Vocal Lesson Recommendation: Sean Wong (Taipei)

It seems I am raising a future blogger.  My son wrote this concise recommendation for his vocal coach: http://cubscouterblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/seans-singing-class/

As a mom of a boy who loves to perform, I am feeling extremely grateful for the opportunities that have come by our family this year.  One big spin-off from my son's role in Zeelandia is the connections we made here in Taipei.  Kyle's lessons with Sean Wong is one very good example. Sean is great with kids. He treats them as young professionals. He sets high standards and lets them take part in the decision-making process.

You can contact Sean directly for more information. He teaches children and adults.  info@seancswong.com

Sean's music website for reference: http://www.seancswong.com/

Art Workshops by Sunghee Min - Downtown Taipei

Sunghee Min is an established artist and sculptor with experience in teaching both in college and with her own children at home. To read a bit more about her and to see some of her work, go to: http://www.sungheemin.com/

My children attended her workshops held over summer.  They loved, loved, LOVED them.  I did too!  My children came home inspired to create, and with a knowledge of a couple of influential artists and their techniques. 

Sunghee now has a few classes running from home (and park), near Mingshen East Road in Taipei.  This is her new schedule:

Hi, there are two independent workshops and a 6 week-long class opening this month. All classes are suitable for kids ages from 4 to 7. Please check the details below and contact me or leave a message if you're interested. Thanks!

Independent workshops
Workshop 1
Sunday, November 10, 2pm-4pm
We will be doing a large collaborative project creating a Mandala design by using various techniques and materials. We'll also have outdoor activities at the park. Kids will make art by incorporating wind, rain or sun depending on the weather conditions

Workshop 2
Sunday, November 24, 2pm-4pm
We will be making a small set of teacups and a teapot in clay using molds and other techniques. We will have outdoor activities as well at the nearby park. Kids will make art by using what's available at the park.

Tuesday afternoon class (6 weekly classes),1:30pm-3:30pm
The class starts Tuesday, November 12 and will end on Tuesday, December 17.

We will have diverse projects including installations, nature art at the park, clay work, doll house, mixed media, art journal and more in this course.

Location: 5F-2, No.2-6 Lane 69, Minsheng East Road Section 5 (near Songshan airport)

There are numerous parks nearby, as well as a public library within walking distance,

and the Baby kitchen (a child-friendly cafe) around the block! IKEA is 4 bus stops away!

Fee: $950NTD per workshop/class. The fee includes materials.

Email: sungheemin@yahoo.com
Mobile: 0958234028
Facebook Page Link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-for-Kids-bySungheeMin/217372028427563?ref=stream

Fall Schedule for Parents' Place (Neihu MRT, Taipei, Taiwan)

As business manager for Parents' Place (a center for families in Taipei, Taiwan to meet and learn), I want to share our new schedule for the end of 2013.  Join me and other great instructors as we build a community of parents and children that enjoy learning and having fun in an English-language environment.  We have activities suited for native English speakers and ESL/EFL learners.

As well as what is listed on this timetable, we have the following workshops and meetups:

*Chinese cooking classes with Ivy Chen
*Breastfeeding Support Group every second Monday of the month, 3-5:30pm.
*Winter and Summer camps

If you are interested in any of these activities, please REGISTER on the form at www.parentsplace.com.tw, so we can keep in touch and so you can let us know your preferences.

As a guideline, most classes are NTD450/hour, with materials fees as necessary.

 This is the bus-stop, which is right outside Parents' Place.  You can also get off at Dahu or Neihu MRT stops. We are right in between the two stops, next to Cheng Gong Park.

Address: 2F, No. 315, Section 4, ChenGong Rd, Neihu District, 台北市內湖區成功路四段315號2F, Taipei, Taiwan 114
Tel: 0987-576-771
Website: www.parentsplace.com.tw
FB: Parents' Place

Children's Workshops (part of the Flora Expo Park's Design Month) Register Now!

My children are sick at home, so I don't have much time to give a complete translation of this material, but I know these things fill up really quickly so I wanted to get it out there ASAP.

Part of the Design Month at the Flora Expo Park, there are some pretty nice children's workshops coming up.
*Recommended: 8-13 year olds are accompanied by a parent. Parents, remember to sign yourselves up.
*These are free.
*If you get confirmation you are registered, you need to arrive 30 minutes before class with the confirmation letter.
*If you get one that says you are on the waiting list, go along with the paper just in case others don't turn up.
Good luck!

Link to sign up form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TfmrfK6fPClCXjspNSN13fuhkn96DzXclAfg8Ba2T30/viewform

【兒童組】花藝設計好好玩Flower arranging

9/28 (SAT) | 10:00-12:00 | 花博公園會議中心 | 林惠理 | 備註：建議8-13歲兒童由一位家長陪同參與，陪同的家長也請記得幫自己報名喔!

 

【兒童組】小小雕塑家--黏土創作工作營Clay

10/5 (SAT) | 10:00-12:00 | 花博公園會議中心 | 江亭諭 | 備註：建議8-13歲兒童由一位家長陪同參與，陪同的家長也請記得幫自己報名喔!

 

【兒童組】小小創意家--立體剪紙教學3D paper

10/10 (THU) | 10:00-12:00 | 花博公園會議中心 | 李庚錞 | 備註：建議8-13歲兒童由一位家長陪同參與，陪同的家長也請記得幫自己報名喔!

 

【兒童組】小小創意家--基礎剪紙工作營Paper Cutting

10/12 (SAT) | 14:00-16:00 | 花博公園會議中心 | Tim Budden (英國) | 備註：1. 建議8-13歲兒童由一位家長陪同參與，陪同的家長也請記得幫自己報名喔! 2. 本課程為英文授課，現場將有助教協助翻譯。

Workshops for adults (designers):   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1B1FHhVDe7Pv3AGR4U3XyxMDmXEU1tw791mA7QlhW-ls/viewform

Workshops for adults (general public):  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kIi5iFCqIwMii5VxdN4cl_54MewV1FyBWmbYH3SCtrk/viewform

Reading and Writing With Your Children: A Workshop Series for Parents

Would you like to learn how to support your child's literacy development at home? By popular request, I am running these three workshops once again. These workshops are for parents and caregivers, and teachers, too. Whether you are just starting out with little ones, or looking for some new ideas to use with older children, you will find something useful in this course.

The workshops are in English, but I speak Chinese and I am happy to use it in the workshops if it helps attendees understand some points better. So, don't worry that your English is not good enough. 如果想請我給中文版的訓練,請通知我 (請通知我我需要四個人才可以開班）

Times and Topics:

1. Monday, September 9th, 2013, 9:30-11:30am - Literacy Development/Reading Skills
2. Tuesday, September 10th, 2013, 1pm-3pm - Incorporating Quality Literature Into Your Child's Life
3. Monday September 16th, 2013, 9:30-11:30am - Helping Your Child Become a Writer

Cost: NTD500 per person. This includes comprehensive handouts and a few materials to take home so you can try what you learned, right away.

I will need four sign ups to open each workshop. Regular visitors and newcomers all welcome!

Please sign up and tell me which workshops you will attend. 

Address: #315 2F ChengGong Road Section 4 , Neihu

FB Page: Event: Reading and Writing

[July 2013] Art workshops for children, in English, at Parents' Place in Neihu

Parents' Place is a family community center run by Angie Chang, a Canadian living in Taiwan with her three children. Angie started Parents' Place as a place where English-speaking families can meet and share experiences, as well as letting their children meet other kids in similar situations. We have children who are homeschooled, children attending local public school, children attending international schools, babies, toddlers, and children up to Junior High School age, all coming along to events.

We are excited to offer four workshops over summer! Dates: July 15th (Monday) and July 17th (Wednesday). July 22nd (Monday) and July 24th (Wednesday). Dates are tentative based on securing six students. Please sign up for the first workshop by Thursday, July 11th.

Each workshop will run for three hours, from 2pm until 5pm.

All workshops are suitable for children four (4) years and older. Workshops are all in English.

Cost is NTD1,000 per workshop. There will also be a NTD50-100 fee to cover materials each workshop.

The four workshops are independent, so you can come to one or all workshops.

Minimum of six (6) sign ups are needed to offer the workshop. Payment can be made on the day, but prepayment at Parents' Place is preferable. The teacher (Sunghee Min) is running these on good faith, so please make sure you will come to the workshop and pay before signing up.

To sign up, either email Sunghee at sungheemin@yahoo.com, send us a message on Parents' Place's FB page, or email me (Katrina) at kbtaiwan@gmail.com. Please leave a way to contact you (email/tel.)

Workshop One (Monday July 15th):

Clay modeling of a portrait head: Building an armature (inside structure to support the clay outside) using cardboard, straws, newspapers, and masking tape.

Brief picture introduction to works by professionals.
Quick demonstration of different clay tools.
Draw/write/sketch what you want finished work to look like.
Learn about basic facial anatomy.
Hollowing out the finished work and drying.


Workshop Two (Wednesday July 17th):

Clay carving and vessel building: Building containers using clay that is hard enough to hold up forms without supporting structures.
Kids will carve, engrave, make holes, stick nails, etc to finish the surface.

Workshop Three (Monday July 22nd):

Acrylic Painting on canvas: Introduction to Pointillism and the painter Georges Seurat.
Black and white drawing or painting on paper.
Discussion and planning of project for workshop 4.

Workshop Four (Wednesday July 24th):

Collaborative installation using recycled material: This will be a fun, open-possibility project.

About the teacher:
Sunghee Min is an established artist and sculptor with experience in teaching both in college and with her own children at home. To read a bit more about her and to see some of her work, go to: http://www.sungheemin.com/

About Parents' Place:
An activity center for kids, parents and parents-to-be.
2F, No. 315, Section 4, ChenGong Rd, Neihu District, 台北市內湖區成功路四段315號2F, Taipei, Taiwan 114
http://www.parentsplace.com.tw

Homeschooling Group and Organic Farming in Taichung

Next week, Centered in Taipei magazine will publish an article I wrote about homeschooling in Taiwan.  It is packed with practical information.  So, it is quite timely that a message came through fromEdward Scott Rosenberg; a father looking for like-minded homeschoolers in Taichung.

ATTN: Homeschoolers in Taichung

My wife, our 6 year old and myself have started a small homeschooling group that caters specifically to homeschoolers in Taichung.

Why I am posting here is that we are constantly on the lookout for like minded individuals who can help us fill in the gaps in teaching, workshops and activities.

For example:
*I teach (of course) English and science based classes for free. I only ask parents to gather material for the classes.

*I have a friend who teaches Yoga to 5+ kids for only NT100 a class (adults too).

*We also have teachers that teach German and Japanese.

We organize meet ups and gatherings for support and to work as a community helping each others with all the challenges that come.

If you are interested in this and wish to contribute your time and experience to homeschooling families, contact me (Edward Scott Rosenberg) on Facebook.

Edward mentioned he would LOVE to meet more English-speaking homeschoolers in Taichung area.

Edward is passionate about farming, and teaches people how to keep an oragnic farm in Taiwan (Taichung in particular).  He describe things so well himself, I'll use another quote.

I have a Facebook page, Taichung Urban Farmers (TUF), that I use to teach people of all ages how to grow plants (mostly edible) and how to eat healthy.

In the very near future, I plan on having free events at TUF's 20 ping mini-farm that will teach both parents and children together how to live healthier lives through organic farming practices and other self sufficiency projects.

*For those concerned, these are science based classes and can be labeled as such.

Some examples include...

*Planting and caring for plants – I teach hands on about photosynthesis, pollination, helping plants grow and things of this nature. I always give away the plants for free after teaching how to care for them. Many children love journaling the plants life. It is wonderful watching the process of children growing, caring and eating what they have grown.

*Bottle biology with recycled bottles – Fun hands on projects include learning about composting, how to make kimchee and build a TerrAqua Column model to explore the link between land and water.

*Other Recycling Bottle fun - Making self watering planters, mini greenhouses and more!

Go ahead and 'like my page' for updates and if you wish to get together for a science class (agriculture/biology), let me know and I will arrange it.

Look out for my article next week, for information about homeschooling in Taiwan.

Summer Camp 2013 - A Chance to Let Your Children Let Off Steam, Learn New Skills, Speak English, and Meet New Friends

Further to my post about my weekly classes at Parents' Place in Neihu, I'd like to tell you about the two summer camps we are running this July and August.  Fitness Instructor Colleen Peterson and myself will share the job of taking up to twelve children through a week of fun, physical fitness, and mental exercise.

We do already have a couple of kids registered, so sign up early to avoid disappointment.

WEEK ONE JULY 1ST TO 5TH
WEEK TWO AUGUST 19TH-23RD
10AM-3PM (Doors open 9:30am-4pm)

Suitable for children aged 6-12 or so (entering first grade to entering Junior High), each camp is five days long and runs from 10am to 3pm each day. The camp will be run in English. Native speakers of English, and children with English as a Second or Foreign Language are all most welcome.  (Teachers do speak Chinese as a Foreign Language, but instruction will be in English.)

*Doors will open at 9:30am and close at 4pm. There will be four hours of organized activities each day.

*Cost for one camp is TWD5,000 per child. We need a minimum of six paid-up enrolments before the camp can go ahead, so please register and pay early. (Please pay by June 5th for the first camp.)

* The schedule for the two camps will be similar (fitness in the morning, quieter activities in the afternoons), but content will be different. This is to ensure children get to do a variety of activities, even if they sign up for both camps.

*Numbers limited to 12 children per camp.

*Schedule:

10-12 noon: Teacher - Colleen Peterson
Summer Camp Fit and Fun for Kids: Let's get fit this summer, have fun, make some new friends and learn some new skills!

10:00-10:15 : warm up cardio and light weight strength training
10:20-10:30 : cardio endurance training (10 spot circuit where there will be ten different stations to run to, 1 min at each, doing heart raising activites like jump rope, star jumps etc)
10:30-10:35: pilates core workout
10:35-10:50: three legged race, egg and spoon race, sack race, tunnel ball , air volleyball, bobbing for apples,red rover, funny mummy wrap game (each day will be a different activity)
10:50-11:00 Water and toilet break
11:00-11:50 To the park we will learn and play tee-ball

12noon-1pm Lunch Break/Rest

1pm-3pm Activity Time - Katrina Brown
Activities will include paper making, letter writing, felt craft, board games, environmental discussion, Readers Theater, science, and art. Exact activities will be finalized once we know the age group of registered children.

 

Address: 
2F, No. 315, Section 4, ChenGong Rd, Neihu District, 台北市內湖區成功路四段315號2F, Taipei, Taiwan 114

Registration Page:  http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html

Join My Classes at Parents' Place - Something for all Learning Levels and Interests

Parents' Place is a community-style center set up in Neihu District, Taipei City, by long-time friend Angie Chang.  Like me, Angie is an expat married to a Taiwanese man.  Her children are also bilingual, mixed-culture kids.  The center is the result of years of discussion in our group about how to best meet the needs of our own children as well as those in a similar situation as us.  Open for almost two years, there are now many classes and groups on offer.  English is the language of instruction, and children of all levels of English are welcome.

 

Today, I want to introduce the classes that I teach.

1. Writers Workshop - Wednesday afternoons 1:15-3:15pm

The target age group for this class is Grade 1 to Grade 6.  Although most of the 8 children enrolled have been in the class for at least a semester, the class is designed in a way that children coming in at any time will feel welcome and will be able to work at their own level.

First-graders taking part in NaNoWriMo in 2012.

 Hour 1: We are learning English grammar in a fun, story-type way.  I chose materials designed for homeschooled and/or gifted and talented children.  Grammar is introduced through several books written as stories.  We are currently learning about stems (eg. re, in, de) including their history, meaning, and usage.  Most of this work is done in the group and their is minimal written work.  We then do individual phonics/language work in books for each child's level.

Hour 2: Writing: The goal in this hour is to give children the skills and motivation needed to develop themselves as writers as they move the grades.  We are learning stories and material that children in English speaking countries would learn, and doing a short writing project each week.  Because the time most of these children spend doing "academic" English work is very limited, I endeavour to choose the best of works available to us.

Cost for the class: TWD900 per week, payable in semester blocks.  A TWD300 material fee applies. This subsidies your child's workbook, which you can take home at the end of the course. You can register your interest in the class here: http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html


2. English in Action - Wednesday afternoons 3:30-5pm

Opened in response to a request for a class for more ESL/EFL level elementary-aged students that enjoyed my style of teaching, this class currently has just two students (2nd Graders) and would definitely benefit from a couple more students.

In this class, I am currently doing a crash-course in Grade 1 level phonics (CVC words at the moment), as well as working on basic reading and writing skills.  Vocabulary development is also a focus, and I am using the Wordly Wise 3000 pack for this purpose. 

If you have friends with children who plan to immigrate to an English-speaking country or are telling you they would like their children to have a more "Western" style of language education for their local children, please let them know of this option.

Cost for the class: TWD675 per week, payable in semester blocks.  A TWD300 material fee applies.  This subsidies your child's workbook, which you can take home at the end of the course. You can register your interest in the class here: http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html


3. Stepping into Literacy - Tuesday mornings 10am-11am

 

Designed for children of preschool age (3 to 6), this class is a wonderful way to begin the journey into reading and writing.  Due to the transient nature of the community, our class has suddenly gone from six students to three, so again, the class size is small enough to ensure your child gets attention.  This semester, we are covering Nursery Rhymes from A to Z.  We make a folder each week.  Children learn the rhyme, read a related reader, do some art and writing preparation work, and play a short game, all in one hour.

Cost for the class: TWD450 per week, payable in semester blocks.  You can register your interest in the class here: http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html

**All classes at Parents' Place are open to have one free, obligation-free, trial class per student. As this is also my income, I encourage you to come and try the classes and check out the space!  Please prevent me from having to go work in a Taiwan-style cram school where it is so much harder to ignite the flames of inspiration in the children. Even though I spend more time preparing these classes than I would need to in the "English Mill", it is so much more rewarding for both myself and the children involved.

Parents' Place Information:

2F, No. 315, Section 4, ChenGong Rd, Neihu District,
台北市內湖區成功路四段315號2F, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 0987 576 771
Email:  parentsplacetaiwan@gmail.com

Any questions can also be sent to me via the comments section of this blog.

Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots - English Program through Parents' Place

Parents' Place owner Angie Chang is dedicated to environmental awareness, and to passing on this passion to children.  After much preparation, she is ready to make and English-language Roots and Shoots group happen in Neihu, Taiwan.  Your kids don't have to be native speakers of English, but it's definitely helpful to be fairly fluent/comfortable in an English-speaking environment.

I have been wanting to run a Roots and Shoots program at Parents Place for a while now and I would like to recruit a few parents to volunteer to help run it. It will be free of charge and available for all English speaking, school aged children in Taipei. I think it would be best to have several parents running it as all parents have so many other commitments. 

Please contact Angie through her website's contact page, or by contacting her on the Parents' Place Facebook page.

 http://rootsandshoots.org/

 

From the website:

What is Roots & Shoots?

Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds of thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. We CAN change the world. - Dr. Jane

The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for our people, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in more than 120 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe.

New Classes at Parents' Place in Neihu

As "business manager" of Parents' Place in Neihu, I feel I MUST share this great list of classes being set up for September 2012, dependent on getting enough enrolments.

Here is a list of classes we are planning to open starting September. Let us know if you are interested in any of these so we can plan the schedule and instructors!  You can join in the discussion on Facebook or go to the website www.parentsplace.com.tw to learn more.

Classes are all run in English.  It is not an ESL program, so kids should have some level of English and parents should not expect teachers to teach language specifically (apart from the language classes, of course!)  And, teachers may or may not be native English speakers.  We are an international community center and choose teachers that are good at what they do and communicate adequately.  Classes are definitely worth it.  Most are 450 per class but this is not for everything, so please double-check before registering!  Four students with a deposit paid are needed before classes open, so if you are "thinking about it", just do it :)

Classes:

Cooking Taiwan: Buying and cooking local vegetables AND cake decorating for birthdays

Little Chefs: A kids cooking class

Dance Fit: A Zumba inspired fitness class, including a weekend class!

Mandarin for Moms: Learn Chinese in a ch...ild friendly environment

Mandarin for Kids: Chinese for the little ones

Dance: One class for preschoolers and another for older children

Baby Massage: Learn massage techniques for infants

Step into Literacy: An introduction into the alphabet and phonics for preschoolers

Little Artists: An art class for toddlers

Writers Workshop: One afternoon a week, English writing practice for those with kids in local schools that need to improve their English language reading and writing skills.

Lego: a Lego class for older children

Baby Sign Language: Learn to communicate with your baby

Roots and Shoots: A free, once a month club teaching older children about environmental issues with lots of fun projects to do together!

Parents' Place:

#315 2F ChengGong Road, Section 4
Nei-Hu, Taipei
We are located between Nei Hu and Da Hu MRT stations, above a Mentor Hairdressers.

Baby Signing Class (in English)

My friend Angie Chang is a certified and experienced Baby Signing instructor.  She also has Baby Signing materials for sale.  Leave a message on her website if you would like to join the class or buy a DVD.

Learn how to communicate with your child before they can even speak!

Baby Signing has been shown to reduce frustrations, crying and temper tantrums by giving your child a way to communicate their needs.

There's a session starting Monday, May 28th at 11:00am. Cost is only 1800nt for all four classes plus 900nt for materials, a CD and flashcards.

Take a look what your little one can learn:

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rJI9eu1-dI&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/url]

#315 2F ChengGong Road Section 4, Neihu, Taiwan
email: angie@parentsplace.com.tw


www.parentsplace.com.tw

[July 16-20] Summer Camp in Neihu (English)

I'm involved in organising this Summer Camp in Neihu.  Basically, a group of us have bilingual children and we wanted to arrange a camp/class that was more like a Summer Camp you would attend back in the US/NZ/similar education system, at a reasonable price.  We also wanted to give parents with skills some opportunity to share the skills and perhaps get back into teaching if they have been away.

The camp is open to anyone age 6 through 12.  Your kids will need to have a reasonable level of English, as this is not an English-teaching camp.  It's a camp in English.

A week of enriching activities for our kids. Half-day drama camp and half-day other classes, all in English. A chance for parents to get a little time off and for our kids to meet other English-speakers in a meaningful course.

Mornings: *Pet Care *Introduction to Cursive Writing *Cooking for Kids *Paper/book making *Sewing *Games Morning

Afternoons: A drama teacher will help children prepare a play, props, and costumes, to be performed Friday afternoon to family and friends. Joanne is a 3rd-year drama student at Wen-Hua University. She is enthusastic and passionate about drama, and is excited to have this opportunity to teach the session. Having spent the six years of her life in the US, she speaks very good English.

Cost: $450/session (2250 for 5 mornings, 2250 for 5 afternoons. Sign up for the week for just $3500)
Times : Daily 10am-12 noon, 1pm-3pm. Supervised lunch break
Lunch cost 100/day or bring your own
Target age group: 6-12 years (going into first grade in September or older)
Target audience: Children don't have to be native English speakers, but they need to be OK in an all-English situation.
Registration by May 30th, please, including deposit (non-refundable) of $1,000 per child.
Transport Options: Bus 630 stops at door. Da Hu MRT a five-min walk.

Facebook Page for the Event.

Or fill in the sign-up page on the website.

**Please help us keep this great space operating by sharing information about it with your friends!

Birth Education and Doula Services

If you are preparing to have your baby in Taiwan, you may want to contact Angie at BeautifulBeginnings to find out about English-language birth and childcare classes, and to ask about her Doula Services.  Based in Taipei, Angie travels to other parts of Taiwan upon request.

Angie is an expat mom married to a Taiwanese man.  She had her three children in Taiwan, and is very happy to pass on her knowledge of giving birth in Taiwan.  She has assisted mothers from many different countries and will do her upmost to have doctors support you in the having the kind of birth you want.

http://www.beautifulbeginnings.com.tw/page/page/5969587.htm
Tel: 0975266833

Sunnie Gulliver at Sweet Treats - Cooking Classes and Cakes in Taichung (And Beyond)

I am more and more impressed by the ingenuity and enthusiasm  of expats in Taiwan trying to forge a lifestyle and income for themselves.  Taichung resident Sunnie Gulliver is one example of what I am talking about.  Sunnie runs a kitchen and baking workshop in Taichung city.  She not only bakes for Taichung residents, but can send birthday cakes and more to other cities, too.  Below is an introduction she wrote upon my request.  Her classes look like a lot of fun for the kids!

Now, here's a sweet treat!

I grew up with a mom who loved to bake.  She was a fabulous cake decorator and a wedding caterer, and I was the "hired" help.  When I moved to Taiwan nearly 11 years ago, I could find nothing in the bakeries that satisfied my sweet tooth.  Because I have always enjoyed baking and learned many things from my mom growing up, I just made my own.  After a while, I started getting asked to bring things for parties.  Soon I was being paid to provide cookie trays for events and meetings. 

When my first child was born, I quit teaching to stay home with her, but I found that I really missed teaching. When people started asking questions about how I did this or how to make that, I decided that doing workshops and classes would be a lot of fun, and I could combine two of my favorite things to do – teaching and baking. Now that my last child is about to go off to school, I have more time to branch out and do more things with baking and decorating and teaching workshops. I’m hoping that more people (young and old) will have the chance to come, learn a little something, and have a great time in the kitchen! I especially enjoy decorating cakes and cupcakes, but you might find you enjoy cookies more.

 

For those who don’t have any interest in learning or coming to workshops or just want to order a birthday cake that they don’t have to think about doing themselves, I still provide birthday cakes, cupcakes, or even an after-dinner kind of dessert on order. All items are custom-made, with many imported ingredients, so you do need to order ahead to make sure I have time on my schedule. I’d love to hear from you! Contact me through my website: www.thedecoratedcake.webs.com or directly:  Sunnie Gulliver gullivers1@mca.org.tw.  (Some things are available for shipping to Taipei or other parts of the island.  Not everything can be shipped.)

 

Get Fit and Fabulous with Colleen at Parentsplace (Family community center, Neihu)

My dear, fit and fabulous friend Colleen is back in town and ready to help mums and mums-to-be stay fit and healthy in body and mind.  Colleen is a really fun person to be around and I promise just being in the class will make you happy, even before you start moving!  Here is the class description below.  Please go to the website for me details and to register. 

Moms Fit and Fabulous prenatal and "baby and me" exercise class registrations open now. Available to start after the new Chinese year, these classes are specifically tailored to suit your needs.

Moms to be that want to stay healthy both for themselves and their baby, can join other moms to be in either a first/second trimester class or a more gentle and muscle releasing third trimester class.

New mums have the chance to increase the beautiful bond with their baby and begin the process of reshaping that overworked body by incorporating moves that involve both mum and bub.

All this in English too so let's get started!

http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/

Winter Break 2012: See What's On Offer At Parent's Place

If you are on Facebook, sign up to "Parent's Place" (in Neihu), and wait expectantly for announcements regarding activities coming up after the official Chinese New Year break. All going well, there will be the following workshops for school-age children:
*Magic
*Photography
*Animal Care
... and more.

These promise to be very affordable, and fun, too!

Website:

	http://www.parentsplace.com.tw

English-language Breastfeeding Support Group in Neihu (Right by MRT Station)

An English breastfeeding support group is up and running. It is one Monday a month and open to all nursing moms free of charge. The leader of the group, Berta, will choose a topic for discussion each month and then this will be followed by an open discussion about any concerns, questions or advice. There is also a private, online group for discussions between group meetings.

The next meeting will be November 14th at my friend's new family activity center Parents' Place. You can find the registration form and map at www.parentsplace.com.tw

**Parentsplace is right by two MRT stations and bus stops, so it's easy for people all over the city to get to.  Its also near the exit of Highway 1, and lots of car parks nearby.  So, even if you live "far" from Neihu, it's not hard or too long to get to the support you need.

Parents' Place - An Activity Center in Neihu

I'm very excited to introduce my friend's new activity space for families in Taipei.  Situated in Neihu, within walking distance of the MRT, it is actually accessible for families outside Taipei, too.  I recommend joining the facebook page to keep uptodate with activities you can participate in, times you can go and just hang out, and products you can look at or buy from the center.

Examples of activities on offer are Kindermusik, dance, martial arts, and prenatal yoga.  But, you don't have to join anything to feel welcome in this space!

Got World Cup Fever? Let Your Kids Play a Little Rugby!

I found this information about an English-language rugby club running on Saturday mornings at Da An Park, 10-12.  It's TWD200 per session per child, but if you love rugby and want your children to try something that's in English, it could be worth further investigation.

As we are in NZ for the World Cup build-up, my kids are getting into the idea of being a "Small Black".  I was going to put my son into a team here but he, unfortunately, broke his arm on the third day of our trip.  I'm not sure how enthusiasm for the game will hold up when we return to Taiwan.