The Imagined Life

I hope you all are making it through this weird time! I'm sure you're chock full of COVID information. I know that I am. It's getting to that point where I have to turn away and run the opposite direction when I see the news being put on the TV. Run of course meaning go to another room in the house. Because there - is - nowhere - else - to - go. South Africa has gone in an interesting direction with this whole thing. Instead of using reason and logic to guide their decisions, they have gone down a path that many have paved before. Total arbitrary control. From on high, they tell us their decision with each passing few weeks, and it's enough to send everyone to the cavern of despair. We arrived here on March 17. It is now May 24. The country has pretty much been on lockdown since we arrived. They told us it was going to be for three weeks. Then it was another two weeks. Then it turned into a level system and we were at level 5 with hopes of a level 4. We're in le...

My apologies that I didn't get a post out in March, but I'm sure you can understand. The world has been taken by storm! Or a virus, I should say, and we've all been in a tizzy trying to figure out what's going on and where to go. We rushed to South Africa in order to be with James' parents. We were planning on spending Spring Break with them in Malawi and Zambia anyway but due to unforeseen circumstances, that didn't work out. So we are here! Filling our days with what activities we can. (Our cat is busy making me jealous as he sits on my neighbor's laps back in Malawi and shares his love with people besides me. Traitor.) Here in South Africa, we are in lockdown. I mean real-deal prison lockdown, none of this light request of social distancing kind of lockdown. No leaving the house unless you need to: groceries, medical things. We can't even walk outside or buy alcohol! You will find me here slowly moving out further and further into the lawn trying ...

Ok, maybe February isn't quite blissful, but it is a far cry from the dark corners of endless January, which seemingly stretched on into eternity. Now, red wine is back in my life, and yet inspiration eludes me. Oh, my 2020 goals! My dear sweet goals! I cling to them and pick through them now and again and wonder how on earth I will accomplish them. I sometimes feel afraid in the morning before I begin to write. A fresh daily dose of fear. So unlike me, is it not? Thoughts swirl around in my head. Ok, what should I write? Will it be good? Will it make sense? Knowing the helter skelter world that is my mind, probably not.  I search for my inspiration in the lovely morning birdsong and the bottom of my cup of earl grey, and yet, I see only foggy ideas in front of me. But, perhaps, inspiration is just like that. I have these moments I see that I write down in my notebook, and they're lovely, excellent moments. Snippets of a story or a book or even a scene. And yet, what goes o...

We have recently returned from our awesome US trip back HOME to Malawi. It's nice to think of Malawi as home. That's the only way one can do it. Embrace your new homeland! Currently, Malawi is in summer with daily rainstorms and beautiful greenery. It calmed and soothed our delirious jetlagged souls as we arrived out of the airport after our 52 hour journey (gross!), and we were happy to be back in our house with our cat who missed us greatly. Cats can miss people, you know! But, soon after our arrival, once at least a bit of the fog of travel had disappeared, we both started to feel that usual January slump. Sure, we're depressed about the holidays being over. I hated and always hate saying goodbye to family and friends AGAIN after such an awesome time. But, I think that with the new year always comes the push to be more reflective on our lives, and both of us are doing just that. We are considering whether our paths, mainly our career paths, are heading in the direc...

Forgive me! I've been incredibly remiss in my posting of late, having missed an entire month! Although not too much has happened, I had such high hopes for my consistency. Let's see what I can update you with this time. FINALLY, the rains have come. That sounds so beautiful, doesn't it? And when they're African rains, why it's positively poetic! I am currently sitting on my famous veranda, with a glass of wine, typing away, and listening to the rain on the large green leaves. Still working on my tree identification. I feel like I have to have a thing. Everyone has a thing these days. And, since I absolutely refuse to be interested in birds, I thought trees would be a cool, yet youthful thing to get interested in. But, I have yet to begin my tree studies. Therefore, I call them large green leaves, but they could actually be banana leaves. Isn't this description of my garden fascinating? Either way, the rains have come and cut that horrible heat intensely, so ...

Everything seems to be falling into place in just the way that we'd hoped. I'm praying that James won't give me the old "I told you so." That would be just too annoying. When I had been crying maniacally at the beginning of our time in Lilongwe, I remember pleading with him to not say it when it eventually worked out. Because deep down, I knew it would. It always does, but that's not a convenient thought when you feel like drowning in despair. But, both of us feel like it's been a lot smoother and an easier transition than we had in Taipei. In Taipei when we first moved there, we were renting a bedroom, basically, for an exorbitant amount of money and had no place to escape from each other, and there wasn't really any English in our part of town. We still don't quite have a place to escape from each other in the evenings because the sun goes down at 6 and all evening activities we're involved in on weekdays end at 6. But, we do have two roo...

Blog is back in business! Now you get to find out about my adventures from across the sea! And, it's fun to move to a new spot, since then I will have a lot more stories to tell you! Moving to a new country is a similar feeling to tapping a stranger on the shoulder and asking, "Will you be my friend?" It's definitely many different shades of awkward, but at least you meet a bunch of other people who are also doing the stranger shoulder-tapping, so it's some comfort. After a very long journey, we finally landed in dusty Malawi. The reason it was so long is that we took a long way around and had a four-hour delay. We flew to Qatar, were delayed, and then flew to Johannesburg, and then flew to Malawi. If you are among those who would like to visit, I would recommend the nonstop flight from New York to Johannesburg, and then you only have a 2-hour flight to Lilongwe, Malawi. Unfortunately, at each point of check-in (in Philly and in Johannesburg) we were questio...

November was my first real full month as a freelance writer, and it's gone by so quickly and has been quite the adventure! I've had a few disappointments such as rejections or some writing jobs not working out or being what I hoped, but they're nothing in comparison to what lovely success I've had! At this point, I'm defining success in making enough money to support myself with my writing work! I work for two main websites: Skyscanner Singapore and Free Homeschool Deals, but I am also the lucky recipient of two recent jobs: one with a cat blog, and one with a women's dating online magazine! I have been very blessed to be able to get these chances. I'm learning a lot about how to deal with people (virtually--real life is too scary! ;)), and I'm learning a lot about myself and my style. Well, when your "business" is a population of one, you get a lot of 'me' time--no complaints there. Fun facts I've gleaned working as a freelance ...

It's true everyone! All you doubters out there. Jet lag is a very real and horrible thing. It feels like your skull has doubled in size, and is trying to push its way out through your eyeballs. And, your eyelids suddenly weigh 100 pounds each and your pupils have no choice but to cross and leave you incapacitated for many days. It has now finally passed, but boy was it a bit rough there in the beginning. Going ahead in time by 12 hours AND arriving in the morning (so you can't go to sleep yet) is the worst. This was probably my least favorite bout of jet laggishness yet. And, a couple days after I landed, we flew off to Vietnam for the weekend since it was a school holiday for James. So, I feel as though I deserve the Jet Lag struggle and victory award of the year! Back in Taipei. It feels good to be back. I was loving my vacation, don't get me wrong, but there's something about being in your own house and doing your own tasks that's just so restorative. I feel ...

Hello all! Almost exactly one year later, I am back in the business of writing this blog. Aren't you all excited? Get ready to enjoy sometimes dull yet sometimes slightly humorous blog posts that will just keep everyone informed of the goings on over here in Taiwan with no more teaching! It's my way of connecting to you from afar :) But, as of right now, I'm out at the beach with Mom and Dad. And Katie and her new boyfriend Billy are in the area, so we've gotten to hang out with them sometimes. It's been a wonderful time of speed reading books (me and Mom), riding bikes, jogging on the boardwalk, birdwatching (Dad, NOT me), swimming, and having dinner by the water (all of us!). It's been amazing weather, and each day has been lovely to relax and enjoy our time together. But, today we got swarmed by flies, and as others are sitting casually on the sand in their beach chairs, mom and I are being feasted upon hungrily by angry flies who appear to look just like...

I am resolved. I would like to publish a blog at least once a month despite my crazy chock full brain at the moment. It needs to happen. Not only is it cathartic, but it also keeps you all updated since I hardly ever get to speak to you all! And, now that I am finally teaching 7th graders, I will now have boatloads of stories to tell. Yay! Yes, I have moved on from the comatose 8th graders to the mentally insane and energetic 7th graders, hoity toiter honors 8th graders, and the slowly leaving their comatose state 9th graders. I never thought I'd get the opportunity to teach this subject since my degree is in Elementary Ed. and English. Who knew that Kerilee Nickles would be pondering the skills of geography and the woes of history and talking away to groups of young people who have no idea that in reality, I'm just a regular girl who doesn't feel like an adult, and who doesn't actually know everything. One of my classes is World History. Ok, so I have to know the his...

I'm back in Taiwan! The second year is always the best, and it's a lot easier. You're kind of over the initial frustrations of adjusting to a new life and a new job, and you can kind of just slide into your old routine and can now focus on new things and more fun things. James and I have moved into a beautiful new rooftop apartment, so now I can officially live an adult life. Last year, I was living in the crustiest apartment in the world with a really nice yet strange woman. And living in a crusty place makes you crusty. But, now I feel refreshed and made new and can head into this world with a renewed power and enthusiasm! James and I had a beautiful summer vacation. We traveled to London to see many members of his family including his brother, and we went to Ireland to visit friends, and I even went to Wales to visit other friends. It was amazing! We could go to dark mahogany pubs where people understood what you were saying when you were ordering. I could order glute...

Even though I'm only 27, I still feel like I'm the last of an antiquated generation--those who had a free and amazing childhood that is, these days, almost the stuff of myths. My parents pushed us. They wanted us to do well, and they expected a lot of us. But, they wanted so much for us. They wanted us to be free, independent, and to have fun. They always encouraged me to push myself out of my comfort zone. They wanted me to try new things, explore opportunities, and to get the most out of my experiences! I may honestly be one of the last people around who truly had a Mayberry-like childhood. And it was heaven. I played in the park, rode bikes, made teepees and forts outside, created culinary mixtures, went to bonfires, played card games, went camping and watched the stars, and listened to the sound of the crickets at night. I spent summer evenings on a back porch, watching the fireflies gather. I went bowling, went to awesome church events, met new people, made great friend...

Wow, I don't think I've ever been this busy in my life. I remember last year I had a lot of time to myself and a lot of time to just wander aimlessly around, not sure what to do with myself. Now, I wouldn't dream of going back to that, but sometimes it can get a bit much over here. We have this long work day, and so when I get home it feels like there isn't so much time left in the evening. And there are social events, exercise groups, sports practice, grading to do, online courses to complete, articles to publish famously, etc. :) So, it seems as if there is no end! The weekend can seem like our own getaway from our busy lives, but then we feel like we need to do so many things! Exercise, spend time outside, see cool things in Taiwan, etc. And the vibe of the city does not lend itself to quiet and relaxation. There are so many people, and they are always doing something! Even if you want to go on a relaxing city hike, there's like a bajillion people up on the m...

Hey, I love flying, but SEVEN FLIGHTS is a little ridiculous. Ah, well, It was worth it! Last weekend, I returned from a beautiful 3 week vacation after 6 months of constantly working in the winter darkness and depression. It was amazing. I flew home to visit with family and friends, then fly off to St. Louis to see my sister and her little ones, and then I ended up on the beach in the Philippines with James. \ I'm so glad I got to see everyone and spend a lot of time with people! I hate being away from home so much, so that was just what I needed. I got to eat gluten free pizza from a restaurant, fill up on Target clothing, and speak English with people that understand me. It was wonderful! Since I got to see most of my blog readers while I was home, I'll head straight to my description of my Philippines trip! I arrived on a lovely warm morning in Puerta Princessa, a busy city with lots of people and lots of tourist spots. But, our focus for the trip was just to lay around...

This was one of the things I feared most as a child: as well as my dollhouse being stolen, being "called by God" to be a missionary, and being murdered by someone who hides behind the shower curtain (that fear still remains). But yes, I am 27 now, and this is my first Christmas away from my family. It was a really really hard thing to swallow, and I wouldn't have been able to have gotten over it quickly without James' help. Lucky for me, I must have used some wily power to change a Grinch to a Mr. Christmas. He knew I was quite disappointed about not being able to go home, so he's done his best to try to make it really nice. We went and got a fake Christmas tree for his house, decorated it with loads of baubles and lights, and even hung other decorations in his house. We gave ourselves a Christmas budget and our Christmas lists, and off we went. We've planned a Christmas day meal with precision. (I will be doing the fun and easy things: gluten free sugar coo...

Yes, it is true! I, this weekend, will be a hostess to an actual big event. I've shied away from being a real hostess my entire life, afraid of being represented as those women from the 1960's advertisements with pearls and a vacuum. I try to avoid all versions domesticity if possible, but I find that inside, I get the slightest bit of pleasure out of having people over and showing them a good time! So, I offered my lackluster hostessing services for a Thanksgiving dinner at my house. It was perfect because my roommate is away, and our house is pretty big compared to the rest of Taiwan. I mean, we have a living room and a balcony, and a separate room for a kitchen! Just imagine the possibilities. So, I will be scrounging together whatever I've got in the way of furniture: folding chairs, crusty tables and shelves, and dusting off the cat hair and will create an elongated Thanksgiving table of dreams. Now, for us traveling folk, that just means the table will be long enough ...

At last, with a whole lot of hoping, dreaming, and willing for it to happen, we have gotten a day off of work. For a typhoon! We are currently in the midst of it. It is like the snow days of yore--but without hot chocolate and the desire to go play outside. From inside, the park by the river has turned into a sea of white, sideways rain, and a turbulent flow of brown water slowly rising minute by minute. It has now overflowed to the point where it has covered the grassy park that lies beside it along with the bike trail and is close to lapping up to the edge of the highway bridge. On a certain weather app, you can watch the swirling mass of wind and rain head towards the island. So, it was a preemptive call off (of school), which comes as a welcome relief, but there is also the fear of those who get it the worst in the middle of the island. There are a lot of small towns there, and I don't know how they normally protect themselves against typhoons. In Akron, PA, things like this do...

Chopsticks have now become my friend. No wonder there aren’t really any obese people here-you cannot eat food that quickly with chopsticks, so your body actually has the time to realize its full! What an amazing invention, and so effective. You also look so elegant and graceful, and around other Westerners, you feel pretty good. But, they have also provided many other issues. I feel as though I’ve turned into a slob and that my mother would not be proud of me. Because I’m a chopstick newbie, I must pick and pull, and lots of times food ends up on the table next to my plate! Some foods you just CAN’T eat with chopsticks. Tell me, how does one eat a drumstick with chopsticks? Try it. You almost feel like you could start a band, you’ve got so many tools. Also, think about eating a tough piece of pork. It hangs from my mouth because the chopsticks have no power to rip the meat from my teeth. So, my next question is, “Do I use my hands?” I don’t know! I do, but I feel really bad about it. ...

Lancaster County is such a wonderful place. It was a great place to grow up, and it is always a pleasure to come home to. Lucky for me, I have had long summer breaks ever since I graduated from college, so I get the chance to spend a delicious month or two in my home town. There's just something about the summer time in Lancaster; it conjures up all of the old memories: bonfires, fast motorcycles, camping trips, hiking, swimming in lakes, drinking Mike's hard on friends' back porches. I'm used to living in dusty, loud cities for the past few years, and so when I get to visit home, I like to go for a nice long walk to reintroduce myself back into life. When I first got back to Lancaster, I found a wonderful walking spot over a covered bridge and in between cornfields, and I couldn't help smiling as I watched the green hills and the sun setting behind the silos. I could breathe in as deeply as I wanted to, and this time it was tinged only with grass and cow manure and...