The Answer to My Question

 這些是糖蘋果.

These are sugar apples.

Before knowing what these were, I cut one open, cut off the peel and removed the seeds.  The verdict: crunchy and tasteless.  I wondered if they should be cooked. Are they a fruit or a vegetable?

Then I learned that they are sugar apples also known as Buddha fruit.  When the peel turns somewhat black, like a banana, you cut it open and it should be fragrant, sweet and creamy.  You're supposed to be able to eat it with a spoon.

Nothing Says Christmas Like

This guy.

Last night Chia, Taylor, Solomon and I took the MRT to New Taipei City Hall to see the Christmas Wonderland.  I suppose you could say that this area is like Rockefeller Center in New York City with all the holiday lights and crowds.  Of course, it is Taiwan style so it's not quite the same.  It was festive though.

The plaza in front of City Hall is quite beautiful.  This is before all the Christmas lights were turned on so I imagine it very magical in the dark.

Solomon is watching this cunning machine blow up a helium balloon, and attach a string.

Yes, there is Christmas, or holiday spirit, in Taipei.  However, the best of the season is right here in our apartment.

What is this?

這是什麼

What is this?

I successfully purchased guava and oranges at the market this morning.  After handing over my money, the lady pointed out these and I could tell she wanted me to buy them.  I asked what they were, and she told me.  The problem is I can ask, "這是什麼", but I can't understand the answer. She showed me with her hands that they need to be peeled.  I told her "No", and then a man drove up on his motorcycle and motioned to them.  He bought a big bag.  Nothing like peer pressure to get me shopping.  So here I am with 4 of them.  I'll keep you posted when I figure them out.

Other news on the language front:

I've been ordering coffee all wrong.  When I order from our regular lady at 7 Eleven, she always hands me Taylor's black coffee and I hear her say, "Monsieur."  I thought maybe she thinks we are French and that that particular cup of coffee is for monsieur.  Well...............that's not the case.

I've been asking for "Yi bei latte" (one latte) and "Yi be hei kaffei" (black coffee).  I've been to Taipei 5 times and I just learned this week that I should be ordering "Yi bei na tia kaffei" (latte) and "Yi bei mei shi kaffei" (American style coffee).  When my lady hands me Taylor's coffee, she is not speaking French, she is saying "Mei shi".

I've been a little discouraged in my language acquisition.  I'm at the point in our trip where, it seems too hard to try to talk outside the house.  Speaking Mandarin is much easier in Portland, in my class or with my two study partners, Anni and Ty.  I have been thinking I should just give up and go back to knitting.  Then I remembered, I'm learning Mandarin so I can speak to this guy.

Solomon and Professor Dennen at David's office at Chihlee University.

What do we do in our spare time?

Hmmm................often Taylor and I read, or take naps if Soup isn't at our house.  But when we have the strength and time we take walks through neighborhoods new to us in Taipei. Like any large city, this one has many different intriguing communities throughout.  One only has to walk a block or two, and you are suddenly in an entirely different environment.

This temple was a pleasant surprise we discovered walking down a side street.

The temple is small, but exquisite, and quiet.  I could tell someone had been here though because the incense was still burning.

Diagonally across the street from the temple is this little Christian church, all decked out for Christmas.

Back out on the main street of a busy business district, I came across this Santa and sleigh in a water fountain.

We have discovered that IKEA is a good place to use the restroom, or to exercise a toddler.  Except for the writing, it looks like IKEA anywhere.

The Confucian Temple in Taoyuan City provides a moment of peace and beauty.

Part of what we love about Taiwan are the contrasts.  In spite of living among such a large population, we can always find a quiet corner.

A Week in Rainy/Sunny Taipei with a Two Year Old

This was a busy week in Taipei in spite of variable weather.  This December the weather is cool and rainy (think high 60s), or warm and sunny (think low 70s).  The rainy days outnumber the sun, and we go outside no matter the weather.

Every day we went to a park.  Some days Solomon was lucky enough to find children to play with.

Solomon and this girl were the only ones in the park on this drizzly day.  They had a good time together.

Several days later it was sunny and warm.  The same park was swarming with children.

On this sunny day was took the train to a park in Taoyuan City where grandpa and Soup enjoyed lunch on a swing.  It was the perfect spot to sing a few rounds of "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

It was a good week to work on big motor skills.

This agility apparatus is a challenge but Solomon can do it.

This is one of the many slides at Taoyuan City playground.  Solomon kept up with all the other kids. Notice the way the slides take advantage of the hilly terrain.

Sliding through the tunnel.

Climbing through this challenging tunnel.

This one was a little scary, but fun!

One day, we went to the market to shop for our fruit, vegetables and fish.  Solomon pushed the cart.

We walk through Rongxi Park to get to the market.

Solomon and Grandpa waited patiently while I bought two salmon steaks.  The fish is so fresh here that there is absolutely no odor.  I always swear I will never buy fish again in the U.S.

When it's really rainy we can always go to the mall.  We went to Taipei Main Station Mall for browsing and having lunch.  It's kind of like going to an outdoor market, only it's inside.

We didn't see Santa, but we saw lots of Christmas decorations.

Another day we took the MRT to visit the Music Institute of Taiwan.  This was especially interesting to us because Chia wrote all the informative placards in both Chinese and English to explain the exhibits.  We're very proud of her.

Grandpa and Solomon listening to traditional Taiwanese music and looking at the locations where the music was recorded.

One of the many highlights of the week was taking the fast train to Taoyuan City.  Actually we took the MRT (subway), TRA (fast train) and a bus to get to our destination.  For a boy who loves trains, it was a perfect ending to a busy week.

Waiting for the fast train with Conductor Bear.

This sums up a week of rain, with a few splashes of sunshine.  Rain or shine, we have been busy.

Lost in Translation, edited 12.7.17

I took this picture because I was amazed at the slogan on the door of the car.  I have two thoughts on this, thanks to David and Chia.

• David suggested that this is an example of a bad translation.  Probably the quotation should be "to serve and protect."  If David is right, you can see how much trouble I can potentially get into with my small knowledge of Mandarin.

• Chia thought that this is a joke - not a real police car at all

After doing a little research, I still don't know what's up with this car.  There is a technology company in Taipei called Cypress Technology (CYP), founded in 1989.  Their logo doesn't match this one, but I wonder if this is their idea of a creative joke, not to be understood by those of us not in the know.

Finally, the puzzle is solved. 

• Syvart has the real answer to the puzzle: The car says "Transformers" on it - the logo is a reference to a series of big-budget robot movies (and a famous series of toys and cartoons, I even bought some of the toys when my boys were children).  It's not a real police car.

So, unless someone else comes up with another solution, this is a creative joke for people in the know.  My generation wouldn't get this.  And the car, with its logo, was unexpected in my Taipei neighborhood.

One Day in Our Life with Sen Sen Solomon Soup

This is only our fourth full day in Taipei, but we are settling in to a pleasant pattern.

This morning, we walked out to try a new breakfast stop, before going to the market for fresh vegetables.

This spot is a little further from the apartment but it's convenient if we want to shop for vegetables.  Absolutely no English spoken here.  All the customers are regulars and I was definitely in the way.  However, I held steady in my spot in line and managed to order "shao bing jia dan bing" for Taylor, and "tong you bing" for me.  The result was, we got what I ordered.  We decided the food was better than our regular restaurant, so we will be back.

With our stomachs filled with egg, we purchased a cart load of vegetables from the market and returned to the apartment to receive Sen Sen Solomon Soup. David dropped him off on his way to work for a full day of fun with Grandma and Grandpa.

The first order of business is to open day 5 on the advent calendar.  Solomon manages to get the ornament on the tree.  It's really hard not to open day 25 - it has the biggest number and looks the most interesting to this young fellow.

Now it's time to sing "I've been working on the railroad" with grandpa.

It's a rainy day, but we feel that a trip to the little park near the apartment will help burn off a little energy, so off we go.

The children's equipment is pretty wet, but the grown up strider works just fine.

Striding is even better when Grandpa joins in.  And it gets better when we all sing "I've been working on the railroad."  We are all so happy to provide entertainment for everyone else enjoying the park.

To get out of the rain, we go to the bookstore to read some stories and to buy a new Peppa Pig book.  Then it's home for lunch, stories and nap time.

Our day is only at the half way mark.  Fortunately, Taylor and I each got a little nap, and Chia will come to the apartment around 4:00.  I think Taylor would agree with me that these are some of the best days ever.  And, we still have 26 days to go.