Taiwan has always been prone to earthquakes but they are commonly centered in the north around Taipei or on the east coast. Last night we had the first here in the west central area since I came to Cihtong.
Perhaps you heard about it, the epicenter was near the city of Kaoshiung about a 3 hour drive south of here but it was definitely noticeable in YunLin County. It happened about 8:30 PM, I had just gotten home from a dinner party and was reading on my bed.
Remember I live on the 7th floor which made the whole thing worse -- the building was really swaying up that high. Like with all bad things, it seems like it lasts forever but was probably only about 10 seconds. My roommate and I had a bit of a nervous chuckle then went back to bed. About 15 minutes later, it happened again. This is getting scary. Many people went outside away from the building (and other structures in the neighborhood) but I couldn't bring myself to leave my nice warm bed and go out there into the cold on the strength of just two tremors.
My concession to the second, though, was to put on a sweatsuit, put slip-on shoes and my jacket right next to the bed so that if there was a third, I would be out of there. Never happened, slept through the night.
The big earthquake that killed 2,000 people happened in 1999 so there are still so many people that haven't quite gotten over that one so the hysteria factor is a little higher than is indicated by the severity of last night's quake. Today, everyone is retelling big earthquake stories ad nauseum.
The actual damage is not too widespread and their were only two deaths -- none of which was around here.
星期二, 12月 26, 2006
星期一, 12月 25, 2006
Merry Christmas
I have spent more than a few Christmases in different places and, fortunately, an old adage still applies: People try harder when they are away from their families.
Christmas for me began on the 22nd with a big party here at the school. I taught the students to sing "Jingle Bells", Deck the Halls", and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". We had the party out in the courtyard in the middle of the school. The kids had decorated trees (a little oddly, but not bad), they had also drawn names for "Secret Santa" as had the teachers in my teachers' room. We had also gotten some textbook publisher to donate Santa hats. It was all a little raucus and, I have to say it didn't go exactly as planned, but the kids had a good time. Not one but TWO Santas came and threw candy into the crowds of kids, the teachers sang "Silent Night" and then everyone sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". For people who don't usually celebrate Christmas, it went pretty well and I was pleased.
I had also joined the "Secret Santa" drawings for the 9th grade classes and my Toblerone bars seemed well received. I got all sorts of presents, including (from my teacher Santa) a glass pendant shaped like a dolphin with a grain of rice inside. The rice is painted gold and has my name etched in it -- English on one side and Chinese on the other! Pretty nifty, if not for the far sighted!
It gave me the opportunity to give nice presents to the people who have been especially kind to me and the whole thing was pretty upbeat.
After the party, I went to Douliou to have dinner with my friend Rochelle. By this time, the cold that had been coming on for the two prior days managed to fill up my nose and take my voice and make me feel pretty crummy. I stayed over there and the next morning our friend from Tainan, Linda came up. All three of us were feeling pretty punky but we did a little shopping and our usual laughing and giggling. We went out for Thai food for dinner (Doesn't everyone have a Thai food feast on Christmas Eve?), dosed up with cold medicine and hit the sack early.
Christmas morning we exchanged presents, Linda and I went for a walk so that Rochelle could talk to her family, discovered a new park and communicated with the man in Taipei where we will be staying over New Year.
That night we went to a very interesting Catholic Mass in English (mostly) that was essentially the midnight Mass but was held at 6:00 PM since most of the parishoners at this church are Filippino. Since they, like us, had to work on Christmas Day, the church had the big ceremony early. It was very nice, a Chinese family that are friends of mine also came. Their 1 year old is my adopted grandson, and other than Brandon not being able to go the distance, it was a charming evening. After the mass, the church had organized a procession like the temple goers in Taiwan do frequently -- floats, fireworks, singing, etc. It was a hoot! (Brandon really liked that part).
After the excitement, we grabbed a quick bite and I had to come home. I had hoped to give out some presents to my neighbors and my roommate, but as a worknight, everyone was asleep when I got home at 9:00.
The next day was school as usual. The novelty had worn off and not having Christmas songs to practice left a hole in my teaching day!
Last night, though, was the best. Through the wonders of modern technology, I was able to watch and talk to my grandsons while they opened their presents in Florida. It was just too cool. Except for the hugs part, it was just like being there.
After that I used my newly set up SKYPE account to call my brother and talk to a couple of friends so it was a wonderful Christmas all around!
Christmas for me began on the 22nd with a big party here at the school. I taught the students to sing "Jingle Bells", Deck the Halls", and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". We had the party out in the courtyard in the middle of the school. The kids had decorated trees (a little oddly, but not bad), they had also drawn names for "Secret Santa" as had the teachers in my teachers' room. We had also gotten some textbook publisher to donate Santa hats. It was all a little raucus and, I have to say it didn't go exactly as planned, but the kids had a good time. Not one but TWO Santas came and threw candy into the crowds of kids, the teachers sang "Silent Night" and then everyone sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". For people who don't usually celebrate Christmas, it went pretty well and I was pleased.
I had also joined the "Secret Santa" drawings for the 9th grade classes and my Toblerone bars seemed well received. I got all sorts of presents, including (from my teacher Santa) a glass pendant shaped like a dolphin with a grain of rice inside. The rice is painted gold and has my name etched in it -- English on one side and Chinese on the other! Pretty nifty, if not for the far sighted!
It gave me the opportunity to give nice presents to the people who have been especially kind to me and the whole thing was pretty upbeat.
After the party, I went to Douliou to have dinner with my friend Rochelle. By this time, the cold that had been coming on for the two prior days managed to fill up my nose and take my voice and make me feel pretty crummy. I stayed over there and the next morning our friend from Tainan, Linda came up. All three of us were feeling pretty punky but we did a little shopping and our usual laughing and giggling. We went out for Thai food for dinner (Doesn't everyone have a Thai food feast on Christmas Eve?), dosed up with cold medicine and hit the sack early.
Christmas morning we exchanged presents, Linda and I went for a walk so that Rochelle could talk to her family, discovered a new park and communicated with the man in Taipei where we will be staying over New Year.
That night we went to a very interesting Catholic Mass in English (mostly) that was essentially the midnight Mass but was held at 6:00 PM since most of the parishoners at this church are Filippino. Since they, like us, had to work on Christmas Day, the church had the big ceremony early. It was very nice, a Chinese family that are friends of mine also came. Their 1 year old is my adopted grandson, and other than Brandon not being able to go the distance, it was a charming evening. After the mass, the church had organized a procession like the temple goers in Taiwan do frequently -- floats, fireworks, singing, etc. It was a hoot! (Brandon really liked that part).
After the excitement, we grabbed a quick bite and I had to come home. I had hoped to give out some presents to my neighbors and my roommate, but as a worknight, everyone was asleep when I got home at 9:00.
The next day was school as usual. The novelty had worn off and not having Christmas songs to practice left a hole in my teaching day!
Last night, though, was the best. Through the wonders of modern technology, I was able to watch and talk to my grandsons while they opened their presents in Florida. It was just too cool. Except for the hugs part, it was just like being there.
After that I used my newly set up SKYPE account to call my brother and talk to a couple of friends so it was a wonderful Christmas all around!
星期日, 12月 17, 2006
Camping in Kaoshiung
There appears to be some sort of national commitment to making sure that kids can feed themselves "in the wild" since almost every 8th grader in the country goes camping at least once. Sometimes it is only out onto the playing fields behind the schools, or at somebody else's school. Our crowd went whole hog, though, and went to a really nifty camping facility down in Kaoshiung. Since it was my birthday weekend and they said I could stay behind in the city for the weekend, and because I have always loved camping -- I went too.
We were 12 teachers and 280 8th graders in 6 buses all singing karaoke (the Taiwan national pastime) for the 2 1/2 hour trip down on Thursday. The camp is like a jumped up Boy Scout Camp run by the China Youth Corps, previously an anti-communist, para-military organization but now just social. It's a beautiful place with a big lake, lots of activities, and the most energetic counselors I have ever met. They are also absolute pros at getting kids fired up. Within an hour, our generally sullen and recalcitrant crowd was singing, jumping, clapping in unison and willingly doing all sorts of silly things together -- all at very high decibles.
After lunch (the teachers ate in a very nice dining hall) the kids had to set up tents. They got minimal direction, they were mostly supposed to figure it out. We all had to help to some degree but I was pretty amazed at how good they were. Then there was more shouting and running around and rope climbing, rope bridge walking, etc. and then they had to cook their own dinner on an open fire. Fairly easy food was provided but I was still amazed at how good they were.
After dinner was the main event. Each class, there are 8 eighth grade classes, had been practicing a dance. They were quite sophisticated, kind of part aborigine, part rock, part line dancing and part break dancing. Each class did something different and most had designed a special T-shirt for the occasion. These were done in front of a giant bonfire that shot fireworks out of itself while those not dancing at the moment were waving light sticks. It was beautiful. At the end of the kids, three of the counselors did a fire dance twirling bundles of burning switches in the dark. Amazing.
The kids then went back to their tents and we went to a hostel type place where the teachers slept very comfortably. Unfortunately, the rain which had been threatening all day really let loose on the kids and they had to be moved to an indoor gym for the rest of the night. The weather the whole weekend was pretty grim but didn't really get in the way except for that night.
In the morning after breakfast the activities continued -- a zip line, tug-o-wars, snake petting, more screaming and chanting, all while the teachers went out for coffee. I LOVE being a chaperone here! Then the kids had a barbeque lunch and we ate in the dining hall and then the farewell ceremonies. This is only a minor exposure to the great outdoors. By this time, though, the kids were all in love with the counselors and most of the girls were actively sobbing through the ceremony (the 14 year old girl universal pastime).
It all broke up at 2:00 PM and they gave me a lift into the city and the kids went home. I checked into our hotel and went to the train station to meet my 2 friends that were coming for the weekend.
We had a great time, eating good food, doing a little shopping, and touring the museum, Lotus Lake and the old British Consulate which was built in 1865 on the highest promontory overlooking the harbor. As usual, the Brits got the best real estate because it is just gorgeous up there, even on a cold dreary day. Much of the building has been turned into a restaurant with the usual combination of very high prices for mediocre food but you enjoy it anyway because to sit out there and enjoy this view is worth anything. We had met up with my roommate and her friend Brian (and his car!) so our touring was very comfortable. For dinner we went to a Greek restaurant which was super.
Home on Sunday to our apartment where, while I was away, winter had come. It was freezing in the place which had been open with both of us in Kaoshiung. I got everything closed but we have no heating source and like most places built for hot climates -- it can't deal with the cold. We have tile floors, no carpets, plaster walls and great ventilation which we love in summer but it is truly miserable now.
As it was my birthday, which I thought I had kept a secret but obviously hadn't, 18 members of my neighbor's family took me out for a wonderful Japanese dinner feast. I was so touched. All in all, a wonderful birthday weekend.
We were 12 teachers and 280 8th graders in 6 buses all singing karaoke (the Taiwan national pastime) for the 2 1/2 hour trip down on Thursday. The camp is like a jumped up Boy Scout Camp run by the China Youth Corps, previously an anti-communist, para-military organization but now just social. It's a beautiful place with a big lake, lots of activities, and the most energetic counselors I have ever met. They are also absolute pros at getting kids fired up. Within an hour, our generally sullen and recalcitrant crowd was singing, jumping, clapping in unison and willingly doing all sorts of silly things together -- all at very high decibles.
After lunch (the teachers ate in a very nice dining hall) the kids had to set up tents. They got minimal direction, they were mostly supposed to figure it out. We all had to help to some degree but I was pretty amazed at how good they were. Then there was more shouting and running around and rope climbing, rope bridge walking, etc. and then they had to cook their own dinner on an open fire. Fairly easy food was provided but I was still amazed at how good they were.
After dinner was the main event. Each class, there are 8 eighth grade classes, had been practicing a dance. They were quite sophisticated, kind of part aborigine, part rock, part line dancing and part break dancing. Each class did something different and most had designed a special T-shirt for the occasion. These were done in front of a giant bonfire that shot fireworks out of itself while those not dancing at the moment were waving light sticks. It was beautiful. At the end of the kids, three of the counselors did a fire dance twirling bundles of burning switches in the dark. Amazing.
The kids then went back to their tents and we went to a hostel type place where the teachers slept very comfortably. Unfortunately, the rain which had been threatening all day really let loose on the kids and they had to be moved to an indoor gym for the rest of the night. The weather the whole weekend was pretty grim but didn't really get in the way except for that night.
In the morning after breakfast the activities continued -- a zip line, tug-o-wars, snake petting, more screaming and chanting, all while the teachers went out for coffee. I LOVE being a chaperone here! Then the kids had a barbeque lunch and we ate in the dining hall and then the farewell ceremonies. This is only a minor exposure to the great outdoors. By this time, though, the kids were all in love with the counselors and most of the girls were actively sobbing through the ceremony (the 14 year old girl universal pastime).
It all broke up at 2:00 PM and they gave me a lift into the city and the kids went home. I checked into our hotel and went to the train station to meet my 2 friends that were coming for the weekend.
We had a great time, eating good food, doing a little shopping, and touring the museum, Lotus Lake and the old British Consulate which was built in 1865 on the highest promontory overlooking the harbor. As usual, the Brits got the best real estate because it is just gorgeous up there, even on a cold dreary day. Much of the building has been turned into a restaurant with the usual combination of very high prices for mediocre food but you enjoy it anyway because to sit out there and enjoy this view is worth anything. We had met up with my roommate and her friend Brian (and his car!) so our touring was very comfortable. For dinner we went to a Greek restaurant which was super.
Home on Sunday to our apartment where, while I was away, winter had come. It was freezing in the place which had been open with both of us in Kaoshiung. I got everything closed but we have no heating source and like most places built for hot climates -- it can't deal with the cold. We have tile floors, no carpets, plaster walls and great ventilation which we love in summer but it is truly miserable now.
As it was my birthday, which I thought I had kept a secret but obviously hadn't, 18 members of my neighbor's family took me out for a wonderful Japanese dinner feast. I was so touched. All in all, a wonderful birthday weekend.
星期四, 12月 07, 2006
Karen Goes to the Market
Before I start this, you have to remember that I am not just an odd foreignor in my little town -- I am the ONLY odd foreignor in my little town.
Last weekend I decided to host some friends for dinner. This is quite an experience since my cooking facilities are pretty spartan, mostly because I have no oven. I never realized how much I used one until I didn't have one.
It would be 3 Americans (including me) and 3 Taiwanese -- all English teachers. I had hoped for some interesting conversation over a fair to good dinner. Wrong again! But more about that later.
One of my friends said we should have chicken and dumplings (which I had never made) but was able to procure a box of Bisquik in Tainan and a recipe from RecipeSource.com, so I thought I would be all set.
The morning of the party, I ventured to our local "traditional" market. This causes a GREAT deal of excitement as the foreignor comes into the area. Lots of little old ladies try to charm me into buying their vegetables but I thought I had better start with the chickens first. I went to a chicken stall -- really intending to shop around but immediately got sucked in at the one place. Chickens are sold whole here, so first I indicated that they needed to chop off the heads and the feet. That done, I got them to cut up the birds into recognizable pieces. By now I know that the woman's English name is Virginia and that her husband has raised the chickens himself and that they are the best around, very meaty and not much fat. Actually, all of this appeared to be true.
Then came the price part! I thought I needed two chickens so even with the odd parts cut off, I was left with about 6 lbs. of bird. The price was about $20! I couldn't believe it, asked again, acted dumb, made them write it down, etc. Nope, I understood the first time. It seems chicken is one of the most expensive meats there is. Little did I know, but what could I do at that point. They had all but cooked them for me. Live and learn.
That kind of put a crimp in what I had to spend for salad fixins' and the celery and carrots for the pot. This was all pretty cheap, however, a huge argument broke out between two old gals over who got to sell me celery. I couldn't follow all of it but it seemed one had better prices and one had better quality but one also seemed to have more experience dealing with foreignors so considered herself the better choice. I really wanted to get home by this point but what could I do. All the other vendors were standing around, either joining the argument or laughing. I joined the laughing group. The big problem with buying vegetables is that no matter how I protest, they keep giving me more. I only needed a handful of mushrooms but ended up with about 2 lbs. -- and then had to pay for them, of course.
Then, as I was leaving, the egg lady who had sold me eggs for an earlier party, nearly attacked me to ask why I wasn't buying her eggs. So I did. Then there were all the people trying to sell me vegetables that I didn't recognize, hard to put them in salad.
That left drinks. As far as I can tell, there is no white wine in Taiwan except at Costco. They do sell a really nasty (but expensive) red at the 7-11 but I know that one of my guests really likes it so I bought her a bottle. Beer and soda for the others (mostly soda, Chinese aren't big drinkers) brought the total for this dinner to about $60 -- a little more than I had expected. Oh well, it would be fun.
Time approaches, house is clean, chicken is bubbling along nicely and my first two guests arrive with the news that the third Taiwanese guest can't come. This would be the one I bought the wine for. My two American friends came right after so we were 5. It quickly became clear, though, that we were really only 4. The one Taiwanese that I was most interested in hearing from, apparently was intimidated by the rest of us because she became mute. Conversation lagged, dinner was not a great hit, and everyone was falling asleep by 9:00.
Oh well, I have enough leftovers to feed me for a month and the folks at the market are still talking about my visit.
Last weekend I decided to host some friends for dinner. This is quite an experience since my cooking facilities are pretty spartan, mostly because I have no oven. I never realized how much I used one until I didn't have one.
It would be 3 Americans (including me) and 3 Taiwanese -- all English teachers. I had hoped for some interesting conversation over a fair to good dinner. Wrong again! But more about that later.
One of my friends said we should have chicken and dumplings (which I had never made) but was able to procure a box of Bisquik in Tainan and a recipe from RecipeSource.com, so I thought I would be all set.
The morning of the party, I ventured to our local "traditional" market. This causes a GREAT deal of excitement as the foreignor comes into the area. Lots of little old ladies try to charm me into buying their vegetables but I thought I had better start with the chickens first. I went to a chicken stall -- really intending to shop around but immediately got sucked in at the one place. Chickens are sold whole here, so first I indicated that they needed to chop off the heads and the feet. That done, I got them to cut up the birds into recognizable pieces. By now I know that the woman's English name is Virginia and that her husband has raised the chickens himself and that they are the best around, very meaty and not much fat. Actually, all of this appeared to be true.
Then came the price part! I thought I needed two chickens so even with the odd parts cut off, I was left with about 6 lbs. of bird. The price was about $20! I couldn't believe it, asked again, acted dumb, made them write it down, etc. Nope, I understood the first time. It seems chicken is one of the most expensive meats there is. Little did I know, but what could I do at that point. They had all but cooked them for me. Live and learn.
That kind of put a crimp in what I had to spend for salad fixins' and the celery and carrots for the pot. This was all pretty cheap, however, a huge argument broke out between two old gals over who got to sell me celery. I couldn't follow all of it but it seemed one had better prices and one had better quality but one also seemed to have more experience dealing with foreignors so considered herself the better choice. I really wanted to get home by this point but what could I do. All the other vendors were standing around, either joining the argument or laughing. I joined the laughing group. The big problem with buying vegetables is that no matter how I protest, they keep giving me more. I only needed a handful of mushrooms but ended up with about 2 lbs. -- and then had to pay for them, of course.
Then, as I was leaving, the egg lady who had sold me eggs for an earlier party, nearly attacked me to ask why I wasn't buying her eggs. So I did. Then there were all the people trying to sell me vegetables that I didn't recognize, hard to put them in salad.
That left drinks. As far as I can tell, there is no white wine in Taiwan except at Costco. They do sell a really nasty (but expensive) red at the 7-11 but I know that one of my guests really likes it so I bought her a bottle. Beer and soda for the others (mostly soda, Chinese aren't big drinkers) brought the total for this dinner to about $60 -- a little more than I had expected. Oh well, it would be fun.
Time approaches, house is clean, chicken is bubbling along nicely and my first two guests arrive with the news that the third Taiwanese guest can't come. This would be the one I bought the wine for. My two American friends came right after so we were 5. It quickly became clear, though, that we were really only 4. The one Taiwanese that I was most interested in hearing from, apparently was intimidated by the rest of us because she became mute. Conversation lagged, dinner was not a great hit, and everyone was falling asleep by 9:00.
Oh well, I have enough leftovers to feed me for a month and the folks at the market are still talking about my visit.
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