Greetings to all. Hmmm well what is the past and how do you see the past? Is there anything in the pastthat you might like to discuss? No? Really? Ok I like the past and can remember so much but much of it esprcially as a kid was teribly sad and hurtful. Much pain, loneliness, a desire at times to end my life and thus no one seemed to show any form of affection. My mom was well not inclined to deal with me let alone try to get some form of good help. It was terible andmy siblings it seemed just ignored me. At times I feared that my mom will kill me and this was not what I expected from her really.
Ok the past is over but want to share a few things in the more recent past to give the reader something good to read. I have been working in Asia for the past 16 years. Love it really and will not want to fully give it all up for anything. There was a short time in 2002 when I was home in Boston hoping to readjust to American life once more and to sek out some form of work but to no avail. Most people just looked at me and laughed giving me the impressionthat I was not fully wanted let alone would like to have me join their staff. I have bee teaching oral conversation to a wide range of eager students from kindergarten to older adults in Japan , Taiwan, S Korea and in China. What country do Ilike best? All of them.
Japan was my first real experience to work over seas. Lived on a small remote island south of Okinawa and liked it. Not many foreigners there and no real tourists as there was nothing really to see except for the large sugar cane farms or the sugar cane plant. I did meet a cathlic priest who was an American. If my memory is correct he has been there several years and kind of liked being there. Not bad i thought. Then those eager beavers from the Mormon Church. You could spot them any where. Short sleeve white shirts, riding a bike and going in 2's to make sure no one misbehaves or gets funny ideas. They were a royal pain in the backside until i got really peeved and told them i was not interested in any form of religion and to please stay away. Ok they got the drift did not come around much except to say hi and make sure I was ok. The priest was great and did the same only he knew and understood how I felt. I enjoyed teaching on thi sisland and enjoyed the people.
The beaches here were fantastic and clear blue water with great white beaches. You had to pick up after yourself and make sure it was clean before departing. It made sense really and the people did just that. It gave me a sense of pride to see someone pick up garbage and to make sure thigs were safe. Do not throw anything into the sea and make sure you do not disturb the great fish. The students were always reminding me of this simple fact. I loved it really.
The second stop Taiwan. Taipei really and a good size city with lots of construction going on when i arrived. They were buildingthe fast subway and the engineers were Japanese so knew it will be veryu safe and great to use. I was right. It took several years to build and did see it and ride on it. very clean, fast safe and pretty inexpensive at that. The people did like it and used it as well while at times it was packed I felt like a sardine in a can but then this was Taipei. The buses were about the same being cheap and great to use. Packed at certain times but a good way of getting around the city. It had 2.5 million netizens with 1.9 million motorbikes zipping alon even on sidewalks not giving a care to anything but getting to where they want to get to.
I was hit and ended up in the hospital emergency room. i thought hmmmm hope that they could understand me. It was great that they did and seeing my body and the injuries knew what to do and took good care of me. I felt relieved at this. Then came a policeman to talk with me. I told him what took place but he just smiled and walked away not knowing what to say as he did not fully understandme. I had someone from my school by this time there and they helped me out. The cop felt sorry but could not do much since I had no plate number. Then it hit me. I wished that a portable sam misle was nearby. I would of pointed it at this jerk, pull the trigger and resto he would be part of the sidewalk and I would have the laugh. It was not possible though. i was just as happy to get myself back in shape and not hurt. So it was that the docs were kind to me.
Ok S Korea was next and stayed there 1 year. the people were great. My apt was big andloved it. The school was good to me and they only wanted me for just 1 year seing that I might get very lonely. I told the school do not worry as I could get a dog to keep me company and liked it better. i was down in the southern part of the country and felt pretty safe as well.
China has been my last stop for the past 3 years and love it. So much to see and do. So many people and yet they are great to be with. Love it really. Think of heading home is not in my books and want to remain here.
