Well, it has been a while my fellow readers, and for that I apologise dearly. I thank you so much for your continued support despite the fact that I am away teaching on a very busy schedule!
All is well here in good old Taipei, it is cold, I'm cold and most of the kids in my class are down and out with a cold! I am really coming to the conclusion that with the onset of this Taiwanese winter, I don't like the cold at all! That is why I am hoping to take a holiday somewhere warm during my next vacation period.
School is good. I won't lie being a teacher is tough work. One thing I've come to realize over these four months is that teaching really tests my patients on all levels, especially in preschool. But none the less I really love my kids and despite the runny noses, dirty hands and weird eating habits they really make my day and I am so glad I'm such an important part of their life right now.
Other then that all is well. Christmas is coming up and again, like most years, it's just starting to feel like another day. However, it is so nice to share this holiday with the little ones. Today we decorated Christmas ornaments which will will tape onto a paper tree. HOW CUTE! Also I am in the midst of teaching them the song, "Frosty The Snowman." It sounds like a verbal mess, but rest assured come Christmas we will be sounding like angles!
12/15/08
10/20/08
The Highs and Lows of Teaching
So here I am in Taipei, another city in Asia that surprisingly doesn’t sleep, loves to eat and gets really hot when the sun is out! Minus the air pollution and the non stop rain, I love it here. It is hard to believe that this is my two month mark and this is the first blog I have posted, sorry Leng!
What can I say; being a teacher is most definitely one of the toughest jobs ever! I had this idea that this year long gig was going to be the easiest, breeze of a job ever, WOW I was wrong! Now my faithful readers please do not get me wrong, this job is such a blessing and I wouldn’t change a thing, but there is so much I need to learn and I am not afraid to admit that.
My day to day routine here is pretty standard. I work with my little kiddies at preschool from 9-4 everyday, except Wednesdays and Fridays when they are taking Chinese, and during that time I am up stairs teaching HA7-8, a class full of ten year olds who sometimes think they are a lot older than they really are. If you were to ask me which age group I like better, let’s just say it shifts from day to day!
Right now in preschool I am in the midst of introducing them to Halloween. Today I busted out with some Halloween rhymes and a naughty version of TRICK OR TREAT.
TRICK OR TREAT?
SMELL MY FEET
GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT
IF YOU DON’T, I DON’T CARE
I’LL PULL DOWN YOUR UNDERWEAR!
Needless to say that one got a huge kick out of my little ones as they thought it was one of the funniest things they’d ever heard in their life!
Now my HA7-8 class, let’s just say they are a bunch of crazy little kids. Things had been going really good with them up until Friday when a game of board race seemed to create a room full of sore losers. Let’s just say Teacher Jacqui really had to lay down the law, and not a lot of kids liked that! Long story short I felt frustrated. Especially with a few kids who always seem get under my skin. In my opinion I felt the class was trying to test me and to see how far they could take things.
Well my dear readers I will sign off here! With love from Taipei, I promise to always keep you posted from now on!!!!
7/24/08
Tales of Asia Takes On My Story!
Hi Everyone!
I hope this post finds you all well and happy! I thought I would give you all a little update with regards to how things are going. They're GREAT! I just got this article published online last week via the wonderful website: TalesofAsia.com. Enjoy, any comments or anything I am all ears! Until we meet again, ciao for now!
http://talesofasia.com/rs-213-Westeast.html
I hope this post finds you all well and happy! I thought I would give you all a little update with regards to how things are going. They're GREAT! I just got this article published online last week via the wonderful website: TalesofAsia.com. Enjoy, any comments or anything I am all ears! Until we meet again, ciao for now!
http://talesofasia.com/rs-213-Westeast.html
7/15/08
Bali, the Beautiful!
Hello Dear Readers!
Another wonderful trip has come and gone. My time in Bali was well spent. Shopping, warm weather, the Pacific Ocean, great food and great friends. I highly advise anyone interested in visiting this little island paradise to go. Not only is it everything and so much more, but the people and the atmosphere are just unbelievable. We were there for a 4 night 5 day visit, and were lucky enough to see most of the island. We even had the chance to go on an hour and a half hike through the jungle, mind you there were foot paths and no man eating tigers. HA! Luckily for us, we met up with a Balinese priest who brought us to a temple behind the main Mother Temple in Bali, which is a main tourist attraction and not a lot of tourists even have the chance to go there. Once there he blessed us in a sacred ceremony and we left feeling alive, blessed and totally rejuvenated. Anyway, here are the pictures from my latest trip. From Kuta to ancient temples and volcanoes, we saw it all, did it all, saw it all and left with a deeper appreciation for the island, its people and the country of Indonesia.
(The Temple Priest)
(On Route to Temple)
(A Cultural Dance)
7/12/08
I Love KL!
Where West Meets East
By: Jacqui Menard
Charred naked chickens and crispy red ducks dangle carelessly from amidst butcher shop windows. Locals pile out of McDonalds, Starbucks and Nando’s chicken. Business men suck back noodles outside dingy looking hawker stalls, school children weave in and out of crowds with their afternoon cakes, and half dressed westerners barrel their way through crowds of pedestrians with their latest edition of the Lonely Planet, while the call to prayer blasts throughout the city.
“Apple? Durian?”
A fruit vendor holds a green spiky fruit out in front of me. He smiles wide and beckons me over to his stall.
“Yes, DVD? Hello?”
Tent after tent, table after table, the latest cinema releases, or limited edition apparel from some of Europe’s most respected designers’ bombards Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur’s most infamous hot spot for boot legged goods and pirated products.
“Best price madam, I give you only best price… sixty five.” A purse vendor sporting a Jon Bon Jovi hair cut, tight jeans and leather cowboy boots says to me the minute he sees me make eye contact with one of his products. “Only the best quality madam.” He picks up his lighter and waves a flame over top of the bag. I shake my head no and make a quick getaway back out into the crowd of people who’ve flooded out onto the street.
“Madam, madam…madam please!”
Malaysia’s lively capital city of Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it’s more commonly referred to, is always beaming with life. Located in the heart of South East Asia, KL is full of ethnic diversity, and is home to more then 1.3 million residents all ranging from various Asian backgrounds. In a city full of culture, Kuala Lumpur serves as the perfect starting point for any first time visitor to Malaysia, for it showcases some of the countries finest national treasures and diverse cultural attractions amidst a clean and comfortable modern city landscape.
The smell of diesel fumes and outdoor cooking engulfs me. The city’s bumper to bumper with traffic and it’s only eleven am. People have overflowed from shop lots, markets, temples, restaurants, hotels, schools and bus stops.
The cross walk sign begins its countdown. Pedestrians scramble across the street. Motor bikes carelessly disregard the red light. Unsuspecting locals and tourists latch on to one another, make a mad dash for the safety island in the middle of the intersection, the light turns green and than exhaust fumes explode through the air. Dismayed, I find myself still standing amidst the safety of the congested city sidewalk, intrigued and baffled by such organized chaos that truly is, KL.
“Taxi?”
A red and yellow taxi pulls up alongside me. Its windows are plastered over with stickers that say, ‘Visit Malaysia 2007’ while the countries national flag lies proudly displayed in the upper right hand corner of the driver’s windshield.
“Yes, hello taxi?”
The driver cleans his teeth with his tongue, spits out the window and beckons me inside his car.
“Petronas Towers?” I yell above the automotive roar.
“No problem.”
I open the door and climb aboard his air conditioned Hindu like temple on wheels. It smells of exotic spices, curry and fragrant jasmine flowers. The almighty Shiva overlooks our journey from amidst his golden dashboard shrine, while Ganesha, the elephant headed God and renowned remover of obstacles, sways back and forth from below the driver’s rear view mirror. He switches on his meter, puts on his traffic signal and we slowly inch our way out into the growing sea of traffic.
Known to many as the world’s tallest twin towers, the Petronas towers of Kuala Lumpur over look the city at a staggering 452m (1483feet), an architectural masterpiece to say the least. The towers were built in the mid 90’s by architect Caesar Pelli and they serve as a symbol of Malaysia’s national pride. Located along the city’s major junction of Jalan Ampang and Jalan P. Ramlee, KL’s Petronas Towers not only house state of the art offices, a symphonic concert hall and a modern city art gallery, but next door there’s SURIA KLCC, a high class shopping haven that caters to every shopper’s needs and wants.
We’re engulfed in a sea of diesel and city smog. The sun beats down through my window shade in the back seat at an almost unbearable temperature. Static ridden messages scrape through the taxi’s PA system, and the radio fades in and out of comprehension, while the taxi’s air con struggles to emit the faintest breeze of cool air.
As we slowly approach the towers, I look out to my left. Guardian’s of KL and keepers of the country, the towers seem to radiate an aura of power and prestige, they sparkle like two oversized industrial colored crystals and I find I can barely contain my excitement by the time we pull up out front.
“Yes, hello.” We come to an abrupt halt out front. My driver points down to the meter that’s flashing 10 Ringit, local Malaysian currency.
Infatuation and awe consumes me as I take a few moments, straining and struggling to take in all 88 floors of this mega structure.
Constructed and designed with reinforced concrete, steel and glass facades, the creativity behind this architectural masterpiece was primarily inspired by reoccurring designs and motifs as personified in Islamic art, a true reflection of Malaysia’s national religion.
“Madam?” The driver taps on the meter and looks up at me from his mirror.
“So sorry.” I hand him a fist full of crumpled bills, open my door and tell him to keep the change.
A well presented security guard helps me out of the taxi.
“Welcome madam.”
I smile, take a few moments to relish in my celebrity like treatment and head towards the door.
“Good afternoon.” Another security guard holds open the door to SURIA KLCC, my getaway from the scorching afternoon heat, a true shopping paradise complete with food courts and endless floors of shopping.
“Thank you.” I step inside. Far from any dingy shopping mall or outside open aired market, the intricate interior of SURIA KLCC astonishes me. No form of piracy here, pesky shop vendors, weird market delicacies or cut throat bargaining tourists. Classy looking shoppers dressed in this season’s latest fashions and doused in expensive bottles of designer fragrances own the place. I look down at my sweaty appearance, worn out flip flops, faded jean skirt and wrinkled t-shirt, and I suddenly can’t help but to feel underdressed.
SURIA KLCC offers KL shoppers and tourists alike a diverse shopping experience. From major fashion retailers to state of the art dining and entertainment, SURRIA KLCC is the perfect getaway from the outside rush of KL and is guaranteed not to disappoint.
“Hello, welcome.” The employees at British India greet me with warm smiles as I walk through the door.
Headless mannequins sit erect on top of a table top dressed in fine linens and brightly colored cottons, while gem stone encrusted necklaces glisten beneath the florescent lights hanging over top of the cash register.
“Okay, that’s an even 1500 Ringit.” A young employee folds up a long sleeved white blouse and kaki colored pants for a smug looking westerner who’s decided to sport a pair of oversized DIOR glasses indoors.
My eyes go wide as I walk by them. I gravitate towards a rack full of Indian styled blouses. I pick up a bright yellow one, walk towards the mirror, hold it up against my chest and pretend I’m worth it, 250 Ringit that is. I smile at myself in the mirror.
“Can I get you a size?” A male employee walks towards me.
I smile at him, put down the blouse and make a quick getaway for the door, “Not today thanks.”
I squeeze my way through the busy food arena. The place is full of people. Office workers winding down after a rough day, wide eyed tourists with plates full of local food and hormonal crazed school children just hanging out at the mall, another Friday night.
I carry my food to the table, my stomach growls and my mouth salivates like a starving street dog. I put down my shopping bags set down my tray, sit down, take off my shoes and vigorously rub the souls of my feet. The clean presentation of hawker food, combined with the cool and inviting environment of a shopping mall makes it that much more inviting. I pile a heaping helping of rice onto my spoon, mysterious flavors and unique spices, unbeknownst to my taste buds, explode in my mouth and dance up my nose as I make a mad dash for one of the many commonalities this country shares with my own, an ice cold glass of Coke.
Kuala Lumpur proves why the world is so small. In a city that seems to never sleep, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t get here. From the hottest in store fashions, to the latest cinema releases, this city not only showcases some of Malaysia’s most prized national treasures, but it’s nothing short of a cultural mosaic spanning from west to east. The perfect base for any visitor wanting to scale the vast wonders of Malaysia has to offer, the diversity in KL promises not to disappoint.
By: Jacqui Menard
Charred naked chickens and crispy red ducks dangle carelessly from amidst butcher shop windows. Locals pile out of McDonalds, Starbucks and Nando’s chicken. Business men suck back noodles outside dingy looking hawker stalls, school children weave in and out of crowds with their afternoon cakes, and half dressed westerners barrel their way through crowds of pedestrians with their latest edition of the Lonely Planet, while the call to prayer blasts throughout the city.
“Apple? Durian?”
A fruit vendor holds a green spiky fruit out in front of me. He smiles wide and beckons me over to his stall.
“Yes, DVD? Hello?”
Tent after tent, table after table, the latest cinema releases, or limited edition apparel from some of Europe’s most respected designers’ bombards Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur’s most infamous hot spot for boot legged goods and pirated products.
“Best price madam, I give you only best price… sixty five.” A purse vendor sporting a Jon Bon Jovi hair cut, tight jeans and leather cowboy boots says to me the minute he sees me make eye contact with one of his products. “Only the best quality madam.” He picks up his lighter and waves a flame over top of the bag. I shake my head no and make a quick getaway back out into the crowd of people who’ve flooded out onto the street.
“Madam, madam…madam please!”
Malaysia’s lively capital city of Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it’s more commonly referred to, is always beaming with life. Located in the heart of South East Asia, KL is full of ethnic diversity, and is home to more then 1.3 million residents all ranging from various Asian backgrounds. In a city full of culture, Kuala Lumpur serves as the perfect starting point for any first time visitor to Malaysia, for it showcases some of the countries finest national treasures and diverse cultural attractions amidst a clean and comfortable modern city landscape.
The smell of diesel fumes and outdoor cooking engulfs me. The city’s bumper to bumper with traffic and it’s only eleven am. People have overflowed from shop lots, markets, temples, restaurants, hotels, schools and bus stops.
The cross walk sign begins its countdown. Pedestrians scramble across the street. Motor bikes carelessly disregard the red light. Unsuspecting locals and tourists latch on to one another, make a mad dash for the safety island in the middle of the intersection, the light turns green and than exhaust fumes explode through the air. Dismayed, I find myself still standing amidst the safety of the congested city sidewalk, intrigued and baffled by such organized chaos that truly is, KL.
“Taxi?”
A red and yellow taxi pulls up alongside me. Its windows are plastered over with stickers that say, ‘Visit Malaysia 2007’ while the countries national flag lies proudly displayed in the upper right hand corner of the driver’s windshield.
“Yes, hello taxi?”
The driver cleans his teeth with his tongue, spits out the window and beckons me inside his car.
“Petronas Towers?” I yell above the automotive roar.
“No problem.”
I open the door and climb aboard his air conditioned Hindu like temple on wheels. It smells of exotic spices, curry and fragrant jasmine flowers. The almighty Shiva overlooks our journey from amidst his golden dashboard shrine, while Ganesha, the elephant headed God and renowned remover of obstacles, sways back and forth from below the driver’s rear view mirror. He switches on his meter, puts on his traffic signal and we slowly inch our way out into the growing sea of traffic.
Known to many as the world’s tallest twin towers, the Petronas towers of Kuala Lumpur over look the city at a staggering 452m (1483feet), an architectural masterpiece to say the least. The towers were built in the mid 90’s by architect Caesar Pelli and they serve as a symbol of Malaysia’s national pride. Located along the city’s major junction of Jalan Ampang and Jalan P. Ramlee, KL’s Petronas Towers not only house state of the art offices, a symphonic concert hall and a modern city art gallery, but next door there’s SURIA KLCC, a high class shopping haven that caters to every shopper’s needs and wants.
We’re engulfed in a sea of diesel and city smog. The sun beats down through my window shade in the back seat at an almost unbearable temperature. Static ridden messages scrape through the taxi’s PA system, and the radio fades in and out of comprehension, while the taxi’s air con struggles to emit the faintest breeze of cool air.
As we slowly approach the towers, I look out to my left. Guardian’s of KL and keepers of the country, the towers seem to radiate an aura of power and prestige, they sparkle like two oversized industrial colored crystals and I find I can barely contain my excitement by the time we pull up out front.
“Yes, hello.” We come to an abrupt halt out front. My driver points down to the meter that’s flashing 10 Ringit, local Malaysian currency.
Infatuation and awe consumes me as I take a few moments, straining and struggling to take in all 88 floors of this mega structure.
Constructed and designed with reinforced concrete, steel and glass facades, the creativity behind this architectural masterpiece was primarily inspired by reoccurring designs and motifs as personified in Islamic art, a true reflection of Malaysia’s national religion.
“Madam?” The driver taps on the meter and looks up at me from his mirror.
“So sorry.” I hand him a fist full of crumpled bills, open my door and tell him to keep the change.
A well presented security guard helps me out of the taxi.
“Welcome madam.”
I smile, take a few moments to relish in my celebrity like treatment and head towards the door.
“Good afternoon.” Another security guard holds open the door to SURIA KLCC, my getaway from the scorching afternoon heat, a true shopping paradise complete with food courts and endless floors of shopping.
“Thank you.” I step inside. Far from any dingy shopping mall or outside open aired market, the intricate interior of SURIA KLCC astonishes me. No form of piracy here, pesky shop vendors, weird market delicacies or cut throat bargaining tourists. Classy looking shoppers dressed in this season’s latest fashions and doused in expensive bottles of designer fragrances own the place. I look down at my sweaty appearance, worn out flip flops, faded jean skirt and wrinkled t-shirt, and I suddenly can’t help but to feel underdressed.
SURIA KLCC offers KL shoppers and tourists alike a diverse shopping experience. From major fashion retailers to state of the art dining and entertainment, SURRIA KLCC is the perfect getaway from the outside rush of KL and is guaranteed not to disappoint.
“Hello, welcome.” The employees at British India greet me with warm smiles as I walk through the door.
Headless mannequins sit erect on top of a table top dressed in fine linens and brightly colored cottons, while gem stone encrusted necklaces glisten beneath the florescent lights hanging over top of the cash register.
“Okay, that’s an even 1500 Ringit.” A young employee folds up a long sleeved white blouse and kaki colored pants for a smug looking westerner who’s decided to sport a pair of oversized DIOR glasses indoors.
My eyes go wide as I walk by them. I gravitate towards a rack full of Indian styled blouses. I pick up a bright yellow one, walk towards the mirror, hold it up against my chest and pretend I’m worth it, 250 Ringit that is. I smile at myself in the mirror.
“Can I get you a size?” A male employee walks towards me.
I smile at him, put down the blouse and make a quick getaway for the door, “Not today thanks.”
I squeeze my way through the busy food arena. The place is full of people. Office workers winding down after a rough day, wide eyed tourists with plates full of local food and hormonal crazed school children just hanging out at the mall, another Friday night.
I carry my food to the table, my stomach growls and my mouth salivates like a starving street dog. I put down my shopping bags set down my tray, sit down, take off my shoes and vigorously rub the souls of my feet. The clean presentation of hawker food, combined with the cool and inviting environment of a shopping mall makes it that much more inviting. I pile a heaping helping of rice onto my spoon, mysterious flavors and unique spices, unbeknownst to my taste buds, explode in my mouth and dance up my nose as I make a mad dash for one of the many commonalities this country shares with my own, an ice cold glass of Coke.
Kuala Lumpur proves why the world is so small. In a city that seems to never sleep, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t get here. From the hottest in store fashions, to the latest cinema releases, this city not only showcases some of Malaysia’s most prized national treasures, but it’s nothing short of a cultural mosaic spanning from west to east. The perfect base for any visitor wanting to scale the vast wonders of Malaysia has to offer, the diversity in KL promises not to disappoint.
6/10/08
Go Nomad Takes On The Floating Villages
It's always exciting to see my own word's printed outside of school, a blog or just on my own computer.
Go Nomad, a travel website which aims to inspire and help people plan their trips abroad, has taken on one of my latest articles and I feel quite proud! :)
I am really excited because even though this was a free assignment, it really is nothing short of another feather in my cap!
http://www.gonomad.com/reflections/0806/cambodia-floating-villages.html
6/8/08
Back From Where It All Began!
Egypt, to me is by far one of the most mysterious, most fascinating places on the planet!!! Even though this was a my second trip to the country, this time around I could not help but to feel that much more mystified and that much more in awe of the living history that was all around me!
The trip, as you could have probably guessed was awesome! We left on the 13th of May and came home on the 26th. 2 solid weeks of travel and fun, from buses to planes, laughter and tears..... we did it all and man oh man we saw it all!
We started off in Upper Egypt where we toured some sites such as Abu Simble, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Habu and Edfu. Eventually we ended our journey back in Cario where we were quite exhausted.......but in a good way!
Since I am just getting back into the writing groove, I didn't do much writing besides my journal, I thought I would post some pics until I finish some of the articles I started since I arrived home.
ENJOY!
ABU SIMBLE
FUN TIMES CRUISING DOWN THE NILE
.....stay tuned for more adventures!
The trip, as you could have probably guessed was awesome! We left on the 13th of May and came home on the 26th. 2 solid weeks of travel and fun, from buses to planes, laughter and tears..... we did it all and man oh man we saw it all!
We started off in Upper Egypt where we toured some sites such as Abu Simble, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Habu and Edfu. Eventually we ended our journey back in Cario where we were quite exhausted.......but in a good way!
Since I am just getting back into the writing groove, I didn't do much writing besides my journal, I thought I would post some pics until I finish some of the articles I started since I arrived home.
ENJOY!
ABU SIMBLE
FUN TIMES CRUISING DOWN THE NILE
.....stay tuned for more adventures!
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