Speed Bumps

What is the purpose of a speed bump? To slow you down, right? But we all know that if you're not careful when you cross one it will mess up your car pretty bad. I've had be fair share of car problems...although I am usually pretty good with speed bumps...but that's beside the point. I have had my little speed bumps since I've been here, but thankfully God has put people in my life that can help me through or put on the brakes for me. Yesterday was the first time I was physically sick since I've been here. I woke up with stomach aches and pains which lasted throughout the morning. I'm fine now and it didn't even really last the whole day. I might have gone on with my day, but my co-workers suggested I take the day off to be ready for Friday. The funny thing was that people asked me what I ate the day before and were surprised to hear me say Subway! Of all the weird things I have eaten this trip! I didn't eat much the whole day and was stupid enough to eat some Mexican food we had made for a going away party for one student going to military that night. I didn't feel it then, but later that night and when I woke up I felt it again for a little while. Now I am fine again. I would say...a) my stomach is fairly resilient or b) God is protecting me. I'm pretty sure I know which it is. :)

Other speed bumps...I don't talk much about it, but I get a little homesick every once in a while. Father's Day is coming up and I won't be able to spend it with my dad (although I always miss Mother's Day, so I don't think mom likes that too much.) Sometimes when I talk about my family it sets in. But my family is always thinking about me, and in case I ever was to forget, mom stuck a couple cards for me to find over my stay here. I opened the second one yesterday when I was sick and it did me a world or good! Thanks mom!

So, I've actually had a lot of first lately, other than my first sickness. The night before my sickness I experienced my first earthquake. I was told it wasn't a very big one, but when you've never experienced one before and you live on the 12th story of a building...it seems like it. I had just gone to sleep when my whole bed started to shake and I WAS SCARED...for about 10 seconds. The first thing that came to my head was...that childhood fear that there are monsters under your bed. I know it was irrational, but honestly, can you blame me? Then the host family wasn't asleep yet and I heard the girls say something about earthquake...but that didn't lessen my fears. I got up and went to the hall where they were and assured the girls that I WAS SCARED. I think they got a chuckle out of that.

I had my first cockroach walk into my bed room. What did I do? Call for the host dad. J My dad would be proud. It was already out of my room by the time he killed it.

Yesterday was also the first time I saw a Taiwanese look at his watch. I don’t mean that they NEVER do, maybe I just never see it. It struck e only because the culture is so laid back and…late here. You have to tell people you want to do things at least 30 minutes before you actually want to do them. It’s definitely a change from my time driven lifestyle, but I am getting used to it.

I could probably come up with some others like…first time to ride on the back of a motor scooter. First time having to wear a swim cap to the pool. First time eating something that smelled like body odor. But I might have already touched on these things, so if you’re interested I can tell you later.

(That is a picture of the first house surrounded by painted chicks I have ever seen.) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>