Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 - 10:33 p.m.

There are Statue of Liberties all over Taiwan. This one was in Chiayi.

Now thats karma! The teacher that I have had 99% of the difficulties with totally blew me away tonight. I was telling him I got my plane ticket today and when I was leaving during class. After class he asked me if I was going to tell the kids I was leaving. He said that he thinks they will miss me. Not his exact words, but pretty much. Wow.

Let me recap by reminding you that this is the man that ON TOP OF his in-class madness told me outside of class the first few weeks of his teaching at our school that he thought I was a "passionless teacher." Exact words.

And now he is concerned that I warn the kids enough in advance that I am leaving!

Wow!

He even went on to say that one of the boy kids, K., said that he is glad when he is not teaching, cause he wants me to teach him ALL THE TIME. Whoa again.

I was thinking of just telling all my classes my last week there that I wont be teaching them anymore. Now this is making me think that I should tell them a week before this, so they can absorb the info. I am really bad at being this sensitive to peoples feelings, so I am actually really greatful he said something about this.

Possibly the funniest pic of me EVER! Aubree looks a bit disoriented as well..I am blaming it all on the heat!

Taipei, May 2004.

Have I gotten so used to leaving places and people that I no longer realize how sad it is when someone you like leaves? Its happened to me just being here just 10 months. Loads of teachers (not at my school, but in Tainan and Taipei) that I met have come and gone. Much to my sadness, but who am I to keep someone in one place. Hmmmmmmmm.

So, its true, I have my ticket here with me now. I still think its weird that teh travel agent mailed me the ticket before I have paid. The banks are closed tomorrow, so I cant pay her til Monday. Yet, here I sit staring at my ticket. Sept 14th is the day. Holy shit!

I will work until the friday before this. I dont need any time off in Taiwan at this point, afterall I have weekends off every week. And I am taking some time off when I get to San Francisco. I have some friends up and down the coast that I need to visit.

First I have to get to SF, get a cell phone, visit my temp agency, find a place to live for the next few months and visit some of those friends. And get a new damn bra. haha. Glad I dont have a boyfriend here, he would be appauled with what I am wearing here. lol.Old and saggy is just the beginning of the description I will not finish.

My eyes are having a stellar day. Although I am still dying to cry! Its such a natural release for me, and with the plane ticket bought and all the peace I am making with Taiwan, I wanna release all of these emotions dammit. But I started to tear up on the way here after work, thinking about leaving my kids at school, and it hurt like hell. So I had to stop myself. hmmmmmm.