Taichung, Taiwan

Although I am not from Taiwan, I am no longer a stranger to my town. Reasons I am no longer a stranger to Dajia: 1. Everyone who works at Starbucks is on a first name bases with me and know what I order. 2. I can successfully get around town on my own without getting lost. 3. I can understand when people are talking bout me in Chinese because I know the words "she does not understand" "American" "teacher" 4. I am now up to date with school politics and drama between teachers and parents, which I was at first gladly blind to. 5. I also have made connections and got a job tutoring kids. 6. And I made friends, that are not associated with school :) However, this does not mean that I am free from challenges. Everyday has a new challenge, pray that God gives me the strength to rise and conquer each day! The devil is very alive here and is worshiped in almost home. Pray that the light of Jesus will shine through the darkness. "I have revealed and sa...

The phrase "a child can melt a heart of stone" is true, but a child can also twist and break the heart of a teacher. As a teacher or a person we always prejudge people before we get know them and place them in categories like trouble makers, over achievers, teachers' pets, passive students and go with flow kids. So at first I subconsciously placed all my students into some sort of category. However, this is not a good habit, because it limits the expectations you have for the students. If you expect them to be trouble and then all you will ever choose to see is the trouble they cause. So God has taken me and still is taking me on a roller coaster of emotions as he opens my eyes to who these students really are. For example I have one student in second grade who at first is nothing but trouble. She flipped me off and consistently called me pig. She is a student that keeps me wake at night praying . Well my prays have been answered. The teacher made her apologize to me and ...