Saturday, December 27, 2014

Christmas Week - 22nd to 28th December

22nd to 28th December
Christmas week…I wonder what the week will bring.
Monday
My regular baking and pastry class today and I feel that this class was one of the highlights of the semester.  It’s for the reason that we prepared all types of Danish applications and Sticky Buns.  The students had no complaints in sampling their products.  I was pleasantly pleased with the results considering this was their first time in working with yeast dough. 
After arriving home, Lee and I rode the scooter once again to the ocean side.  There’s something about that area that keeps inviting me to return.  One of my favourite areas to go to but there’s really nothing there except the ocean and the university and A LOT of tourists.
Tuesday
Rode to the original breakfast eatery this morning and this was the first time since the accident.  They seemed pleased to see us and it was good to frequent there again.  I told Lee that we would now have to share the visitation between this place and the other breakfast eatery, which is just around the corner from me. 
As we were enroute to school this afternoon, we encountered a backup of traffic going south.  Seemed quite unusual at this time of day (2:30pm) and Peter was saying perhaps an accident.  Not long after saying that, we noticed an accident did indeed take place.  A large transport truck seemed to have run into the back end of a smaller car.  Back car windshield and area was all crushed and window shattered.
Tonight when Peter picked me up from school, he mentioned that he heard there was a fatality in that accident that happened earlier in the day.  Yikes!
Well, I arrived at my office and as I came closer to my desk I noticed a fairly large box sitting there.  Analeigh said it had arrived yesterday.
This was a ‘care package/Christmas package’ from Eileen and her department.  I had to open it as the curiosity was crawling at me.  It was truly amazing and wonderful to see the contents from reading material to sweets to other types of food.  What an amazing group of people at Humber College.
Wednesday
A non-contact day today so Lee and I went to the breakfast eatery around 8 and had our usual then of course had to stop at 7-11 for the special on lattes.  (2 for $92) = approx. $3.40CDN
Later on we went to Costco to pick up a few items and then since it was around noontime, decided to visit my favourite Thai Milk Tea eatery and have lunch there.  I’ve always wanted to try the food but had never done so until now.  Wow it was good!
Tonight was a Christmas Eve party put on by the first year students in Paul’s program.  The party was held in one of the classrooms at the school (which is normal).  I had Peter take me there around 6:30, as it was to begin at 7.
The photos will speak for themselves.
It was a great evening with around 40 students.  They had various activities, talent show, food, gift exchange and games.  Paul and I left after the talent show and photo taking.
It was so much fun to watch the students and they were so engaged and excited bout the evening.
The food was prepared by the Western Culinary students and consisted of a half turkey pita sandwich, soup (not sure what kind) and large cup of hot chocolate.  The students also brought in from outside quite a few (I think around 10) pizzas from Pizza Hut, all various toppings.
Lee came and picked me up on the scooter (this was longest ride I’ve been on since accident AND a night time).  I’m slowly getting myself mobile and back into the real world (but with caution of course).
It was a great evening!
Thursday (Christmas Day)
Today is a regular working/school day here in Taiwan but still there are the Christmas decorations throughout the larger department stores and some of the school administration staff where Santa hats just to be in the festive mood.
A couple of students came into the office and presented Analeigh, Paul and myself with a bamboo money tree, for good luck in the New Year.
I received today at the apartment a small package from the school of HRT, which shows again the camaraderie of my peers and what a fantastic school I work in.  Thank You Susan!
Friday
No school today for me as I went back to the hospital for my 3 month x-ray check up and talk with the Doctor.  I am #2 on the patient list so was at the hospital by 8am. 
Lee came with me, as there are still things I cannot do on my own without the help of some Mandarin.
The x-ray shows signs of new developed bone tissue forming near the bottom of the fracture (this is good) but the upper part of the fracture still has a gap and needs further time to heal.  Because the density and structure of this bone, it doesn’t fuse as quickly as the others.
I asked the Doctor if I could begin riding the scooter (even though I’ve been riding for 2 weeks) and he said yes but to be careful on rough areas and not too fast…hahaha
I will still be using the walking supports, as I cannot walk without the help of them.  I still must be careful for the next couple months until the upper bone heals.
The Doctor also mentioned I can probably begin walking around the house and perhaps school with one crutch instead of two but when I’m outside, to use both of them for support.  I will probably invest in a cane in the next month or two since it will be somewhat easier I think for me to move around.
My next appointment is 6th February so the Doctor is widening the visitation times since the healing is moving along as should be. 
We were finished at the hospital by 9 am so walked across the street to Starbucks and enjoyed a latte there for a while until Peter came to drive us back to the apartment.
Since the day was relatively young, we did a Costco trip, went to a local Thai place for lunch then headed over to the ocean side and relaxed with the view and another latte at 7-11.  Not sure how it sounds coming from me but I was damn cold!  I think the temperature was around 20C but still, just the breeze made it feel much colder than it was OR am I becoming too much of a sissy now in my old age and temperatures?  Haha
Another week is almost finished.  Before I know it, it will be Chinese New Year.
Saturday
Lee has now gone back to his job. Today is the first day since the accident so he was excited about going back but also apprehensive about the pain that reoccurs in his knee/leg once in a while.  He will be working the morning shifts for the time being as someone had already left but hopes to be back on his regular afternoon shift in the next few weeks.
He has been helping me dress because I still cannot function like I use to and it’s damn difficult putting on your socks when you cannot bend at the hip well.  I had to put them on this morning and whoah…it took me almost 10 minutes to put on a pair of socks.
I will never ever gain take for granted the ability and freedom of movement one has in being healthy.  This accident has certainly opened my eyes in many respects.
I had a make-up class to teach today since next week will be a four-day weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and many schools in Taiwan had make-up classes today.
All of my 48 students (minus 2) were present for the class.  This is a great group of students I’m teaching and they are very well organized and mature as a cohort.  This was one of the groups I had 2 years ago and they were by far my favourite class.
It was a 4-hour class and Peter was ready to drive me back to the apartment around noon.
I showered then decided to walk across to the library then onto 7-11 for a latte and sandwich then back to the library and relax a short time.  I would have stayed longer at the library but for some reason, there was a lot of minor construction and window washing going on and it was loud.  The relaxation mood didn’t stay long until I decided it was probably quieter in the apartment. Finishing off grades from this morning’s class and working on Monday’s class preparation.
Sunday
Well it’s around 9:30 Sunday morning and I just came back from walking to 7-11 to grab a couple of lattes.  They are still on special at 2 for $92 ($3.40CDN) Large size
The area under and around the library is closed off this morning, as there seems to be a fair amount of construction and window washing taking place.  I’m guessing this work is tidying up touches for the stonework etc.  A lot of noise dust and water hence why no thorough way.
I decided to walk using only 1 crutch instead of 2 as it is becoming slightly easier now for walking and placing more pressure on my leg.  I noticed after my return, my left leg, which supported the brunt of most of the weight, ached and by time I arrived back to the apartment, it was time to put the leg up and not use it for a while.  This was the first time I walked this distance on 1 crutch so of course it’s going to take some time to get use to but I’m on my way to a full recovery.
Temperature is around 17C this morning and overcast.  Looks like it rained during the night at some point.
This will be the final post for this week, next week posting will be 2015!
I will wish everyone a ‘Happy New Year’ and hope 2015 will be a great year for everyone!

You will notice some photos posted titled ‘Odds and Ends’.  Just a few photos I took throughout the week that really had nothing to do with the content of my blog but are interesting enough that I wanted to share with everyone.

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