Day 3 in Taiwan -- 1st day in Nan He Elmentary School

It was quite nervous of me for not yet knowing the exact time to prepare to be received by the director（主任） from the school. Luckily Che Kai called me up in the midnight to confirm that it won’t be that early. Then, I continued my sleeping. LoL, I can hear that he felt sorry to know that I woke up from the sleep to answer his phone.

At 7am, I woke up. Again, I can’t sleep for more as the sky looked like it is 10am if it’s over in Malaysia. Okay, by the way it’s good for me. =D

All right, then we took again 20 minutes for shower first then we went out for breakfast. We went to the Laya Burger(拉亞漢堡) which is at the front gate of the campus. We had a combo set of 豬肉漢堡 again, with a cup of iced tea, total NTD 55. While waiting for the burger ready to be served, I received a call from Che Kai that the director from the elementary school will be coming to receive me at 11:30am. It was almost 10am. Of course, we chatted in Malaysian English again.

Behind the burger shop, there are plenty of students’ apartments. We were attracted by the design of the buildings.

After breakfast, we went back to Mr. Song’s house to take my luggage. Of course, it took us some time to pull the luggage to the campus and to meet with the director and Che Kai. However, we can still have a clearer look at the street that we walked up and down for the last 2 days. We see again 李奇英文. Haha, from the town to the campus, it’s really annoying la…

Because of the hot weather and the slope, we actually tried our best to be in the campus on time. Of course, sweating! Luckily we arrived safely and punctually. Then, Che Kai showed up at around 11:35 and we waited for the call from the director.

I forgot how long we waited but it wasn’t that long before we received the call from the director that they had arrived at the front gate of the campus. Then, Che Kai and Ming Foong helped me to carry my luggage. Haha… How lucky I am to have all these good people by my side.

It was definitely a surprise for both representatives from the elementary school 毛月玲護理師（School nurse） (I will call her teacher as it’s easier, =P) & 鐘青青主任（Teaching Director）to know that I can speak very good Mandarin. Of course again, I try my best to explain what kind of education I had gone through for the past 20 years in my home country. They went to the bank with me to change some NTD (New Taiwan Dollar), as I had only USD and not much NTD left.

After that, we went to 满福園 , a local Hakka style restaurant which is in 竹北，the school nurse’s home town. She recommended this shop and of course I need not to spend any money over there eating as both of them ran to the counter to pay. At first, I thought of ordering 3 dumplings (水餃) but 毛老師 laughed at me as there’s no one in Taiwan that will order 3 dumplings and the menu there was stated that at least 10 dumplings per order. LoL… I had no choice but to finish all the 10 dumplings. Again, big portion.

Besides that, we ordered a big bowl of 酸辣湯 （sour spicy soup）and Hakka people eat dumplings together with this soup. Both of the teachers, they ordered 炸醬麵. It tasted not the same with the one I ate in the campus. This time the taste is stronger than before, so I can accept it. =D

Then, we depart to the school. On the way, no doubt the views are fantastic and we talked a lot as well too when 鐘主任drove the car while 毛老師talked to me.

We reached the school after around 30 minutes, I met with other teachers and the principal as well. I delivered some Penang local food to them too.

Then Judy, the English Teacher took me to have a look at their school compound. I notice that they have audio video room, projectors in their classroom. All in all, they have newly equipped facilities if compared to my own primary school last time. Then, the principal told me that it’s better to have an English name here if we’re speaking English, and I will be teaching English so it’s better for me to have one as all the students have their own English name too. Normally the English teachers will think of an EngIish name for them. Therefore, I think this is quite different culture if compared to Malaysia. It will still be okay if we don’t have any English name and we will just use our directed translated English name from Chinese name. Of course there are Malaysians that have English names as they are named by their father in the church or their parents. Then, we discussed about the job description. The principal was very cute and polite as he cared for the students’ English as well as my transportation. He said he’s going to buy a bicycle for me. Then, he held a meeting with the director first then with all the teachers to discuss about my job and to introduce me to the fellow teachers. It is a lovely school, no doubt.

Then, I spent some time to chit chat with the teachers talking about the weather in both countries and some languages. They started to know more about me. They especially stunned when they knew that I can listen and speak a little bit of Taiwanese. Great, I could learn from them, I told myself. =D One thing very surprised me is that they have Hakka classes! All right, I told them I am going to show off my Hakka when I go back to Malaysia.

田主任 is the General Affairs or Director in the school. He takes care of everything like maintenance of the facilities and some benefits of the students and teachers. So, he will be picking me up tomorrow from the church to the school as I don’t have a bicycle yet.

Che Kai and 有志 came to visit the school, for as so called 3 parties meeting in LCUSM. ;)

The time they came was the time we’re leaving to home.

So, I was with 鐘主任 with the luggage in the car and both of them was following our car. On the way back to the church, we saw a peacock with a very long tail on the road!! It ran up to the road side when it saw our car. I quickly took its picture. 鐘主任 said this is the first time she ever seen a peacock in this area. So how lucky I am. =D

Then we reach the church and met with 張修女 and 孫修女. It was a little bit disappointing that I can’t online at the church. However, I don’t think it’s a very serious case for me. Just a little bit out of expectation.

After went out for dinner with Che Kai and 有志 nearby the restaurant to eat 臭臭鍋, I came back on my own to the church as they had their own class to attend. Thank them so much for coming all the way long to here.

So, I took a shower and did unpacking of my luggage then I went out for Internet access.

I bought a Pearl Milk Tea at NTD 30 at 85°C, a café that sells some cakes, tea and coffee. Who knows it didn’t provide any Internet access when I asked for the password of the network. I was depressed a bit but soon I got up and walked to the Internet café.

I paid NTD30 for 1 hour Internet service but soon I realized that I won’t get used to the computer there as I have a lot of information in my own laptop so I went back to the counter to ask if I could use my own laptop to online. It was unbelievable that the uncle there said “You don’t have pay for the service if you’re using your own laptop, but you have paid already and it’s recorded in the system now, so I can’t return it back to you.” I immediately showed my gratefulness to him as it wasn’t his fault. I should have asked him about this before I pay. That’s why I was so touched by his friendly service. It warmed my heart immediately from the depression just now.

After around 1 hour of online-ing, I walked back to the church. I have to be there before 10pm as I don’t have the keys and it doesn’t that good if I go back late. They will have to open the gate for me.

Then, I went back to take another shower as the Internet Café is full with the cigarette smoke. I can’t sleep if I didn’t take a shower. Then I took 2 hours time to do some record and blogging.

--Sleep—