End Transmission.

So this is it.

It's been a year.

Can you believe it? One whole year. 

I'm leaving.

I'm leaving all this. 

I'm leaving all them.

As much as I would love to stay, I know that it's time for me to move. I have a life back in America that I need to get back to. It's time. 

But I will miss this, so, so terribly. It has been such an incredible journey and experience, and I would not trade it for anything in the world. 

Thank you. I loved it all. 

Shoot Me in the Face, it's Christmastime.

At Berhan, because it's an American English school, we celebrate American holidays. (I may have mentioned that already.) And, at Berhan, we do one crazy-big holiday per year. Sometimes, it's Halloween that's crazy big, and sometimes, it's Christmas that's crazy big. 

This year, it was Christmas. Christmas was crazy big. 

And by "crazy big," I mean there was dancing, there was a play, there was script-writing, there was performing, there were costumes, there were multiple parties, there were presents, there were movies, there were last minute rehearsals, and of course there were tears of frustration, glee, and delusional tiredness.

It was crazy big.

 

(These are just half the students. The back half. Where my students were sitting. I'm a bit biased.)

With Santa.

And Mrs. Claus.

And elves.

And a Christmas tree.

And Frosty. 

And a snowflake. 

And the Grinch.

And presents. Did I mention that? Lots and lots of presents.

The entire school (or just about) put on a Christmas play. All English classes (or just about) were required to participate. 

Like, seriously, required. Like, "you're singing a song, and wearing a costume, or so help me" kind of required. My first graders took the whole thing in stride (the cuties), and my fifth graders considered themselves lucky that they were "sleeping" half the time they were on the stage. Easiest performance of their lives, right? I should think so.

Aren't they just so precious? Those are my kids. Mine. 

Well, that Saturday was completely exhausting. Not to mention that I had to frolic around in an elf costume that who knows how many other teachers have worn (ew). The kids must be used to seeing teachers walk around in Christmas colored tights and tunics, because they didn't even blink an eye when they saw me all dolled up. Like I have any dignity left, anyway.

After the Christmas play, there were pictures.

Duh, obviously. 

Don't mind their facial expressions. They really are awesome.

This was the last time that I got to see all my students before I leave for America. 

These kids are my favorite.

The Best Day of the Year

So kids here are in school, like, all the time. They go to their elementary schools in the mornings/afternoons, and they go to their cram schools in the afternoons/evenings. It's work, work, work, all the time. These poor kids never really get a break.

Except for their "Racing Day." 

 The Racing Day is a party day. They play games, eat food, have relays, chat with friends, and--most importantly--they race. Anyone can come and watch the races, too. So, because I don't have classes in the mornings, I went to the closest Elementary school where most of my students (and my cousins) went to school, and I watched them race. 

Not only did I get to see my cousins race (and they both did amazingly well), but I also got to see a number of my students race, as well. It was so fun seeing them, and they were all so excited to see me. ("It's Miss RAYNE! Raynebow! Hi Raynebow! Did you see me race??")

They were all just tickled pink to have a day off of actual school work that they would have been happy about anything.

Encore

So a few weeks back, we took a trip up to Taipei. 

Going to Taipei is like going to San Francisco (at least for me). It's far enough away to not have it be a regular thing, but day trips up there are easy-peasy. Weekend trips are even easier. 

This was just a day trip, though.

 My last time in Taipei while I'm here. Definitely bittersweet.

This trip wasn't for the 101 specifically, although inevitably that's where a trip to Taipei always ends up. We went here:

 LDS Taipei, Taiwan Temple. Down a little side street right in the middle of Taipei. Beautiful. It's architecture has has actually won an award here, so I've been told. 

Isn't it just so brilliantly adorable?

 Whilst there, however, I spent most of my time watching other people's children. (Like I don't get enough of that already, right?) But really, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Kids are growing on me, especially the ones here. 

After we frolicked around the temple, we had extra time (thanks to weather, the traffic was practically nonexistent--by Taiwanese standards, anyway), so we decided to take a quick trip to 101. Because, as I said, that's what people do.

All around and about the 101, there are things to do. Most everyone went to find something to eat. I went to the shopping mall across the street. 

I'm sorry, but shopping is seriously one of the most therapeutic things for me. (I don't even have to buy anything for it to work it's wonders. Let me just point that out right now.) And I hadn't done any real shopping in so long. 

So it was pretty fulfilling, and I was in an all around incredible mood by the time I was supposed to meet the others to wait for the bus. 

And, I mean, it's Taipei. It's pretty spectacular.