“It’s not a “Good bye” but a “See you again””
The last week was all about having fun and enjoying ourselves at Fu-An Elementary School: the five and six graders rehearsed the German alphabet („Teacher Lia, is there even a difference to the English one???“) and recorded the song „Let it be“ - how suitable- for their graduation ceremony.
On Wednesday it was Cathy’s time to be observed at teaching wherefore we designed a schedule in advance regarding me, a German foreigner teaching at Fu-An. She introduced the new vocabulary first while I prepared German pancakes after my Grandma’s recipe for everybody. - It was a big success. Everybody enjoyed the lesson and the observing teachers also praised me for my engagement at school afterwards.
Furthermore Cathy invited me to a spa treatment and we had a relaxing evening being kneaded and spoiled the fullest after an exhausting day.
The last two days lied ahead and I was already surprised with a farewell party on Thursday morning. I promised myself not to cry (because the whole school was watching) but after the principals first words I couldn’t hold my tears anymore and burst out in a weird mixture of crying and smiling when I received all the handmade gifts and hugs of my students and pre-schoolers.
Friday was even worse... not only me but also the students cried whilst giving numerous hugs and handshakes and I had to promise to come back one day to see them graduating or as grown-ups at Junior High.
But something great was in progress: my aunt was about to arrive on Saturday midday to visit me in Kaohsiung and to join me on my following travels.
And so it came that we took the overtired Judith to the Thai stone temple for lunch, introduced her to my family and visited Alian District in the afternoon.
For dinner we invited our neighbours and friends to a German barbecue dinner with lots of salads (potato, cucumber, bean,...) with Sauerkraut and sausages and pancakes as dessert.
To finish the day we went to Dagangshan Mountain by night and enjoyed the stunning view over Kaohsiung and Tainan.
Sunday morning we bid farewell from my church community and went on a sightseeing tour in Tainan. We had shaved ice with beans for tea time (which became my favourite) and went to Salt Mountain at sunset.
To experience a typical Taiwanese dinner at least one time we ate out at a seafood restaurant and enjoyed the last hours in family (my aunts big eyes when all the shells and fish heads arrived-hilarious!).
And so it came that I had to say „Good bye“- better „See you again“ to my family as well...
They really became my family, a second, a Taiwanese and Tina my little sister. They had to promise to visit me in Germany and I don’t have any doubts that at least Tina, my going to tourist guide will.
Again, I am so thankful for that experience and highly appreciate the work and effort everybody put into my stay.
This volunteering project is THE HIGHLIGHT of my gap year and I will never forget that time.