India and The Taj

Well...what is it about life's path that when we reach these ultimate destinations, like the Taj Mahal, and you see it for all of the wonder and beauty everyone raves about...and one just looks at it and thinks, "Oh. There it is." Why is it that the best part of the beauty of that day was not the Taj, but was just sitting in the park playing badminton with Indian children?! Shocking to me, but then again not really. I think life is truly all about the simple pleasures.

India is an interesting place, I can't quite find the words to describe it yet. My eyes are just amazed once again by how people live in such places, full of poverty, garbage and filth. Why is it that India is full of so many men? Everywhere! The only thing that lights up our eyes are the Indian women, in their beautiful colored clothing and jewlery. Their colors bring beauty to this place.

And the Food! Of course is Amazing! Yummy in my tummy all the time! It's a short blog today, we are just trying to get out of Delhi and Luke wants to check out the monkey temple before we begin our new day's adventure! Just wanted to share with you some thoughts...Stay tuned.

Taiwan Synopsis

Taiwan Synopsis

I can't think of a more difficult thing to do than to write up a synopsis of my one year and 8 months I have spent in Taiwan. Taiwan is a place that is bursting at the seams! it's full of people, color, scooters, flowers, greeness, noise, temples. It's on the brink of changes as the old generation fades away and the new generation tries to blend the two together.

I had the preconceived idea that most foreigners do when they arrive to exoitc Taiwan. Tropical island, great beaches, lots of fun in the sun and that pineapples grown on trees. For as long as I live I will never forget how those thoughts were gone in a blink of an eye. I was standing on Jhongshan Loo in the middle of chaos and it took all the courage I had to hold back the tears for America. I had remind myself that I came here to challenge myself and grow into a more worldly person. So I picked up my bags and knew I could handle anything that came my way. And... I would be able to do this because of the most amazing gift Taiwan has given me and that is the people that have come into my life.

When deciding to leave Iowa all I could fantasize about was all the amazing things I would be able to see and do. I never! Not once! thought I would meet some of my most treasured friends. Canadians, Brits, Japanese, Vietnamemese, Israli, South African, Kiwis, Taiwanese and fellow Americans. They have brought millions of smiles across my face, lots of adventures and plenty of shoulders to cry on. It's been the first time since I was 12 years old that I have had connections like this , so natural. As English teachers, we have 3 things in common. 1. is that we can actually understand each other 2. we all have adventurous spirits and 3. for one reason or another we all choose to come to Taiwan. Being surrounded by people with the same innate spirit of discovery is truly a profound experience. We all have the energy, initiative and easy going attitude to hop onto scooters to chase waterfalls, climb about in gorges, eat crazy food, camp and just experience and see what there is to see in a foreign land.

Though I am ready to leave Taiwan, there are many things I will miss. I will miss riding my bike among the rice paddies and up the mountains. I will miss the old pineapple farmers walking along the highway after a long day in the field. I will miss the beauty of Nantou County, Gao Shan Cha, maugie, the woman who hems my pants, the ability to buy fresh fruits and veggies for a week for less than $15 USD, pineapple season, mango season (the list could go on and on with Taiwan snacks!). I will miss my scooter and the freedom it has given me in this life. I will miss the glow of red lanterns, the rainbow Tao temples, and the time I have had to discover myself through hours of painting and listening to music.

I will definiltiy miss the sharing of cultures through class discussions with my students. Through them, I've able to receive the true Taiwan spirit. They've showed me what lies beneath the frustrating traffic, polluted air and the bin laden stains that cover the ground. They've showed me passion towards family, diligence in studies, how to treat a guest like a king, willingness and excitement to learn a second language. They've also taught me how to work hard, how to make a dollar holler and the best way to relax after a long stressful week, by heading to the spa and getting a real long massage!

Taiwan has changed my life forever. I have learned many lessons in my life that I won't discover until years down the road. It's made my life richer, my eyes and mind more open and it has taught me to love in ways I thought were not possible. It is truly "La Isla de Formosa" and Taiwan has truly touched my heart.

The Shift

Life is the moment in time where our one action, no matter how small or innocent, makes the difference.

With the wave of my hand, I was able to open up a smile into this world today. To lighten up the tensions on our faces and to create a small conversation between two cultures, where the only reason we are staring at each other is because we are curious. Curious to look, to see, to try and understand one another.

It's an amazing event when two eyes meet. The look, the quick examination of each other, how much we read in those brief seconds, how much we judge in a short period. Most people shrug these intimate little moments off, but I think these are the moments of most importance. It's where we really get to interact with human nature. To see it, for all that it is, isn't and wants to be.

It's where the change occurs. It's the moment between the inhale and the exhale of our breath. That's where and when life happens. In the least unexpected moments. When you meet someone on a train, connect over an innocent touch and let all precedence go.

Life happens when we listen to our heart, truly. When we act on life and not just wait. When we have the energy and courage to let go of our fears and insecurities and invite everything in.

Experiences are created when we are willing to take the risk, put our criticisms aside and do what we feel. When we connect our souls with our brains.

The paradigm of people's life in the 21st century is beginning to shift. It just might start with the fall of the most powerful country in the world.....but I think this needs to happen in order for awareness to be fully realized, in order for us to really understand the fragility of life.

The next step of Jessness

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life.

I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.

--Dawna Markova

Cambodia

Oh! Cambodia went to fast. We got greedy and sped through it and now I wish I was in quite ole' Siem Reap instead of dirty Bangkok. But that's what one gets when rushing into things. Anyways...Cambodia!

What a beautiful country. I miss it already. Beautiful caring people, beautiful landscapes , quite, peaceful, relaxed. It was fabulous. Angkor Wat...magnificent! The entire complex is so amazing. I loved just walking around in the forests surrounded by peacefulness and old temple ruins. One of my favorite parts was just driving around in the tuk tuk. It was so nice, country road drives that took me back to Iowa memories. It also reminded me a lot of the Philippines. Very simple lifestyles, they mostly ride bicycles. The power doesn't always work and cows everywhere. For such a beautiful country, the people have suffered greatly and still do due to the 3-5 million landmines that exist there still!

Tonight, Derrick and I are on Kosan Road in Bangkok wishing we weren't here. Ugh...dirty, nasty, noisy city...We are leaving to go to the North tomorrow though, so only a few hours left here. Today, I feel that I am ready to head back to Taiwan, but we still have 16 more days. We will see how I feel in 2 more days, hopefully things will get better once out of Bangkok! Take Care!

The Uncle Ho Trail

It is raining this lazy Sunday morning as we prepare to say goodbye to such a beautiful country. From the early age of 16, when I was introduced to my second family in life, the Tran's at Asian Gourmet, I've always wonder what Vietnam was like. Lien always said she would take me there, but I couldn't wait any longer.

From the minute I entered Saigon I was happy. Ecstatic more like it! Clean air, western style, everything that Taiwan isn't. The people are amazing! Friendly, quite, resiliant, hardworking, and passionate for their country. They don't take less than they deserve and seem to strive each day to make life better for themselves and thier families. They don't give up. Evident by the masterminds of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The highlights of my trip have been Dalat and Sapa. I had no idea what amazing mountains were in this country. I took in every negative ion the greenery produced and repaired my mind and body. Nature...I've missed it so much. Crusining on scooters in Dalat, sucking in the awesome big, blue skies, the fabulous cummulus clouds and the fresh wind whipping thru my hair. Getting sick on buses because my eyes couldn't get enough of the amazing amount of elevation that we would gain and lose was worth it all. Trekking for 3 days in the rice terraces of Northern Vietnam, opening my eyes to the way people live just to have survive each day, while the stock market crashes in America and everyone thinks the world is going to end. What little they realize....

To the craziness of Hanoi, boy! I am glad to leave it, to the serenity of Halong Bay. To all the awesome people I have met in this countr! I am usually jaded to the tourist track, but it's been great to be able to keep relationships going throughout our trip.

Vietnam has opened my eyes. Opened my eyes to all the places in the world I have not been yet or even thought of, to changing my attitude and lifestyle. To helping me realize what Taiwan is to me, what it was and how it will be. It's been a good mind expansion, to say the least.

Now we are off to Cambodia...I have no idea what to expect, which is good, for I am trying to live my life with little expectations. Just trying to life life for each moment that it hands me. So, stay tuned to the adventures of Team D.J. as we roll into Camobdia to discover whatever it has to give.

American Woman!

Wow! Another day in Paradise. Can life really be this good? I guess it can, because I am living the best life right now. Today, as I swam in a beautiful bay in the middle of Asia, rode my bike through remote villages, I realized how awesome it is to be Jess.

I've worked so hard, taken so many risks and struggled a lot this year, but I realize more and more everyday how worth it, it has been. My friend Donna once said to me, "I choose to be happy." That simple statement has influenced me for the last year. It was the initiator into my life in Asia. And, it is a priority in my life. I choose to live a happy life and that meant leaving Brian, leaving a huge part of my life behind and it has been worth all of it!

Today, I realized that American women are highly regarded around the world. I am so lucky to be an American woman! We are so lucky to be able to have the rights we do, be self-confident, independent and opportunities galore. Others are not so lucky...we are lucky to be raised in a culture where we are equal. No silly standards to live up to.

Well, it's time to close this blog and I hope you all are well. I will write more soon and miss you all!