to read them.

     1. Tim is an English teacher. 

     2. Tim is a good teacher. 

Note the hard "g" in each sentence. Next, a volunteer comes to the front of the class and stands next to me. Clearly, a new sentence goes on the board. 

      3. Tim is a giant. Like a giraffe?

Again, a volunteer reads the sentence and soft "g" is introduced. 

Phonetics Lesson [ 20 minutes ]

I'll write a "G" on the board and then branch it into hard and soft. I'll ask kids what the hard g sounds like and eventually will get to writing down "gu" followed by some example words we'll practice. Next is soft g and the same process. Introduce, Rule: when e, i, or y comes after the g, the g usually stands for the soft g sound.

Then we'll do the workbook page and match words to pictures of badges, giraffes, hedges, and gems. Even generals. I'll call on kids to say what the picture is. The class will repeat things like, "It is a badge." 

Very good, class. Phonetics ends with a high five, duh.

Grammar [ 20 minutes]

The objective in this section is combining subjects and predicates. I'll start by having the kids diagram a sentence - something my generation didn't do in school because of sharing, feel-good, "creative" shit like free-journaling.

"I enjoy English class at KNS!" Will be written on the board. I like this sentence because it avoids a predicate nominative like the previous three sentences and brown-noses. High five to everyone reading. After the students diagram the sentence, I'll know how to proceed with the lesson.

Maybe we talk about subjects and predicates, I don't know. If the kids know what's going on, then we'll start combining sentences. I'll draw a diagram with a basic sentence-combining algorithm. Then we'll do a few guided examples and I'll question them about the mechanics of a correct answer. We'll finish with the workbook page.

In Sum 

Of my 60 minutes, I've used 10 for the introduction + 20 for phonetics + 20 for grammar. I'm left with 10 minutes of wiggle room. I'll use this for the closing notes : a quick and concise review of phonetics and sentence combining. If the class moves faster than I planned, then I have another page of grammar on reserve to burn time, I mean re-enforce the previous page.

NB: I am a practiced and confident presenter, but not an educator. If you are, please comment.

First Interview

Wooohoo! My first job interview went well. I learned what to expect in future interviews, gained some insight into the expatriate network here, and most importantly, received an offer for a teaching demonstration.

NB: victory, not D-bag

In sum, it was pretty relaxed. I met the school's local recruiter at a Starbucks - in the Kaohsiung Cultural Center. Yep, Cultural Center. Oolong tea cost more than my usual lunch. Ok, anyhow, me: dress pants, shirt and tie. Him: cargo shorts, polo, bowling ball in camouflage. The interview was more a conversation. I talked about why I was in Kaohsiung and interested in teaching, my experience with kids, and my comfort-level presenting in front of groups.

In the process, I learned more about the expats and English teaching scene. There's a lot of camaraderie amongst the foreigners here - we come and go so exchange housing, mopeds, and furniture. It is definitely insular but inviting - I will take up the offer to go bowling on Mondays, but only after I lock down a job.

 When the interview ended I got an offer to teach a demonstration. It felt nice. I hitched a ride on the back of my interviewer's scooter and went to the school. I looked at the books, peeked in some classrooms, and met a few of the teachers. It seems like a cool place to work and I'm excited to demo tomorrow.

Job Hunting In Kaohsiung

Some updates :

Firstly, I successfully battled exhaustion yesterday and stayed awake until a reasonable hour before sleeping. I woke up at 5am this morning and am not complaining - I think maybe I'll be a morning person here. First time for everything, eh? More importantly, I started the job hunt.

I started searching online because most schools were closed yesterday. There are a few popular message boards used by the expats in Kaohsiung: Tealit, Forumosa, and a yahoo group. I started here and found two job openings that looked promising. I have heard back on one and am setting up an interview today or tomorrow. I am pretty excited and hope I like the school, the interview goes well, and I could potentially start immediately.

I am happy to have lined up an interview, but that doesn't guarantee a job. Today is Monday, so I'll actually start walking to schools and asking about employment. I think being on the ground and in person will give me an advantage compared to online applications.

American Vampire

Guess I'm not impervious to Jet lag - my circadian rhythm is all messed up. My first night timed out well: got off the plane around midnight and was sleeping by 2am. I woke up the next day at 8am and after breakfast and planning took a train to Kaohsiung, in the South. All well so far into day two.


After some map-pointing, a taxi, and more map-pointing I was at my Kaohsiung hostel by 3pm and decided to take a nap at 6pm - huge mistake - I woke up at 3am. Not cool, but the solitude facilitated reading a city guide and memorizing some phrases to get breakfast. Now, it is 4pm and, again, huge mistake: I just checked the time in Minneapolis (3am). Instantly I'm exhausted, but I need to stay awake and break the vampire cycle. 

My plan to re-adjust is three fold : 1) Caffeine-up by drinking tea - this is easy because it's fantastic. Expect posts about tea in the future. 2) Sunlight - being outside and walking around reminds my body it is daytime. Problem is the midday overcast clouds. 3) Stop looking at the time in Minneapolis - my internal clock doesn't need a conscious reminder it's off.

Ten Minutes From Boarding

And it starts now from the janky airport computer. People kept asking if I was nervous prior leaving. I wasn't. Still not nervous, however, I do somewhat regret my shoddy landing-plans : use my phrasebook to find shelter after landing. I wanted to "wing it" and now I'm committed! I'll let everyone know how it goes after I find lodging and internet some twenty five hours from now.