Catching Up on the East Coast

East Coast Highway 11 just north of Taimali

I was otherwise engaged for 2013 and thus neglected my posts. So here's to catching up on a few trips we took to the East Coast. I cant go to the East Coast without enjoying the water, either hot springs or trying to surf.

 Last time I posted about Taitung was when I was interviewing at Junyi Bilingual Elementary ("Tantalizing Taitung"). The new semester was about to start, so I went back to Junyi  for a demo and another interview in July 2013 . This time I brought Z, we stayed at Take Your Time guesthouse  (台東市 慢慢來民宿) and did some surfing. The guesthouse owners Kite and Mark and their 2 surfing sons were helpful hosts. Kite watched my daughter during my interview while she played with the boys. They winded up being my good friends and we have gone back for more surfing. Kite and Mark were once high rollers, professionals in Shanghai, he was a corporate attorney, she in advertising, but when they had kids it was time for them to return to Taiwan (her home) and surfing (Mark's "home" he's been surfing  in NZ since a kid). They decided to open up a guesthouse that teaches surfing in Taitung. They have a bit of land and will soon expand into a surfing camp.

At 台東市 慢慢來民宿 we take the blue room

I can definitely see the allure to the sport. Z and I were pretty much convinced we should move to Taitung and surf everyday. Well I tried, but I never did get that job. They gave it to an Englishman who was married to a local and already settled in Taitung.

Outside Taimali

DOUBLE TEN HOLIDAY

 For the Double Ten Holiday 10/10/2013 weekend we returned and explored Jinfong, Taimali and Jhiben before meeting up with a friend in Taitung and heading to Green Island. This time we didn't stay in Taitung but at a small aboriginal village between Taimali and Jinfong. We rented a scooter and hit the 11 highway free birds looking for hot springs. My daughter and I are happiest in the water. I didn't find the hot springs I was looking for, (those I went to later in February 2014), but we did happen upon an aboriginal festival and up the mountain road stopped at Dainty Hot Springs. .

Dainty Hot Springs, Jinfong

 The Paiwan and Rukei (排魯運動會) tribes were having a contest at the elementary school (賓茂國小) in Jinfeng. There were no Chinese people let alone foreigners, so I felt privileged to witness authentic aboriginal culture and not the tourist dances they put on in Taitung. Z was happy playing in the inflatable bouncy castle with the local kids while I checked out the local wares.

Happened upon an annual sport game between two tribes (Paiwan and Rukai 排魯運動會) taken place at elementary school(賓茂國小) in the hot spring village of Jinfeng.

Precious Millet

  

Next to my minsu was a pole construction for swinging

The Little Town we stayed at from highway

Before we headed back to Taitung, we decided to go to Jhiben Hot Springs. The drive along the coast was sublime.

We went up the only road to Jihben , hotels with pools and private baths dotted the road. We quickly found the Dong Tair Spa Hotel. To walk to the changing rooms down these stairs you passed the large, theme park like outdoor pools in the front and then the covered spa with different bubbles. The space was large and covered by palm trees which kept on breaking off in the breeze, making huge crashing sounds on the roofs. One of those giant palm leaves could do us some damage falling from their heights and the local groundskeeper was quickly trying to rake down branches and leaves hanging by  their threads. We pretty much had the place thankfully to ourselves.

The covered spa pools, Dong Tair Resort, Jhiben

The pools like most I go to on the East Coast are pretty devoid of bathers, even during busy holiday weekends which is part of the attraction.

The outdoor theme park pools, Dong Tair Resort, Jhiben

We ended our Double Ten weekend meeting up with a friend and spending two nights on Green Island. We didn't make any reservations. The first night we stayed at a hotel on the main strip, a concrete block with zero charm or customer service. The second night we stayed at Jack's Inn.  We took room 107, the biggest one downstairs on the ground floor with a double and single and french doors opening onto the lawn where Z played with sparklers at night. The beds were so cozy we were almost tempted to stay in. The sporadic rain would of been a good excuse, but rain never stuck, the sea breezes blew them out quick enough and left the island quite refreshed.

Of course there was more to explore, even if we had been here before (in 2011 On Cloud 9), now was different weather, company, accomodations. This time around we dismissed camping for comfort and went to the Zhaori Hot Springs at night under stars, at times in the storms with gusts and scattered rains, that kept us in the boiling springs longer than we wanted. It was easy enough to cool off and go back in. Unlike last time's scorching July sun we had storms that quickly blew out and in and made for spectacular clouds and colors. We took some hikes and hit 2 trails we missed the first time with even more stunning views.

The wildlife was abundant and revealing her hidden treasures. We saw an enormous beetle, poisonous green snake and a wily lizard who bit my companion (good laugh).

 



My fondest memory of that holiday, maybe of Green Island was getting stuck in this storm from atop one of the highest points on the island. (I even wrote a poem about it, "We Three Birds of Prey").  From the highest veranda, out of nowhere we watched this rain approaching like this mercurial laser sheet upon the blue globe. We were high enough we could see the earth was round, about a ten minute straight up walk from the scooters, on a wooden staircase. We could count down when it would hit us, so clear was its approach. We sat and watched it coming, inevitable for a good five minutes. It seemed pointless to run down to the scooter for a raincoat. Watching it coming, its blessing of torrents, licking the horizon like a royal seal, we stayed, anticipating being apart of that. There was another family with us, they huddled on one corner and us on the other. The rain slapped us, we were drenched and laughing.

Here comes the rain

2/28 HOLIDAY WEEKEND

 In February 2014 some friends and I took the train to Taitung, rented a car and explored Jinluan, the Rift Valley and the eastern end of the South Cross Highway at the Wulu Gorge.We ran into my daughter's home room teacher and her sister on the same train, small world. We passed the time together chatting, playing cards. Upon arrival in Taitung, we went straight to the hot springs in Jinluan, at the East Sun Spa Spring Hotel whose numerous outdoor pools overlooked the Pacific. The place was surprisingly empty. We all vowed to return and stay a night here, next trip.

East Sun Spa Spring Hotel

We didn't make reservations at Take Your Time Guesthouse when we stayed in Taitung, as we were just "winging it". We ended up our first night at a cheap mom and pop hotel around the corner, across the street from Subway for 800NT a double with TV. In the morning we left early for a bike ride along the coast. I was attacked by swarms of midges, called "little black mosquitos" here, but they are a million times more itchier. My legs and arms were covered in excruciating welts, as I get a reaction to them. Bugs and me don't really mix. So we drove north to Dulan, checked out the Sugar Mill galleries and ate pizza for lunch. I was going to have us drive to Wulu Gorge from there, but my friend used his smart phone and suggested it would be faster if we returned to Taitung and used the South Rift Valley Highway 9.

Dulan Sugar Mill Galleries

First stop was the 2nd largest suspension bridge, the Heavenly Dragon Bridge, behind the Chief Spa Hotel. We walked the trail up a few minutes from the other side of the bridge, then headed back to the spring pools. For dinner we just ate the left over pizza from Dulan. Like the other springs, this was relatively empty. We checked prices for the rooms but what was available was beyond our budget.

The Heavenly Dragon Bridge, Wulu Gorge.

Chief Spa Pools,Wulu Gorge

I had made a reservation by phone at a Bunyun aboriginal minsu in Lidao (tel.089-938067), so when it was well into the night we headed there, stopped at the only mom and pop store/restaurant in town and they called our minsu to confirm our reservation. It was cold, we warmed ourselves by the fire, the owner and another man were drunk and Z was frightened, so we just headed to bed. The plan was to hike to the Lisong Hot Springs in the morning.These springs were my raison d'etre, as far as this weekend for me was concerned.

Our  Bunyun minsu in Lidau

Bright and early I made us coffee and the owner had our breakfast. One of the aboriginals was a tour guide taking a group of Taiwanese to the elusive Lisong Springs and he said he we could follow as its kind of hard to see the back road from the main swerving mt road. When we found it, it was pretty much dirt, rocks, one lane on the edge of a precipice. It was foggy, tree branches obscured our vision. The little road ended at a flat plateau, there were several cars parked and tents. This was the hardcore bunch. The trail to the river started here and was a steep hour descent to the ground.

 The man gave us each a pair of work gloves as the entire path was roped on both sides and we seriously held on for dear life. The trail was wet, slippery, full of roots and thus slow going. I felt invigorated, an early morning hike. For Z it wasn't easy or that fun, but she could still do it. Because of her slow pace, time was a factor. Would we have time to even enjoy the hot springs before turning around and hiking the mostly vertical ascent and make our 1 pm train to Tainan? It wasn't looking that way. Suddenly the trail just abruptly ended and the rope hung from a rock and you had to go down 30 feet or so on just a rope. Z was terrified and the whole experience wasn't fun anymore. If she was to fall, we had to carry her up the difficult trail and even at the car we were far away from help. It didn't seem worth the risk. We all headed back to the car. I secretly vowed to return and see these evasive Lisong Hot Springs someday soon.

On our way down the South Cross Highway, down the Wulu Gorge towards Taitung, we stopped at roadside public baths for a foot soak. And just outside of Taitung, we found some new springs, Mountains of the Moon and had a well deserved soak before returning the rental car and making our train back to Tainan. Charmed again, we had the pools to ourselves.

Mountains of the Moon Shot Springs, Hongye

Mountains of the Moon Shot Springs, Hongye

CHILDREN'S DAY/TOMB FESTIVAL WEEKEND

The last time we were in Taitung was in April this year for more surfing and biking. We stayed at Take Your Time, made some new friends, ate dinner at the Night Market, even did a little KTV.

Taitung in April 2014

School Drama Continues...Towards a Resolution

Its so interesting when the pot is stirred what rises to the top, and when whats shaken, that which (and who) still remains. Just an update from my previous post. This Thursday at lunch we all are having a meeting, the 2 principals, the English Teacher to translate, me and the Taiwanese teacher.

So I received an encouraging email from my daughter's school's principal #2:

Hi, K:

1. The statement that you gave me I had provide to the principal. If you have free time, you can come to the principal's office, and have a conference about this incident with the principal.

2.  I had ask the taiwanese teacher, your girl won't join this plan. Cancel the activity of taiwanese language at
10:10-10:30 everyday now. I had check the taiwanese teacher never film anything about your girl that day(May 30th). 

3. We have reported to the principal about the procedural neglegence of the taiwanese teacher. Her annual teaching performance will be critically reviewed according to this matter. Meanwhile, we will improve the process and procedure from the adminstrative side.

4. Obviously, it's not your girl's fault. The homeroom teacher will repeatedly instruct all kids about the importance of their personal safety.

5. Again and again, it is to our deep regret and apology that this incident has caused the inconvenience to the parents.

Best wishes,

I emailed him my reply:

June 9, 2014

Dear YiZai Principals,

I realize that the teacher and school are sorry, but I don’t think that’s an appropriate enough response. What happened should not have happened, simply because the teacher was unwilling to send the parent a consent form. I hope the school will take the next appropriate response, i.e., verbal or written warning to the teacher and the teacher can apologize in person to me, my daughter and to the students and parents involved in the film project. 我知道老師和學校很抱歉，但我不認為這是一個足夠合理的回應。發生了不應該發生的事，只是因為老師不願給父母同意書。我希望學校下一步採取適當的回應，即口頭或書面警告給那位老師，而且老師可以親自向我，我的女兒，並參與影片項目的學生和家長道歉。

I do have the right to press formal charges, but I sincerely hope it would not come to that. Instead I offer positive suggestions and I am very adamant that they be implemented into school policy as soon as possible, and the beginning processes start now as the semester is ending. If the school already has such procedures in places, then I ask they be updated and that everyone concerned including parents be updated as well. Obviously a breach in child safety requires some kind of reflection, assessment and revision on the part of the school. 我有權利正式起訴，但我衷心希望不至於到那樣。反而我提供了積極的建議，而且我非常堅定地認為這些建議盡快落實到學校政策，並從現在開始處理，由於學期即將結束了。如果學校在某些地方已經有這樣的程序，我要求每個有關的人，包括父母被要被告知最新的措施。顯然地，在這一個侵犯兒童安全的事件裡，學校方面必要作一些反思，評估和改正。

It my hope that through my daughter and I’s recent experience at X, that the school can learn from our experience too and become a role model in the community for school safety and student empowerment. I am asking that teachers, local police, school security, parents (PTA) and local community groups, including anchingbans to get involved. These are my suggestions: 但我希望藉由我的女兒和我的經這個經驗，學校可以從我們的學習到，並成為在社區中學校安全和學生參與活動的範例。我期望老師，當地警方，學校警衛，家長會和當地社區團體，包括安親班參與進來。這是我的建議：

Anchingban Plan:安親班方面

My daughter’s anchingban liaison could not find my daughter and she still left the school because she assumed I had picked my daughter up. I personally would have called the anchingban and let them know, but apparently this is quite normal behavior by parents. I ask that anchingbans send a memo to parents that if they are taking their child out for lunch, they need to call and let anchingban know before, first as a safety precaution and secondly as a respect issue. If a child is missing and is not at the school to be picked up, assume first that the child is missing, let school security guard know immediately and make an immediate intercom communication to find that child. Finally, that anchingban liaison may not leave the school grounds until the issue is handed over to the appropriate authority (principals, police). 我女兒的安親班聯絡人找不到我的女兒，她還是離開學校，因為她認為我已經接了我的女兒了。如果這樣，我個人會事先打電話給安親班，讓他們知道，但顯然這是父母普遍的行為。我要求安親班發送了一份備忘錄給家長，如果他們帶他們的孩子出去吃午飯，他們需要之前打電話，讓安親班知道，首先是為安全起見，其次是作為一個尊重的問題。如果一個孩子失踪，沒有在學校被接到，第一假設：，孩子不見了，讓學校保安馬上知道並作出即時內部連絡去發現孩子。最後直到問題被移交給有關當局（校長，警察），安親班聯絡員才能離開校園

Parents/PTA: 父母方面

Always let the school/anchingban know if you are taking your child out of their care. Realize that photographs and filming of children without parental consent is not just illegal, but potentially dangerous in this world of child predators. 如果你帶你的孩子離開學校，一定要讓學校或安親班知道，。一定要知道，未經父母同意的照片和孩子的拍攝不僅是非法的，在這個世代也是種潛在危險。

School Plan: 學校方面：

1.     Youth and parent survey of school safety: Meeting the needs of protecting children can start with asking kids and parent’s their concerns and perceptions of safety. Get the local high school and University involved in creating an objective survey. Include questions on bullying,  and the treatment of disabled and foreign/mixed race students. 1青年和學校安全的家長調查：為符合保護兒童的需要，可從詢問孩子和家長的關注的問題和對安全的認知開始。讓本地高中和大學參與客觀調查。包括對欺凌問題，以及殘障和外國種族學生的待遇。

2.     Anti-bullying program 反欺凌計劃

3.     A Crisis Management Plan that explains the procedures to follow in the event of a crisis, as well as regular school/security guard drills of the following scenarios: Alert Levels, Emergency Response, Fire/Explosion, Hazardous Materials, Alcohol/Drugs/Weapons/Fights, Shelter/Lock-Down, Natural Disaster, Kidnapping, Hostage/Person Out-of-Control, Blood borne Pathogens, Suicide Threat, and Bomb Threat. 危機管理計畫是在危機的情況下，正規學校/保安演習遵循的危機管理：警報級別，應急，火災/爆炸，有害物質，酒精/藥物/武器/戰鬥，避難所／鎖住，自然災害，綁架，人質/人外的控制，血源性病原體，自殺威脅，炸彈威脅。

4.     E-safety Community Outreach: Educating students and children on internet safety. 電子安全社區外展：教育學生和兒童在網路上的安全

5.     Inclusiveness Plan: The student body is diversifying; there are more mixed race, foreign children, as well as different mental disabilities, religions, single parent and mixed families. Educators need to be trained on how to appropriately and ethically handle such a diversifying student body. 包容性計劃：學生是多元化組成，有很多的種族混合，外國兒童，以及不同的心理障礙，宗教，單親家庭和混合家庭。教育工作者需要對如何正確處理這樣一個多元化的學生團體進行培訓。

My suggestion is the schools create an immediate Child Safety Board that includes members of staff, security, PTA, local law enforcement and local mental health experts. Thanks for your time. 我的建議是學校成立一個即時的兒童安全委員會，其中包括學校工作人員，警衛，家長，地方執法機關和精神衛生專家成員。感謝您的時間。

Kind regards,

KB

I admit, its definitely lofty and ambitious, but hey, child safety and not advertising your green eyed foreign kid speaking Taiwanese is priority.

When Cultural Differences, The Law and Mother's Indignation Clash

I'm under the impression that regardless if a child is foreign or not, it is illegal to photograph or film minors without parental consent. Obviously this has been an ongoing experience with Z the past 6 years. We handle each situation individually, most of the time, locals are polite enough to ask, and Z is vocal enough to reply on her own, "No!" Sometimes I say, "They just think youre cute." There are also many times when they don't ask and she is big enough to say, "You didn't ask my permission to take my picture." When we first arrived and she was 2, I would have to tell them, "Sorry you didn't ask me." But what about if the person is a teacher or trusted adult, with the intention to film her and distribute that film, without my consent? And at the same time, me, her anchingban (daycare tutoring) and homeroom teacher arent aware of her whereabouts? Likewise, I am under the impression that if the parents or guardians do not know where their child is and that child is in the custody of another adult, without parental consent that is by definition, kidnapping. 

Ya so the Friday before Dragon Boat weekend I had this "incident" with Z that is not going away quietly because those involved refuse to conclude the matter appropriately. Of course in many ways this is a cultural misunderstanding, the school, a teacher seem to think they are above common sense or the law.

I received a sorry text over our holiday weekend, from the teacher but haven't heard anything from the principal. So I emailed the principal this letter June 5, Thursday morning (Thanks to my friend Doreen for the translation). I dropped off the letters after work and Principal #2 was all apologies and sympathetically said he "understands" and we need to make a meeting. But why I have to hunt them down and make them aware of the situation is baffling. The teacher responsible, should of told her superiors that Friday afternoon, I should of received an official apology the following Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday or Thursday...

Dear School Principals：

I just want to make an official statement regarding last Friday’s (May 30th) incident. Even today, my daughter is easily upset, anxious, nervous and worried over what occurred and how it was mishandled. Despite my reassurances, she still seems to believe it was her fault. I feel like so many lines were crossed, I don’t even know where to begin my list of grievances. 我只是想就上週五的事件做一個正式的聲明。即使到今天，我的女兒仍然難過，焦慮和緊張，擔心這個事件的處理方法不對。儘管我一再的保證，她似乎仍然認為這是她的錯。我覺得整件事太超過了，甚至讓我不知道從哪裡開始陳述我的不滿。

On Friday, I received a phone call from the owner of my daughter’s anchingban asking if my daughter was with me. “No she’s supposed to be with you,” I replied. We were both extremely terrified that something was wrong, Zenaida was missing. We both met at the school, the security guard was useless, it took me over five minutes to find an adult in the main office. 上週五，我接到一個從我女兒的安親班打來的電話，問我是否我的女兒和我在一起。“沒有，她應該是在你們那裡的。”我回答說。我們雙方都非常驚懼，不知道出了什麼差錯，我女兒失踪了。我和安親班的人到學校碰面，警衛沒法幫我們，我花了超過五分鐘，才在辦公室找到一個成人。

Fortunately, my daughter was safe and just about to film something for her Taiwanese class. I was extremely upset. I told all the adults present, that they were extremely irresponsible for not letting me or anchingban know where she was. The Taiwanese teacher seemed to think all of this was perfectly normal, she was going to “drive her to anchingban” after filming. For 10 minutes I was utterly terrified. No parent should have to experience the depth of worry and misery that I went through. This is inexcusable, unprofessional, irresponsible and unsafe!
還好我的女兒是安全的，當時正為她的台語課拍攝影片。我非常不高興，我告訴所有在場的成人，不讓我或安親班知道我的女兒在哪裡，是極不負責任的事情。台語課老師似乎認為這一切是完全正常的，因為她表示在拍攝完後會開車送我女兒到安親班”。 在尋找我女兒的時間裡，我是完全嚇壞了。這是不可原諒，不專業，不負責任及不安全的！我覺得不應該再有家長像我一樣，經歷這樣的擔憂和驚惶。
So here is a list of what was wrong with Friday: 在星期五這個事件出錯的幾點如下：
1. A group of adults associated with your school, including the teacher were going to film minors without parental consent. I had no idea, nor did I give my permission. Who are these people? What is their company? What is the mission and purpose of filming my daughter and what rights do I have over the distribution of her image? This is illegal in Taiwan.
跟學校有關的人員，包括老師，竟然未經父母同意就拍攝未成年的孩子。我不知道這件事，也沒有給過我的許可。他們是誰？他們是什麼公司嗎？拍攝我的女兒有什麼任務和目的？關於她的影像散播，我能有什麼權力控制？在台灣這是非法的。

2. When I found my daughter, her Taiwanese teacher seems to nonchalantly brush off the incident as my daughter’s fault for not telling me. This is extremely upsetting to my daughter who seems to be feeling more personally responsible than the teacher and that’s wrong. Blaming my daughter only added to her burden and anxiety, even now. 當我發現我的女兒，她的台語課老師似乎漫不經心地推諉這個事件為我女兒的錯，因為她沒有告訴我。這樣非常讓我的女兒難過，讓她以為自己比老師更應該負責，這是錯的。指責我的女兒只是加給她負擔和焦慮，甚至一直到現在。
3. Taiwanese teacher was planning on driving my daughter to anchingban. In what world is this acceptable? I don’t know this woman. She has no permission to drive my daughter anywhere. If there were a car accident and my daughter was hurt, she would be liable. 台語課老師打算開車載我的女兒去安親班。這是可以接受的嗎？我不認識這個女老師，她沒有權限載我的女兒到任何地方。如果發生車禍，我的女兒出事了，她要負責的。

4. The security guard had no idea there was a group filming inside the school. I realize it’s a big school with many students, but I have higher expectations that he would be more aware. Are the security guard's trained for emergency situations like a kidnapping? 警衛根本不知道有一個攝製小組在學校裡面。我了解到這是一所有很多學生的大學校，但我希望警衛能更清楚學校的一切。警衛是否有受訓練去處理警急狀況，比如像如果發生綁架要如何應付？

5. Why was my daughter even picked to be filmed for her Taiwanese class? I believe she has a natural talent for languages, but her Taiwanese certainly is not fluent, or good and there are children in her class with better Taiwanese. The children picked to be filmed should be based on merit, not how attractive or cute they are in front of the camera. This is teaching children the wrong message, that physical attractiveness and not merit is more successful. She told me didn’t want to be filmed, that Taiwanese teacher pressured her. I feel like Taiwanese teacher exploited her as a foreign kid who can repeat her Taiwanese lines. This is unethical and exploitive. 為什麼我的女兒被挑選來甚至拍影片，我相信她有語言天賦，但她的台語肯定是不夠流暢，在班上一定有能說更好台語的孩子。孩子們被挑選來拍攝，應根據其成績優點，而不是是在鏡頭前他們是如何可愛和吸引人。這是教孩子錯誤的訊──即外表吸引力是比較容易達到成功的。她告訴我不想被拍攝，但台語課老師給她壓力。我覺得台語課老師利用她，作為外國孩子可以重述老師的台語，這樣的事是不道德和剝削的。

I feel like there should be more of a concrete compensation for me and my daughter’s distress and duress and an apology is not adequate enough at this point. 對我和我女兒的痛苦和脅迫， 我覺得應該有更多具體的補償。在這一點上，只是道歉是不夠的。

Kindest regards,
KB

Most all of my friends whether they are Taiwanese or foreign have been extremely understanding and supportive. My Taiwanese coworkers certainly are, as they can relate both as a teacher and mother.

Of course I got immediate support from foreigners having lived here forever with kids: One wrote:

"Good for you. WAYYY back when we just arrived here we had a VERY similar thing. One afternoon as we were about to leave school (we both worked at the same school that our kids went to) the principal came in BEAMING to tell us that "Today, X went to the professional photographer's studio to have photos taken for the school's advertising!" She clearly expected us to be absolutely THRILLED about how famous our child was now going to be, and was COMPLETELY nonplussed at our reaction, which followed very similar lines to the above re: Who drove him, who gave permission for him to be taken off-campus, who is the photographer, who supervised that photoshoot, and who gave permissions for my child's image to be used for the school's advertising? She was just completely baffled - and frankly, hurt."

Another wrote:

Writing the letter and giving the school a step by step breakdown of your view point is crucial. The importance is that no matter how dangerous or wrong the situation was, they obviously didn't feel the same way. The same could be pointed out for driving a scooter the wrong way, at night, in the rain, without headlights, without a helmet, and carrying multiple kids. It is wrong, and it aches to the very core of my being in its wrongness, BUT that wrongness isn't shared universally, unfortunately. Vent to us, rant and show your friends the anger and disappointment, but understand that no matter how wrong and grievous the school's actions, they may not understand or deal well with your anger. A list of things that you provided to them is helpful in the future, IF there are other foreign kids, but it would seem unlikely that a policy change would occur. At the very least, you can blog and warn other foreigner parents of the likelihood of something like this happening to their kids.

One friend who has been here for 15 years with a son warned me I wouldn't get much of anything but an apology, which is fine, but I at least, the very least I want them to understand the gravity of the situation. For this to be seen as dangerous for any child.

 What was hurtful was the message I got from my  friend who also has been in Tainan for 10 years (without children). He wrote:

Concerning the drama with X school. I don't want to interfere with your personal life. I will just explain to u a bit about Taiwanese society. FB is not private. No matter what u think the friend settings are. Recently a few people have been taken to court, bc of FB posts. This is becoming a "thing" in taiwan. A bunch of foreigners screaming and forming a lynch-mob will not help your cause. Be careful with Taiwanese. That Taiwanese comment on FB is a warning if u read between the lines. People calling Taiwanese clueless and lacking common sense is considered a racial slur and can cause a shitload of trouble. In the end, only Z will suffer. These foreigners chiming in and screaming kidnapping really know nothing about this culture, don't get swept away with the mob mentality. Step back, think and make a decision to resolve this in private, to protect Z. Friendly advice only. Not taking sides. But this thing has the potential to cause a lot of trouble if too many people get involved. 

 I told him that what he said, "Wasn't particularly helpful, kind, or accurate to say the least." To me this isn't about race as much as its about individual responsibility. He came back with;

 "I don't join mobs. I'm a lateral thinker. The big picture says, you'll get a halfhearted apology, nothing more. Was trying to help u..All I said was: resolve it in private. Excuse me for saying: follow reason, not anger. The Christian u r and all. "

 His message wasn't helpful or kind because it wasn't accurate. It was based on assuming I had not waited for a quiet resolution, which I did, I waited almost a week for some kind of official response, and just got 2 texts from the teacher over the holiday weekend of an apology AND if my daughter can still resume filming (obviously she doesn't get IT). I am aware of foreigners here in Anping (and their children) being targeted and harassed because of FB posts, (with local police and embassies involved) and I still don't see the danger in covering the asses of the teacher or school, especially when her immediate response was to blame my daughter. The cheap shot at my faith was disappointing. Who ever said being a Christian equals some friggin religious or moral law not to get angry!? There isn't. Jesus got plenty angry at the exploiters, (money changers scene case in point). Jesus referred to the political/religious elites as "vipers".

At the same time, my friend, also an expat with children made the point:
Choosing friends based on who is willing to agree with you only provides comfort and supports your status quo in life. The courageous friends will tell you like it is and challenge your beliefs and views, and will be the ones who truly encourage you to break out of your limiting views.

Which I agree, but if thats true, then its a reciprocal, two way street give and take. I think telling me to be "quiet" because I am this "irrational, angry woman" is just mindlessly echoing the mob of both culture's collective consciousness: Irrational, angry women are dangerous, uncomfortable, unfeminine, etc. I'm the one who has to be culturally respectful of the teacher losing face, eventho I'm in the right.

The truth is my anger isn't anger as much indignation, and it obviously makes him and perhaps others uncomfortable, and judgemental. I definitely see conflict resolution as a cultural difference for sure, he wants me to "stop being angry and move one" and I want the teacher penalized and safeguards put in place so this may not happen to any other child regardless if they are Taiwanese or foreign.

Besides this one friend I did get 2 responses (minority feedback) from the community that this teacher is "passionate", has "won awards for Taiwanese", which fell on deaf ears the moment I received that call and was told, by the anchingban, "No no one knows where your daughter is, she wasn't at school. She's missing." My need for restitution was cemented the moment this star teacher blamed my crying kid to our faces, that she forgot to tell me (and homeroom teacher and anchingban) even tho she didn't let my kid know the filming time until the last minute, nor let any of us adults know for that matter.

If I don't get the appropriate response, I am seriously thinking of hiring an attorney and pressing formal charges. If taking this to court is the only way to make those in charge understand the gravity of what transpired, so be it. Perhaps a court ruling can make a clear statement that this isn't about race or cultural differences, but breaking the law and child safety issues. Obviously I hope it doesn't have to come to that. I'm drafting a plan the school can implement to improve child safety, so the school can be a shining example in the community of child safety as well as cultural sensitivity to foreign kids (they are not the adhoc school advertisement, mascot). I hope local law enforcement and PTA can get involved and there be a school assembly to teach the teachers, parents as well as students. 

Its a shame that it did not have to turn out this way. My child could of happily participated in an educational film, if she wanted to by her choice (she said this teacher pressured her) and if I was asked for my consent and if all the guardians at least knew where she was and what time it would all be over, this could of been a completely different scenario.

So now I'm waiting for this meeting and until then I'm giving the school principals the benefit of the doubt that they will do the right thing.

Burmese New Year of the Horse Holy Daze Pt 1: Stuck in Singapore

South Bridge Road, China Town, Singapore

Its been a while since I posted. I was crazy busy with Christmas, teaching, wrapping up the semester and then Chinese New Year holiday was upon me. I had to pinch and save every penny since October 2013 to buy 2 tickets to Yangon via Singapore. If I was backpacking and had more time, I would of got our visas for Myanmar in Singapore for a much cheaper price (30USD) than doing it via an online service (100 USD each), but for convenience's sake. I didn't want to take my chances with a kid and pre- booked flights. This year my CNY holiday break was 3 days longer than my usual 2 weeks and I intended to capitalize on every moment.

Our arrival at Boat Quay.

We flew into Singapore and stayed in Boat Quay. We checked in around 930pm after leaving Tainan that morning. Around the corner and away from the riverfront, overpriced restaurants, was a more modest row of street noodles. The locals got a kick out of her ordering our handmade fishball noodles in impeccable Mandarin. I had a cold, refreshing, long deserved Tiger beer that I was too tired to finish. Eventually we made it to bed at midnight- my daughter meltdown free.

Breakfast overlooking the river, Boat Quay. The upstairs gallery at our guesthouse.

Our modern guesthouse was little more than a windowless, closet sandwiched between overpriced seafood restaurants along the river bank,but for a night it was ok. I didn't get any sleep of course, I could hear the BEEPing of neighbors' electronic doors. Needless to say I was dazed and confused the next morning.

Boat Quay

I usually stay in Little India, but wanted to try some new part of Singapore. (Here are photos of our July 2011 trip and our Jan/Feb 2014 Singapore album)

Don't mess with Tiger Mom! Boat Quay

I missed our flight to Yangon the next day, I was confused on times. I was about to check in when my gate closed and my plane was taking off. Needless to say I was gutted. I had to pay for another pair of tickets and I had budgeted my trip down to the last kyat, this was definitely not in my budget. The tears were welling up as I stood in line for new tickets. My cell phone was dead, my laptop wasn't connecting to airport wifi, I couldnt contact my only friend Rogenie in Singapore. I just had to wait it out, bite the bullet of my own carelessness and make the most of it. Z was not pleased with me.

I was besides myself on the inside. There was fear of not having enough $ for the rest of our trip, fear our visas would be rejected because the info on the paperwork was now a different date and flight. It was stress time for me, I was thirsty, had to pee, pushing Z and our luggage around the airport (she cant physically walk in airports. Her feet refuse to function as she prefers I push her on the luggage trolley that clearly states kids mustn't ride on them. I don't mind as its faster anyways, and sometimes we have a bit of fun, 360's). So we're running around Changi, here for wifi password, there for charging my laptop, mostly we were parked at the help desk in the other terminal (Michael wherever you are in Changi, you're a really sympathetic, helpful, competent dude). I had to find the free computers at McD's before I finally felt I couldn't wait any longer to go urinate. Basically I ended up with a self induced kidney infection a few days later as a consequence from my imploding stress fest . I thought I knew Changi Airport pretty well from previous transit flights, but ya, I basically was on a first name basis with staff by the end of the day. (Seriously Michael at Changi Help Desk, you were a Guardian Angel, I hope you get a raise and employee of the year.)  He used his own personal phone to call the Visa dude in Yangon, my Hotel in Yangon, Rogenie in Singapore while charging my phone with his own personal portable charger and had one of his female assistants escort Z to the bathroom while I chatted with Yangon on his phone.

View from our Guesthouse across the river, Boat Quay.

Of course it turned out alright. I had to use my emergency credit card for a nice 3 star hotel in Lavender mrt, somehow Rogenie and I missed each other there. Our hotel was nice though, with a pool, weight room. We took the cheapest, noisiest, room by the elevators. The man at check in must of pitied me and my situation because he gave us free breakfast tickets which cost 25$ Sing each. It was a pretty decent buffet. I was grateful.

On those 2 days, I went to some sites I hadn't made it to before. We went to the oldest Hindu temple. Sri Mariamman, a Dravidian style temple in Chinatown. then and a few small parks where Z could just be a kid and run barefoot on the green grass (while unknown to me we missed our check-in for the flight to Yangon).