Holly Jolly Christmas!

I had my first holiday overseas! I spent the day eating wonderful American food with great conversation! We had turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, sweet potatoes (that I may or may not have burned slightly), ham, green bean casserole, homemade rolls, DR. PEPPER (thanks, Jeff!), a tollhouse pie, and peanut butter cookies! I am sure there was more than that! I had so much fun playing with all the kids! They made me think of my special little girls back in America!

The Gasses, The Rileys, Paul, me, Sarah, Matt

(Not pictured - Jeff and Cameron)

Sarah and I

After lunch, Sarah and I hung out at the apartment watching Christmas movies and cleaning for a slumber party with friends! Christmas night, we went and saw Avatar in 3D. Here in Taiwan, when you buy your movie tickets you pick your seat as well. We were only an hour early for the movie, so we got TERRIBLE seats!!! We were on the front, right side of the theater! Avatar is a 3 hour movie, so just imagine what a terribe crick we all had in our necks. Paul, Sarah's bandmate, even moved and sat on the steps in the aisle!

When we got back to the apartment, Amy and Gayo were there prepared for a "lady party!" We had decided to exchange gifts. I really like Amy and Gayo! They are extremely lively and super funny. But, that night, I had my first breakdown. I lost it! It was 11 PM, I was tired, I had a crick in my neck from the movie, I wanted to talk to my family but one of my sisters wasn't there yet. These were all factors of my mini-explosion. I think what shoved me over the edge was communication. We tried to watch a movie, but because it was Taiwanese, it wouldn't work on my computer and I think Amy and Gayo were a little frustrated. They started only speaking in Mandarin. I couldn't understand, and all I really wanted was to talk to my family on Christmas day! So, I just started sobbing. Ridiculous, I know! But it truly couldn't be helped. They were very sweet to me, but didn't really understand why I was upset. They don't really have a comparison of this holiday. Chinese New Year's is all about the party, and maybe not the family time. Well, I excused myself and ran to Skype my family. My mom cried with me. My sister cried with me. It was exactly what I needed! They know me so well and were able to calm me down! I love my family! I even got to see Reesie take a few steps! It was perfect! I am so thankful for Skype! After I calmed down and watched my neices open some presents, I went back to my "lady party!" We had lots of fun! Amy gave me a super cute pink wallet and Gayo gave me a cell phone cover (so maybe I won't forget it all the time)! I gave them each little wooden plaque that said a verse from Psalms.

Christmas Party on the 11th Floor

Saturday, December 26th

Total guests was around 85 (ahh!)

Shine, Jenny, and I

Amy and I

Lola, me, and Example

Matt, Sarah, Me, Cameron, Jeff, and Paul

The Longrun Players have finished their term and are heading back to the USA!

I am going to miss you guys!!!

To DeeDee's favorite 2 year old!!!

Today is someone very special's birthday! Since I couldn't be with her today,

I thought I would send a special message just to her!

Shihlin Night Market

On Sunday night, we went to the Shihlin (pronounced Shur lin) Night Market. It is the most famous of all the night markets in Taiwan. It is CRAZY busy!

You can buy so many things there, from shoes and clothes to suitcases, wigs and sleeping bags.

I bought my first pair of shoes, a pair of tall black boots. Love them!

Girls

Guys

My new friends, Amy, Gayo, and Katherine got me to try some of the

traditional Taiwanese and Chinese foods.

If anyone knows me well at all, you know that I am an extremely picky eater.

Be impressed!

Stinky Tofu - Yep! It smells like Porta-potty water and tastes pretty much the same except spongy. Eh!

Oyster Omelet - I wish that you could have been there to experience this with me. It was the most terrible thing I have ever put in my mouth. I was trying to hard not to throw it back up, that I started crying. I was able to force my straw into my mouth and the omelet just kind of slid down my throat. Needless to say, I will NEVER EVER eat another oyster omelet!

Octopus Soup - Pretty tasty, if you can get over feeling like you are gnawing on a tongue. I quite enjoyed my seafood soup!

Taipei Diaries: Vol. I

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My First Few Days Here

I have officially made it to Taipei, Taiwan! I have had a blast so far and have so many awesome stories. Below are just a few to start.

I left for the Lubbock airport at 4:30AM on December 2nd. At the airport, Mom and I were lugging my 3 gigantic suitcases up to the ticket counter. A very sweet lady pulled 2 gigantic pieces of luggage up behind us in line. My mom, the talker, asked this lady where she was headed. She said, “Taipei, Taiwan.” Can you believe it??? Well, we compared our routes and we were flying all 3 flights together! She asked me why I was headed there. I told her and she got so excited! She said that she had become a follower earlier this year and looking for a “body” to fellowship with in Taipei. Amazing!!! What are the odds? Ridiculous, I am sure! I know that He planned that chance meeting so that I (and my mother) would be able to feel comfort in knowing that I wouldn’t be making this journey alone! So, at every airport we would meet up in the terminal and head to the next flight or grab something to eat! She is a very sweet lady! She gave me all of her information. I hope that we will be able to meet up in the next few weeks, before she heads back to Tech for school. We arrived at our destination at 8:30PM, December 3rd!

Joyce - My New Friend

Next story…

My supervisor’s wife took me to get passport size photos at a local shop near my office. We walked in and the owner went crazy over me. He started speaking Mandarin to me, which I of course do not understand at all. I just kept nodding, which I am not sure was the appropriate thing to do after I found out what he was talking about! Bev, my supervisor’s wife, is fluent and kept speaking for me. Apparently, the owner of the shop thought I was very beautiful and he had a son, 25,very shy and very single. He thought that we would be perfect for each other. He generously offered to let me move in with his family while we prepare for the wedding. I sat there nodding the entire time! Dumb!!!! I did feel sorry for his son who was sitting behind us the entire time. I’m sure he was mortified!

Sites

I have eaten official Taiwanese food. I had dumplings, corn soup, soy milk, and a drink called Black Pearl Milk Tea. I liked the food, but not so much the drinks. The “black pearls” are tapioca and have the texture of a soggy, slimy marshmallow.

Black Pearl Milk Tea (Can you see the pearls??)

My new roommate, Sarah, has taken me all over the city! Sarah took me to eat at this awesome pizza place just around the corner from our apartment. So good! We also went to a place called, Monster Ice, and I got a banana smoothie, YUM! After that, we headed back to the apartment for a little rest before trekking out again. This time we added 2 of Sarah’s teammates, Matt and Cameron. We went to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. The colors are so vivid and there are people everywhere! We took tons of pictures of us jumping!

Gate to the Memorial and National Theater

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial

Me, Cameron, Matt, and Sarah

After that we split from the boys, and headed to Longshan Temple. There was some kind of festival going on. We walked in by the station where you purchase incense and food or clothing to burn for your ancestors. The belief is that if you need it in this life, you will need it in your next life. There were tables set up everywhere with lots of food piled high. Also, everyone had books that they were chanting from. It was a beautiful chant, but it made me so sad. I just felt the lostness and hopelessness that these people were feeling. We walked around and saw the many god figurines that were being worshipped. It was a heavy feeling. We then headed to a night market right by the temple.

Snake Alley - Fruit Market

It was called Snake Alley, because apparently, they used to drink lots of snake blood before animal rights had a fit. It was a little sketch in that neighborhood! We then met up with the rest of Sarah’s team in a Starbucks in this young, hip area of town. I had a Toffee Nut Latte à YUM! So good! Everyone should get one. We ate dinner from street vendors. I got a corndog type thing. It was good, kind of sweet. The boys got a kind of like egg omelet thing. It was not bad either. Sarah got fried corn that was no good. She then got something that looked like fried donut holes, which turned out to be some kind of bird eggs, we think! Terrible! She had no luck! She should have stuck to the corndog! Haha! We also got fruit from a street vendor. It was some kind of mix between a cantelope and something else. I have also tried a pear/apple. It tastes like an apple but has the texture of a pear. Yummy!