I live in an amazing city. I know someday I am going to end up back here. One of the best part is that the streets are not too busy to ride your bike where ever, when ever. A few years ago I got really into riding my beach cruiser. It's the most amazing feeling to have the wind blow your hair, plus it doesn't hurt that I have the cutest bikes. ;) Bike riding is also more when you have a riding partner, that's why I purposely have two bikes.
So last night a friend of mine organized a night bike ride. The goal was to start easy and ride 4 miles. I was a little nervous about that because as much as I love to ride bikes, I didn't know if I could keep up. We met up at the train station about 1/2 mile from my house. I only knew the person who organized that ride, but I was willing to take a chance, meet new people, and ride my bike. I knew that this was going to be the last good ride before going to Taiwan. Well 4 miles ended up being 11 and it was soo much fun! I cannot even describe where we rode because it was up and down the streets, through the nature reserve, a cemetery, and main roads. The ride was from 7 to 9:30 pm.
Today, the pain has not been so much fun but it's not FMS pain, it's "you just sat on a bike seat for over two hours and wow, my inner thighs hurts when I walk" kind of pain. Although I would probably be back on my bike right now if I was invited. It's just a free feeling. Of everything I own, my bikes have been the hardest thing to leave back home. My first purchase in Taiwan will be a new bike so I can have that same free feeling as long as I don't melt from the heat.
I am not sure if anyone reads this or finds it inspirational, but when I read back on the things that I do and accomplish while living with FMS I know I am finding my strengths.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Adventure Awaits!
So basically I am not the world's best blogger, I would say that I am a much better talker. I am a open book when it comes to talking. Some say that I give out too much information and I am really working hard on just exposing "need to know" information.
I should title this post Cha-Cha-Changes because that seems to be the theme of the summer. All of these changes are for the best and have had some positive results. I am actually going to start from today and take you back to May since that is where I left off. Alright, so first off I am moving to Taiwan in August! Exciting, huh? This is what this is "adventure" I am talking about. I am going to be teaching English to Taiwanese children and adults. I couldn't be more ecstatic. I have been talking about this for some time and finally started taking action. My boyfriend and I signed up for a 100-hour course that allows you to be certified to teach English by the end. It was a lot of hard work. I mean there were things in this course that I was never taught in school, and I speak English! I had an interview the other day over Skype and was offered the position to teach younger students. I also heard back from one of the most prestige schools in the country. :) I am really excited about this and whether I love it over there or not, I am going to learn so much about myself from this experience.
The next major event that has come and past was that my dad remarried after being single for 24 years. Not that I should care, I know I am an adult, and I am really happy for him, but for the first time I have to share him. My mind races when I think about that because I never really had the closest relationship with him. I guess it is a bit of jealousy. My mom and dad divorced when I was 6 months old. I have never lived with my dad, and his wife has two younger kids and he moved in with her family. Really, there is no need to be jealous I had an amazing childhood with my mom, pops, and siblings who love one another. I had everything I ever wanted and more. I really hope they have a world of happiness together because it was nice to see my dad happy.
I mentioned that my boyfriend was enrolled in the certification class as well, well he is actually already there. He took an excursion to China and made his way to Taiwan by foot, public transportation, and ferry (of course). He left America on June 9th and I am not going to lie, I miss him dearly but admire him so much. I am actually a little jealous that he already taught two English classes. He and I were able to Skype this morning (before 7 am) which is the first time I have heard his voice since he left. Since he is there before me, he is doing everything possible to make my transition over there easy, (rrrriiiiiggghhhttt, A?). :) He is pretty fantastic.
Speaking about how fantastic he is, I was actually holding back my deepest secret from him. Not that I wanted to, but I did not know how he was going to react. Since I am not willing to share that with the world, I will just say that it was life changing. FMS is a challenge at times just by itself, but then add this on top and well, I am a better person. So we went out of the county to visit a friend one night in May and I was trying to muster up my courage on the ride over there but ended up being super quiet. He could tell that something was wrong, well you read the beginning of this post...I am an open book and a talker. Because I wasn't talking I had created some tension. It wasn't until 2 am when we were alone and snuggling on the couch that the everything came pouring out. The best thing that could have happened did and I was embraced by a big hug. That was one of the best moments in our relationship so far, for me anyways.
So what led up to the courage to tell him? Well lets face it, my mom is not too pleased that I am going to Taiwan. In fact she will make rude comments about the whole thing and thinks I am throwing my life away. Yet, I have been extremely responsible during this whole transition and really making it as easy for everyone as possible. Well back in May she told me that I am not assertive, she would love for me to get mad for once, and that I have only convinced myself that I am happy. WHOA! Shocker. Well lets just say afterwards I was pretty f&^*ing livid. I just wanted to talk to her to assure her that she could trust me that I am going to be alright in Taiwan. Well she said she could not trust me because I did not trust myself to explain/tell (the above paragraph). Well we can put a big check mark next to that one..but is there trust yet? So since I am the most assertive person I know, hearing that I wasn't was quite the shock. Then I realized the only person I am not assertive with is her. So you better believe I have been firing back my wit and assertiveness, which does not fair well with her in return. She usually gives me the stink eye and will ignore me for the rest of the day/night. I try really hard not to let it bother me, but she is my mom I do care what she thinks and I love her.
I am doing this trip for me and no one else. I think this is a fantastic opportunity to do something that I love, being around kids. Yes, I am going to miss home, I am going to miss my family and friends, but this is not a permenant move, it's the "I'm not married, I don't have kids, I am still pretty young, and this is the perfect opportunity" move. So I am packing up and shipping out. I am curious to see how my FMS does is a different climate, but that's just another part of finding my strengths.
I should title this post Cha-Cha-Changes because that seems to be the theme of the summer. All of these changes are for the best and have had some positive results. I am actually going to start from today and take you back to May since that is where I left off. Alright, so first off I am moving to Taiwan in August! Exciting, huh? This is what this is "adventure" I am talking about. I am going to be teaching English to Taiwanese children and adults. I couldn't be more ecstatic. I have been talking about this for some time and finally started taking action. My boyfriend and I signed up for a 100-hour course that allows you to be certified to teach English by the end. It was a lot of hard work. I mean there were things in this course that I was never taught in school, and I speak English! I had an interview the other day over Skype and was offered the position to teach younger students. I also heard back from one of the most prestige schools in the country. :) I am really excited about this and whether I love it over there or not, I am going to learn so much about myself from this experience.
The next major event that has come and past was that my dad remarried after being single for 24 years. Not that I should care, I know I am an adult, and I am really happy for him, but for the first time I have to share him. My mind races when I think about that because I never really had the closest relationship with him. I guess it is a bit of jealousy. My mom and dad divorced when I was 6 months old. I have never lived with my dad, and his wife has two younger kids and he moved in with her family. Really, there is no need to be jealous I had an amazing childhood with my mom, pops, and siblings who love one another. I had everything I ever wanted and more. I really hope they have a world of happiness together because it was nice to see my dad happy.
I mentioned that my boyfriend was enrolled in the certification class as well, well he is actually already there. He took an excursion to China and made his way to Taiwan by foot, public transportation, and ferry (of course). He left America on June 9th and I am not going to lie, I miss him dearly but admire him so much. I am actually a little jealous that he already taught two English classes. He and I were able to Skype this morning (before 7 am) which is the first time I have heard his voice since he left. Since he is there before me, he is doing everything possible to make my transition over there easy, (rrrriiiiiggghhhttt, A?). :) He is pretty fantastic.
Speaking about how fantastic he is, I was actually holding back my deepest secret from him. Not that I wanted to, but I did not know how he was going to react. Since I am not willing to share that with the world, I will just say that it was life changing. FMS is a challenge at times just by itself, but then add this on top and well, I am a better person. So we went out of the county to visit a friend one night in May and I was trying to muster up my courage on the ride over there but ended up being super quiet. He could tell that something was wrong, well you read the beginning of this post...I am an open book and a talker. Because I wasn't talking I had created some tension. It wasn't until 2 am when we were alone and snuggling on the couch that the everything came pouring out. The best thing that could have happened did and I was embraced by a big hug. That was one of the best moments in our relationship so far, for me anyways.
So what led up to the courage to tell him? Well lets face it, my mom is not too pleased that I am going to Taiwan. In fact she will make rude comments about the whole thing and thinks I am throwing my life away. Yet, I have been extremely responsible during this whole transition and really making it as easy for everyone as possible. Well back in May she told me that I am not assertive, she would love for me to get mad for once, and that I have only convinced myself that I am happy. WHOA! Shocker. Well lets just say afterwards I was pretty f&^*ing livid. I just wanted to talk to her to assure her that she could trust me that I am going to be alright in Taiwan. Well she said she could not trust me because I did not trust myself to explain/tell (the above paragraph). Well we can put a big check mark next to that one..but is there trust yet? So since I am the most assertive person I know, hearing that I wasn't was quite the shock. Then I realized the only person I am not assertive with is her. So you better believe I have been firing back my wit and assertiveness, which does not fair well with her in return. She usually gives me the stink eye and will ignore me for the rest of the day/night. I try really hard not to let it bother me, but she is my mom I do care what she thinks and I love her.
I am doing this trip for me and no one else. I think this is a fantastic opportunity to do something that I love, being around kids. Yes, I am going to miss home, I am going to miss my family and friends, but this is not a permenant move, it's the "I'm not married, I don't have kids, I am still pretty young, and this is the perfect opportunity" move. So I am packing up and shipping out. I am curious to see how my FMS does is a different climate, but that's just another part of finding my strengths.
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