This brings back memories! I've watched the new team arrive here, spend a few days in Taiwan, and everything comes back to me……..this is what I did just six months ago! Since I've lived here a little while I've found out that six months in a foreign country is hardly any time to really understand a country, it's people, it's customs, or it's language (especially the language!). I'm so glad that the new team will be here for a whole year and have the chance to learn the language more, establish long-lasting ministry friendships with Taiwanese people, and know the country and it's people better.
I've really admired already the spirit I've seen in this new team. They have an obvious, outspoken goal of working for Christ and developing ministry opportunities. One of the girls encouraged me when she told me that she had loved everything she'd eaten and wanted to learn how to cook it. Some of us last semester (me included) were a little wary and reluctant to eat the food…kinda funny when we came over here ready for die for Christ, but don't want to eat stinky tofu, blood cakes, or squid! I think that the teaching ministry here in Taiwan will be in good hands when we leave. I am really glad that we, as the old team, have the chance to spend a few days with the new team so that we can get to know them. When I go home and hear updates from Taiwan, I will know the people that write them and who the stories are about. Since I've come to love Taiwan, the teachers, the children, and the country, I'm grateful that those taking my place bring with them an enthusiasm for their work and a love for the people.
They will have an interesting time these next few weeks as they get a crash course on how Taiwan works…how Taiwan schedules work…how they change last minute…and what TIK is. Granted, we only created this acronym the other day…but I think it's pretty good. T is for Taiwan. I is for the Institute (IBLP). K is for King Car (the sponsoring company here). Just add those together and you get TIK. TIK will teach you FLEXIBILITY. They make a schedule, they change the schedule. They modify it. They scrap it altogether. And then they start the process again. It's a wonderful experience, and a harder lesson for some than for others. But it's definitely a feature of life here.
One thing that I've seen just in spending a few days with our new friends is that when you live in Taiwan, in a small English-speaking community, you forget what wide variety of Americans exist back home. We've lived with just a few other native-English speakers all semester. Worked, talked, ate, played with them. We interact a lot with Taiwanese people, but are limited in our selection of Americans. But when all of a sudden you see a new assortment you remember what America is like - different personalities, different backgrounds, different accents (!). I think I can count on a little reverse culture-shock when I go back home on July 21st. For those friends and family of the new teachers...be prepared for funny new behaviors and mindsets when your people come back. Life in Taiwan can change you. I wish the new team the absolute best…I'll be praying for you guys!
Emily Storm
