The Wedding

I was thinking today about some of the places we've been and the events we've attended since living here. With that in mind, it prompted me to think about the Taiwanese wedding we went to last month. I can't believe I never posted anything on it!!!!!!!
Well the excruciating wait is over.
The wedding was incredibly entertaining though I have to say I was a bit bummed that we only attended the reception.....however not much we could do, being that there  ONLY was a reception. Unlike most Taiwanese weddings as I've come to understand, this reception was held quite a few months after the actual wedding. The reception had vivid colors, was held in a hotel and was reminiscent of my senior prom. The decor in the front of the ballroom had two large hearts and the bride had 2-3 dress changes from her wedding gown. Seriously. (Will and I are SO renewing our vows.) The gowns were big, colorful and again made me feel as though I had traveled back in time to 1996...with the exception of the shark fin and teriyaki eel that we feasted on. The meal was family style and apparently was filled with traditional Taiwanese delicacies, which I tried all of but pig's sinew..... I mean...sinew? Come on. I'm adventurous BUT..... Well OK let's put it into perspective shall we? Merriam- Webster defines sinew as: 

¹sin·ew

 noun \ˈsin-(ˌ)yü also ˈsi-(ˌ)nü\ 1: tendon; especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread 2obsolete : nerve - SOOOOOO. Yeah. I think not. 

One of the most entertaining parts was a tradition that occurs during the reception. Go with me here. Close your eyes if you will and picture this. The bride and groom are traveling from table to table; greeting guests flanked by their new in-laws. As the bride and groom approach, guests from each table (I think each table, I was just concentrating on ours...) make up dares for the bride and groom to complete 

for the viewing pleasure of those around them. Are you with me? Do we see how this could be traveling down an unsavory & dangerous path?! Yeah- well, eyes still closed?(well duh, I know if you're technically reading this your eyes are not closed.... sorry I KNOW someone was thinking that). Anyhow a lovely female guest at our table dared the groom to take a Golden Fried Glutinous Rice Dumpling Dusted with Ground Peanuts, (I didn't actually remember that, I looked back at the menu) stick it in his lovely bride's bosom and eat it. Classy. NO...did he actually do it you ask as you sharply intake a deep breath?!?!? Surely not with his mother and mother in-law beside him!!!!!! But yes. 

Yes he did.

The remainder of the afternoon was filled with more dress changes, the passing out of soap flowers, photo ops and the "bouquet toss." I put this in quotes, because unlike the tosses that Americans may be used to, the single women here stand on stage with the bride, hold onto one of the ribbons that are connected to the bouquet, and with the cutting of the ribbons from the bride, the bouquet swings to one of the single women. I thought that was quite clever actually and apparently this is a preferable activity advised by the hotel to avoid damage from crazy flying flora?! It really was a sweet feel good reception though. People were having a great time and there was a lot of love and laughter as there should be.... in my humble opinion of course. 
The biggest bummer of the night? Will and I were unable to break out mad air guitar to Starship's We Built This City....but it's OK. What people don't know they're missing can't hurt them. Right?

NOT Will and I......or is it??? : )

Missing Piece....

As I'm looking at the title of this post, I'm a bit struck by the fact that I did literally mean piece when I wrote it, but subconsciously am I thinking peace? Hmmmmm deep.
Let me start by saying how much I love Taiwan. Sarcastic by nature, I mean the previous statement without a shred of sarcasm. Truly, I really really like it here. Statements like that are always followed by big BUTS right? Yeah well, look out here comes MY big but. I feel like something is missing. I love the whole stay at home thing, and I'm certainly not complaining. I mean I know there's an adjustment after having worked, and my greatest joy is being with Wyatt...blah blah blah...I'll spare you all that whole saga again BUT seriously, I feel that something is missing. By something, I mean a big part of me misses my professional life. I miss working with people. I do. Gosh, is that crazy? I  mean - social work is a profession that often has very little feedback but grief most days...BUT the days where there's that glimmer of something sinking in, or a client accepting a resource, or taking small steps towards progress, or utilizing a coping skill.....it's an amazing feeling. It is.

My job made me feel competent but my job as a mom?? Well......much like that of a social worker, a lot of days you get nothing but grief and get very little feedback. This isn't coming out right is it? I'm just kind of in a weird place right now. By weird place, no, I'm NOT talking about Taiwan.. I'm just still in the beginning stages of checking into volunteer opportunities, trying not to over involve while at the same time figuring out what I can actually do right now since Wyatt is with me for most of the day.....And the volunteer opportunities.......well it's completely overwhelming, because I want to do everything. I'm just struck by the amount of social need .... BUT by the same token, I don't want to go and wish my days with Wyatt away so I can volunteer, because he won't be with me a whole lot longer.....Shoot, I'm getting emotional. I just feel torn.
Anyway, how 'bout a change of topic, hmmmm? Today we're off for afternoon tea and cake followed by a late afternoon baking session at home. That's right, how about I eat my emotions. Hey, at least I'm showing evidence of self-awareness......BUT Wyatt is VERY into the show DC cupcakes at the moment and we thought we'd make our own this evening. No school for the rest of the week due to teacher's conferences. Wish me luck....

It's all Good

I just want to thank everyone for the e-mails and calls. The past week has been absolutely devastating to our neighbors in Japan and I am so saddened by the tragic losses and mass amounts of destruction that they are facing. A new friend that I have just begun spending time with is from Japan, has family and friends living  there and I was with her when Will called to tell me what had happened on Friday. It was our second time getting together and I was hesitant about how to tell her as I was unaware of where her family and friends were living.....and we really don't know each other very well. Upon telling her, I could see her eyes well up and she immediately checked her phone to find texts and messages that her loved ones were safe. Though a natural disaster, it feels somewhat similar to the emotions experienced during 911-The terror, the unknown, the devastation, the loss.- The feeling of helplessness and not quite knowing what to say to someone who is experiencing it on a completely different level then someone, like me, who is watching the horrors on the internet or TV. -I spoke with my girlfriend  today and again, I could see the tears in her eyes- and it just felt, unreal. Japan is her home. I'm pretty sure it's where she grew up- and parts of it are now just gone. Towns gone. Tens of thousands of people-gone.
It is so crazy to me to think WE ARE RIGHT HERE. - I mean, not to freak anyone or myself out, but we really aren't that far away.- It's so surreal- You see these images and you want to help, but can't...at least for right now. My thoughts and prayers are certainly with those in Japan and for those who have family that are there- for those with unanswered questions about loved ones.
All I can say is that I consider myself VERY blessed.

Back to the Blog-

Chilis of course.

Sooooo I took some time off but now I'm back. I wouldn't say I'm "better", I mean that sounds incredibly ostentatious, BUUUT I am back and it has been quite a week-quite a good week in fact. A week filled with Kati Kelly : ), a beer float at Taipei 101- which I have to say is an incredible reason other then the view of course-to go to the top, The Taipei Zoo (which gets better each and every time we go) and lots of girlie stuff. If I'm honest I can also admit that this week painted a clearer picture of how hard it is to be away from home...to miss births, weddings, anniversaries, weekend get togethers and just hanging out with friends and family. Shoot, not thinking and subtracting 13 hours before I make a phone call.-It's the heart wrenching trade off of this once in a life-time experience... and at the moment it feels pretty crappy. Kati was incredibly helpful and supportive and for that I am so grateful.....and a bit sad that the week flew by so quickly. *Warning* This may be a bit sentimental.

Brass Monkey

So, having had a friend that I have known since....I don't know, how long has it been?- College- so around 13 years? WO. (or more? NO.....) Well, anyway, a long time- it just further emphasized the work that goes into friendships and the exhaustion that comes from developing new ones. Not necessarily a bad exhaustion, but sometimes it's nice to just have a girlfriend to hang out with that already knows you....with no judgement for better or worse. This "dating" process of cultivating friendships and wondering if she'll call or do I call...getting panicky if our kids get along alright and if I'm being offensive when I think I'm actually being witty(some people just don't get sarcasm)....... ughhh. Sometimes it's just to much. SOOOOO with all that being said it was nice to just BE.

Stinky Tofu Guy. I know the
irony was not lost on me
either.

Beer Float.

Thank you for bearing with my fluid thought process here. I appreciate it.
So back to beer floats?Um. Amazing. Two things that I enjoy very much that I would have never put together. I mean, ingenious. Ok. Done with that topic.- Wyatt and I (and Will as he was able ) brought Kati all around Taipei, showing off our exemplary MRT skills and heading to local night markets, shops, restaurants and bars. We even tried stinky tofu. Yeah, yeah, it completely sucked and tasted WORSE then it smelled, not as if this was a shocking discovery.....I mean, when those who are serving it are laughing while their customers are eating it, surely that can't be a good thing. Right? Kati and I also tried a bit of the night life, attempting a restaurant recommended by our Mandarin teacher (which was quite good) and heading out to the Brass Monkey afterwards to check out where expats and the locals go. What I realized? First of all, I'm old. Secondly, I can still have a good time, despite being old. Just making a couple points- that's all.  Anyhow, Wy-Tuh was an extraordinary tour guide of the zoo, being as he is a master of all things Taipei Zoo.  In fact, Wy-Tuh was extraordinary throughout the entire week. Quite the lovable host. Anyone else up for a visit?