Though updates aren't exactly my cup of green tea, I will try hard to describe my life on an Island. The good, the not so good, and the kind of weird.....
Monday
Normally I try to get up early on Mondays, because I leave for school early. However, in order for that to work out I have to go to bed early on Sunday- which after a long afternoon nap, is no small task. Oh, the trials I go through.....!
Ok. So after I pray and read the Bible, I like to go on a run. If I start early enough, I usually run through the town. Suprisingly, they are a lot of older people who are up at that time: playing basket ball, hauling meat, digging oysters, hacking fish, or just on a walk. Yea, they usually stare at me when I run by, but I'm pretty used it now. What's neat about an early morning run is that I can actually run through the town without worrying about traffic. I like to spend that time in prayer for the city.
After I run, I usually have enough time to study Chinese. When I first came here I had no desire to learn this language until I realized that without it, I couldn't communicate with my students. Since then, I have shockingly enjoyed learning Chinese though I can't exactly say that it's going smoothly. Maybe it's those tones. I still can't get all of them down, or maybe it's my work ethic. Though I can't say, "How can I get to the bus stop?" I can say "The domestic animals are thriving" Needless to say, I have a lot to work on; although, I'm have lots of fun in the process!
At 7:10am Jane, my Monday school's Vice Principal, picks me up and takes me to the 7:30 boat. Normally she has to take the 6:30 boat. She's incredibily busy, but she takes a later one in order to provide transportation for me. What an energy giver! Once I get into the car I'm greeted with a breakfast sandwich, coffee, and a giggling, middle aged woman. Between giggles she says, "Good Morning" and "be careful." I have bonked my head many times trying to get into her car. Though her English is limited, it is improving, and she loves to speak it with me. Every now and then, she doesn't know how to say a word in English so she she says the Chinese word and asks me how to say it in English. Sometimes I actually know the word (or at least I think I do), but usually she waits until we get onto the boat, so she can look it up in the dictionary. One time she told me that she thinks our conversations are funny, because of all the hand motions we do. Since living here in Kinmen, I think my charades skills are now five times as good.
Well, see what a long letter I have written unto you- and it's not even 7:30am Monday morning. And people think life here is dull..... Oh well, I'll try to pick it up next time. Until then, I covet your prayers, and thank you for enduring through this grueling email (I once said that I'd better learn Chinese because I'm losing my English).
Andrew Stewart
Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 1:21, Isaiah 43:4
