Pictures

Bananas do grow upside down.




Best Sashimi in the town (I've never had anything like this in America; there is no comparison and it's no wonder why I don't like it in America)




Caviar (why all the hype about it?)



Sweet fruit



Restaurant with a Chinese traditional theme

New Car

I needed a car so we decided to go with a Mazda 5. Other choices we considered were the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Corolla, and Camry, and Nissan Sentra and Rogue. What made me go with this car is that it is really versatile for a good price. When I first saw this car in person, I was really impressed. There are three rows of seats available or a huge trunk space available (second and third row seats folded are big enough for a bike). I have never driven a Mazda before so I am excited to see what this car can offer. Take a look for yourself.

clipped from www.mazdausa.com

Sliding doors

clipped from www.mazdausa.com

Three rows of seats

clipped from www.mazdausa.com

Trunk is big enough for a bike

Updates

I have good news and bad news.

Good news first: I think I passed this summer semester. :) My teacher assessed a patient as a one even though she said this would have been an assessment of zero for the fall because it was a harder case, she gave it to me. And I completed the patient in two appointments! Sweet! :)

Bad news: My car is TOTALED. I am without a car now.

and now I don't know what to do...

Before my teacher told this to me (see post below), I was worried about what to do with my baby. I've looked at my schedule for next semester and it's packed with really long days. I'm already getting home really late as it is. I'm unable to spend time with the baby and unable to get all my homework done. So we were thinking about leaving her in Taiwan (she's not getting quality care here)... but I don't really want to leave her there! I wanted his mom to come here again and try it out. But there were some problems with that too.

But now I don't even care about that because it's more important that I pass first!!! If I don't pass, there would be no reason for my baby to stay in Taiwan...

Also, I already got the tuition bill for next semester. I'm not going to pay it until I find out if I make it to the next semester or not. It's so much money; more than I anticipated. And that's probably because every time a person gets dropped from the program (4 people so far), the tuition gets increased for those who are still in the program because the teachers need to get paid. Yes that's true.

Anyway, that's enough complaining for now.

I will NOT pass this semester...

...if I don't find someone who is harder to do. I need to find someone who is a 1, 2, or 3 in sub which means I need someone who has tartar below the gumline (6+ teeth). If I don't find such a patient, I'm out of the program (YES, my instructor said that during our 1-on-1 talk). All the patients I've had thus far are zero in sub.

And that's final. I'm worried because there are only a few weeks left of this semester.

HELP! otherwise I may not make it...

update

I'm back in school and definitely not enjoying it. I'm getting sick of routine and I hate being at school for long hours (at least 10-11 hrs per class/clinic day). Thus far, we've lost 4 people in the program. The only way I see myself failing is 1) patient cancellations and 2) not being able to find enough patients with certain criteria. I really hate that we have no control of other people's schedules--not that I expect to--but our grades are accountable and that can mean failing. And somehow, according to my teachers, it's not about our grades, but about providing comprehensive care. And the only way this is possible is if the person is able to come back again so that you can actually complete them. It's not fair; life's not fair.

This everyday routine is making me feel really spontaneous right now. I want my guitar that I left at home. Two reasons why: First, I want to play for my baby and second, relearn what I used to know, albeit it was not much. However, it would be enough to entertain my baby and introduce her to another instrument.

Fun!

I've been enjoying this time off with my baby at the park and at the pool.

developmental milestones

at 15 months my baby can:
• feed herself with hands
• attempt to use utensils unsuccessfully
• drink using a straw
• drink from a cup if I hold it
• hold a sippy cup by herself
• eats what we eat (food cut into small pieces)
• walk really well
• starting to run fast (only for a short distance)
• attempt to jump
• points to things and mumbles
• babble a lot
• will hand over something if you ask for it
• reads a book by herself (she'll flip through the pages and look at pictures)
• don't know if this is coincidence or not but imitates sounds when reading to her (moo moo, ruff ruff, dog, meow, baby, duck, panda, neigh)
• don't know if this is coincidence either but when reading to her she'll bring over the toy that I'm talking about (reading about a dog and she'll bring over the toy dog)

things she cannot do:
is not potty trained yet (next step!)
cannot communicate what she wants most of the time
brush teeth properly
and everything else

Summer break

It's so good to be on break right now. I'm really enjoying this much needed time off. It won't last long though; I still have summer school. I can't believe how fast time is flying by though. Spring semester is already over even though it doesn't feel like it started yet. I can't believe I already completed a year and only have another year to go!

Part One Summer:
Get my baby acquainted with other life forms (zoo animals, aquatic animals)

Second summer break:
visit Taiwan

Aww shucks!!

I was going to have my teeth professionally whitened by a second year student but it turns out I can't because I'm still nursing my baby. That's crazy but legit.

Maybe I can get it done next year by one of my fellow peers, that is if I'm not still nursing!