Well, I hope you weren't too bored with my last update, because I'm going to pick up where I left off last month. Let's see...I just got done talking about my ride to the boat.
When we arrive at the port, Jane (the teacher who drives me there) usually asks me how to say "get out of the car" in English. I tell her, "get out of the car." However, it sounds kind of rude to tell a person, "Get out of the Car!" once you park. If you know a better phrase than "get out of the car," I might tell Jane next time. Anyways, the boat leaves at 7:30 and it's about a 15 minute ride. sometimes during that time I finish my breakfast that Jane gave me, study Chinese, or finish up (sometimes start up) my lesson planning. However, being in the miniority has it disadvantages (or advantages; it depends on how you take it). In Kinmen, especially traveling on a boat to small Kinmen, I stick out like a big white thumb with blue eyes. Some people like to test out there few English words on me to, I think, impress their friends. For a couple weeks straight a young guy would come up to me and say to me a few English phrases like "Hello! How do you do?" along with his Chinese and Taiwanese, while his friends were laughing in the background. I guess I shouldn't receive a lot of pity on something so small, but on Monday mornings I kind of dread these little conversations. Please pray that I would be a good witness to everybody, all the time, at all costs.
Ok, my first school is Joh-wen. It's the biggest school of the three on the island, but probably only averages around 20 students a grade. I teach with Lilly in 5th and in 6th grades. She is the principal's daughter, and since she lived in England for two years, her English is very good though a little Britishy. She does a good job at controlling the classrooms, and she really pushes them hard to learn English. Every now and then, she helps me with Chinese in the afternoon during rest time. In 4th grade I teach with Sandy. Since she is also their homeroom teacher, her students do very well in English. They tend to suprise me with the words that they know. (Onion? How many 4th grade students know the word, onion?) The 3rd grade teacher's name is Irene. Like Sandy, I taught with her last semester. She taught me probably the most successful game that I have consistently played in the classroom from grades 3rd to 6th. And then there's Namor. Who was definitely sent here by God. He was one of the first Taiwanese persons that I have ever met here. As a school soldier, he has to stay here for two years at his assigned school (Joh-wen). His English is good, and he sometimes teaches me Taiwanese in the afternoon, which I enjoy (Taiwanese is a fun, but rude sounding, language). We have become good friends, and I will really miss him when he leaves in April.
Wow, look how much I have written, and I haven't even talked about my first class! Maybe I'm starting to become a little gabby. Ohhhh, I love it here! (ATT: friends in America- I'm still ok.)
Prayer requests:
Next semester.
I need to decide by Jan. 10 if I'm going to teach here for another year.
Language learning (I like to know whoever had the bright idea of building the tower of babel in the first place). (Genesis 11:1-9)
For the Christians here and are spiritual growth.
Salvation for the none Christians.
Well, that about covers it (Matthew 25:31-33)
Andrew Stewart
(Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 1:21)
