The start of the semester

I took my second walk to my flower shop to pick up my potted orcihds in my Yingge bowls. Much to my surprise, the pink flowers were in the bowl, but they were cut flowers, not planted orchids...another TM. I love this little flower shop and the clerk who so willing tries to speak English with me. I will go back next week to pick up the "plants." Let's hope we communicated more effectively this morning. I arrived at my office in time to pick up my mail, ask questions about the mail that was all in Mandarin (another TM), & go to the bank with an undergraduate worker named Jennie. She really spoke good E, but at first was very shy to help me. She helped me get my bank card and book, change my pass word, and check my meager account (she laughed!). Most of the material and ATM machine is all in Mandarin, so it will prove interesting when I try to withdraw NTs in the future! I couldn't have done it without Jennie. The info has been faxed to the Fulbright Foundation, and I should actually have a deposit on Monday! WOO HOO!



I went to my first class today...the seminar that I just found out I was going to teach half of the semester. I walked in 10 minutes before class, walked up the stairs, and sat in the back row. The students continued eating and talking and shouting at each other...who says the Taiwanese students are quiet??? The faculty swears that as soon as the prof begins, they all go silent. I'm not really convinced, as they already started laughing at my jokes following my introduction. I met four of the women walking in the halls later, and they all cheerily said "Hi!" A good omen...



My other good news today is that Tinsley, the grad assistant who helped me on my first trip and who helped me move in, is going to be my RA. He clearly knows the portal system and helped me get started uploading and managing my website. I think I like the portal system, and wish we could so easily manage our classes and posts and group e-mails at TAMUCC.



I was dead when I got home this afternoon (I have to stop waking up at 4:30 AM), but managed to do 2 loads of wash before the week-end begins. We are down to one washing machine in our laundry room, and one dryer that really dries...and the one washer is flooding the floor...I found that out after putting some dry clothes in my wet basket! COME ON TGIF!

The week's end...

TGIF indeed...I finally got to my classrooms, but the technology is VERY slow. The MBA classroom is "owned" by the COB, and has very impressive technology. The other two rooms will be a trial as the internet is very s l 0 0 0 0 0 w. The copier wouldn't work, the book store ordered the wrong UG book, on and on and on...I gave up and came home. I stopped at the faculty cafeteria (or as the students say, the teachers' restaurant). They are only open between 11-1 and 4-6 M-F, and, of course, I missed it. They, and an English speaking admin,, said I should be getting a menu in English via e-mail every week. They were puzzled when I said I had never received one for over a month...another TM.

I relaxed by walking to the Carrefour's store...only 20 minutes through rough sidewalks, scooters, and cars. I actually ate a McDonald's Chciken Sandwich meals as I was STARVING...only a banana and coffee til 3 PM. I'm getting tired of instant noodles, although I did have a small lettuce salad from the 7-11 next door. Carrefour's was not nearly as much fun as it was before CNY!

I worked on my 6 seminars for over 15 hours yesterday, and got up at 3:30 AM to start again. I certainly wish they had told me I would be teaching 6 classes BEFORE I left the states. I'm pretty sure I got dumped on me, as they don't have to go to class when it is my responsibility. That means half the semester! Oh well...I guess it is a good thing that I brought the material with me on the USB drives.

I am no longer a Skype virgin...I made my maiden call to the Middletons in South Carolina this AM, and I JUST LOVED IT! Tell me if you are on skpye, so that I can add you to my calling list. I am karen.middleton1958. You will be astonished at how many other karen middletons there are in this world! Scary thought...

I tried to get on my bank account via e-mail. It's all in Mandarin, so I had to download google translator. Despite the translation, I still can't see my account...another TM!

Time to get outside...of the dormitory room and into the sunshine. I need to move, and to see people...wish me luck this week with the machines and people. Next Saturday I will head to the Kreilings, then on to Hong Kong and Macau.

Pictures from the CNY banquet

The Management Table

Professor Shih and his wife

My Dean at the head table

The lucky winner with the Dean

Opening Day at YZU

Disaster stuck this morning...when I opened my contact lens case, I only had the right contact lens. This is after washing the dishes in the sink, removing the rugs in order to take a shower, and using the squeegee to mop the floor. I am quite certain the left contact is down one of the drains, despite my blindly touching and feeling and looking at the rugs and the mopped floor. Lots of tears and self-recriminations later (another TM...I don't even know how it happened), I give up and put on my glasses for the day in the office. I am SO VAIN there are many of you who have never seen me in my glasses, and here I am going to my first official day in the office. Most of the time this is not a problem as most professors do not seem to be on campus very much. Then Dr. Lay, my wonderful chair person, asked me to the College of Business Chinese New Year dinner/banquet. Ahhh, humility...off I go to the dinner with my glasses on...

The banquet was so much fun for me! (See my limited pictures...I felt I could not stand up and take pictures...too inappropriate) I have not been to a CNY banquet since we left Singapore, low those many years ago. Everyone is given a lottery ticket. Names are drawn by the Chairs and the Dean at 4-5 different intervals, and each one receives a red envelope with NY cash. The later your name is drawn, the higher the value in each envelope. I received NT$3500 when my name was drawn, almost US$120. What a treat, but how embarrassing when it is my first time to meet everyone. Everyone at my table kept saying I was a very lucky person. The last person drawn received $NT10000. Fortunately, it was a member of the staff who received it.

Games were played throughout the night, and karaoke turns are taken. Even though the Dean asks if I will sing, I say "NO...thank you!" Consequently, it is quite loud and exciting the entire time we are eating more than a dozen courses. We start with smoked meat slices and soup. We go through shrimp, beef, pork, and veggie stir fried dishes, whole steamed fish, dumplings, another soup, and three kinds of dessert, ending with the traditional fruit plate. Everything was very, very good, and I ate some of every single dish, thanks to Dr. Lay who was kind enough to serve me off the lazy susan as each dish went around. And always, always, there are lots and lots of toasts, whether it be with the red wine or the orange juice. Thank goodness my chopsticks worked for me. And that I was not driving!

Dr. Lay and I started at the management table, so I got to meet many of my colleagues for the first time. One is a very distinguished professor who has taught at many important US and China universities. Retirement is mandatory at 65 when you teach in a public university, so he is retired but now teaches for this private university. Others are quite young as over the past 3 years, the COB has grown from about 30 profs to 75 profs. They are now trying to restructure, and are in the third year of AACSB accreditation...lots and lots of meetings, none of which I am required to attend. We ended up at the head table with the Dean (our first meeting) and the other chairs, a very, very humorous and friendly group. Two of the people sitting at my table were vegetarians. The prof right next to me was a Buddhist who followed even stricter food rules. He cannot have garlic or onions as they can cause an internal imbalance. I am going to follow up in order to learn more about his dietary rules.

This party is given every year by the Dean as a thank you to the COB. None of the other colleges do this, or are able to afford it. It is possible because the COB earns extra $ through some of their consulting work. I have yet to find out what these projects are. The Dean and some of the chairs toasted with wine and also sang Karaoke...hard to imagine at TAMUCC!

I rode home with 4 other profs that I had just met. We talked about the seminar in which I will be teaching 6 classes. I just found out today that I will be teaching 6 3-hour classes with 50 students, AND giving them their mid-term grades. Oh well...I will be introduced to the class today. This week-end I will be VERY busy prepping. The 3 others are hoping that I will invite some of the expat managers that I have met to speak to the class. Guess who is the first one invited? I am hoping that Kevin will come and talk about managing in Taiwan and Shanghai, and his expat living experience. Speakers usually talk about an hour, then the Q&A session begins...if they even ask any questions. The stereotype is that Taiwanese students just sit and stare at you...we shall see. Anytime I have a speaker, I am off the hook for presenting and teaching. I wish I knew MANY MORE expat managers!


A MIRACLE HAPPENED THE MORNING AFTER THE BANQUET! As I put the rugs back on the floor for the second time since losing my left contact, it bounced off onto the floor! YAH HOO! I don't have to find a contact dispenser! I don't have to pay for a new contact lense! I am, indeed, very lucky after all!

I met the Dean in his office to thank him for the banquet, and to finally present him with the Lammes' Longhorn candies brought all the way from Texas. He is very worried that the students will not meet my expectations. Dr. Shih (the retired professor) said many came to this private university when they could not meet the requirements for the large public universities. Yet I am used to teaching English in my business classes. I was told that the MBA finance majors were required to sign up for my MBA Strategy class, an elective course at that level. I am looking forward to working with them, and consider myself lucky again that they were required to take the class.

I just got an e-mail from one of my students that says the book I ordered for one of my classes over three months ago will not be available for 1-3 months. She forgot to tell me which class! The best laid plans...

Our return to reality

We arrived back in Taipei to winter weather again. In fact, it had been gray and rainy (often heavy rain) the entire Chinese New Year holiday in Taipei. Luckily, C had an extra "heavy" robe (that I had given her!) to share with me. Friday night we collapsed in the living room and watched "Sherlock Holmes." Let's just say I "tried" to watch it. I kept drifting in and out, and every time I woke up, someone was dying a horrible death. It was too much for me, and I slunk off to bed. It turns out there were others among us who could not stay awake to watch the ending...something to do on another rainy day.

Saturday was catch-up day...laundry, etc. A went off to play with a friend, C & K went to exercise and grocery shop, and C & I stayed home. He took me to a small restaurant in the neighborhood and taught me how to order the "box lunch." You start with rice in a small, sectioned, cardboard take-away box, then you point to the veggies and salads that you want to go with your meal. All is topped off with the meat of your choice. C chose pork, and I chose "crispy chicken." This is all rubber banded, and put in a sack with a soy drink and off you go. Two lunches cost NT$150 (US$2.50 each) and were absolutely delicious! Saturday night was K & C's "Daddy Date Night." The kids and I had pizza and popcorn. Pizza Hut delivers to your door. You can order all the pizza you want, but they can only deliver one large and one small at a time...another TM. We watched "Up" one more time...I LOVE that movie! C pretended to watch another movie on his lap top, but still laughed in all the appropriate places.

Sunday, the kids and I went down to Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan while K & C got caught up on their financial planning. Two subway trains and a 10 minute walk found us at the best English bookstore in Taipei on the top level of the 101 mall. We all bought books, but I must confess I had already read most of the "top 10" books in the store. I still miss being able to go to Barnes and Noble! We went back down to the basement where there is a huge food court. We had to walk the entire court before we all decided what we were going to eat. We had an international gourmet treat: A chose Italian pasta; C chose Indian curry and naan; and I chose Hainese chicken rice (a favorite from my Singapore days). We stopped at the "Apple" store to pick up some needed ear phones, then hopped the MRT back to Tien Mu.

K made Beef and Tomato Noodles (one of our cooking lesson recipes) and stir fried veggies for supper...what a treat! C told me again that I was welcome to cook, but who needs to when you can get a meal like that???

The trip home on Monday was another adventure. I'm still not sure how it happened, but I got lost going from the MRT to the train station. I ended up walking around the entire MRT station, exiting, then re-entering the city's main train station. This is with a 40 pound suitcase on wheels, two very heavy carry-ons and a hand bag thrown over my shoulder. The luggage served as a reminder of what a fun time I had shopping in Boracay and Tien Mu (some necessities for the dorm room and office, some not, as those of you who have read the vacation adventure will be reminded). When I finally found my turnstyle for the local train, my ticket did not let me go through and the guard began telephoning others to get me some help (no English). His "help" hung up on me when he heard me speak in English...no help there! It turns out my round trip ticket was for one day only (another TM), it had expired and there were no ticket offices on the B3 level. Not wanting to go back up 2 flights of escalators bearing all of my luggage, I approached 2 people with my constant question: "Do you have English?" No response means "I don't understand your question!"...no English. The lady janitor became aware of my plight, and began gesturing and talking in Taiwanese. I also saw a train employee, and asked for help. Between her gesturing and talking, and his limited English, I got change for a ticket, and they walked me through the ticket dispenser on the 3B floor, got me through the turnstyle, and down the final escalator to the local train. Half an hour later I was bound for Neili, and the two flights of stairs down from the platform and the two flights or stairs back up to the exit...no escalator. I think I am going to have to learn to pack more lightly. I will just have to wear beach clothes in Tien Mu and Taipei no matter what the winter weather is! It's tough being prepared for both in one suitcase. Now when it comes to shopping, I think I'd rather leave my clothes behind!

It was pouring rain when I arrived home in Neili, so I took the 3 minute drive to the dorm for $US3...the "expensive" end of a very hard trip! I sorted the suitcases and carry-ons, and decided I needed to do some grocery shopping. I found the "fruit lady," then bought a flower for my red Yingge vase...cheery and just what I needed! Now if I could just turn on the heat in this building and in my office building...I wore 4 layers of clothes to bed, starting with my long underwear! Each night I have been able to reduce one layer as it has started to "warm up." I know I will soon be complaining of the endless heat a la CC, but right now I will continue to have to layer up. That is presenting some challenges when I go to work!

Thus ended the CNY trip....

Breakfast at Jonah's on our last day in Boracay

Check out the Mango pancake...I am still trying to figure out how they made them!

Our last two days in Boracay...

A came down the stairs early this AM saying "if you want to go shopping, you have to be in the lobby at 8." A wanted to go shopping, so C said she would go with A. I never miss a chance to shop, so we jumped into our beach regalia and went tearing off for a bus. We piled into the truck...2 Vines, 2 Kreilings, 2 Buis, and 1 Middleton for the ride down hill, then decided we needed to stop at Jonah's before shopping. We had been told they had the best milkshakes and breakfasts in town...open 24 hours. We had fantastic mango milkshakes and mango pancakes...a light way to start off the shopping day...$3, lah. It is ON the beach, and built around palm trees whose trunks are painted in brilliant stripes.

I sit in "our" chair space until everyone arrives around noon. I take off to find a sarong for my office file cabinet that is being turned into a coffee/tea station. I find one for $7 that will suit. I am finally done shopping after I find a burnt orange crystal necklace for UT games. I head for my first ever full body message, and it is heavenly. Beach breezes are blowing over me on the table as I am messaged foot to head, back to front for one hour. ..$7.50 including tip. Back up the hill in the front seat of the truck...how lucky can I be??? The rest of the troops stay on the beach and find a table for 14 without moving an inch from their beach chairs...fresh salad and fresh fish...a lovely way to end the day.

Thursday finds the Kreilings and me riding once again to Jonah's for our last beach breakfast (see Jonah's picture blog). I then sit on the beach, slowly moving back under the palm trees as the sun keeps getting higher in the sky. It is a lazy day with alot of time spent floating and playing in the water. The day ends for me as always, but C & Ch arrive late after last minute shopping. They take two tuk-tuks from town to the Alta Vista entrance. We will be up before 4:30 AM to start our journey home.

Friday is the reverse of our first travel day, BUT we leave from the Cataclan airport...a 2 minute bus ride from the port rather than a 2 hour bus ride. We arrive at the domestic airport in Manila, but this time take four taxis to the international airport...still lots of people and lots of lines. THIS time we are flying business class (no other seats were available...oh, darn...), so we do not have to wait to check our luggage. In fact, we get tickets for the China Air lounge where we eat and have coffee before boarding...what a luxurious way to come home. I wanted the pilot to fly as slowly as he could. We arrived with our carved mirror wrapped in cardboard, green bamboo, fishing tackle and plastic wrap, and all the rest of our funny souvenirs to VERY cold weather and lots of rain. We've gone from sunny weather in the 80s to rainy, cold weather in the 40s and 50s.

I honestly have been bundled up all day as I sit getting caught up on my blog. A played with a friend all day, C went to have her manicure (and some alone time for shopping), K exercised at the club and went to the market to get C's orchids repotted. He made Beef and Tomato Noodles, one of the recipes we learned in cooking class. K, Ch, and I all love the smell of the five spice powder that goes into the sauce. C & A say it stinks like a local restaurant in here! Ch taught me how to use my new cell phone (I still think they are god-awful!) and how to order a "box" rice lunch with vegetables, rice, and crispy chicken.

C & K are off for Daddy date night, dinner and a movie. The kids had Pizza Hut pizza (you can order as many as you want, but they will only deliver one large and one small pizza...another TM!), and we are trying to decide what movie to watch tonight.Tomorrow the kids and I will take the MRT to Tower 101 to the book store and a lunch of Hianese chicken rice while the Ks get their finances in order. I will return to Neili on Monday to start the semester...another fun adventure...stay tuned....

Shopping Day

Today (2/16) after morning walk, C decides she will shop also. K takes the kids from 10-2 on the beach. We get our Borocay beach bags, capize/shell picture frames, batik sundresses for A and her US BFFs, sea shells, hand-crocheted headbands, and 2 more plastic lanterns...silly things and great souvenirs. We have a Greek salad and special iced tea at Cyma's. Met one of the owners who happened to be sitting next to us and eating her lunch. She was born in Manila, raised in CA, lived in Boston and NYC for over 10 years, then decided to come back home to open the restaurant with friends. She lives in Manila and Borocay, and her partners have opened two other locations in Manila. They just got mentioned in the latest Lonely Planet. Outstanding food, and I took my supper home from there 2 more times.

We take our purchases home, then ride back down the hill to meet the others. 6-8 of the service personnel are getting off work and jump on the truck with us for a ride "home." We drop them off one-by-one at the kampongs on the way to D'Mall...just lovely "kids" who have just completed a Catholic elementary and high school education. They asked if we were Catholic, and if we supported Obama. I asked how long they had been working at the Alta Vista and how they liked their jobs. They confessed they were just on their first two weeks of training. They hesitated about "liking" their work, but agreed it was a job and they met many international people. Most were counting on continuing and finding a better job. The owners made them wear the red Chinese tops, and they did NOT like to wear them. They said they already celebrated many Catholic holidays. They showed us their church and schools...almost across the street from D'Mall entrance. The front had a huge, gorgeous mosaic picture entrance. I asked about visitors, and they said they had many weddings and many Sunday visitors for mass. They were such neat kids, and forever after we all knew each other when we said "Good Morning,Mam" or "Good Evening, Mam." I'm afraid they will be let go when the CNY visitors leave. No wonder they couldn't do dinner bills correctly, get towels to rooms on time, or cook decent food! They were in the middle of a VERY steep learning curve. They asked what we would change, and we instantly said "The Restaurant!" "The chef!" The food really is TERRIBLE!

Late in the afternoon, an artist set up his work on the beach...three dimensional carved mirrors, sculptures, and vases. C bought one vase and one mirror...all told, we brought home 8 pieces of his work (see picture above: Artist bargaining with C, Kerri, and Traum...see also one of the boy's getting a message on the beach)

I rode back up the hill for my dinner, shower, and quiet time. NO TOWELS...and at 7:30 I took my shower with a hand towel. Lucky no one is home...no "naked Gram" alerts required...towels finally arrived after 8 PM for nightly showers after a beach day...BUT there were only four of them. I had to sit in the lobby the next morning and wait for one to be delivered to me! And that's after we made friends with the help! Another good day, and our time is starting to go too fast....

Pictures of our glass-bottomed boat trip & our shell lady

President's Day in Borocay

President's day in the US! I'm up and doing my hour's walk by 6:30 AM. It is gorgeous and hot already, and the hills are killing me! I'm a flatlander at heart! I love sitting on the balcony for my morning coffee and pineapple. K & C just left for a truck trip to the beach for their morning walk. Ch and A are still sleeping, but we will go for breakfast before 10 AM.

What a treat! K brought me back a REAL coffee...yes, the ubiquitous Starbuck's is on the beach. We're hanging about until 1 PM when the truck will take us to the glass-bottomed boat tour. Someone who had gone snorkeling said there was little to see, so we 5 chose to take the boat instead. It was a 2 hour ride over coral reefs to a spot where you could jump off the boat and snorkel. We found Nemo and lots of baby Nemos and Dories, too. ..brilliant blue starfish were exceptionally beautiful. K, C, and A all put on life jackets and jumped in the water to snorkel. Ch and I stayed on board and took pictures...the coast was gorgeous, and we saw "Crocodile Island," a rock shaped like a crocodile that stuck out from our island paradise.

Before we boarded, we shopped at a small stand where we bought crystal necklaces and a shell ankle bracelet for A. The owner made many more ankle bracelets during our boat trip, and we left the beach with ankle bracelets for us and friends.

We actually ate Mexi food on the beach for dinner, "OK" when you are far from TX and desperate. The Mango Margaritas are beneficial for your health, too!

Forced family fun...F cubed...is becoming too much for this loner at heart. I think I must take a break away during the upcoming days...don't forget to view the boat adventure pictures!

Pictures from CNY, our first day on the beach

CNY: Our first day at the beach

Buses leave on the hour from 7AM-11PM for D'Mall; pickups @ 20 after each hour for returns. We plan to hit the beach and eat seafood @ a restaurant recommended by someone who had just returned from Borocay. Pick your dinner from the market, then sit down until it is delivered cooked as you ordered to your table. Hmmmm...lobster, scallops, shrimp, all await us after our day in the sun. We are all planning messages ($7 per hour on the beach), body scrubs (1 hour = $20), and facials (45 minutes = $16).

I put on my uniform of the week--a bathing suit and cover-up---after having coffee on the balcony. Down to the beach we go in trucks. Pick your spot--lounges and chairs, palm trees and umbrellas--and stay the day. The sand is "white," the outriggers are sailing,people are playing and sand castles are being built while swimmers float by in their rings and on their rafts. The water is waist high, clear green, with some chartreuse sea weed floating in it. I don't do salt water, but everyone else floats for four hours. I have veggie curry and a mango milkshake for lunch (I will grow addicted to the mango milkshake ..."little milk, little sugar"...available with pineapple or banana everywhere on the beach). I tire of sitting alone in the sun...morning sun is about all I can take anyway...and leave for home., a shower, a read. Back to the beach in time for closing down the family beach spots, and walking to the fish market and Shebaba, the restaurant that will cook our selections. We choose lobster, scallops, shrimp both large and small, 2 white fish, and veggies. All are cooked too bland for us chili eaters. Lobster and scallops taste like sea water...kids like the chicken better! We decided we would all go back for the giant shrimp, but not for any other of the seafoods we ordered. I did have fun walking through the stalls next to the fish market, and bought plastic lanterns (you will have to come see them strung on the oak tree in my back yard in CC), 3 small woven summer wrist purses, a cloth and bamboo wind chime, and a fresh pineapple, peeled, for my breakfast ( I am not doing the hotel's breakfast buffets...many stories to tell about the dining room again!).

Home on the bus...what a cluster...and some loud mouth man is commandeering buses and shoving his family on them. People were fighting for trucks...not enough trucks...UGLY! Sorry, but some of the travel groups are notoriously rude and loud! And for a very good reason!!!!

Back at the hotel, kids swim to get the sand off. We close out the pool, and finish the day with showers and a bit of the Olympics...biathlon skiing and shooting...not much interest here! Time to upload the pictures of our first day in Borocay...

Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day Celebrations at the Alta Vista

Visitors from a Chinese High School entertained with Lion Dances on CNY. They are to start at 7 AM, but I finished my walk and started my coffee before I hear the drums at 8 AM...Filipino time, lah. I go tearing back to the lobby to get some pictures. They actually danced more than three different times as people came down to breakfast. The women service personnel had on beautiful red Chinese tops. Valentine's Dinner was served in the dining room.

Day 1: The Views from our room at the Alta Vista

The view from the loft ...then from the balcony

It was a shock to look out and see the kampongs again...just like our hillside home in Singapore...roosters crow all day and night, smoke is rising from the cooking fires, kids are playing and laughing, people are working all hours of the day and night, a real throwback in time...yet you also see the new buildings and the golfcourse...

Travel Day Lines:

Tawain line Manila line

Kalibo line

Boraquay Pier

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