Best Rice: Chishang Township
Best School Earthquake Drill: Feng Nian Elementary
Best County: Taitung (ok that might just be my own opinion, but the others are real competitions they have around the island that they take very seriously)
When first hearing that Chishang county had the best rice in Taiwan I thought multiple counties were probably boasting of the same thing. My mind jumped to the clip in the movie Elf with the “World’s Best Coffee” sign. Instead, it is a true competition where all the rice farmers in Taiwan apply to be judged. They are judged based on color, consistency, and taste, along with some other characteristics. It is a great honor to be named the best seeing as rice is a primary portion of the meals here. I can now say I routinely eat Taiwan’s best rice and I am not even lying.
As for Best School Earthquake Drill, that competition is a little different. From what I understand 15-20 years ago Taiwan had a very large earthquake and little preparation in the schools and the community for such an event. Houses and schools were demolished and many people were killed. Those who lost their homes were sleeping in tents on school grounds until everything could be rebuilt. To make sure it doesn’t happen with that magnitude of damage again all Taiwan schools are required to have in depth plans on their course of action were a earthquake to occur during school hours. The school with the best drill held a party this year blasting music from the county's best DJ and leading a dance party to celebrate.
So far, I have experienced one real earthquake that woke me up in the middle of the night and three different earthquake drills. So you could say coming from outside Chicago where there are very little earthquakes I am definitely trying my best to understand the lectures on earthquake safety. The lectures being in Chinese add an extra amount of difficulty for that endeavor. My understanding of what you are supposed to do in an earthquake at school is get my hardhat from my LET and sit or kneel on the floor next to my desk holding it for support. When the alarm stops going off, I make my way to the field by the track where they do a headcount and where medical assistance would be if it is a real event. It is similar to filing out of school for fire drills in elementary school except here they encourage the kids to run out of the school to the field instead of quietly walk. All the younger kids have these pillow such hats on their heads while the older kids just cover their heads with books. I found it interesting that all the teachers had hardhats and at least the younger kids had a pillow thing supplied that they tied around their heads, but the older kids seemed left behind and forgotten as they carry a textbook over their heads running to the field. What really is a textbook going to do for their heads if something in theory was to fall? Absolutely nothing, but I guess it’s the thought that counts.
The answer is yes I did get to learn how to actually use a fire extinguisher during the drill
It was also interesting that all the teachers had their cameras out. The government wants proof that these drills are occurring throughout the island so each school is to submit not only a video of the events, but also pictures depicting the entire drill: the students with something protecting their heads, teachers organizing everything, a carried stretcher, and the use of a microphone system are all such necessities during the drills. Now I am sure that the school would be alright with me taking pictures and videoing like my other school because all the teachers just keep their cameras on them at all times. Before I haven’t felt as comfortable taking my camera to school as much as I had planned on. For one, I scooter to school and the amount everyone has told me about accidents has scared me. Worst case scenario I get in an accident I lose both my camera and my laptop in the same go. I am not entirely sure I want to risk that every day. It would literally be the worst day *knock on wood*. However, I have had so many instances where I would’ve loved to have my camera on me that I’ve begun to pick and choose the days that I think it’s best to bring it.
During breaks occasionally my kids are just playing around. I was considering taking small videos or photos over the course of the year and make a compilation of our interactions. I would love to be able to set a camera up in my Second/First grade class at Dian Guan too to capture my interactions with those students. Those kids are so rambunctious and frustrating, yet very much entertaining. I was even offered to come to Dian Guan on Tuesday, a day I teach at Kan Ding (my other school), to attend their culture classes if I had my afternoon classes cancelled at Kan Ding. So far, no such classes have been cancelled, but I am waiting for the day because the kids learn about Amis culture, dancing, and food at Dian Guan during that time which would be an amazing opportunity to learn.
The first time I pulled my camera out once all the kids wanted to take turns taking pictures which pretty much gave me a heart attack as I tried not to be mean as I explain it was really expensive. However, the kids seem to have somewhat learned and I have been able to take it out during small breaks with the intention of catching pictures of them in their natural element. However, as with most kids there are a few, the most notable being Kate, that when the see the camera pull out a funny face every time. I cannot wait till the end of the year and I can make a video and dot it with these funny pictures of her.
On a smaller scale, I am also looking forward to Saturday as I meet my host family for the first time. These families typically don’t speak any English, but are interested in sharing their culture and learning about American culture in return. On the preference sheet I asked if it was possible to be paired with a rice farmer because I am very interested in not only learning the process, but possibly getting the opportunity to film it because the rice patty fields are gorgeous and like none other even on the cloudiest of days. Unlike other host families we don’t live with them so it is our decision how often and how much we interact with our families. I was drawn to Taiwan for the culture and hopefully the ability to film it so as long as my host family doesn’t live too far away, I see myself building a strong connection with them. Fingers crossed they like me!
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