Do you ever wish you had more control over your life?

It seems that most people in Taiwan spend their lives trying to please other people. They never get the chance to do any of the things they want to do. They can never change anything. 

The Lab is one way to "take control", and it's the idea of my good friend Jeremy. He and I are both quite practical people. We can fix cars and houses, do electrical work, mend broken furniture, etc. And most of our Taiwanese friends think this is really cool - not becaue we save money but because we always have a "can do" attitude.

Problem? I can fix it.

It doesn't matter if the problem is something physical, such as a broken door, or just some trouble in everyday life. If you are used to taking control and making things be the way you want then your life is much better.

So we have this idea of opening an "English School" that teaches language by giving students tasks to perform that also develop their practical skills. There's a double benefit: not only is this a more effective way to learn language, you also become more able to change your life to suit yourself.

The Lab is a long way in the future, but the plan is to have a full workshop, with lots and lots of power tools and facilities. Plus a library, educational videos, and classes. You can study, and as your skills improve you can work on your own projects. Work with wood, metal, plastic, clay, glass, and other materials to make something that is unique to you!

Funnily enough, when I talk to students about this, the ones who get most excited are always the girls!