Credible? Creepy? Incredibly Creepy?

SO let me get a weigh in from you all. I know I'm Wyatt's mom, so there's no question in my mind that he's cute. Adorable. PERFECT even. A child model though? I mean, the thought hasn't escaped me, and if he can earn his own college fund.......well, that's an attractive proposition. However, when said proposition approaches potential client's parental units at the sand park- is this kosher?
Will and Wyatt were building the Thundercats lair in the sand when I was approached by a man and woman who proceeded to shove a business card within my line of vision and ask for my phone number. Let me be clear- the people, or the nature of the culture here is one of persistence- taking no for an answer or diverging from the plan or the path that one has begun to take is rarely an option. So, this being said, upon being asked for my phone number, I said..no. I continued to say no, as they were literally not taking no for an answer. As I looked at the man and woman some more, I realized that the man looked familiar- he's approached me before when I was crossing the street with Wyatt. Huh. AND...still the answer is no. NO. I don't give out my phone number to people I don't know. I will research your web address and call you if we're interested. Response from random woman? Calling her "boss" who conveniently speaks English. SHE asked for my number. NO.  Finally they relented and let me be...continuing their scouting for future child stars amongst the sand pit. Which leads me to question- it's pretty creepy for this couple to wander around the park looking for cute kids right?

*Note- upon coming home, I looked up the website and it read:

Directory Listing Denied

This Virtual Directory does not allow contents to be listed.

SOOOOOO I'm going with Incredibly Creepy.

'Twas A Blissful Day

Rice fields

Our fearless bike guide.
Scoping out the bathrooms
actually.

'Twas indeed.  Did I also mention that the sun was SHINING and it was in the 80's??? Glorious. Now, I want my parental units to brace themselves, because this may come as a bit of a shock. As a kid/teenager, let's just say I was never the first one in the car when it was announced we were embarking on a physical expedition of sorts....if I got in the car at all. But enough about me and my sedentary adolescence. The point is-we went on a family bike ride today and I liked it. A lot. Like 20 kilometers Will said (which I looked up and that's like 12 miles). Impressive for the nonathletic types that we are. Note* by nonathletic "types", I really am only speaking of myself. We went at a leisurely pace and as Will said- biking is the way to enjoy Taiwan. With the mountainous landscape beckoning us, we rode along this amazing bike path and took in the surrounding scenery. Taiwan is just beautiful. Even the rice fields are impressively attractive. Added bonus? There were these little coffee shops which came to be almost oasis' of sorts as we rode a long. I have to say this was quite nice since I enjoyed the extra motivation of a sweet stop to come to every now and again.

Sweet Stop. Called I'm here. Clever.

Butt break.Those bike seats are HARD.

Picture begrudgingly taken by The Wyatt

Good Old Fashioned family fun right there.

Scenes from the bike path

    

Going on 3 months in.....

A few days from now marks THREE months that The Wyatt and I have lived in Taiwan. Shall I enlighten those reading what I have learned in the past couple of months?
*Having lived my "prime" in the 80's I can say without hesitation that I am NOT a fan of Thundercats. Curses Will. Wyatt naturally LOVES Thundercats and requests daily doses of it to get through the day. I write this as a particularly painful episode is playing in the background.
*Living in Taiwan without a bell on your bike would be like signing your own death wish. Want the proverbial waves to part? Ring the bell. Annoyed that someone is in your way? Ring the bell. Car cuts you off in the middle of the road as you're going through the crosswalk? FURIOUSLY ring the bell. Language barrier because I haven't learned how to say excuse me yet? Yup- ring the bell.
* I've learned that, *gasp* I really need to wear "practical" shoes. There is however a fine balance between orthopedic and cute practical shoes however... I'm riding the line. I've tried the heels-it's just not working with my six speed -you know? Yeah, SIX speed.
*Speaking of bikes.....Do you know how much it sucks to ride against the wind on the stinking bike? It makes me feel ridiculously out of shape and well, just ridiculous. For as hard as I'm peddling with the rate of speed to which I'm moving......RIDICULOUS.
*One really can't hit the bread shop every day and not expect there to be a change in their waistline.
*Taiwan is a social worker's dream. A social worker who speaks Mandarin's dream. I'm working on it......leading into.........
*Languages. Learning a new language does not get easier to learn as you get older (just ask Will about the rule of the number 2..) and practice DOES make perfect.
*Wyatt is apparently a Taiwanese phenomenon. I get asked by random people (namely teenage girls) if they can have their pictures taken with Wyatt on a weekly basis. If they don't ask they obviously think I don't see them trying to discreetly hide their cameras as they point it in his direction. Hey, I'm just his agent. If he doesn't want his picture taken, that's his call. Sometimes he's just not in the mood.
* The weather here for the past couple of days has been exceptionally warm hot even. 80's. Please note the picture to your right. Winter coats. 80 degree weather. This does not bode well for me.
Follow up:
* We have branched out and are not going to the McDonald's play land nearly so much now that Wyatt has a burgeoning social life.
* I still REALLY need to work on lightening up.
* I've found a place that has plain cheese pizza.
It's all good.

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?