Taipei Getaway!

Yesterday I used my remaining sub hours and took off for a weekend adventure with Laura!  We took the bus to Taipei, had dinner at a fantastic restaurant, strolled the city streets, browsed some great gift shops, wandered around the National Theatre before attending a dance performance, slept in soft beds, woke up to a beautiful morning, attended the temple, did a little souvenir shopping, enjoyed delicious Coldstone ice cream, and napped on the way home!  Wonderfully relaxing weekend...check!      

Dinner at DingTaiFeng!

Whitney talked this place up, and we were not disappointed!  Best. Dumplings. EVER.

 

Name that beverage...

Laura and I enjoyed every last bite of our wontons, dumplings, and fried rice...YUM!

They've got this dumpling-making down to an art!  These guys are all behind the big glass window near the entrance.

 

Chaing Kai Shek at night!

 

The National Theatre

 

This building is incredible!  I'm glad we finally got to go inside; they don't let tourists in unless you have tickets for a performance. 

 

This giant painting was beautiful! 

This picture should not have been taken.  I was against it from the start.  However, since Laura still felt the need to break the rules and snap this before the guarding employees rushed over, you get to see the auditorium!  :-)

Coolest wall ever...three stories high, these plants are real!  If you stand close enough to smell the purple orchids,you'll feel water dripping on you. Love it!

 

 

Good Morning Taipei! We stayed at temple housing right across the street, so the first thing we saw when we came outside was the temple against the perfectly blue sky.  I'd be ok waking up to that every morning!

After we went to the temple we walked through the Chiang Kai Shek square again.  We've done this almost every time we've been to Taipei, and I still get a kick out of it!  Amazing Asian buildings, beautiful gardens, wide open space in the middle of the city, and bright blue skies...what's not to love? 

 

me, Laura, Meg

 

There was something going on in the square today with a religious group.  There were TONS of people sitting in these formations, and a giant crane was there for someone to take pictures from above.  No idea what the characters or designs mean, but it sure looked cool!

 

 

My Kiddos :-)

I have loved a whole lot of things about this Taiwan experience...but without a doubt, the #1 thing I will miss is my darling students!  I guess I'll probably never really know if I've taught them anything, and there's a good chance none of them will remember me down the road.  But I have learned so much from their sweet spirits, adorable smiles, enthusiasm for life, and their amazing ability to love!  I think it has been one of my greatest blessings in life to have been able to spend so much time with children...they are the most Christlike people in the world and I think Heavenly Father knew I would need their incredible examples.  Here's some pictures of my kiddos from the last few weeks! 

 Shelly and Joyce playing outside!

 Lucina :-)

 My evening kindergarten class: Shelly, Joyce, Eva, Lucina

 More spunk in that little body than the rest of my kids combined!

Bumblebee Hats!

The "baby" class!

 Me and Gigi

 Being a little goofy!

Adorable Alen

 My dear little Tristan!  Last week the little guy moved to America (I know, go figure).  I will miss his grin, his giggle, his cheeks filled with water every time we take a break, his sad face from yet another injury due to running into things, falling over, or being a little too crazy...and most of all his daily hugs :-) 

 Aila and Cherry, clearly not enjoying the book...

 We'd been making "angry" faces...until he saw the camera!

 Robbie - "I-wanna-take-a-home!"  Everytime we make something in class he says that.

 Beautiful Shantell

 Little Jaelyn and her endless smiles!

 Evening kindergarten and our Big Green Monster masks

 Practicing our "scared" faces...

 Me and my girls :-)

 Lien came down to take some pictures of me and Tristan on his last day...we had a little too much fun :-) 

My little sunshine!

 Joe.  He's a little devil in class, but I can't help but smile at this picture!  He comes and latches onto my leg like this every day.

 Damon!  This is my little buddy from my original class before it was switched around.

 Damon and Tristan...cutest little trouble makers ever!

 Gigi

 Tristan's grandpa coming to pick him up :-(

Aila and Cherry literally rolling on the floor laughing!

 Goodbye Tristan!  I LOVE YOU!