things I am still not used to after 3 weeks in Taiwan.

10. Squatters. i've missed, i've toppled, i've cramped and i've held it until a western toilet can be found.
9. Happy Singing Trucks. these garbage collecting or ice cream selling trucks have just gotta go. they come around right by my window at the most inopportune times.
8. coagulated duck blood. need i say more? (see picture: coagulated duck blood next to tofu)
7. my host dad teaching me how to use a spoon
6. my host dad teaching me how to use an umbrella
5. my host dad teaching me how to say 'thank you' in chinese. (uh... i say it all the time but he still insists on teaching me. i am not as stupid as i look!)
4. my host dad telling me when to take a shower, wake up, and go to the bathroom.
3. walking in the streets when cars and scooters are whizzing by- narrowly taking my feet out from under me.
2. the smell of stinky tofu.
1. no flushing of toilet paper. (every public restroom smells like pee and poo cuz the trash cans are full of crap, literally.)this is my class from this past week. I love these girls!! I teach at Hung Ren High School.

i...em....shingle. YES! YES! i em shingle! ha ha ha!

i met my new host family and don't get me wrong they are fabulous! they treat me like a queen. they won't let me pay for anything. our first evening together they took me to the most expensive restaurant in Chayi. we had the King of fish which my host dad said is the most expensive fish and world famous. he said it was $10US per square inch. pshaw! he had also been drinking...
so this is the set up...9 couples and little old me. my host mom and dad wanted me to meet ALL their friends. little did i know that all of the men were VERY eager to meet me. we all gathered in two adjacent rooms- all the women in one and the men in the other. there was one person there that could speak semi-decent English who sat by me. it was a good thing because she became my translator when all the men got drunk and hit on me. i kid you not. they all came into the womens dining room beer glasses in hand to drink to my health and tell me that they are single. and all of this right in front of their wives. it was such a fun party. i just sat there and smiled while they all took their turns.

i went home a little unimpressed with everything but believe me- it has been a lot better since. their daughter came back from her trip to japan and i can cruise with her now. she speaks really good english and it is so nice. my host dad still insists on teaching me how to use a spoon and treats me like i am 5. he tells me every five minutes what building they live in and that i can take a shower five times a day if i want. love it.