Procrastinating my Chinese homework! : (

Marshall,
"Procrastinating" means waiting until the last moment before doing what you're supposed to do. It's a bad habit, so I hope you won't do this. But you can see from the picture that I had to do my Chinese homework this afternoon after church. I videotape the class and then I watch it on my computer. The notebook there is for all my practice with Chinese letters. They are hard to write. Next summer I'll show you what I can write.
Love you!
Uncle Mut

Church

Marshall,
Hi! I took a picture of where I go to church so that you could see it. We meet in the basement of a really tall building. It's full of friendly people. After the service, they serve lunch to anyone who wants it upstairs. Today we had a really good Chinese meal. Sadly, though, I bit down on a bone, which kind of ruined the rest of the meal. : )
I miss you!
Love,
Uncle Mut

Multi-layers of Clouds

Marshall,
I like this picture, but I can't remember when I took it. I think it was in between storms. Aren't the clouds cool? Do you know the different types of clouds? There are names like "Nimbus" and "Cumulus" and some others. You should ask your Mom or Dad what the difference is between them.
I heard that you're taking piano lessons! Wow! Do you practice on the keyboard in your house? Tell me all about it sometime. Who is your teacher? What notes are you learning?
My first week of teaching is done and I am tired. : )
I love you!
Uncle Mut

Ben and Teri

Marshall,
This is a picture of two great people...Teri graduated last year and she is really funny. She always goes to buy me a "Passion Fruit Green Tea". Ben is her good friend and he is always making really funny faces. Ben and I are sad because Teri is leaving next week to go to Vancouver, Canada. She will be going to college there.
Love you!
Uncle Mut

Some of my Students

Marshall,
Well, the school year has started. Here is a goofy picture of one of my classes. There will be a serious picture on my other blog soon, but I thought you'd like this one. They are very nice kids and I'm glad to be their English teacher. Of course, I've already assigned them homework.
I've also started taking a Chinese class. It's pretty difficult and it keeps me busy.
I'm also helping to coach a volleyball team. I'll post a picture of our team soon.
I miss you!
Love,
Uncle Mut

Playground with Cool Tree

Marshall,
I'm not sure if my last post was published, so I'm trying this out to see if there is a problem.
This is a picture of the playground at my school; I like the picture because of the red blossoms on the tree.
Love,
Uncle Mut

Guard Friend

Marshall,
This picture shows one of my friends...he is a guard (of apartment buildings) on my way to work. He looks very serious in this picture, but he smiles and laughs a lot. I always try to get him to help me with my Chinese, but he only wants to talk in English. He's trying to learn English, and he is doing a lot better. Almost everyone here in Taiwan is nice and friendly, and they LOVE little children. Many Taiwanese people would be very impressed with Stewart's blond hair because there aren't too many people with blond hair here.
I've been busy trying to get ready for the start of the school year. School starts on Monday.
Love you!
Uncle Mut

Beautiful Moth

Marshall,
I don't know if you like moths, but this one was really cool. I saw it at school today and I took its picture. It was a friendly moth and didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, I was able to convince the three science teachers to leave it alone rather than catch it for their collections. : )
I enjoyed your latest photos and blog entries. Wisconsin sounds like a fun place! I wish I had been there.
Love you!
Uncle Mut

Exercise Bike

Marshall,
I've decided to get in shape because I know it's going to be tough to wrestle with you next summer. You're already so strong! I've got to be ready for when you're even stronger. Well, one of the ways I'm getting in shape is by biking. However, I don't have a a bike like yours. My bike is a stationary bike and it sits in one of my apartment's rooms. I have it facing the window so that I get a good view of the city. It's fun to bike when it feels like you're high up in the air.
I hope you had a good camping trip! I miss you!
Love,
Uncle Mut

Temple in Taiwan

Marshall,
Hi! This is a picture of a temple one block away from my apartment. It is a very big temple. Temples here are types of churches for some of the Taiwanese people, but sadly, they often honor objects or statues or dead people instead of the God we know. Sometimes it gets very loud in the courtyard when they play music and chant to their gods.
One interesting thing that happens here is a women's exercise/dance class. They meet in the courtyard in the evenings, and sometimes there are over 100 women at once. They play some American music! In fact, I have seen them exercising to COUNTRY music. Can you believe it?
Do you like the decorations on this temple?
Love you!
Uncle Mut

Taroko Gorge

Hi Marshall,
I just returned from an exciting trip to Taroko Gorge. This is a very famous place in Taiwan because it has HUGE steep rock walls with incredible waterfalls and great views. It is an amazing place and I'm very glad I visited it.
While we were there, a typhoon hit the island. A typhoon is a really big storm that brings a lot of wind and rain. This was a pretty small typhoon, but there were quite a few landslides and lots of rain! I actually saw a landslide. Here they call it a "Rockfall" and there are "Danger--Rockfall" signs everywhere.
My friend and I had rented scooters, so you can imagine that we got very wet when we were driving. You won't believe me, but I crossed a suspension bridge ON MY SCOOTER! Since it seems unbelievable, my friend videotaped it. I will send that to you.
We also went on a really long hike that really made my knees sore. It was much steeper than our hikes in Brown County, but I can't say that it was more beautiful. Both places are VERY beautiful. I prefer Brown County because I was there with my nephews, who are awesome. Yes, I'm talking about YOU, silly. You and Stewart and Nigel. : )
I had a very good time.
I miss you!
Love,
Uncle Mut

Ecuadorian Flag in Taiwan

Marshall,
In front of the school where I teach, you can see a whole long line of flags. These flags represent all the countries where our students come from. If you look closely, you can see the Ecuadorian flag. There aren't very many Ecuadorian people in Taiwan, but two of our students are Ecuadorian! They are the sons of the Spanish teacher at our school.
When I look at this flag, it reminds me of where I grew up. Uncle Dave and your Mom and I went to a great school there called The Alliance Academy. Maybe you'll visit there someday.
I love you!
Uncle Mut

Planes and Tanks

Marshall,
Today I worked on making a video about our adventure at the Indianapolis Zoo. You will really like it! It has some great video clips of you, Stewart, Nigel, your Mom, and Uncle David. I will send it to you later this week.
These pictures are from a park that is near my apartment. There are several airplanes, several tanks, and some other military stuff. I don't know much about the history of these things...all of the signs are written in Chinese. I haven't learned how to read Chinese yet!
I miss you!
Love,
Uncle Mut

Cat Claws

Marshall,
Well, I told you about that house that was being torn down. This morning I went back to get a picture and the house was all gone! You can see in this picture where all the remaining trash is. This "CAT" machine did the work...watch out for cats, I say! Yesterday you wouldn't have been able to see the road or the fruit stand across the street. Now, it's all cleared out.
Guess what? "What?" No, guess. "You love me?" Good guess! I love you, Marshall. Hello to everyone.
Uncle Mut

View on a (pretty) clear morning

Marshall,
Here is the view from my 9th floor apartment. There are 12 total floors, and so I'm about 3/4's of the way up. When there are earthquakes, the building shakes and shakes. But it's safe. You can see the mountains from my apartment, but only when it's a clear day. I'll send you a picture from the roof one of these days.
I walked to McDonald's for breakfast this morning. When I was walking back, I saw a big machine tearing down a building. It was pretty exciting; unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me. Boooo! I have to remember to take it with me.
How was your Mom's art show? Did you like it? I'll bet it was really cool.
Love you!
Uncle Mut

Bai Shan Lu Cha

Marshall,
This is a picture of my favorite tea stand. It is referred to as "Crazy Sue's"; Sue is not crazy...I don't know how it got that name. She probably thinks I'M crazy, though. I always order exactly the same thing: Passion Fruit Green Tea. This is an iced drink that is perfect for the really hot days we have in Taiwan. During this time of the year, if you go outside at all, you start sweating. : ) The good news is that it never snows. I don't like the snow very much.
I love you!
Uncle Mut

Hungry?

Marshall,
This is a picture of two nice Taiwanese ladies who work in a restaurant across the street from my building. They make one of my favorite Taiwanese meals, Beef Noodle Soup. Of course, it's very hot, but it's also very, very, very scrumptuous. You would like it, I think. It's especially perfect for rainy evenings when the weather isn't so sticky. Anyway, these ladies are very nice and are very patient with my Chinese. When I order, I say "Ching neo rou mien". They smile and know what I mean.
Miss you! Please tell your brothers and parents I said hi!
Love,
Uncle Mut
P.S. Also tell Kaori that I think I lost her email address. Tell her to write me at sparrowm28@mac.com with her address.