Looking Back...

I cannot believe it's been over a year since I wrote my first blog post sitting in the Vancouver airport on our journey to Taipei.  Definitely feels like yesterday. (Looking back that is.)  It has been a great ride and I am happy to have had the opportunity to live abroad for a year.  I had wanted to teach abroad from the moment I began my teaching degree, and I accomplished my goal.  Makes me feel old that that dream has come and gone, but now I will go on to the next chapter.

This year in Taipei has had some highs and lows.  Looking back I mostly see the highs.  All in all it was a fantastic year and I will never regret coming here.  I will remember this experience forever.  I go home in 9 days and it feels so surreal.  I feel like I've been waiting an eternity to go back home and the day is almost upon us.  When I began this journey I did not foresee just how difficult it would be on me to be away from my family and friends.  This year has opened my eyes to just how important having friends and family in my life is, and how I appreciate their close proximity to me!  So I am eagerly counting down the minutes days to be reunited with all of you!  I love you all so much!

With that said, I will horribly miss the shit (sorry mom) out of my friend Mary.  She has been an amazing friend to Mark and I this past year and I will miss her dearly.  I will of course miss my students and the great people I've had the privilege of working with here.  Thank you guys for making this year memorable.

Here are some of my favourite memories of my year abroad:

Beautiful scenery.....

KTV duets....

Friendship.....

Movember........

Cute Christmas.....

Taipei Christmas....

Thailand vacation...

Koh Phi Phi

Hong Kong Trip

Hilarious children's cries.. life is so tough

Favourites

Teacher Amanda will never forget you!

Cute Halloween

Cute Batman

My older girls in Treehouse.. I'll miss you!

Avicii concert...

Dustin and Mom's visit....

Highlight forsure..

Scootering...

Meeting my beautiful students...

Friends!!

Bye bye Taipei!!! It's been a slice!

See you next week family and friends!!!

Things I'll miss the most

Yesterday, while on our way to the beach a friend asked me "What will you miss the most about Taiwan?" and my answer was: you guys!  I think what I will miss the most are the people we have met here and the fun times we've had.  We have had the privilege of meeting awesome folks from different parts of the world, and they have made this experience all that much better!  Thank you all for being awesome and making living abroad a great experience!

Mary's rooftop has been our main hangout spot this year!

The many faces of Larry Keaty....

Countless KTV duets....

Taylor and I

Miss Maroney and I, not sure what I will do without her

They are too much fun

Leave it to Mark to ruin the picture

Man massages.......

Serenades.......

So happy together.....

Beach days.....

Sandman.....

Happiness in the sand!

 

So many great times we've had with great people this year.  Mark and I are grateful to have met everyone of you.  The hardest part about traveling is meeting such great people, and then not knowing when or if you will ever see them again.  Hopefully we will see some of you again, but it's doubtful we will all be together again in the same place. We will miss you all dearly!