Close Encounters

Today I almost saw a scooter and bicycle collide, I almost ran into an opening car door, I almost got run over by a scooter, and I almost got hit by a car on my bike. Wow. Too many close encounters for one day.
On a more positive note, I met the foreign teacher at the Jr. High today. My "host brother," Derek got his email and I emailled him on Wednesday, he got back to me in a few hours. Within a few emails we decided to meet today for coffee. His name is Todd and he's from Seattle, WA. He's 30, extremely tall, and seems like a really cool guy. We sat in a coffee shop that is a popular after school joint. We had SO Many Jr. High students looking at us and laughing. We both know that there will be rumors tomorrow about the foreigners dating. Don't get any ideas....it's just nice to find another American to hang out with. I hope that we can hang out sometime...we seem to have a lot in common. He mentioned like 5 movies, all stupid "guy humor," and I have them all on DVD and like them! We chatted over coffee and wafers for about an hour, then he had to leave. He gave me a quick tour of the Jr. High campus and introduced me to two other people. One seemed to either be an English teacher or a director. They ride to school together since Todd lives in a different town (which conveniently is located next to my favorite mall!). The other was the military boy for the Jr. High. He is also the cheerleading coach for the high school, and was a college cheerleader. He had a considerable amount of upper body strength. I told him I was a college cheerleader and I would LOVE to help out anytime! I hope he takes me up on my offer!
Eve and her friend, Amanda, invited me to take a jazz dance class with them. It's 1200 NT for 8 classes on Thursday nights. That's pretty darn cheap. I'm super excited. I need to find more things to do during the weeks so that I can actually have a life and be active. I would've taken ballet and salsa with them, but they are during the time I tutor. I'm still going to try to find some Chinese classes. I'd like to learn as much as I can while I'm here.
Got my 4th Argus article done. It won't be published for another week, but feel free to check it out and let me know what you think!
I've been wrapping all my Christmas presents and getting ready to mail them home. Getting closer to the holidays and thinking about it makes me really sad. Halloween is next week and I have to miss it! I have no costume, no costume part to attend.... no Halloween! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years will be even worse...so I better toughen up while I can! I love the holidays because there is so much love in the air and so much delicious food. I love it that all the family gets together and we can just lye around and enjoy each others' company. I love going to Pennsylvania and playing games with the whole family. I love lying around mom's house while she forces John to have a puppet show with her, while we all think she's gone completely nuts! I'm going to miss it so much! I'm really hoping that I can try to do something to make it special here! I have never made a Turkey dinner, so I don't think I should attempt that....but maybe a stuffed Chicken with mashed taters, gravy, stuffing, and yams. Any suggestions?
I MISS EVERYONE AND LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!