In the States I had many friends. Here in Taichung I have but a few but I am learning to really cherish these friendships. Last Friday I met a mom (Apple)at the playground of Moses' school who has a daughter Seraphine's age. After quite a lengthy chat, she invited me out for a playdate.
Today we met up again and we went to the Science Museum together. She drove me to the museum and home again, paid for my entrance ticket, and even invited me out biking with her family sometime. Apparently there is a scenic bike route where you can rent electric bikes with baby baskets. Our daughter are quite similar in personality and even share the word "an" in the second half of their Chinese names. Anyway, as any foreigner can tell you, it gets lonely sometimes and we so much appreciate it when someone takes time to befriend you.
Apple reminds me so much of my friend, Pearl, who also treats me with such hospitality. Coming to Taiwan, I've really been able to slow down. Life is simpler. I have time to make new friends and hang out with them. I don't drive very often so I'm not rushing here and there all the time. I am not in a million small groups with countless meetings to attend and don't attend birthday parties every weekend. I don't have to shop or cook meals and plan for meals. I exercise regularly twice a week. I don't have to clean my big house or worry about how to decorate it and needing to decorate it. Life is simpler. And for now, I like it this way.
The daily life and adventures of a Taiwanese-American family during their extended stay in Taichung, Taiwan.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Shopping for Clothes
This is a favorite activity for me, for it is so much more affordable than in the US!
In the States when shopping for clothes for myself I have two basic criteria aside from an agreeable style: good price (under $30) and XS in size. Both can easily be found in Taichung. Of course quality is not always the best, but as a stay at home mom my clothes are casual anyway. What I am most happy about is how easy it is to find clothes that fit for a reasonable price.
There is a tiny shop next to the baby store down the street which is sort of an outlet. It sells clothing from all types of brands that are perhaps a little out of season. At first look it's like a store in the market which sells Taiwanese clothes which would look odd if I were to wear them in the States. But if you look closely you can find a few things that are basic and certainly wearable, cute even. The woman who owns the shop is very nice and very pressures me to buy things. So far I have found three shirts and one skirt, all for $190NT each (about $6). When I bought three items at one time, she rounded the figure down to $500NT from close to $600NT and did alterations for free. The other places I have shopped at are NET (I found many summer bargains for $200-$300 NT) and Giordano which are like Gap but cheaper and an online store called Lativ (which has really good quality clothes at Old Navy prices). For kids clothes we go to the market where there are many things for $100 NT or www.lativ.com.tw. Steve shops at Carrefour and Costco. Our clothes are certainly not designer but we have more than we need.
With cooler weather approaching, I do need a pair of closed toe shoes....
--Tina
In the States when shopping for clothes for myself I have two basic criteria aside from an agreeable style: good price (under $30) and XS in size. Both can easily be found in Taichung. Of course quality is not always the best, but as a stay at home mom my clothes are casual anyway. What I am most happy about is how easy it is to find clothes that fit for a reasonable price.
There is a tiny shop next to the baby store down the street which is sort of an outlet. It sells clothing from all types of brands that are perhaps a little out of season. At first look it's like a store in the market which sells Taiwanese clothes which would look odd if I were to wear them in the States. But if you look closely you can find a few things that are basic and certainly wearable, cute even. The woman who owns the shop is very nice and very pressures me to buy things. So far I have found three shirts and one skirt, all for $190NT each (about $6). When I bought three items at one time, she rounded the figure down to $500NT from close to $600NT and did alterations for free. The other places I have shopped at are NET (I found many summer bargains for $200-$300 NT) and Giordano which are like Gap but cheaper and an online store called Lativ (which has really good quality clothes at Old Navy prices). For kids clothes we go to the market where there are many things for $100 NT or www.lativ.com.tw. Steve shops at Carrefour and Costco. Our clothes are certainly not designer but we have more than we need.
With cooler weather approaching, I do need a pair of closed toe shoes....
--Tina
Thursday, November 11, 2010
How's the Chinese Coming Along?
What's funny is all the stares I get constantly. They think it's odd or that it's amazing that my English is so good and that I am making the effort to speak English to my children so they can learn English! They think I am doing this deliberately to help my kids get a leg up on the English. When I get the stares I remember that it is time to switch to Chinese. I have to remind myself I am supposed to be teaching them Chinese! Woops, I forgot! (Then perhaps the stares are because my Chinese has such a strong ABC accent they start to wonder where I am from. Where are you from, they politely ask.)
My latest strategy is to speak Taiwanese to Seraphine because she will never learn this in Chinese school and to speak simple Mandarin with lots of vocabulary explanations in English to Moses so he can learn new words. I am not pushing the Chinese too much, I just want him to have fun here in Taiwan, get close to his grandparents, learn about God and another culture. He is in Chinese school 8 hours a day five days a week. That's enough, I think. He may not speak a lot of Chinese, but what he does say comes out perfectly!
So how is the Mandarin coming along for Moses? He understands most of what is being said in class and can communicate with his teachers. He can say many phrases quite naturally and with perfect pronunciation such as "Mom, I'm bored," "More please," "I am sleepy," "My socks got wet." It's amazing how it comes out naturally. But he is still shy to speak to his classmates, which probably means he does not talk much during the day. He is naturally shy so making friends and having rapport with classmates is still a challenge, though with boys it seems like running around is fun enough. He was just starting to enjoy making friends and having play dates when we were in the States. He must feel lonely sometimes here.
I am beginning to realize that 9 months is a very short time in which to pick up Chinese and that this will be a great foundation for his brain structures but I cannot expect him to be speaking fluently in this short period of time. Alas, I think another year would be what he needs to actually start talking and having conversations and enjoy friendships in school. Friends to hang out with after school and on weekends would probably be best. English or Chinese-speaking. I'll keep working on it.
So how is the Mandarin coming along for Moses? He understands most of what is being said in class and can communicate with his teachers. He can say many phrases quite naturally and with perfect pronunciation such as "Mom, I'm bored," "More please," "I am sleepy," "My socks got wet." It's amazing how it comes out naturally. But he is still shy to speak to his classmates, which probably means he does not talk much during the day. He is naturally shy so making friends and having rapport with classmates is still a challenge, though with boys it seems like running around is fun enough. He was just starting to enjoy making friends and having play dates when we were in the States. He must feel lonely sometimes here.
I am beginning to realize that 9 months is a very short time in which to pick up Chinese and that this will be a great foundation for his brain structures but I cannot expect him to be speaking fluently in this short period of time. Alas, I think another year would be what he needs to actually start talking and having conversations and enjoy friendships in school. Friends to hang out with after school and on weekends would probably be best. English or Chinese-speaking. I'll keep working on it.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Who Do We Hang Out With?
Most of our everyday interactions revolve around Moses' school, neighbors, family members, church on Sunday, and new and old friends. Here are a few snapshots of interesting people in our lives these days:
Steve's parents, Jim and Linda, are just wonderful. Jim is a urologist and works long hours from 9-9 each day. MWF he goes to tennis, then golf on Sundays. We hang out with him on Sunday afternoons. Linda is very busy helping manage his medical office and taking care of us! She cooks the most delicious meals, and we are all spoiled by her healthy, yummy, cooking. Because of this I have not had many stomach problems this time in Taiwan. By they way, her grandkids adore her.
I have made friends with a young lady name I-ling who will be studying music education in London this fall. I have been meeting with her and speaking English to help her prepare for her exams. It has been fun.
We just started attending Taichung Christian church. Many foreigners attend this Mandarin-speaking church (with English audio translation) and we have met some friendly people there. One family (Livingstons) just lives a quick walk from our house and we have enjoyed getting to know them. They invited us out to a park where our two kids played with their four kids and they graciously offered to help us get adjusted to Taiwan. That was so kind of them! We'd like to get more involved with church and hope to serve as a family somehow. I heard that there is a ministry where we can help push elderly people around Taichung park. We missed it today because I thought our kids would get in the way. Actually the elderly love kids! One challenge to getting plugged in is that small groups meet in evenings which does not work for us. And I need to stay with Seraphine in baby room each week and watch sermon on tv. It's a bit difficult to concentrate. We'll see how this works out.
Steve has many friends from Morrison Academy right here in Taichung, where he attended junior high and high school. His classmates (the Websters) took us out to a delightful tea place today with an indoor playground. Lots of friends have come or will be coming to visit in the next few months.
I have many friends and relatives that i have yet to visit in Taipei. We will most likely go the Taoyuan next to visit uncle and the kiddie bowling alley located near the train station.
Steve and I both take classes at the YMCA (Steve Pilates and Tina Yoga) and we are making some friends there. Young and old take classes together here. You'd be amazed at how flexible the older ladies are!
We don't feel like part of a close-knit community like we did in Irvine, and we don't have many friends, but this is fine. (When I am lonely from 2-4 pm and exhausted from chasing Seraphine around I find a tea shop to explore and buy a snack. There are four downstairs, which means thirty, forty different teas to try? Do I have time to try them all? More about these drinks later.) In fact, Steve and I have started reading the Bible (Message, book of Matthew) most nights as a means for fellowship (what a concept!) and it has been enjoyable. We used to be involved in men's and women's groups separately, plus a family small group and did not feel the need to be reading the Bible together. Are social circles are much smaller right now, but perhaps this is a blessing?
--Tina
Steve's parents, Jim and Linda, are just wonderful. Jim is a urologist and works long hours from 9-9 each day. MWF he goes to tennis, then golf on Sundays. We hang out with him on Sunday afternoons. Linda is very busy helping manage his medical office and taking care of us! She cooks the most delicious meals, and we are all spoiled by her healthy, yummy, cooking. Because of this I have not had many stomach problems this time in Taiwan. By they way, her grandkids adore her.
I have made friends with a young lady name I-ling who will be studying music education in London this fall. I have been meeting with her and speaking English to help her prepare for her exams. It has been fun.
My friend Grace from the States has introduced me to a woman named Pearl who has two children and lives near Dong Hai University in Wu-qi. She has invited me to lunch with her and her friend Li-wen several times. Li-wen introduces us to unique restaurants and helps us with our strollers. The food has always been delicious and I enjoy the company and girl talk. Pearl even invited us over to her home where she and her husband Porta were gracious hosts. This is a really neat couple. They have lived in Germany and Shanhai. They could not be more down to earth. We may be going to Alishan together in the near future.
We just started attending Taichung Christian church. Many foreigners attend this Mandarin-speaking church (with English audio translation) and we have met some friendly people there. One family (Livingstons) just lives a quick walk from our house and we have enjoyed getting to know them. They invited us out to a park where our two kids played with their four kids and they graciously offered to help us get adjusted to Taiwan. That was so kind of them! We'd like to get more involved with church and hope to serve as a family somehow. I heard that there is a ministry where we can help push elderly people around Taichung park. We missed it today because I thought our kids would get in the way. Actually the elderly love kids! One challenge to getting plugged in is that small groups meet in evenings which does not work for us. And I need to stay with Seraphine in baby room each week and watch sermon on tv. It's a bit difficult to concentrate. We'll see how this works out.
Steve has many friends from Morrison Academy right here in Taichung, where he attended junior high and high school. His classmates (the Websters) took us out to a delightful tea place today with an indoor playground. Lots of friends have come or will be coming to visit in the next few months.
I have many friends and relatives that i have yet to visit in Taipei. We will most likely go the Taoyuan next to visit uncle and the kiddie bowling alley located near the train station.
Steve and I both take classes at the YMCA (Steve Pilates and Tina Yoga) and we are making some friends there. Young and old take classes together here. You'd be amazed at how flexible the older ladies are!
There is a friendly staff at Steve's dad's office. In particular there is a young man name Yong Hao who sometimes drives us around because I still can't find my way around very well. He has driven us to Costco, the doctor's office and the visa office. Parking would be difficult on my own.We are grateful for his help.
There are kind guard gate gentlemen at our apartment and school that greet our children each morning, and many friends from Steve's mom's church who live in our apartment complex. The pastor from his church and his wife and one year old also live in our apartment complex. A neighbor has lent Moses his bike. Our next door neighbor's grandma is running for re-election to political office. She's expected to win.
We don't feel like part of a close-knit community like we did in Irvine, and we don't have many friends, but this is fine. (When I am lonely from 2-4 pm and exhausted from chasing Seraphine around I find a tea shop to explore and buy a snack. There are four downstairs, which means thirty, forty different teas to try? Do I have time to try them all? More about these drinks later.) In fact, Steve and I have started reading the Bible (Message, book of Matthew) most nights as a means for fellowship (what a concept!) and it has been enjoyable. We used to be involved in men's and women's groups separately, plus a family small group and did not feel the need to be reading the Bible together. Are social circles are much smaller right now, but perhaps this is a blessing?
--Tina
Monday, October 11, 2010
Seraphine Hospitalized
First off, don't worry. Seraphine is home now and completely back to normal.
We had a poisoning scare this weekend when she had gotten to an empty bottle of Draino.
I had put the bottle by the door and was planning to throw it away on my way out. We were on our way to the museum and were just about to leave. I went to fill our water bottles and heard a scream come from the patio. It was Seraphine and she was crying and yelling for help. I looked and saw that she had put the bottle to her mouth. She was in some kind of pain. How much did she drink? Was her mouth burned? What about her throat?
Long story short, we rushed her to the ER, she stayed overnight, and was released the next day. Tests came out normal and she has no trouble eating. There appears to be no damage to her mouth or esophagus. In fact, she ate a bowl of porridge and a pineapple cake after her 24 hour fast. The staff was helpful and friendly.
Thank God for His mercy! We are so grateful that she is all right. And glad we live across the street from the hospital.
--PTW
We had a poisoning scare this weekend when she had gotten to an empty bottle of Draino.
I had put the bottle by the door and was planning to throw it away on my way out. We were on our way to the museum and were just about to leave. I went to fill our water bottles and heard a scream come from the patio. It was Seraphine and she was crying and yelling for help. I looked and saw that she had put the bottle to her mouth. She was in some kind of pain. How much did she drink? Was her mouth burned? What about her throat?
Long story short, we rushed her to the ER, she stayed overnight, and was released the next day. Tests came out normal and she has no trouble eating. There appears to be no damage to her mouth or esophagus. In fact, she ate a bowl of porridge and a pineapple cake after her 24 hour fast. The staff was helpful and friendly.
Thank God for His mercy! We are so grateful that she is all right. And glad we live across the street from the hospital.
--PTW
Fire Safety Day
 |
| Kids looking at a real fire ahead of them |
There is a fire truck, of course, and fire fighters, but they also have real life fire demonstrations, smoke and fire and all. Then the kids get to use the fire extinguisher to put the fire out. They also roll out the hoses and the kids get to take turns holding the hose with the water spraying out. Suffice it to say, Moses was glad he went to school today!
Moses is doing better, though he doesn't want to go to school everyday. But this was definitely a high point! His classmates are quite friendly toward him and the teacher said he told her he needed to go to the bathroom in Mandarin the other day. Making progress!
--PTW
10/1/10
Monday, October 4, 2010
Daily Life: Seven-Eleven, Fine Arts Museum, Night Market
Hi Everyone,
I thought I'd share some pictures from our daily life here in Taichung. The weather is cooling down and it's easier to get out and about. Here are some snapshots:
Seven Eleven
We love this convenience store. It is a little further away than Family Mart and Hi-Life which are right across the street. We have to walk about five minutes to get here. But it is well worth it. Has a great selection of foods, and three seating areas called "City Cafe" where you can hang out. They even have tissues on the tables! Here is a picture of Seraphine in front of the "bar" area.
There are lots of yummy things to eat here. We used to eat here everyday because we knew what we were getting and everything is so clean. My favorites are the cold sesame noodles and the triangle rice things.
Fillings include lobster, salmon, tuna, and different meats. It is perfect when you are on the go!
Look! almost all the onigiri is gone! Better pick one up for my after yoga class snack!
Fine Arts Museum / Cultural Center
Night Market
We live right by a night market. As you can tell from the pictures, Moses enjoys this food very much.
The dumplings are made right there and the stinky tofu is famous in Taichung. ( I passed on it) The tofu stand also sells delicious dong gua tea (winter melon juice) and plum tea. Very refreshing!
After two stalls our kids started crying (too tired)and needed to go home. Moses ran into a parked motorcycle and Seraphine cries when Moses cries. So Moses went into the stroller and fell asleep in 2 minutes and I carried Seraphine all the way back home.
Another day in our life!
--Tina
I thought I'd share some pictures from our daily life here in Taichung. The weather is cooling down and it's easier to get out and about. Here are some snapshots:
Seven Eleven
 |
| The Seven Eleven near our house. |
There are lots of yummy things to eat here. We used to eat here everyday because we knew what we were getting and everything is so clean. My favorites are the cold sesame noodles and the triangle rice things.
Fillings include lobster, salmon, tuna, and different meats. It is perfect when you are on the go!
Look! almost all the onigiri is gone! Better pick one up for my after yoga class snack!
The drink selection is to die for. On hot days stopping by here is a must. There are lots of teas, and soy milks, juices, and yogurt drinks. My kids love the yogurt (Yakult or 'yang le duo') drinks and we think it helps keep our tummies healthy. (Good excuse to buy them!)
Wish I could have taken more pictures but I was told photography was not allowed in 7-11. Woops!
Fine Arts Museum / Cultural Center
This is a beautiful modern building that looks brand new! There are exhibits and a film festival going on here. Free audio tour in English. Can't wait to go on a stroller walk here with Seraphine and listen to the tour. She loves this space. There is a children's book area and an open discovery play area for toddlers. We are going on Tuesday for our first playdate with the wife and daughter of the evangelist at my mother in law's church. Will do another blog just about this place with photos. Lots to do here. So glad we live so close to this place. I think kids and I will come here a lot. Moms, wait until you see the huge play area with DIY crafts that we do not have to prepare ourselves!
The museum is about a twenty minute walk from our home. Next to the museum is the cultural center where there is a children's library and a periodical room. Unfortunately I don't have my resident visa so I can't borrow books yet, so Steve will have to come with me since he has a Taiwan ID card. Lots of English books, actually!
Night Market
 |
| Eating 'hand made' jyaudze or dumplings |
The dumplings are made right there and the stinky tofu is famous in Taichung. ( I passed on it) The tofu stand also sells delicious dong gua tea (winter melon juice) and plum tea. Very refreshing!
 |
| Moses' first Stinky Tofu! |
Another day in our life!
--Tina
 |
| The famous (infamous) Stinky Tofu stand. If we look sticky, we are. Seraphine is stuck to me. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)