Setting Goals - our return to Taipei, Taiwan 2017

I like to start my visits to Taipei, Taiwan with simple goals.  The first trip to Taipei was to participate in David and Chia's wedding banquet.  I was in such a high level of culture shock, that I barely functioned, let alone had goals.  Having the culture shock well under my belt, I had three goals  in mind for our second trip:

• Leave the apartment by myself
• Go to a store and buy something, by myself
• Take public transportation, by myself

Now, I have been studying Mandarin for almost two years.  We are leaving for Taiwan November 30 - tomorrow. My goal this time around is to talk to people.  My first challenge will be to get the keys to our apartment.  The landlady is not coming to the apartment to let us in, since she already knows us.  Instead she is leaving the keys with the guard.  Here's what I plan to say to Mr. Li.

李先生您好.  我 叫 Jamar Pearson. 我先生 叫Taylor Dennen. 請給我們    8f  公寓的鑰匙

Translation:

"Hello Mr. Li.  My name is Jamar Pearson.  My husband's name is Taylor Dennen. Please give us the keys to apartment 8f."

Wish me luck.

More from the other side of the world.

Final Snapshots of Taiwan

Even though we spent as much time as we possible could holding our grandson Solomon, aka Soup, Taylor and I loved exploring Taipei and areas north of the city.  We saw so much, that I find it impossible to write about it all.  Here are some of the memorable sights and experiences from our month in Taiwan.

The main attraction.

Moo, Baa, Lalala. "Don't make the scary goat sound."

Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

Meeting Paddington Bear.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.

Big arms and kicks.

Small local temple.

Squid on a stick in Danshui.

Longshan Temple, where we heard monks and participants chanting.

I am the birthday boy - 3 months old.

Yulia, our Mandarin teacher.

Yulia

Shongshan Ciyou Temple - the biggest and the most extravagant.

Fortune telling stones.  You toss two at a time to get answers to your questions.

This fellow is one of many on the top of the roof at Songshan Temple - I took the photo from the 5th floor balcony.

Another treasure on the Shonghan roof.

Lunch with Chia's dad.  Two grandpas and a grandma.

Confucius at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.

Getting ready for a nap.

Our local trash lady.  After tidying up the street, she takes off her green vest and cap, and sits at the outdoor cafe for a cigarette and a snack.

Lin An Tai Historical House and Museum.

Lin House.

The garden at Lin House.