HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-09-27, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012. PAGE 23. Continued from page 19the Taiwanese who did not speakEnglish. I never got homesick when
I was there since I enjoyed my new
life, new things and people to see
and the challenges that would arise.
There is such a demand for learning
English and what the Taiwanese
would spend for having a foreigner
teach English there. By foreigner, I
especially mean a Caucasian from
Canada or America. I began teaching
quickly as there were many job
opportunities. My first job was a
one-year contract out in what was
considered a small country town of
56,000 people. It was an after school
English Buxiban (cram school)
teaching six days a week. I would
prepare lessons and teach four one-
hour classes ranging from Grade 1 to
senior high school. Included in mycontract was a furnished apartment. Iwas the only foreigner for awhile
living in this town and found it quite
boring with so much free time in a
day so I started teaching three-year-
olds in the morning at a kindergarten
school. After completing that first
year, I had to leave the small boring
town and become a big city girl. I
moved to Taiwan’s third largest city
with a population over 2.6 million. I
had a few different schools that I
worked part time, full time or
substituted for but also began getting
asked for private classes to be taught
at homes. It was easy to be busy
working seven days a week which
was what I did before I left.
It was an amazing time teaching
my students, learning about different
people and cultures and becomingmore international. I had a hardadjustment coming back here for the
first two weeks and experienced
reverse culture shock. I can not
believe how much time has passed
and how things have changed in our
area, but not really. Now that I’m
adjusted, other than to the cost of
living in Canada, I can say it has
been nice to be back and see family
and friends. However, I am not
excited for the cold winter and snow.
After six weeks back on Canadian
soil I packed up and flew to West
Africa. I landed in Senegal then
drove five hours into The Gambia
for almost five weeks. This was
another truly amazing experience. I
stayed in local areas near friends to
experience their lives rather than the
touristy area. It was extremely hot,
was rain season and I had never
walked so much in my life. I loved itand how simple my days became yetmissed some things like my
computer, TV and washing machine.
The cost of living was quite higher
than what I expected. Fuel and
supermarket costs were similar to
here while an average monthly
salary is no more than one hundred
and twenty dollars. In some
compounds (houses) only one
person would be working and
supporting the family and extended
family living there. On the other end,
wealthier families were predominant
around the city areas and don’t face
the same hardships. While meeting
and having friends from different
parts of Africa I had heard how hard
living in Africa was, but now I have
really seen it. I just got back andhave never had such appreciation forCanada and other advanced
countries. Indoor plumbing and
running water, hydro, education,
healthcare, roads, our government
and comfortable living environments
are just a few of the things we all
have access to and take for granted
that Gambians and many other
Africans don’t.
I know there will be more travels
in my future but for now I am on the
job hunt and resuming a life back
here.
With little discussion, North
Huron Township Council passed an
encroachment policy during their
Sept. 17 meeting.
The policy will allow commercial
properties to, with approval from the
township, use township space in
front of their stores, like sidewalks,
to display goods and place tables and
chairs.
“Staff has worked on this policy
and has included the revisions that
council requested at its last
meeting,” Chief Administrative
Officer Gary Long explained.
The revisions included changing
dates in the policy, included hotels
under restaurants for purposes of
dining and addressing concerns from
Wingham businesses.
Interested business owners or
operators will need to have specific
levels of insurance and fill out a
form and receive approval from the
municipality before they can
officially place items on the
sidewalks and parking spaces
throughout the township. These
spaces belong to North Huron and
the policy was created to make sure
that the township would never face
any sort of liability if the items in the
space proved problematic.
The document, which was vetted
by the Blyth Business Improvement
Area (BIA), the Wingham Business
Alliance and the township’s lawyer.
Councillor Bernie Bailey moved
that the policy be put into action
with Deputy-Reeve David Riach
seconding the motion which passed
unanimously.
Brussels native reflects on teaching in Taiwan
North Huron passes
encroachment policy
Re-write the
laws says
reverend
Please join us in celebrating
Siebolt and Annie Siertsema’s
50th Wedding Anniversary at an Open House
on Saturday, October 6th
from 2:30-4:00 pm
at Vanastra Community Christian Reformed Church
50 5th Avenue, Vanastra
Best wishes only
Happy 50th
Wedding Anniversary
Siebolt & Annie Siertsema
Open House
The family of
Arthur and Maxine Hinz
are inviting you to a
50th Wedding Anniversary
Open House
Please join us on
Saturday, October 6th
from 2-5 pm
at Brodhagen Community
Centre.
No gifts please. Your presence
is all we would like.
Forthcoming
Marriage
Betty and Brad Lewis
and
Valerie and Bill Teeter
are pleased to announce
the forthcoming marriage
of their children
‘Jamie and Matt’
on
Saturday, October 6, 2012
We wish them all our love
as they begin their life together
Cathy Smith & Terry Ritchie
along with
Ken Brown and Deanna Lyon
wish to announce
the marriage of
their daughter
Jaimee Leigh Brown
to
Brad (Duff) Thomson
son of
Doug and Laurie Thomson
on October 6, 2012
Ceremony to take place in Goderich
at Calvary Baptist Church
with dinner and reception to follow
at Blyth Arena.
Wedding Announcement
GRADUATION
Congratulations to Devan
Warwick who graduated from Sir
Sandford Fleming College Frost
Campus in Lindsay. Devan
graduated from the Fish & Wildlife
Technician program on June 1,
2012. Devan is hoping to gain
employment with a Conservation
Authority. Devan is the son of
Karen and Ken Warwick of Blyth.
Mom and Dad are proud of you.
Love, Mom, Dad, Bradly & Jason.
Happy 25th
Anniversary
Kim & Gary
September 26
Love, family and friends
Smoked
Pork
Chop
Supper
Londesborough
Community Hall
Saturday,
September 29
5-7 pm
Adults ~ $12.50
Children 6-12 ~ $6
5 & under ~ Free
Takeouts available
Sponsored by Londesborough
United Church
For Tickets Call
519-523-4473,
519-527-0349 or
519-523-4228
Continued from page 16
representation of Jesus
blasphemous. “Strive for peace with
everyone, and for the holiness
without which no one will see the
Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). I don’t
know how other Christians think,
but I will be at odds with anyone
who purposely ridicules my Lord
and Saviour.
Romans 12:18 says, “If possible,
so far as it depends on you, live
peaceably with all.” I’m personally
of the opinion that, while said
pictures may not be blasphemous,
they’re certainly inaccurate and
misleading. Perhaps, we may re-
write the laws not only to refrain
from making hate-filled comments
about the beliefs of other religion
but to avoid violence.
Happy 80th
Birthday
Bernice Pierce
October 1
Love from your family