craig in taiwan

Well it all started on Thursday, July 11, with the announcement that a typhoon was for sure coming on its way straight for us and would arrive Saturday morning. Naturally, this was the exact moment that the school's graduation ceremony was planned for since a year ago. So parents had to be contacted and things had to be arranged so that we would now be having the graduation on Sunday morning instead. I, of course, was going to start my trip on this day - but had to shed a day off my trip in order to attend the graduation. It all turned out fine.

Except...

The typhoon did come and FLOODED MY ROOM!

I remember hearing it during my sleep - but, being asleep, I wasn't really aware of what was going on. This probably explains why I woke up at 9 a.m. having to go to the bathroom real bad! - when lo and behold I put my foot down on the floor and it went flying from under me! haha.

My balcony had overflowed and was leaking into my room from under all the doors.

That (heavy!) chair with an old animal cage (not mine) is usually not right there...it had moved during the night from the wind and water!

I actually had a fun time with it. There was nothing I could do except laugh - as this was the last weekend I would be in this room - how could this NOT happen!?

It was a good 2.5 inches at least.

And the water went from my room and started a waterfall all the way down the 4 stories!

If they weren't stairs it would've made a great slide.

Since it was tile the water receded and dried up pretty quickly once the rain stopped.

Alas, the next morning was clear and beautiful, and everything was back to normal.

I met all the other teachers at the school bright and early and we carpooled to the graduation in Hsinchu.

I took a few photos of some fallen branches from the typhoon on the school grounds.

The graduation was at a college campus in Hsinchu.

It was all four Stanford schools combined.

I don't know whose idea this was but they are not my favorite person.

Here's why -

Each class at each school had one song and dance to perform.

This resulted in a 2.5 hour graduation ceremony!

Not complaining - but, I mean, come on! - Ain't nobody got time for that!

But regardless of my mild quips, the show continued.

The theme was "Food From Around The World."

Nothing really stuck to the theme except the decorations and song titles -

Taiwan, Italy, Japan, America

Our school was assigned America -

So our songs were:

- "Eat It" - Weird Al

- "Sugar Sugar"..."Oh, honey honey..."

-"The Gummy Bear Song" (youtube it)

- "Party in the USA" - Miley Cyrus

The last one has nothing to do with food, but nevermind.

Next, some of the costumes -

The lion costume killed me - I thought it was so funny.

Rabbits

T kids were brought backstage before the show to wait for their turn to go on.

Some kids ended up waiting to the very end - all 2.5 hours long!

This isn't even a tenth of the amount of kids.

Also, some kids, especially in Baby Class,

Were.

Not.

Having.

It.

So the show started and at the beginning I stayed backstage, but after I while I went to the audience. All I had to do was go to the front of the stage, in the pit, whenever it was one of our school's turn to dance and dance myself so the kids had someone to follow - despite the fact we've been dancing these songs since March - the kids could do them blindfolded upside-down while chewing.

Because of this, I was able to get some front row pictures.

I can't believe I didn't ask anybody to take videos!?!

Baby class in the front row ruining it for everybody else.

It was such a long ceremony...it just kept going and going - so many dance numbers.

But it finally ended! - and I got to say bye to some of my favorite kids.

Ray Ray

Mina (she's 8 but the size of a 4 year old)

Me with Kristi and Riaan - the foreign teachers

One of these things definitely doesn't belong.

These area all the other teachers at my school -

Linda, Charice, Winni, Grace, Kelly, Agnus, Jane

Sunset over Jhunan, one last time

It was a veeery long, but fun, school year. I'm thankful for this crazy chance I had to work with these kids and all the experiences I've had and people I've met at this school. I'm not so sure I want to be a teacher in real life - at least to little kids - but it's definitely an admirable job.

I will miss many of the kids greatly.

It's July!

I can't believe it.

Here are some events that wrapped up June.

* * * * *

A few Fridays ago I went with Kristi, Allison & Ken, and Celina for some karaoke. I'd never been to do karaoke before so I was expecting a restaurant type setting where you sing in front of a million people (like in the movies). Oh no - apparently karaoke is big business in Asia. We went to a legit karaoke hotel called a KTV. It was probably 8-10 stories high and looked exactly like a hotel, except every room is a karaoke room full of leather couches, a huge movie screen and projector, and multiple microphones.

It was a blast and got pretty crazy.

We paid for 3 hours but weren't planning on staying that long - but behold, 20 minutes into it and all the sudden it was 3 hours later.

Never underestimate the timing of Mormons with a microphone.

* * * * *

Speaking of church friends, 90% of them have already escaped to the USA for the summer.

We had a final potluck at the Breinholt's which was coupled with a "Hsinchu's Got Talent" talent show. I accompanied someone who sang "On My Own' in French, and that was my talent. I settled with just that because the last thing these people needed was yet another "Craig/piano solo." They would never admit this of course, but I can read minds (that's another talent).

(They've had their fair share over the past year).

I'm thankful for them all and the limited time we had in Taiwan to become friends; and alas the friendships will survive thanks to it being 2013. It's crazy to think I started here knowing no one and over time was able to build a small but substantial social life. I'll miss them all greatly.

Me & Nathan - such a funny kid -

"Craig can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure..."

"Can I play with your iPad?"

x 100

* * * * *

Saw this scooter parked in the middle of nowhere with a BYU sticker.

* * * * *

My 7/11 friends took me to a Thai restaurant in Big City (the shopping center that looks like a spaceship). It ended up being delicious - I'd never had Thai food before.