More News From Taiwan
Well, we are getting settled now. Things are coming along...but slowly. That is how things work here. They keep telling us that we are worried about too many things, that we need to chill out. In Taiwan, everyone is laid back, and it can sometimes drives us foreigners crazy! But we are getting used to it, and we will soon be telling you all that you are too uptight.
We don't know our exact address, but until then, you can send things to us at the school:
Brian and Krista Hobbs
Chung-Shan Industrial and Commercial High School
79, Changchi Road
Taliao, Kaohsiung County 831
Taiwan, R.O.C.
That should get things to us, if you need to send things. We don't have a phone yet, phones are complicated here in Taiwan. We have to get a Chinese person to sponsor us and then sign a two year contract on the phone. But rest assured.....we are on it!! As soon as we get one, we'll be calling!!!!
We have been using the computer at the school to write on this. And also, our friends David and Mandy (David teaches at the school) have a computer we use sometimes. But it is kind of hard to get to a computer sometimes...so if you don't hear from us for a little while, we are probably still alive....just not near a computer.
Madison had her first day of school yesterday!! It was so sad for me, but she was soooo excited! Pictures will be coming once I get a way to post them. She loved it....other than she refused to eat the food (as she has been doing for a week now) so today we had to pack her a lunch. The Chinese teachers love her, and so does everyone else! We draw a crowd wherever we go, and it gives a chance to practice the little bit of Chinese that we know.
Well, we have to go...but we will write again as soon as we can. We love you all! Dad, we are still looking into a computer, but I'll know more in a few weeks whether or not we can buy one here.
posted by Krista @ 11:40 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Great to hear from you. I'm sure the people in Taiwan think you are all movie stars. I hope that you will be able to get your own computer sometime so that you can write more. That would be nice. We are getting ready to visit Travis and Melanie and are leaving in the morning. I hope things are going well for you. I was glad to find out that Madison is liking school. How is the language barrier affecting her. Does she seem to be doing okay with it?
Well, I'm off to Angie and Cory's to help with mudding their basement. Talk to you soon.
I thought the information about the phone was interesting. Getting a sponser for a phone sounds wierd. So...if you get a phone does that mean you really are staying for 2 years? You need to break that news gently to us. Well, I guess that will give us more time to get our passports and come to see you.
Also, what kind of foods are you eating there? Do you need me to send you a box of brownie mix or something good?
Just let me know.
What is the apartment like? and what is the neighborhood like where you live. Do you have a lawn? or are you on the 10th floor of some high rise apart.
Later Guys.........Love you.
Good luck on the computer and the phone. Hopefully you can get settled in soon.
I can't believe maddy's in school!!! It just half days right? Did you cry? I would lose it! She's getting so old now. Glad to hear you are getting settled. Good luck with everything
I am very happy to hear from you!! Sorry to hear about the phone thing though... I have been checking on cell phones from this end. I am told that we can't provide cell phone coverage from this end. What are the possibilities from your end? It may be more feasible than a regular in-home phone? Maybe you wouldn't need a co-signer? The contract thing could be a little more reasonable too? You should be able to do the internet with it too.
Also I have been checking into the possibilities of a Satellite phone. One must purchase the phone up front, and then there is a monthly fee with set minutes available, very similar to a cell phone service. It would be a good system to have, since you would be able to call from any place in the world with it. I am told that it will do internet and cam communications just like anything else. You can do your blog and e-mail in "burst" format that will keep your airtime to a minimum. You just have everything written ahead of time and "send/receive" when you access and get off. I am waiting for more information about it. If you are interested, let me know and I will pursue it further. The company that I have been looking at is Globalstar. (www.globalstarusa.com)
Do you need anything forwarded to you? We can get together with Dan & Tami and send you a package...
Why don't you check into the computer thing and let us know if you can buy one there and the cost. We can shop here to compare prices on the ones that you like. I wonder about internet access there? Lots to find out about huh?
Is Madison missing her people yet? We are missing you. It is difficult not being able to call and communicate with you easily. I am waiting for the webcam sessions so that we can see you in real time.
Tell me about the food and living conditions in general. Are you able to go to a supermarket and can you find the things that you are accustomed to? What about the sanitary conditions? Do you need to get any inoculations? How are the prices?
We check your blog regularly now, since we have discovered that you are communicating with it. Use it often...
We'll I am going on a horseback ride, so I will get going. It will seem lonely and boring without Madison. Hope that all is well and that you are getting the experiences that you all wanted with this expedition. Love ya
How about a complete phone number for the school or somewhere else, should we need to leave a message? I have never made an international call, so give me all of the numbers that we will need to make a call.
Yeah, having a phone number to someplace that could get a hold of you would be very nice........just in case we need to make quick contact and can't wait for a response in the blog. Write more soon.
Later
Can you tell we're dying for information? haha I think Roy and Dan are going to swim over there to find you if they don't hear from you soon. hahaha Hope you can get all hooked up.
P.S. I saw some international calling cards on the internet for 3 cents a minute from our end. I couldn't tell if they were for cell phones or land lines though
I contacted a buddy of mine to see if he knew anything about services in China. He recommended Pandaphone. It looks like they will soon have internet as well. Check it out.
www.pandaphone.com
China: (86) 800-820-0293[toll free]
(Only Work from Desk Phone and PandaPhone)
I don't know if you noticed that everyone is waiting for more information on your living conditions and how things are going. I check my blog at least 2-3 times a day for a morsel of news. Maybe we will become more laid back if we had some information and pictures. Hopefully we will hear from you soon.
I'm gonna buy a calling card on the internet, but have been holding back just in case a land line isn't what they get. Pandaphone looks interesting. I'll check it out Roy. We are leaving for Washington DC in the morning, but will will check the blog from Trav and Melsn place.
Later fans
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