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Marilyn’s Time in Taiwan
Chosen - they picked me
The wait had seemed unending
And yet the year has passed so quickly
Time has come to go back home
Opportunities to see, to do, to be
In a place on the other side of the world
Leaving my friends and family behind
And in the process, gaining new friends
Able to see incredible displays of a creative designer
Ocean splendor,
Waves pushed by an incredible force,
Beaches full of treasures
Beauty in the wings
Of a seemingly unending variety of butterflies
Flowers in the wild that reminded me
Of special gifts at home - Easter Lilies, poinsettias
Students who told me they were learning English
Because they weren’t afraid to try any more
Students who had no desire to speak a different language
Sleeping through most of my classes
Chinese classes that were such a challenge
Wanting to quit at times when I felt so overwhelmed
Learning how my students may feel when I am speaking
Using words that make no sense at all to them
我可以講漢語的一點
English class for adults wanting to improve their skills
Using the Bible for the textbook - reading, listening, speaking
Learning so much about life and about who God is
All the while becoming close like a family
Father Beauregard, a 94-year-old Jesuit priest from Canada
Spent one year imprisoned on mainland China
Now busy ministering to the ‘old folks’ in the rest home
Getting around on his new scooter
Precious babies were gently held
Waiting for new parents to welcome them home
All the while I was learning many life lessons
From their sweet caretaker
A man who came almost every day to help the cafeteria crew
Unable to speak, able only to do menial tasks
Reminded me that life is precious in God’s eyes
No matter what we see on the exterior of the person
Coming to the end of any school year can be difficult
This one even more so
Students whose lives will continue without me now
Co-workers who will continue with their daily assignments
Did I make any difference?
Are the students better because I was here?
I only know that I am different
Taiwan has changed me
June 2008
Marilyn Hodgin
English teacher at Nanao Jr/Sr High School
Yilan County, Taiwan
