Janice Valdez

Today I went to the wedding reception of a couple I’ve never met before and probably will never meet again.  At 5:30pm today I was passing the time of my laundry’s wash cycle walking with my cup of bubble milk tea and I get a call from Anita, “What are you doing? You want to go to a wedding?”  I was reluctant and because I didn’t feel up to an evening of watching people I didn’t know, talk in a language I can’t understand, I said no.  Weddings are bad enough in English.  I say, “I think I’ll just go downtown and do some shopping.”  Anita quickly offers, “Oh, ya well I’ll give you a ride down because the wedding is downtown.  We’ll go down together and I’ll meet you for a drink after and we’ll come back home together.”

“Um, okay.”  I was a bit curious about what a Taiwan wedding reception would be like, but I didn’t have the energy that it requires to decode the language of facial expressions and nuances and tones and bodies, so I agreed to take the ride down but resolved to go shopping.  Anita picks me up and as soon as the car door closes she says, “Ya, I think you should just come with me to the wedding,” in a tone that let me know that I wasn’t getting a ride anywhere but the wedding party.  So we go and it turned out to be a fun time.

In Taiwan weddings, the bride gets to wear 3 dresses!  One for the ceremony, one for seeing guests in during the reception and the 3rd for saying goodbye to the guests.  I didn’t see the ceremony because it was just a reception party for the Taiwan side of the couple.  The groom was from New Zealand.

What was really surprising was that after the guests left our table, Anita started packing up the left over food from the platters.  I’m talking soup and lamb chops and desserts.  The hotel staff was helping her pack it too.  I got to take home half a bottle of very nice red wine and some tropical fruit that I don’t even know the name of and yummy seafood soup.  Not at all frowned upon.  Reasonable logic, really…it’s been paid for so, take it home.

After going through 12 courses we did some shopping at the Night Market and then went off to the Pig & Whistle pub where we met up with a couple that is staying in the same temporary housing as I.   We danced and danced and danced.

Then!  I got a skype ring from my buddies John, Alia, Finn, Joseph and Jim!  Yay! And suddenly, what seemed to be a difficult decision, suddenly became clear and even exciting.  I’m going home.  As early as mid-January, no later than March.

Janice Taiwan

The novelties of temporary home surfing are wearing off.  It’s fun for the same reason that it’s challenging: I don’t know what I’ll be doing next or where I’ll end up. I guess it’s a natural feeling.  I’m now at the point of deciding to sign a contract to stay longer, beyond february or to go back to Canada.  Ugh, decisions!

Janice Taiwan

While I was thinking back on what I wrote last about not being able to read Chinese newspapers online, I came back to check and I did find e-taiwan news.  So I began to browse and have been curious about the filipino community here.  I knew that many are migrant workers who have fled the Philippines to Taiwan so that they can send the money home to their families.  So when we see “Made in Taiwan” it’s very likely made my Filipinos working for pitiful wages and living in factory housing.

In the newspaper, I saw over half a dozen articles written by Filipinos who live and work here.  Two stood out: the 1st was about the Ms. Filipino-Kaohsiung beauty pageant that was blessed and sponsored by a church, and the 2nd was written by an overseas Filipino worker.  Both stories felt sad, but I also felt really annoyed because here, there are workers who are sacrificing families and lives to send money home to feed their loved ones, and then the Church that serves the community blesses a beauty pageant wherein  the winner is awarded NT$10,000 and the  runner up is given NT$5,000.  Aaaaahhhhh!  That drives me crazy!  How fellow migrant workers who share the same plight would make a beauty pageant a priority for their collective attention and resources is a complete mystery to me.  Wow!

I suppose one could see how a beauty pageant is a nice distraction from the homesickness during the Christmas season, but really…a competition for the “Best in Winter Clothes?”  Seriously!  I wish Filipinos would begin to value their talents and worth beyond sexualized women and diligent nannies and honest labourers.  They are so smart and courageous and resourceful, but so much of the collective consciousness in the culture seems to inhibit the flow it their riches.
Oo, oo…another tremor.  Okay, it’s passed I think.  Whoa, I feel whoozy.

I think this is a good time to go unconconscious.

Janice Down the Rabbit Hole

We had an earthquake in Taiwan this evening! I don’t know the reading on the scale, but the epicentre was about 4hrs south from Kaohsiung and there were two pretty strong tremors that lasted for a minute or two each. It was the strongest earthquake I’ve experienced and was a bit concerning, but mostly really neato! I was at the school and had just finished teaching and was getting ready to leave. I’m glad it happened while I was still at the school and not while I was riding home. It was comforting to have been with locals and children.
Although, when I returned to the building where I’m sleeping tonight (last night with the 3 cats) I saw that the residents had all been evacuated. By the time I parked my scooter, all were good to re-enter. A few candle sticks had tipped off the shelf in the apartment but I didn’t notice any other disturbances; surprising for the 12th floor. I was a bit concerned that maybe the third round of tremors would be coming later tonight and it would be bigger and I’d have to run downstairs from the 12th floor. Ugh, what a pain that would be! There was a really big earthquake island-wide 8 years ago which brought down many buildings. Well, no use in worrying about it because I have no way of being warned except a call from a friend on my cellphone. I don’t have a radio or a tv in this apartment. I guess I could check the news on the internet but what good is that if I don’t read Chinese!

Feeling sleepy now.

Janice Taiwan

A quiet one this year. My friend Andrew and I cooked a non-traditional dinner with food we bought at the local supermarket. I made a spicy guava salad with orange bits, garlic, chili, soy and green beans, drizzled with lime juice and a touch of sugar…not bad for an experiment. And we had pre-marinated chicken and beef, and stir-fried veggies.

I must admit, this year was a very welcome break from the pressure of having to live up to the traditions of shopping and buying something for the family that seems to grow every year. I let myself off the hook from buying and sending presents to everyone with the excuse that I’m travelling and reserving funds for a place to live and some reliable wheels for transport; basic survival things. And I guess, that is my gift to all…I release any obligation that you may have felt to buy me something for Christmas. Save it for a rainy day when you’d like a chat with a dear one far away, then you’ll find that you have a pinch of change to afford a long distance call. Or what money you would have spent on a gift for me, go buy the book, “Ask and It is Given” and read it…then you’ll be gifting you and me and all the world at the same time.

I think wrapping gifts and opening gifts and watching people open the gifts you’ve given can be such a lovely part of the holidays, but over the past few years, I’ve not been so attracted to it. Maybe it’s because I’m in that in-between stage of not being a child and not being a “grown up” with husband and babies. I should be spending it at an orphanage with children, but I’ve been so focused on finding a place to live and work that I didn’t get to the point of finding the local one. For so many years, I’ve wanted to spend Christmas with children who are in want of company and nurturing. I’ll try not to wait until next year.

Two more sleeps and I must move on to a different place to stay. I will likely move into a friendship house that is run by a Canadian woman from Saskatoon who provides housing to foreigners in Kaohsiung.

Ya, I do feel a bit homesick, but not for Canada specifically or the arrangement of my life when I left.  I miss having a constant.  Whether a person or a place of work, or a bed.  God, my relationship to Creative Energy, is the only constant; NOW.  I am home in this moment, NOW.  I send you love, NOW.

Janice Down the Rabbit Hole, Taiwan

“Thank you, Teacher Janice.  May I eat now?”  is what they chant, poised at their tables, to mark the end of my time with them and the beginning of their snack or lunch break.  And they really do wait for my response, “Yes, you may.”

Wow.  That kind of order is magical bordering on freaky.  I like it, kinda.

Janice Teaching & Facilitating

I got called this morning at 8.30am to sub for a kindergarten english teacher who sprained her ankle on her way to work.  The class would begin at 9:30am and I had never taught kindergarten before.  Luckily, I had a fabulous Taiwanese support teacher.  I haven’t been seeking work with kindergartens here because I thought I might get bored of babysitting, but I had fun.  Being with them gave me permission to just play.  The children were well behaved and were very accepting of me and the half dozen college students who came to observe us for their early childhood education studies.  The little ones are so quick to adapt.  They are a fantastic age of still being very curious and accepting of new people, especially an Asian face that doesn’t speak to them in Chinese, nor understands what they say.
The way things are done here, makes me realize how sensitive we are in Canada to  change.  It’s difficult to explain in concisely.  It seems that dissappointments, challenges, or discomfort are not acknowledged outwardly with as much time or energy as they would  in similar situations in Canada.  For example, if a group of 70 students all ran under a broken halloween pinata to pick up candies and it turned into a stampede with 3 and 4 year olds being pinned to the ground under 50 others, the incident might make the news in Canada and parents might file complaints and hold the school responsible.  Well here, I’ve seen that very thing happen here, and though there was concern for their safety and all the adults ran to stop the children from jumping onto each other, most if not all, had a laugh about it almost immediately and no angry complaints or blame was laid to anyone.  That was Halloween and now it’s Christmas, so I got to tell them what stockings and presents are for during Christmas.

Once I finished playing and reading with the children in the morning, I helped feed them lunch and the school fed me too and then we had a nap.  Yup.  Teachers too.  I went home, chatted online and had a ly down and came back at 2pm.  I taught a different class for two hours and took a few pictures there that’ll show up here eventually, and then I scooted off (literally on a scooter) to a different school where I would work until 8:30pm.

My evening hours are at a buxiban, pronounced ‘boo-shee-ban’ (english language school), where I must learn over a hundred names.  Although the class size doesn’t usually exceed 12, the classes each day are filled with new faces who come once a week.  There are so many of them and I must learn all their names.   I’m getting pretty good at getting them down within the first 10 minutes of class but next week, I’m sure I’ll have to re-learn them again.

My favourite part of today, was getting to teach a class with a boy who had a hearing aid device that allowed him to access my voice through a special microphone I wore around my neck.  What was so brilliant, was to see that he was the most competent, competitive, enthusiastic and least compromised student in the class.  All of my instruction was oral and most of their participation required verbal responses.  In fact, he was helping fellow classmates spell my dictations.  Sure it showed how well the hearing device works; an amazing technological advancement.  But the spirit with which he wore it and gave it to me, and showed me how to wear the counterpart, was inspiring.  No shame, no apologies, no questions.  And the class, when I walked and started my introduction without seeing or knowing that I would need to wear the microphone, entirely supported us to get suited up for audio.  I hope they stay that way into adulthood.

I often hear complaints about the challenges of caring for children from teachers and parents, but today, although it was work and required energy, it was a pure joy and an honour to part of their development.

Janice Teaching & Facilitating

I got called this morning at 8.30am to sub for a kindergarten english teacher who sprained her ankle on her way to work.  The class would begin at 9:30am and I had never taught kindergarten before.  Luckily, I had a fabulous Taiwanese support teacher.  I haven’t been seeking work with kindergartens here because I thought I might get bored of babysitting, but I had fun.  Being with them gave me permission to just play.  The children were well behaved and were very accepting of me and the half dozen college students who came to observe us for their early childhood education studies.  The little ones are so quick to adapt.  They are a fantastic age of still being very curious and accepting of new people, especially an Asian face that doesn’t speak to them in Chinese, nor understands what they say.
The way things are done here, makes me realize how sensitive we are in Canada to  change.  It’s difficult to explain in concisely.  It seems that dissappointments, challenges, or discomfort are not acknowledged outwardly with as much time or energy as they would  in similar situations in Canada.  For example, if a group of 70 students all ran under a broken halloween pinata to pick up candies and it turned into a stampede with 3 and 4 year olds being pinned to the ground under 50 others, the incident might make the news in Canada and parents might file complaints and hold the school responsible.  Well here, I’ve seen that very thing happen here, and though there was concern for their safety and all the adults ran to stop the children from jumping onto each other, most if not all, had a laugh about it almost immediately and no angry complaints or blame was laid to anyone.  That was Halloween and now it’s Christmas, so I got to tell them what stockings and presents are for during Christmas.

Once I finished playing and reading with the children in the morning, I helped feed them lunch and the school fed me too and then we had a nap.  Yup.  Teachers too.  I went home, chatted online and had a ly down and came back at 2pm.  I taught a different class for two hours and took a few pictures there that’ll show up here eventually, and then I scooted off (literally on a scooter) to a different school where I would work until 8:30pm.

My evening hours are at a buxiban, pronounced ‘boo-shee-ban’ (english language school), where I must learn over a hundred names.  Although the class size doesn’t usually exceed 12, the classes each day are filled with new faces who come once a week.  There are so many of them and I must learn all their names.   I’m getting pretty good at getting them down within the first 10 minutes of class but next week, I’m sure I’ll have to re-learn them again.

My favourite part of today, was getting to teach a class with a boy who had a hearing aid device that allowed him to access my voice through a special microphone I wore around my neck.  What was so brilliant, was to see that he was the most competent, competitive, enthusiastic and least compromised student in the class.  All of my instruction was oral and most of their participation required verbal responses.  In fact, he was helping fellow classmates spell my dictations.  Sure it showed how well the hearing device works; an amazing technological advancement.  But the spirit with which he wore it and gave it to me, and showed me how to wear the counterpart, was inspiring.  No shame, no apologies, no questions.  And the class, when I walked and started my introduction without seeing or knowing that I would need to wear the microphone, entirely supported us to get suited up for audio.  I hope they stay that way into adulthood.

I often hear complaints about the challenges of caring for children from teachers and parents, but today, although it was work and required energy, it was a pure joy and an honour to part of their development.

Janice Teaching & Facilitating

The title of the book I just started reading.  It was knocked off the shelf by the kitten that I’m minding while I housesit.  It’s quite powerful!  If you ever see the title or would like to access spiritual guidance in clear language, I recommend looking it up.  Authorship on it is uniquely defined (you’ll see what I mean if you read the introduction) but the title of it should come up in a search.  Also try Jerry and Esther Hicks.  It has a foreward note by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer who wrote The Power of Intention.

What shall you ask for this Christmas?  What shall you give?  Questions I ask each year and although each year begins with satisfying the expectations of buying ‘things’ as gifts for family and friends, I have the distinct challenge and blessing of not having the resources to give in that way this year.  So how shall I gift this year?

Well, to start, I’ve taken care of myself in way so that others need not worry about my well-being.  The gift of “peace of mind” that your friend, your sister, your daughter, your colleague, Janice, is not out on the street on Christmas.  Moreover, she is in fact happy, even though she isn’t sharing the holidays in Canada.

The other gift is this quote from this book that, honest to goodness, I “coincidentally” or “randomly” opened up to :

    Your Greatest Gift to Give Is Your Happiness

The greatest gift that you could ever give to another is your own happiness, for when you are in a state of joy, happiness, or appreciation, you are fully connected to the Stream of pure, positive Source Energy that is truly who you-are.  And when you are in that state of connection, anything or anyone that you are holding as your object of attention benefits from your attention.

I shall hold you in my happiness this Christmas Eve.  And if you don’t observe Christmas, let it be that on Dec. 24th, I’ll send you love and happiness for no apparent labelled reason.

The other gift I give to to tell all my family and friends that I have already received your gifts.  Send nothing but your expressions of happiness that you are ALIVE.  It’s a big thing to ask for so if you can’t make it happen, I’ll understand.
And this is my favourite so far from this book:

If your goal is to, finally, once and for all, achieve all that you desire, you will find yourself unable to ever fulfill that goal, for the expanding nature of this Universe defies that idea….out of your awareness will always be born another asking, and each asking always summons another answering.  Your eternal nature is one of expansion - and in that expansion is the potential for unspeakable joy.

A big sigh of relief for the perfectionist and overachiever who does in order to check the “to do’s” off the list.  It is an encouraging reminder to me that I will never get where I am going, so I’d better enjoy the journey; because where I’m going is where I AM.