About

What could be more fun than moving halfway around the world, immersing myself in a completely foreign culture, and diving headfirst into all of it?  Why, blogging it for the world to read, of course!

I am off to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to take up a teaching position at a Buxiban. I’ve never been to Asia.  I’ve never been to a foreign country alone and I’ve never truly been a teacher.  I am about to take up a whole new lifestyle and I’m sure I’ll have plenty of stories to share along the way.

A few things to know:

I am very food oriented.    I love pizza and burgers and salmon filets and tortellini carbernera, to name a few.  Many of my greatest memories revolve around food.  Everything from “cheesies” with my grandma to my mom’s spaghetti and meatballs to my unforgettable (and expensive) birthday dinner in Prague this year.

I don’t speak Mandarin.  The official language of Taiwan is Standard Chinese (Mandarin).  I know a little, and by a little I mean I know how to say hello.  That is it.  Seriously, I know one word of Mandarin.  I will be relying on my miming and charades abilities for day to day transactions.  I hope to learn some of the language while I am there but I will teach in English, my students all speak English (otherwise my teaching wouldn’t be worth much, I suppose) and my coworkers all speak English.

I have Crohn’s Disease.  Or something like it.  I was diagnosed in 2012 and it has been a lengthy process to find the correct treatment, lifestyle and diet so that this autoimmune disorder doesn’t affect my day-to-day life.  I still eat what I want most of the time but it gives me an extra reason to avoid cream cheese.  I am determined to not let this slow me down but I am also not an unrealistic person.  I have considered moving over seas and it’s affect on my health considerably, including consulting physicians. My doctor simply told me he was jealous and suggested I avoid raw foods so I won’t be going crazy on sushi.

I take photos.  A more accurate statement would be, “I try to take photos well.”  I’ve had the privilege of traveling with some pretty great photographers and I have been spoiled with great shots of many of my trips.  However, I am on my own this time around so I’m trying to step up, take some of the tips I’ve learned, and produce some cool photos of my own.  I have been researching cameras, reading photography blogs, and looking at a lot of photos.  I will do my best to capture the beauty of such an amazing island.

I have smile lines and crow’s feet at 22.   No.  I don’t care.  I smile and laugh a lot.  I have a very expressive face; for better or worse.  Sitting down for a single meal with me will expose you to a very wide array of expressions.  You will always know if I like a food or hate it; unless, of course, it is SO good I start to tear up.  That has absolutely happened…more than once.

Want to know something more?  I LOVE getting email; it helps me keep connected to the States.  Feel free to email me at bessoutofbounds@gmail.com