Alright, I must admit it. I'm in love. I've been in love since Saturday. It was love at first sight. I love Kinmen! I love the people who drive by and yell "Hello, how are you?" just to say something in English to the Amarican. I love the Kinmen team. I love the little old man in the junk shop who smiles so sweetly at you. I even love watching the pick-pocket try to steal Shawn's cell phone (more on that to come!) I love going to Lucy's and drinking tea while figuring out my new phone. I love almost being run over by a mo-ped as you both race around the corner. I love the abandoned pill boxes on the beach. I love Easy Way. I even love my roommate's computer!
Ok, I probably ought to back up now and start where I left on from my last post. Our TA's during camp were the most amazing, most dedicated, wonderful people on earth. The did SO much to make the camps run. And they were always ready to help. At the first camp my TA was Sherry, who was wonderful. The second camp I had Cathy, who was also wonderful. Here's a picture of us together.
Sherry, me and Cathy.
"Blue Sandy", a student from the Ying-pan camp (the first camp). She was a really sweet girl. On her left is Rose, a really crazy, fun student and her right is Vivian, a rather crazy one as well.
Tina, our team leader for camps. We were the smallest team, with only three English teachers.
Me and "Striped Wayne", so named because we had two Wayne's in the class, and on the first day, this guy wore a striped shirt. We also had "Blue Wayne", as well as "Red Amy" and "Pink Amy". Striped Wayne seemed to really like me...he was always following me around and he gave me a really cool card at the end of camp. From the second camp.
Making cookies! This group of girls was SO much fun! Second camp.
Not exactly sure why they had this sign up...but I thought it very funny. Second camp.
Me and Tony. Tony was a local kid who hung around the school at the second camp and team C kinda adopted him. I'm not sure what was wrong with him...there was obviously something odd about him physically, but I think something wasn't right in his head either. Some days he spoke pretty good English, others he would just talk non-sense, and seemed to think he was making sense. He's actually 19, although he acted more like 10. He came to our BBQ and had a total blast. In fact this picture is from the BBQ. Second camp.
Chris, the other member of our team. This is her telling the clay spot story on the last day of second camp.
Tina, telling the muddy glove story. She was a hoot!
Motercycle Angel and Hedy. Totally, completely awesome students, in every sense of the word. I told team C that I was going to take them to Kinmen with me. At one point they asked me if I really meant it. *sniff* If only! Second camp.
Really good picture of Motercycle Angel.
Team C! The best-ist ever!
The Ying-pan and Gigi team! Start left top: Chris: very quiet but fun non-the-less. I would yell "Lungs! They are a good thing!" at her several times each day, because she was talking to quiet I could hear her. Alvin: totally awesome guy. He was the wistle blower: he blew his wistle every time a break was over, or it was time to go to break, or time for large group. I hit him in the eye by mistake once. Poor fellow. Tina...our amazing team leader! Leslie, a super cool, soft spoken guy. He's the fellow who told one of his students, "if you get hurt, minus one point!" Remind me to tell y'all the pushing garrbage story later. Sherry: number 1! All the girls at Ying-pan loved her. Which was good, 'cause then she could make them behave! Samuel...the one and only! Then we have Thomas, the son of the principle at Gigi. He helped with team C. He was kinda quiet, but cool none-the-less. Bottom left. A girl from team B. No idea who she is. Vivian: a total hoot! Julia: quiet but sharp witted. Cathy: my wonderful TA for the second camp! She kinda balanced my crazyness. Amy, she only helped us with the Gigi camp: she's a teacher who was doing an internship at the school. Her dad also teaches there. A really, really cool girl. And that's everybody! I'm already planning a weekend trip to the main island to visit them!
Me and Cindy, one of the kids who lived near Yung-lu (where we stayed). Possibly the cutest little girl ever. One night I did a bunch of juggling with her and her siblings (who are all so cool!). Another night we played a couple hours of Uno. What fun.
The bags, going to Kinmen!
Totally random picture, but I like it. Me and Jay at Tad's dojo.
Ok, one last thing before I get off (it's 11 o'clock and I still have to plan our Sunday school lesson with BonnieJean and take a shower). Today Shawn and Ginger and I were walking down the street and this guy, pretending to be drunk, walks up and puts his hand on Shawn's shoulder and says something in Chinese. Shawn looks at him kinda oddly. But then the guy starts working his hand down to Shawns belt, where his (very nice) cell phone is clipped. So Shawn pushed him away. He comes right back, trying to put his hand on Shawn again. Shawn pushes him again and says "You can go now...THAT way!" We then jumped inside a shop and he didn't follow us. Very interesting experiance.
I'm going to try and get a picture of the little fellow at the junk shop and post it for y'all. He is soooo cute! (Ahh...Ginger, it's rubbing off!--inside joke, don't ask!)
Love y'all! I've still got SOOOO much more to write, but it will have to wait until later.