(What I had for breakfast on the first day of work - dumplings.  I document everything...just kidding.)

I learned a lot about the lifestyle of a teacher after experiencing it for a week.  My major lesson for the week was to sleep earlier - way earlier.  On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I need to wake up at 5:45 in order to get to my school on time because it takes approximately an hour and 15 minutes to get to my school.  Hence, my habit of sleeping at midnight must change.  I'm going to make sure I hit the sack by 10 pm during those nights.  For the first week, my body was still used to sleeping at midnight (which is already pretty early for me.  Those who know me in college would be gasping.).  But I must confront reality and realize that my body just does not function the way it used to.  I'm getting old, and that means I will need my eight hours every night.  Man...whatever happened to rolling out of bed and taking a five minute walk to get to class.  I'm nostalgic for college. 

However, I should not really be complaining because the students need to show up early to school as well.  All the students in the school work together to clean up the school.  I think American schools should adapt this practice.  it creates a much more communal learning environment. 

Speaking of the students, they are SO adorable and precious.  None of them thought I was from America because I look just like them.  But they will eventually learn that America is a very diverse country and there are people of different race and ethnic backgrounds.  Also, they're very interested in my love life - ironically, the lower grade levels were less shy about asking whether I had a girl friend.  This phenomenon substantiates how kids are no longer drinking organic milk these days.  

For the first week, I had a question and answer session with all the classes in each grade level and observed for a majority of the time.  I really got a sense of how every class operates and now know which classes are more introverted and extroverted and how Jenny teaches and disciplines the students.   

(Being broadcasted and introduced to the whole school on Friday.)

The most memorable event this week was doing my introduction on TV.  I work with grades three through six because students in Koahsiung do not start learned English until grade three.  Therefore, in order to make sure students in grade one and two know who I am, the principal decided to broadcast me to the entire school this past Friday.  It was such a cool experience.  This will also be the way Brother Mango will run.  I will record myself in front of the camera, and then the episode will be broadcasted to the entire school. 

All in all, the first week of work was exhausting, but I had a great time.  I truly love my school and the students.  I'm glad that they're all so willing to speak with me despite their restricted vocabulary and sentence patterns.  I have a feeling that I will be an expert in playing charades by the end of this year.