43/99

7. I finally finished Science of Sleep. It's a good movie, kinda like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Sad though :(

15. When you microwave popcorn, there are always cornels that DON'T pop. What you can do is put them in a bowl, cover them in a paper towel, and microwave them. You'll have to add your own flavoring but it makes you feel less wasteful of your popcorn, and popcorn rocks anyway! I think I might convert from microwave popcorn to regular popcorn.

28. Bahai seemed like a religion TOO good to be true. I have a book about different religions, but the content on Bahism was very limited. So I looked it up on wikipedia. It's pretty open as a religion compared to all others. I found that it's not okay with homosexuality, you can't consume alcohol, and you gotta pray everyday. But overall, still a really awesome religion. I'm sure moderates of it are very open people.

31. I finally mailed out the gifts for the ppl in Taiwan. Only took me a year to do it! ;p

62. It took about an hour or so, but I got all the thumbtacks OUT of my walls. That includes poster taht formerally hung on my walls. Sad to see them go, but I promise to find them a good home :)

82. For Valentine's Day, I took my boy canoeing. Partly to get this off my list ;p but it was fun! We picnicked to an island at the lake. Nice pretty day! :)

What Am I?

I'm not Chinese enough and not White enough
I'm chop choy
I'm awesome

Inspired by a book a friend loaned me : Part Asian 100% Hapa

100 Voted American Films

Just a lil' list for myself to see how many of these I've seen. Maybe this will be another goal of mine to achieve... or I can just leave it for the next list I make! :)

I've seen 20 out of the 100


1. It's a Wonderful Life 1946
2. To Kill a Mockingbird 1962
3. Schindler's List 1993
4. Rocky 1976
5. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939
6. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982
7. The Grapes of Wrath 1940
8. Breaking Away 1979
9. Miracle on 34th Street 1947
10. Saving Private Ryan 1998
11. The Best Years of Our Lives 1946
12. Apollo 13 1995
13. Hoosiers 1986
14. The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957
15. The Miracle Worker 1962
16. Norma Rae 1979
17. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1975
18. The Diary of Anne Frank 1959
19. The Right Stuff 1983
20. Philadelphia 1993
21. In the Heat of the Night 1967
22. The Pride of the Yankees 1942
23. The Shawshank Redemption 1994
24. National Velvet 1944
25. Sullivan's Travels 1941
26. The Wizard of Oz 1939
27. High Noon 1952
28. Field of Dreams 1989
29. Gandhi 1982
30. Lawrence of Arabia 1962
31. Glory 1989
32. Casablanca 1942
33. City Lights 1931
34. All the President's Men 1976
35. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner 1967
36. On the Waterfront 1954
37. Forrest Gump 1994
38. Pinocchio 1940
39. Star Wars 1977
40. Mrs. Miniver 1942
41. The Sound of Music 1965
42. 12 Angry Men 1957
43. Gone with the Wind 1939
44. Spartacus 1960
45. On Golden Pond 1981
46. Lilies of the Field 1963
47. 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
48. The African Queen 1951
49. Meet John Doe 1941
50. Seabiscuit 2003
51. The Color Purple 1985
52. Dead Poets Society 1989
53. Shane 1953
54. Rudy 1993
55. The Defiant Ones 1958
56. Ben-Hur 1959
57. Sergeant York 1941
58. Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977
59. Dances with Wolves 1990
60. The Killing Fields 1984
61. Sounder 1972
62. Braveheart 1995
63. Rain Man 1988
64. The Black Stallion 1979
65. A Raisin in the Sun 1961
66. Silkwood 1983
67. The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951
68. An Officer and a Gentleman 1982
69. The Spirit of St. Louis 1957
70. Coal Miner's Daughter 1980
71. Cool Hand Luke 1967
72. Dark Victory 1939
73. Erin Brockovich 2000
74. Gunga Din 1939
75. The Verdict 1982
76. Birdman of Alcatraz 1962
77. Driving Miss Daisy 1989
78. Thelma & Louise 1991
79. The Ten Commandments 1956
80. Babe 1995
81. Boys Town 1938
82. Fiddler on the Roof 1971
83. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1936
84. Serpico 1973
85. What's Love Got to Do with It 1993
86. Stand and Deliver 1988
87. Working Girl 1988
88. Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942
89. Harold and Maude 1972
90. Hotel Rwanda 2004
91. The Paper Chase 1973
92. Fame 1980
93. A Beautiful Mind 2001
94. Captains Courageous 1937
95. Places in the Heart 1984
96. Searching for Bobby Fischer 1993
97. Madame Curie 1943
98. The Karate Kid 1984
99. Ray 2004
100. Chariots of Fire 1981

35/99

4. I spent the whole weekend finishing the anime series, "Claymore." It started out fun and entertaining but kinda got boring towards the end... I enjoyed learning about this new world with this blonde girls that are assigned to kill monsters, and how they have monster blood in them. And just the details of their world interested me. But when they got to plot... yeah, sucked.
But I also think that it was partially because it was my goal to finish it this weekend! ;p I feel a little behind on completing goals and figured I should start getting on the ball! At least do the easy simple stuff because a lot of my goals require waiting for a few months... mainly my loans are stopping me from doing a LOT of goals. So I figured I might as well knock out a few goals now and not procrastinate more than necessary.

58. Everytime you flush, you use up a LOT of water. But a trick to this is adding a bottle full of rocks in the tank of your toilet. Therefore each flush uses a little bit less water than if the bottle wasn't there. It's still enough to sufficiently flush the toilet, but helps also with the water bill! :) Anyway... I made this goal, forgetting that we actually installed water efficient toilets... so they ALREADY conserve quite a bit of water. Well, what the heck right? I added a bottle full of water(does the same effect) in one of the toilets downstairs that gets the most usage. Still flushes quite fine even though NOW less water is being used to flush. SOOO, since that worked out, no harm could be done by adding water bottles(one being a former sesame oil bottle) to all the toilet tanks in the household so now we're more environmental PLUS a lower water bill due to it! :)

So now I'm exactly halfway to doing at least 70 goals out of the 99! :)

I think I'll try to do at least one goal a week, just so it'll keep my mind on completing goals this year but also remind me of the OTHER goals that take more effort like studying multiple times. :)

33/99

1. I've finished reading the book, Felidae! I really enjoyed it! It has this sarcastic cat with undertones of criticisms towards humans. It's very genius. I was introduced into it when I saw the movie on youtube. It's a little... strange, and out there. So watch out if you watch it!

8. I watched Finding Neverland with my mommy via Netflix. CRIED!!!!!

20. I've added rock bottles into the bathrooms at the school I work at. Actually, since then my job has become more and more environmentally friendly! I'm so happy that I'm making such an impact, small, but still! :)

54. I wrote a letter with my left hand. It was a tiring process that took over an hour to do! IT WAS PAINFUL! It was good practice for my fine motor skills but it was annoying because it's just a slow, tedious process. But it's nice to know that I did it.

97. There is this thing where, if you want to save a buck or two, you mail a letter to someone... but who you want it to go to is the return address, not the address it's supposed to be going to. I sent it out to my friend (the letter I wrote with my left hand) and hopefully they get it! But then again she lives in another city so she might not get it... so I might have to try it again! :)

28/99

53. I didn't wear hoops to go downtown, and I survived... I've done it more since! I have even not worn earrings, period!

57. Mommy helped me lug 3 boxes of unread magazines in my car and I recycled them today. Feels good to have less in the house!

74. One of my ways to save money, I take money out of the bank. So each week, I take out money to use for that week. This keeps me from using my credit card and therefore spending more money than I should. Helps me limit my spending which is nice! And if I'm good, the money spills over!

24/99

10. I watched Superbad finally. Pretty vulgar, funny though!

20. I made a recycle box for my director of the school. It's not a huge deal, but it's that much MORE paper that gets recycled! :)

37. I did something nice for a stranger today. I don't really know this chick, but she wants to work in my classroom... and I made sure to talk her up to my director, who is considering putting her into my room.

38. I finally went on a date that I KNEW WAS A DATE! I'm dating this guy from Ohio. He took me to an aquarium where I saw a HUGE snapping turtle. We went to the arcade for a little bit to play a few games. Then we went to a really expensive restaurant where we had meat (SHAME ON ME!!!)

81. I went to get free lessons at a salsa club. It was fun! They were surprised at how well I picked it up but OF COURSE! I'm a good dancer man!!! :)

25 Random Things About Me

1. I'm a full-time preschool teacher.
2. I'm a part-time babysitter/bartender/awesome person.
3. I strive to have an awesome movie collection.
4. I miss cooking meals.
5. When it comes to tipping at a restaurant, I tip at least 20%.
6. As I grow older with the different jobs I've had, I've noticed that even though the group I work with gets older, the maturity level remains the same.
7. Knows how to 2 step, swing, salsa, and waltz. More to come!
8. Unlike most girls, I didn't plan my dream wedding before meeting the guy.
9. I was offered to be a wedding model in Taiwan! Sadly, I turned it down :(
10. Bath and Body Works' "sensual amber" scent has been the only scent to exist EVER that I like.
11. In my free time, I play Scrabble.
12. I used to prefer the stem part of broccoli, now I prefer the tree part.
13. I'm learning to talk on the phone WITHOUT driving.
14. I wanna change my hair, I just can't think of what to do yet.
15. When it comes to sleep, I'm like my mother. I watch movies to fall asleep.
16. My teeth are horrible, I've got so many cavities.
17. I hate being a leader but when given the opportunity, I step up to the plate and do pretty well.
18. It's not true what they told me, "The friends you make in college are the ones that will be your friends for life."
19. I lack self control, I eat snack to the point of headaches and tummy aches.
20. I kinda wish I pursued some sort of dancing in my life. Oh well.
21. I absolutely love doing karaoke in Chinese, but only if the songs are slow enough for me to read.
22. I will be the last of the white cousins to be married! :)
23. I used to be anti Dr. Pepper but after dating a guy that ONLY drank Dr. Pepper, I can drink it with no problems.
24. I have no logical reason, but I hate marajuana.
25. If there was a zombie attack, I'd definitely be one of the first ones that changed into one.

21/99

14. I went out to eat with a friend(who wanted to watch Zombieland) and even though I didn't pay for this meal, they offered to order jalapeno peppers... which definitely scared me because it has cheese, jalapenos, and it's fried... three things I'm not TOO much into... But I tried it and it was alright, but not something I'd stay committed to.

40. I've made new friends!
Priscilla-she is a coworker. She's one of the nicest people at my job, and I feel right with her.
Alyssa-the teacher who works with me. Of course we talked so much just being around each other that we were bound to become friends. But I'm happy that my true colors have come out, and I talk more like myself versus more proper! :)
Ian-He was a classmate in one of my Chinese classes. He's really awesome! He likes Metallica!!!!! Anyway, I've actually hung out with this person outside of class, which is probably one of the only people I met in class that I've done that with!
Jeremy-A guy I met while working, very happy! So much in common, yet he's normal! Who would of known that normal people can click with me!?:)
ACL experience-I worked at a music festival called ACL. It was definitely a wonderful experience for me, and not because I didn't have to pay to hear the music. At all the jobs I've had, I haven't really made friends. And at my job, yes, I've made friends but that took a lot of work on my part. But at ACL, something changed! I opened up, was completely myself after I warmed up, and actually made friends. SO MUCH SO that people came to talk to me versus just me! Like, a whole group of people liked me(even though they just met me) and talked to me! That's a HUGE feat for me! :) I'm not like my brother who's outgoing and has a magnetic personality, I'm shy, so I'm very proud of myself!

96. I've always wanted to buy a tin mixer to mix drinks, now I have one!!!!! :)

18/99

41. Have a party
I've been wanting to host a party ever since I got back from Taiwan. However, I could only do that if I had my own place again (I can't host a party at my parents house!) But lucky behold, an opprotunity arised!Kai was out of town! So his roommate and I had a last minute party, a Kai Is Gone Part II party. Fun times! But I do know that once I live in my OWN place, I'll have a party that's completely mine, not partially cohosted.

66. Take a Monday off
When I was planning to take a Monday off, I wanted it to be more relaxing... but I'll be seeing Metallica next week! One of my favorite bands and I can't wait! :) I'll add pics later,if there are any.

71. Get a 3rd job
Not officially a 3rd job but a few parents want me to babysit their children. I've already done it once so I for sure have at least one client. I just like that it's not weekly so whee! Though I'll probably replace this with waitressing, now that I have the liscense to do so... I just wanna wait til after I do a gig.

15/99

11. Watch Pineapple Express
Eh. Was alright. I wouldn't own it.

20. Follow through on ways to recycle(3/10)
I've been finding multiple ways to be more environmental. One huge step is doing this at my own work. Kids are HUGE wasters so I've been taking a few steps to decrease their carbon imprint.
-Do you realize how much paper kids use up? And most of it they don't care about! I made them a recycling bin which they put pieces of paper that they don't want in there! It's even encouraged the other teacher in the classroom to recycle! Piles of paper are saved from the trash now! :)
-I also contribute at school. When I drink a cup of milk, I waste at least 2 cups/day. Now I have one cup I use for all liquids. Currently, it's a foam cup that the cafeteria uses. Maybe I'll replace it with an actual cup.
-At my school, we use plastic cups to avoid spreading germs between kids. But because of this, we throw away at least 400 cups, and that's just in MY own classroom. One of the times that we use cups is after we come outside to drink some water. I have NOW made it a ritual to give kids their cups that I've labeled (to have them practice being able to recognize their name) and then they return the cup to me and we'll reuse those cups! :)

42. Hang out with an acquaintance(1/5)
I hung out with a dude I know from dancing at Midnight Rodeo(two stepping, swing, that sort of dancing). We complained about our issues without the worries and annoyances of people we know finding out, since we don't have out with the same circle of friends. Fun!

I'm working on learning to drive a motorcycle. My friend, Aaron, has a 500cc cycle which I practiced driving in 1st gear. Anyway, scooters are def different when it comes to where your feet can go... aka I burned my leg on the exhaust pipe. It looks pretty nasty :(

And I tried to do #86 this weekend(snorkel San Marcos river) but the goggles broke! Maybe later on... or I'll snorkel someplace else... I just wanted to snorkel period!

#39
Today I went on a coffee date with an old friend. It was extremely awkward cuz I didn't intended to complete this goal with an ex-boyfriend, but until the complications he was a dear friend of mine so it was nice to reconnect. I don't know what to really think of it... I prefer to hear, "I told you so" versus have regrets and think "what if..." However, I DO know for sure that my fav coffee drink is blended coffee aka frappaccinos(cuz they're not as sweet as the other drinks, in my opinion).

I was at a boat party today and I saw a plastic cup floating in the water. I went to retrieve it when it was too far away and I fell in. My glasses are now in the bottom of the lake. :( Luckily Kai let me use his old pair! But still... I miss my glasses... I really wish they didn't fall off...

#36
I used to keep in touch with people, however, I stopped when I noticed it tended to be very one sided. I would call and say hi, but the other person usually wouldn't. So I just stopped keeping tabs on people altogether unless they kept tabs on me. But as time has gone by, I've realized it's just more mature to say hi, and not expect anything back. So I called up an old friend and we talked for about 45 minutes, updating each other on our lives and how things have changed. It was nice and refreshing and definitely inspiration to call a variety of people. I'll definitely follow through with it tomorrow on my 2 hour drive to visit a friend.

#55
When it comes to guys I'm interested in, I've always taken the traditional route of letting the guy show interest first and approach me. I find things that make you uncomfortable have been some of the best experiences I've gone through.
I was at a boat party today and one of the guys who worked for the boat company was really cute! So I worked up the courage and approached him first, making conversation. I'd come back every once in a while to chill with him and by the end of the boat party, he asked to exchange phone numbers. :) Girls can put themselves out there first as well. GO ME!

#17
I've bought a drying rack that sits in my room. Even though I'm the only one that uses it, my one or two loads of laundry of month are, for sure, reducing the cost of our electric bill which, for me, is a big deal! I wanna do my part, little by little, to be environmental! :)

#22, #62
I was at the house, watching tv and was absolutely bored. I started to get cabin fever(where you're at home for too long and you just feel horribly bored). So I decided to gather some things up and follow through with some errands! Recycle plastic bags, donate clothes, and sell books. Two of the things I needed to do were in the same area as my friend so I picked them up and we did our errands! I made $4 for my books and got more kid books for my class! I even cleared out a shelf to put all my kid books. Very happy with the growing collection!

#3
My friend invited a group of us to watch the movie, "Up", last week. I just got back from it. I don't think the whole thing was AMAZING... some parts were kinda not tied together well but LOTS OF CRYING! So freakin' sweet!!!

#29, #32, #39
Craig's list is awesome. You can sell anything, buy anything, all sorts of services are on there. I just didn't realize how awesome it is.
I put a stereo on there, a free of whoever wants it. 30 minutes later, I looked at my porch and IT WAS GONE! AWESOME!!! I'm hopin' my other listings(even tho they're not free)!

#59
I love my parents. I'd have to say they produced some pretty awesome kids due to their raisings, personalities, and quirks. But with all that I have alike with them, one of the things about them that I refuse to inherit is their unorganized nature. Now mind you this is only because they are always busy with their working, hobbies, and social lives, making them too tired to do much with the house except for keeping it sanitary. I just wanna do my part while I live here.
I've been working on organizing the Allen household like making shoe racks, cleaning book shelves, cleaning out everything expired from the bathrooms, and getting rid of clothes. Most of my work has gone unnoticed but I myself notice the little changes which are awesome.
Anyway, so I spent the weekend in the kitchen pantry, clearing out everything that was expired. Our outdoor trashcan is full; I almost had to wait til next week to finish there was so much stuff! I found stuff that expired in 1997... Pretty bad.
Through this experience, I've reestablished that I prefer the minimal lifestyle. I don't want to live in a huge house where I can accumulate things over time.

GOALS: (July 25, 2009-July 25. 2010)

ENTERTAINMENT: 7
1. Read Felidae
2. Watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s
3. Watch Up
4. Finish Claymore Series
5. Finish Darker than Black series
6. Beat Halo
7. Watch The Science of Sleep
8. Watch Finding Neverland
9. Beat FF7
10. Watch Superbad
11. Watch Pineapple Express

FOOD: 2
12. Cook chicken rice
13. Cook new dishes (2/5)
14. Try something you’re afraid of a restaurant
15. Pop popcorn from scratch

ENVIRONMENTAL: 3
16. Buy menstrual cups
17. Buy a drying rack for clothes
18. Pick up two random pieces of trash (5/10)
19. Recycle tapes
20. Follow through on ways to be environmental(5/10)
21. Host a project trash cleanup
22. Donate clothes to Goodwill

EDUCATION: 2
23. Visit an art museum
24. Buy a news magazine and read it entirely
25. Study Spanish(2/12)
26. Read chapters of History text(5/5)
27. Translate Ah My Goddess book
28. Read up on 1 religion

NEED TO: 4
29. Put animal puppet on Craig’s list
30. Organize iTunes list with yr song made
31. Mail out Taiwan giftts
32. Get rid of stereo in car
33. Get Chinese clothes altered
34. Find a place to volunteer at
35. Put fish tanks on Craig’s list

RELATIONSHIPS: 6
36. Call an old friend that you’ve lost touch with
37. Do something nice for a complete stranger(5/10)
38. Go on an non one-sided date (lol)
39. Hang out with an old friend
40. Make new friends (5/5)
41. Have a party
42. Hang out with an acquaintance

HEALTH: 1
43. Participate in a 5k run
44. Join some sort of class
45. Find a jogging partner
46. Do a triathon
47. Do the splits
48. Still be 120 pounds or less
49. Take out chicken from your diet

CHALLENGING MYSELF: 4
50. Get at least 70 things of this list done
51. Learn to drive a manual car
52. Hem something
53. Go downtown NOT wearing hoops
54. Write a letter with left hand
55. Approach a guy you’re interested in first
56. Write about the accomplished goals in cousin blog

PROJECT ALLEN: 6
57. Recycle 3 boxes of magazines (4/3)
58. Add rock bottles to all the toilets
59. Clean out pantry
60. Clean room, again
61. Get thumbtacks off walls
62. Donate towels
63. Donate bed sheets

SELF: 1
64. Move out of the house, again (lol)
65. Get motorcycle lessons
66. Take a Monday off
67. Buy a motorcycle
68. Jump off a cliff into the water
69. Get a professional massage

FINANCIAL: 2
70. Pay off my whole loan
71. Get a 3rd job
72. Do free adventures(0/5)
73. Finish off “free stuff” calendar
74. Follow through on ways to save money(1/5)

ADVENTURE: 3
75. Visit the zoo
76. Go to an anime convention ;p
77. Go camping
78. Jet ski
79. Ride on a horse carriage
80. Do a doughnut
81. Go to a salsa club
82. Canoe
83. Paintball
84. Visit Paris, Texas
85. Go skiing
86. Snorkel San Marcos river
87. Go to Sea World
88. Go skinny dipping in broad daylight
89. See the stars at the MacDonald Observatory
90. Participate in a study
91. Skydive

JUST BECAUSE: 2
92. Draw a picture and have it framed
93. Get a nude photo of self
94. Donate plasma
95. Girls photo shoot (1/3)
96. Buy a tin mixer
97. Try out that letter money saver thing on someone
98. Buy a gold top
99. Pick up the violin

My Coolest Work Day

There have been rumors going around about this so I'll write the official story here!

I was in my kindergarten class, coloring aligators, when a lady from the office came into my class, "Leah, you need to leave the classroom right now."
"Ummm... what? I'm still in class, I still have two blocks left(two 30 min class periods)"
"Leah, a government official is here, you need to get out of this classroom right now."
I was confused but I left and was escorted upstairs to where the other foriegn teachers were. I asked the foreign teachers “Why aren't we allowed in our classes?" Apparently, it's illegal for foreigners to teach kindergarten. WHAT!?!? HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS?!?!??!

So back to the story, we were told to pretend we were working so each of us took a classroom. I took any book I could find and "prepared" for my non-kindergarten classes. Then the head foreign teacher gathers all the foreign teachers and tells us, "The principal just called and told me we need to get on the roof right now to hide."
At that moment, all the teachers start running classroom to classroom, trying to find access to the roof. They keep yelling, "WE NEED TO GET ON THE ROOF! WE GOTTA GET ON THE ROOF!" We're running back and forth, trying to get on the roof. Finally, we find the door to the roof but it's locked! We called the office to ask to send someone to send us the key to the door to let us get on the roof. One of the teachers is yelling "WE NEED THE KEYS TO THE ROOF!" but no one in the office speaks English so they had no idea what we were saying. The teachers gave the phone to me, however, I didn't know the words "key" or "roof" in Chinese so I wasn't much help.
We decided to go back to pretending to do work. If the official came upstairs, it'd look really suspicious if we were running around yelling, "WE NEED TO GET ON THE ROOF!"

The principal came upstairs and gathered us around. She told us that the official wants to interview us. She repeated to us, "YOU DO NOT TEACH KINDERGARTEN! You only work 14 hours. YOU DO NOT TEACH KINDERGARTEN!" She basically gave us our new lies to tell in the interview.

All of us go downstairs for our individual interviews. As people are being interviewed, the principal glares at me and says to me, "I'm the most worried about you...LEAH! DO NOT BE HONEST! YOU DO NOT TEACH KINDERGARTEN!" How odd that being honest is a bad trait in a person!

It was ridiculous... in my interview, the official had my time sheet with everyone elses.
"How many hours do you teach?" she asks me.
"Oh, I only work from 4pm-6pm so about 14-15 hours a week," I replied.
As I say this, she looks at my funny with my time sheet. "If you work starting at 4pm, why do you come every morning from 9am?"
Seriously, how stupid does the school think the government official is? Anyway, I just had to lie and make up an excuse but it was just really the most bizarre work day I've ever had.

I work an illegal job, so illegal that teachers have jumped fences and made plans on how to escape being caught at the school! And seriously, how come I had no idea until it happened? I could have been deported and taken to court if I were caught!

But it really was the coolest work day ever!

I lost some money from my paycheck, including two months worth of attendance bonuses but it's okay. I don't mind because Taylor came to Taiwan and it was really awesome! I couldn't of been happier! It was one of the best weeks EVER! I've always wanted to take a trip to another country with a significant other and I got it! I got the adventure without sitting on a plane for 20 hours!

We traveled around many different cities in Taiwan: Gaoxiong, Hualian, Tainan, Taipei, Taoyuan, Xinpo, and Zhongli.

I wanted to take him to Hualian because they have this huge aquarium at Hualian Ocean Park. He's really into fish and aquariums so it was perfect. It was really neat to see fish swimming from all directions, from above, to the left, to the right. Too bad I didn't get to kiss a dolphin.

While we were at Hualian, we got to visit Taroko Gorge as well which is an extremely gorgeous natural phenomenon.

Taylor got to meet some of the family, who I have come to believe likes Taylor better than me! He's very outgoing so it's understandable! :) I'm very thankful for all of their hospitality and for helping me guide Taylor around Taiwan!

I find it very unfair but the school had put a lot of prejudgment on me, based on my age. A quick summary: I'm young and therefore I, of course, have no idea what I'm doing. No, I've never dealt with children before EVER, not that my whole resume shows a lifetime of experience with being around children! Fortunately, I've definitely proved both the school and the parents wrong. All I needed was time to pass to prove my ability. Just because I recently graduated college, doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing.
Anyway, these pictures are of Ms. Leah in action. However, I usually don't dress as formally.

Hah, dancing Spiderman~!