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.