Dress to impress in a Red Dress

Ni Hao..... Hello ...Well two weeks have gone by..... last weekend we accomplished another hash... and I would have to say it was the best one Jay and I have done. It was about an hour north of Taichung and we ran for about 2 hours..... But the fun thing was. Is that it included jumping of a small rock face into water and then proceeding to swim through a very narrow gorge with now way out but to swim through. It was great and both Jay and I were the first people in. Jay has been trying to be the first one for a while. So he was really happy especially on a pretty strenuous hash. Last week Jay started to teach a kindergarten class last week and he will be doing in for a month. He seems to really be enjoying it... I think that is partly because he is somewhat still a kindergartener himself. CLasses are going well. Here are some pictures of one of my classes and the performance. We did a little play called the Caterpillars Voice.... and they were all different animals.... so very cute.

THis past weekend we had another hash but it was a little different. We had a red dress run and I will explain some.... It started later and it was more of a pub crawl. We had to all dress in red dresses , yes including the men so I have good pictures of Jay in his mini skirt.... What is frusterating I think he wears a size smaller than I do.... that little booty of his. We had a blast.... Enjoying new places to eat and drink and looking a fool running around Taichung. I felt like I was in a parade. We enjoyed some accoustic music at the end of the run....This are going well. And we are reallyy excited about the last 3 and a half months here in Taiwan. We are really enjoying ourselved and trying to pack lots in that we haven't seen or done yet. We have been enoying watching the Olympics a lot just as most of you have. Although the sports that are most televised here are badminton, table tennis, and taekwondo. But I still enjoy watching them all. Me and Jay have definately decieded to go to Vancouver for the winter olympics in 2 years and London in 4....... Zia Jian...... See you later

Reverse Culture Shock

Last week I had the pleasure of going back to the United States for a a very short week for my best friends wedding. I started of the trip in a frenzy waking up late and having to rush to the airport but not really rushing back because my journey took about 20 + hours. I flew to Tokyo and then Atlanta where Atlanta proceeded to loose my bags. My first culture shock was when I looked around the Atalanta airport and I find that about 70% of a all Americans seem to be overweight. It was shocking and depressing. How can we all look so lazy and overweight? The rest of the world doesn't seem to do this to themselves. THat was frusterating. Then off to Charlotte for a fun night with ALL of Jays family. Even though I had been flying for excessive hours I felt like it was about 10 in the morning so I was full of energy and it was great seeing everyone and Julie had made some of her great meals for my arrival. Unfortunately my Charlotte visit was short and the next morning my parents came to pick me up. Luckily my sister Leslie and her husband Pete have just moved to Charlotte from Hong Kong. And I got to see my nephew Henry. so cute. Anyways me and the parentals drove up to Asheville and wow I forgot how much I love a cool breeze and fresh clean air. I loved sitting on the deck at their house laying in the hammock and trying to suck in as much good air as I could. Another interesting concept was driving, first of all driving a car was almost foreign to me but the main thing was I could drive for maybe 10 minutes and not see another car or see another person. I could drive in peace and quiet again another alien concept here in Taiwan. I enjoyed seeing my family and seeing friends. I took Anna rock climbing on Looking Glass Rock for her wedding present. It was awesome. And I really found a new love for rock climbing and I think I really want to take up that sport. It is so thrilling and satisfying, you feel such a great deal of accomplishment. I really recommend it to anyone. When Jay and I go to Thailand I know it is known for its amazing rock climbing I am definately adding that adventure to our itinerary. Friday before the wedding we had lunch and the rehersal dinner and then we proceeded to go back to Anna's parents house for some hot tub action and the last bacholorette night for Anna. Then wedding day came...we got the hair done and went to the Monte Vista for the festivities. Anna looked beautiful and it turned out to be a great wedding. I had to sing for it and was a little nervouse since I changed my song 3 times the previous week.... I finally decieded on Edwin McCain "I could not ask for more." I tried not to break down in tears in the middle. James and Anna are a beautiful couple and I had a great time dancing and seeing all my good friends at the wedding. UNfortunately I had to fly back the next morning at 7 am from Charlotte so I only got 2 hours of sleep before taking off on my journey back home to Taiwan. Luckily and surprisingly Jay met me in Taipei so I didn't have to make the 2 hour bus trip back to Taichung by myself. It was a good trip and it gave me the energy to really make the most our of the next 4 months before we really come home.