In the last three days, I have sweated more than I did during this entire year so far. At our apartment, we are to be pretty spoiled with three A/Cs, so it's very uncomfortable. I feel bad making the outside air hotter, but since this is an adjustment phase for everyone, there's no need to make the transition harder, right?
And I just realized when I was in the hot elevator tonight (yes, our elevator is not A/Ced and kind of suffocating) that it's actually very deceiving: everytime I was perspiring, I automatically thought it's helping me stay in shape. I guess the only time I sweated much in CA is during a rigorous yoga session. This sweat does not mean I did anything cardiovascular. So I better get back to yoga if I am to continue eating like this!
This makes me realize how insulated (literally) we have been. It's especially true when I go out to buy breakfast. You see these vendors handling 10 steamers at once, while flipping omllettes on gigantic hot griddles and frying you-tiao (a kind of savory donut). There's no A/C, not even a fan, and they are there working away as a completely normal part of life.
While having xiao-long-tang-bao (little-steamed-juicy-buns) for breakfast at a roadside stand, I chatted with the owner, an attractive woman in her 50s. She told me that her stand is open 24 hours, with her minding it during the day and her daughter and son-in-law at night. She works 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, steaming buns in the heat outside of a optometrist store, from whom she rents the little outside space. For us, it was about sitting out for 20 minutes enjoying the buns, and for her, this is almost all of life. She was very curious about life in the US, and asked me what it's like and which country do I prefer to live in. She told me that making ends meet is getting harder and harder so she cannot afford not working for a day or hiring help.
So my sweating is really pretty temporary, and maybe not so reportable after all....
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Greetings from Taiwan!
Hello all! We have safely arrived at our apartment in Hsinchu, Taiwan! Sorry for the delay in writing something. We are suffering from severe jetlag—look what time it is (2:30am!) and we are all up!! Last night, hours upon our arrival, Ben and I were cruising the campus at 3:30am. It’s very hilarious to see an alert little toddler wondering the darkness of the streets.
The flight was as uneventful as can be expected. Except for the difficulty in putting a super-excited and giddy Benjamin to sleep, we had a very easy time on board. Very happy with EVA AIR, and of course, our little airplane enthusiast Noah is the perfect angel throughout the 12 hours.
We arrived at CKS Airport at 11pm, and were greeted by my Dad (who’s very very excited to see us and happily greeted by two very friendly kids) and my high-school friend Yuehching, whose uncle’s 9-person van saved us from lots of transportation headache. The drive to Hsinchu was farther than I anticipated, a little over an hour, but all ran very smoothly.
Our new home for the year is on the fifth floor of Guest House II. It’s got two bedrooms, one bath, and a large common room where the living, dining and kitchen area is. The furniture is, shall we say, “eclectic”, simply, and, Paul used the good word “functional”! A bookcase is a bookcase, like the ones you see in an old local police bureau. A kitchen vent is exactly for the purpose of ventilation, stuck onto the wall with completely-exposed metal frames. Nevertheless, all is well and comfortable. We just need to make it home with maybe some plants and softer lights. I like the marble (not as nice as it sounds... I don't know how you call it.. you'll see it in the upcoming photos) or stone floor, which is cool for the summer.
By the way, the humidity is incredible here! The temperature is really not hotter than DC, but it’s like a steam room at times. People are definitely used to living with sweat throughout the day. It’s not comfortable to be hot, but you get used to it. We are spoiled for having been in the SF Bay area for two months, so this is going to be an adjustment.
And we’ve already had wonderful food. The breakfast is always my favorite, with soymilk, biscuit, egg crepes, buns, etc.. Noah observed after our 6am walk along the street getting breakfast, “So in Taiwan, you can just buy food on the street and eat it.” I realized that this practice is quite novel to him. Of course, during the walk, the boys were also amazed at the speed and extraordinary (meaning they can get 2 centimeters from you at the speed of 30 mph, making you think you are in imminent danger but are actually safe) skills of all the motorcycle/mo-pad riders.
After breakfast, while Paul and my Dad were running an errand, the boys and I visited Noah’s new school’s playground. While I am sure none of the play equipment would pass Arlington County’s safety inspection, the area surely looks fun and the kids, though some soaked in sweat, looked very upbeat and carefree in a good way. They greeted me with endless questions (Are you from places where they speak English? Can your kid chat with us?) and show-offs (I can jump from this level! Me too! Me too!...) Noah was in the back playing alone but observing everything. Later he kept telling me for hours that he cannot wait to be at the school! I was so touched by his excitement about school and hope for a very good experience. I think it will be.
What I love most so far about the Tsinghua University campus is that it’s filled with mature trees, making it extremely shady and lush. In the early morning and at dawn, you see many people jogging, walking, going to and from their sports. (All the ball courts are heavily utilized even before school starts.) Paul and I are both very happy that we ended up with on-campus housing. It’s much shadier, safer, quieter, and kids-friendly.
So that’s it for today. I am going to try and put the boys back to bed, though I am not confident that I’ll succeed. Oh, and I have a little secret and a very silly fear that I am trying conceal from my kids. I will not spill the beans here until I have more experience hanging around on the streets. So I’ll discuss that in the next posting! And photos to follow.
The flight was as uneventful as can be expected. Except for the difficulty in putting a super-excited and giddy Benjamin to sleep, we had a very easy time on board. Very happy with EVA AIR, and of course, our little airplane enthusiast Noah is the perfect angel throughout the 12 hours.
We arrived at CKS Airport at 11pm, and were greeted by my Dad (who’s very very excited to see us and happily greeted by two very friendly kids) and my high-school friend Yuehching, whose uncle’s 9-person van saved us from lots of transportation headache. The drive to Hsinchu was farther than I anticipated, a little over an hour, but all ran very smoothly.
Our new home for the year is on the fifth floor of Guest House II. It’s got two bedrooms, one bath, and a large common room where the living, dining and kitchen area is. The furniture is, shall we say, “eclectic”, simply, and, Paul used the good word “functional”! A bookcase is a bookcase, like the ones you see in an old local police bureau. A kitchen vent is exactly for the purpose of ventilation, stuck onto the wall with completely-exposed metal frames. Nevertheless, all is well and comfortable. We just need to make it home with maybe some plants and softer lights. I like the marble (not as nice as it sounds... I don't know how you call it.. you'll see it in the upcoming photos) or stone floor, which is cool for the summer.
By the way, the humidity is incredible here! The temperature is really not hotter than DC, but it’s like a steam room at times. People are definitely used to living with sweat throughout the day. It’s not comfortable to be hot, but you get used to it. We are spoiled for having been in the SF Bay area for two months, so this is going to be an adjustment.
And we’ve already had wonderful food. The breakfast is always my favorite, with soymilk, biscuit, egg crepes, buns, etc.. Noah observed after our 6am walk along the street getting breakfast, “So in Taiwan, you can just buy food on the street and eat it.” I realized that this practice is quite novel to him. Of course, during the walk, the boys were also amazed at the speed and extraordinary (meaning they can get 2 centimeters from you at the speed of 30 mph, making you think you are in imminent danger but are actually safe) skills of all the motorcycle/mo-pad riders.
After breakfast, while Paul and my Dad were running an errand, the boys and I visited Noah’s new school’s playground. While I am sure none of the play equipment would pass Arlington County’s safety inspection, the area surely looks fun and the kids, though some soaked in sweat, looked very upbeat and carefree in a good way. They greeted me with endless questions (Are you from places where they speak English? Can your kid chat with us?) and show-offs (I can jump from this level! Me too! Me too!...) Noah was in the back playing alone but observing everything. Later he kept telling me for hours that he cannot wait to be at the school! I was so touched by his excitement about school and hope for a very good experience. I think it will be.
What I love most so far about the Tsinghua University campus is that it’s filled with mature trees, making it extremely shady and lush. In the early morning and at dawn, you see many people jogging, walking, going to and from their sports. (All the ball courts are heavily utilized even before school starts.) Paul and I are both very happy that we ended up with on-campus housing. It’s much shadier, safer, quieter, and kids-friendly.
So that’s it for today. I am going to try and put the boys back to bed, though I am not confident that I’ll succeed. Oh, and I have a little secret and a very silly fear that I am trying conceal from my kids. I will not spill the beans here until I have more experience hanging around on the streets. So I’ll discuss that in the next posting! And photos to follow.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
"Mama, I think I am ready for Taiwan"
With all the talk about tomorrow's trip, Noah simply cannot wait any longer. In the bathtub tonight, he heard us talking about Taiwan, and he said, "Baba mama, if you keep talking about Taiwan, I will think we are already there!" It's kind of fun seeing how a little kid thinks about future. In fact, it's equally interesting observing how we adults think about future. My emotions are mixed: at times I burst with excitement just thinking about all the food that'll be available--cheap!--at my fingertips, but twice in the middle of the night I woke up worrying about my classes and Benjamin's daycare, and today we are talking together about what we think we may miss about the US and our home in Arlington--a bit of nostagia creeping up. Noah said he already misses his [Buchanan] Street and friends, Paul thinks he'll miss his backyard/garden, and as fo me, it's the luxury of space. I am eager to see whether any of them will hold true.
Now, speaking of space: while I enjoy having more space, not having much of it for a change can be exciting. I heard from my Dad (who is currently in Taiwan) that our apartment is a 2-minute walk to the busy main street, with shops, eateries, a night market, and a 2-minute drive takes us to a Costco-equivalent warehouse store. This is really exciting to us, and makes me realize what a suburbanite I actually am without knowing it! Even though I have lived close to wonderful big cities such as SF and DC, I have never really lived IN a city! I have never walked out of my apartment just to get a bowl of soup at 1am, something common in many parts of Taiwan. I guess this density may be compared to New York City: when someone says they are from a small city or small town in Taiwan, you think about something kind of quiet and even rural, and you are quite wrong: it could be as busy as parts of the Big Apple!
While this convenience will be exciting and novel for us, I know that it'll also make me treasure the space we have in the US. I am not not speaking necessarily of living space, but the parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, just free open space around our community.
Anyway, sorry I am digressing here. I haven't slept much in the last two days.. Just wanted to jot down something before tomorrow's departure.
Farewell, my friends in the US. We'll report on adventures to come. Stay tuned...
Now, speaking of space: while I enjoy having more space, not having much of it for a change can be exciting. I heard from my Dad (who is currently in Taiwan) that our apartment is a 2-minute walk to the busy main street, with shops, eateries, a night market, and a 2-minute drive takes us to a Costco-equivalent warehouse store. This is really exciting to us, and makes me realize what a suburbanite I actually am without knowing it! Even though I have lived close to wonderful big cities such as SF and DC, I have never really lived IN a city! I have never walked out of my apartment just to get a bowl of soup at 1am, something common in many parts of Taiwan. I guess this density may be compared to New York City: when someone says they are from a small city or small town in Taiwan, you think about something kind of quiet and even rural, and you are quite wrong: it could be as busy as parts of the Big Apple!
While this convenience will be exciting and novel for us, I know that it'll also make me treasure the space we have in the US. I am not not speaking necessarily of living space, but the parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, just free open space around our community.
Anyway, sorry I am digressing here. I haven't slept much in the last two days.. Just wanted to jot down something before tomorrow's departure.
Farewell, my friends in the US. We'll report on adventures to come. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
five days and counting
With our departure 5 days away, I think Paul and I are both feeling a little nervous. There's a great idiom in Chinese, "Qin xiang qing que" (literal translation would be: "Near-hometown-emotions-shy"); it describes my feelings aptly. It's been five years since I was in Taipei, and over 16 years since I was in Hsinchu. In fact, I don't remember being in Hsinchu much at all, except very vaguely. I am interested to see whether it will feel like a familiar homecoming, or visiting some place new, or somehow both.
This week, Paul said, as much as he loves Chinese food, he wants to have non-Chinese food. So we are taking in Italian pasta, grilled salmon and veggies, Mexican tacos, Vietnamese noodles, bagels, a variety of cheeses, and summer CA fruits.
That's pretty much the extent of our packing so... gotta work!
This week, Paul said, as much as he loves Chinese food, he wants to have non-Chinese food. So we are taking in Italian pasta, grilled salmon and veggies, Mexican tacos, Vietnamese noodles, bagels, a variety of cheeses, and summer CA fruits.
That's pretty much the extent of our packing so... gotta work!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Sunscreen as milk?
Paul and I are both making a (not-so-successful) effort when we watch the kids to let them play more independently, i.e. without adults. This morning, I was trying to read the paper while Ben was walking around getting into trouble. I vaugely heard him running around the house mumbling "neinei" (milk/drink). A few minutes later, I found him at the dining table, having lined up four bottles of sunscreen he took from the closet on the table, and situated himself well in a seat. When he saw me, he pointed at the sunscreen bottles and his mouth, saying, "neinei, mama"!
What planning ability! Unfortunately, I had to tell him that we cannot drink it.
What planning ability! Unfortunately, I had to tell him that we cannot drink it.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Hiking in Lake Tahoe
Over our vacation at South Tahoe, we went on a total of four hikes. What great fun and a memorable lesson for us adults to explore nature with children.
Paul's always been a hiking enthusiast. I remember that before the kids were born, we would go on some nice hikes, and almost always I was too winded to go along for the entire duration. I remember getting a little whiney, wanting to turn around and go home. I would sit in the forest and wait, sometimes for an hour, for his return. Paul's sense of curiosity on what's ahead would keep him going further and further...
This time, for some reason, I got hooked by the idea of exploration through hiking. Of course, having the kids around means we can never go farther than our body feels comfortable. But still, I feel that I can appreciate Paul's fascination with maps, geography, nature, and simple curiosity about what's ahead and where to find another beautiful spot. It can also be a meditative experience, when you find a good pace and an open mind. This is especially true when hiking with little kids: you realize that the process, i.e. the trip to a destination, is 95% of the enjoyment, because you simply cannot have too much expectations on how far and where you'll get to. You look around and have fun along the way. It's kind of a good reminder of life in general.
To our great surprise, Noah hiked for close to two miles on a rocky cliff/boulders near Cascade Lake. It was the best hike I have ever had, with running streams, waterfalls, and the prettiest rocks and rock formation. After some tiresome climbing, it feels like a real 'spa experience' when you put your tired feet into the chilling creek for an exhilarating soak. Even Ben, who didn't have to walk on his own feet to get there, enjoyed the splashes and foot soak. Of course, for him, the best part is finding rocks and throwing them in to the creeks.
We are all looking forward to some good hikes in the moutains in Taiwan.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Curious George
Noah is completely fascinated by Curious George these days. We found this great collection of Curious George (8 stories in one) at Ross, and with it in hand, he miraculously let us shop in peace for 20 minutes!
Why, among all books, is this series such an attraction for Noah? I think he identifies with this monkey ("who is always very curious"). Through George's adventures, Noah sees where his curiosity can possibly lead him, both in its great wonders and 'uh-oh' consequences. It's a fantasy world that's very true to his own instincts and feelings.
I feel that my mind is opened to this wonderful world of children's literature. I enjoy it on many different levels.
Why, among all books, is this series such an attraction for Noah? I think he identifies with this monkey ("who is always very curious"). Through George's adventures, Noah sees where his curiosity can possibly lead him, both in its great wonders and 'uh-oh' consequences. It's a fantasy world that's very true to his own instincts and feelings.
I feel that my mind is opened to this wonderful world of children's literature. I enjoy it on many different levels.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Every morning, we wake up hearing...
Ben: Baba! Mama! Baba! Mama! "Dede" (accented Chinese meaning "older brother")! Neinei (milk)! Baba! Mama! Baba! Mama!
Noah: (groggily) Benjamin, DON'T SAY THAT WORD! DON'T SAY THAT WORD!
Ben: Baba! Mama! Baba! Mama! Dede!
Noah: Benjamin!, DON'T SAY THAT WORD PLEASE!
Noah: (groggily) Benjamin, DON'T SAY THAT WORD! DON'T SAY THAT WORD!
Ben: Baba! Mama! Baba! Mama! Dede!
Noah: Benjamin!, DON'T SAY THAT WORD PLEASE!
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