I'm Extending!

I have decided to extend my 6-month contract to a 12-month contract, so I will be spending a full year in the blessed land of Taiwan! I embarked on this journey with the mindset that extending was a very real possibility and once I got here and realized how much I loved it, extending seemed like the only real choice before me. I signed the 1-year contract about a month ago, but I'm only making it "blog official" now.

Outside of our church building one Sunday.

It's strange to think that I haven't been here quite 3 months yet because in a way I feel like I've been here forever. I've acclimated to Taiwan faster than I have any environment previously in my life, including every state in the U.S. that I have lived. Moving out to the Midwest as a preteen, to China for volunteer work, and even back to Utah for University; none of them were as easy of transitions as moving to Taiwan has been. When I look back on each of those periods of transition I can see different facets of life that I was struggling with, often times as a result of the moves. This time however I am not struggling. I am older now and thus am more prepared for life's various struggles compared to my younger self, but I still can't help but think that Taiwan is a good fit for me. Of all of the places I've been, I've never felt this free and empowered.

One of my kitty friends.

Enough days on the calendar have been scratched off since I have arrived that I am well past the honeymoon phase. Everything isn't new anymore and the whole world is no longer tinted with a rose colored filter. Life here is normal, and in a way that's better because Taiwan has become home. I say good morning to the same elderly man as I set out for my morning commute. I've made friends with many of the store owners on food street and my favorite fruit vendor often gives me discounts because I can't go a week without buying mangoes from her. The cat that belongs to the family who owns a Korean wrap shop by the school always knows it can get a good scratch session from me while I wait for my food to be prepared. Over the last 12 weeks I have become as much a part of Taiwan as it has become a part of me. Going on big elaborate trips is always fun, but these are the things that I will take with me forever. These people and these small moments; these are what Taiwan is to me and I am grateful that I will have over 9 more months to experience more of the land that I have come to call home.

Eating mangoes with chopsticks: full cultural immersion.

Kim doing my makeup during a break at work one day.

Yara (left, 5 years old) and Grace (Right, 7 years old) in my classroom which also triples as the art/shop room

My evening 2-A class. Left to right: Derek, Kerry, May, Lisa, Jill, Alex (hiding by me), Olivia, and Maggie up front. This is literally the best picture I could get with my crazy kids that I adore.