12.26.2005 Ma, nevermind turkey! Pass those intestines (a.k.a Christmas Day in Taiwan)

Well.... as if my Christmas Eve wasn't gastronomically adventurous enough. I got up in the afternoon and met my sweet sweet sweet former Taiwanese co-teacher Rita for some hardcore shopping. We headed to "Wu fen pu" ...... it's this little shopping district outside of Taipei city where there's tons and tons and tons of stalls and shops with wholesale clothing.

Now for hardcore shopping you must properly fuel yourself. And I am proud to say I have been fully screetched into Taiwan now. I had pig intestines (pig bowels if you want to be technical) for lunch. Surprisingly, it was ok. Fear Factor here I come!!!!

I mean if you can get past the look, and texture, and the idea of what it is.... it's ok. I think I got a shot of it but unfortunately my digital was dead so it'll be on film.

After hours and hours and hours and hours of shopping (I got some great stuff!) we headed back to Taipei.

I spent the evening with Meg at "Taiwan mom & dad"'s place (Hal and Jane) for pizza & beer!!!! mmmm Christmas dinner.

I have intestines *in* my intestines.

I think it's time for sleep.

Happy ho ho everyone.

Labels: gastronomical adventures, relationships, taiwan, Taiwan day trips, Wu fen pu

Christmas Eve Day

I spent Christmas Eve with my ex-roommate Meg. We had a late brunch at this really great little Vietnamese restaurant. I've been wanting to try Vietnamese forever. What better day than Christmas Eve. So I get the curried chicken soup..... mmm curry.... and after awhile Meg looks at me raises her eyebrow.

Meg: "So what do you think of the ducks blood?" Me: "*looking down into my bowl* mmmm is that the brown jelly chunks?" Meg: "*grin* yep" Me: ".................. so is it...... like tofu saturated with duck's blood or ...... coagulated duck's blood?" Meg: "I think the second thing you just said"

mmmmm duck's blood.

Next we went shopping for stocking stuffers. Stockings are really the only part of Christmas I like whatsoever... aside from seeing someone get freaked out about something I bought them. So I decided with my roommate (Jess) that we were doing stockings. I found all kinds of fantastic goodies (including a mermaid shoe horn .... oooo ahhh) and then Meg and I decided to hit our old neighbourhood. Meg was one of my original roommates the first time I lived in Taiwan.

So we had cake and coffee at the 3C.

It was as good as it looks.

Afterwards we hit the good ol Jingmei night market and I boug ht my absolute favorite "engrish" shirt to date:

I also bought a sassy punky sporty weird top set (should take a picture) with some Japanese on it. Hopefully it's just really bad Japanese (like the other shirt has really bad English) and hopefully it doesn't say "death to Japan".... hopefully it's more like "Japanese guys are cute" or "Japanese rock star"

Meg and I had both been invited to about 4 or 5 different Christmas Eve bashes. Personally I really didn't feel like drinking my face off for Christmas Eve. While debating what to do for the evening Meg and I played some chess....

Unfortunately we also polished off a bottle of wine and some extremely strong vodka/bailey's drinks.





We saluted Popo Caviar a great many times (may his soul rest in peace). I ended up passing out on the couch with a cat on my crotch.

All and all a fantastic Christmas Eve I think.

Labels: gastronomical adventures, relationships, taipei, taiwan

12.23.2005 time persists and nakedness.

Today is the 2 month mark of my dad's passing and I'm feeling really raw about it. This is probably one of the worst nights yet. It has nothing to do with Christmas, the holidays, or any of that fluff. It's just time.

Before I was terrified of loosing time. Not of aging. I just hated seeing time go by. I've always felt I have so much to do, so much I want to accomplish. So many places to go. So little time. Now time kind of feels like an enemy. I think of all of it that I have left. I think of how many days I have to face ahead without my best friend and my biggest fan. Without the one person in the world who has always understood me best and unconditionally loved me.

When I had anxiety about my future through my father's last months I was constantly reminded about how young I am. How much time I have. How whatever is happening right now won't affect my future for long. But that's just it. I do have time. Too much time. It pisses me off.

Not that I'm anything like suicidal or want to die or anything remotely close to it. I have a lot of things left to do and I'll do them. I still have all the love in the world, it'll just never be the same. I just don't get why this?

I've suffered a lot of criticism, including criticism from loved ones about the pedestal my father had me on and how detrimental it is and would be to me as an adult, as an independent female. My ability to be self-sufficient has been called into question and my ability to fend for myself.

You know what? I'm living my life the way I want to live it. I'm doing exactly what I want to do. I've sacrificed a lot to get myself where I am right now and basically I've made it to where I want to be.

I may have been spoiled. I may have been a princess. Maybe I could do no wrong. but I am here and I am a strong.

If none of this had happened in 5 weeks time he'd be coming on a plane to come visit me. I wish I could live through that experience at least. Him experiencing my strange little world. His endless questions and amazement. 20 rolls of film taken in 2 weeks. Constant "wows" and astonished laughter. I just want one last dialogue with him. I just want that one last heart to heart that we never got to have because he thought I was the last person in the world who needed it.

He will never be replaced.

Labels: bereavement

12.21.2005 a self portrait of sorts

Labels: Photography

12.17.2005 how many posts are too many for one day? Achoo

Labels: taipei, taiwan

Sweet Tofu Head

Labels: Only in Asia, taipei, taiwan

through the first week, recitals and all!

I survived my first week back teaching beautifully. I think this is going to be a really fantastic year or few in Taiwan.

Last night my afternoon class (6 & 7 year olds) did their Christmas recital. Even though I've watched them practice it 10+ times I laughed a lot. For those of you on my dvd distribution list video of it will be included on my first dvd sent home.

But just for the rest of you, see how cute my munchkins are:

Labels: ESL teaching, taipei, taiwan

ya I'm way too amused by this thing

So since we are lacking a Christmas tree.... why not use the flip flap?! Jess has spread out her presents neatly underneath.

Labels: Only in Asia, taipei, taiwan

finally, the moment you've all been waiting for....

Live flip flap action!

Labels: Only in Asia, Video

12.13.2005 I got my stems they flip flap flip flap

So I bought myself a solar powered plant..... because it makes so much more sense than buying a real plant and because everyone should have one. If the picture isn't exciting enough click here to see the flip flap in action. [oops don't have video embedding worked out yet, flip flappery video to come] The instructions state: "Flip Flap is a cute flower bud which moves by light. Please grow your Flip Flap in your mind and bloom your own special flower." They also make sure to add that you are not supposed to add the flip flap to hot water.

Labels: Chingrish or Engrish, Only in Asia

back to school!

Monday was my first day back to school and my first day tutoring. I'm really happy to find out I'm back of the swing of things already. No doubt I'm going to have to go through some growing pains with the kids getting used to the fact that I'm not their old teacher but I feel like I'm starting to bond already. The girls I'm tutoring are two sisters and are a lot of fun.

Labels: ESL teaching, taipei, taiwan

12.09.2005 I'm back in freakin' Taiwan!

After a loooooooooooooooooooooong flight I've arrived safely in Taiwan. I've moved in with one of my co-workers from the English school I work at and we've spent every hour together laughing like idiots. My other friend Andrew, who's life I'm taking over here in Taiwan (job, apartment, tutoring jobs) has been fantastic (shhh it's a secret) and has been doing a great job of getting me setup to take over his classes. The welcome back has been so incredibly warm. Yesterday I returned to my school and was smothered in hugs by my former students and my co-workers. It's really great to have a big family so far from home. The apartment I'm going to be living in is unbelievable too. It's so freakin huge. I thought i had the biggest apartment ever when I was in Saint John. No contest. Pretty much every room in this whole place is a huge open space. We even have a little balcony!!! No pictures yet but hopefully I'll get to snap some this weekend.

Labels: taipei, taiwan

12.06.2005 re-design in process

Leaving to head back to Taiwan today. It'll probably be a few weeks before the site is back to it's fullest but the biggest chunk of meat is back. I still need to do a bit of organizational work in the galleries (as far as comments, titles and ordering) but the most important parts are back up. This current design (excluding how the gallery is laid out) should hopefully be temporary because I need to do a new design for the site to replace the old one but I'm too lazy. Anyone want to do a design for me??? :D

Labels: uncategorized