From Taiwan with Love

Ice is a luxury not often found in Taiwan. Drinks for the most part are not chilled and ice is rare. This includes the whole milk that I found sitting on the kitchen counter. Luke-warm water or juice is tolerable but the warm milk curdles my stomach. I'll place the milk in the fridge and  twenty minutes later I'll find it out again. This time I let it sit out against years of putting the milk in the fridge immediately after use. The family is a little slow at getting up today after my host sister's big concert last night. Yesterday started off with something I thought I would never be doing again especially in Taiwan. I suppose band shows are on Saturday's all over the world and that it's an all day preparation everywhere too. I played the role of band-parent except I'm not a parent so band booster I suppose. I moved band equipment in my soccer socks and shorts, eager for three o'clock to roll around. Lunch included pizza from Dominos and this time there were no  peas or shrimp on it but pineapple and ham. I was happy to have pizza regardless of what toppings were on it. Although Hawaiian pizza did exceed my expectations. Three o'clock comes and much to my disappointment Mother Nature cancelled the beautiful game. For some reason the habitats of Taipei do not like getting wet. They take this seriously nobody goes out in the rain. It doesn't have to be a downpour or a typhoon just regular rain gets things cancelled. Everyone seems to be prepared for rain as well because umbrellas are carried everywhere. Getting a tan is not fashionable in Taiwan neither is looking older than your age even for adolescents. These are very contradicting to American culture where the youth want to be tan and look older.  My soccer dreams were crushed by Mother Nature's rain but for some reason the sun decided it was okay to come out for the indoor concert. My host sister's concert was at a wonderful concert hall which had "Emergency Slings" on the second floor. I thought that even though soccer was cancelled if I had the chance to use one of the emergency slings my day would be made. These emergency slings had directions with pictures and thank goodness because who knows how to use an Emergency Sling. I read the instructions with care hopping my chance would come. Despite my careful preparation I did not have to attach the sling around my waist or repel down the building wall. The concert was nice and involved performers in between songs with paper fans and then umbrellas. Upon returning home I hear what sounds like the ice cream truck. "Happy kids everywhere racing to get ice cream" What any American might mistake for the ice cream truck however is the garbage truck. It works in similar fashion however the garbage truck plays its fun and slightly annoying song as it drives down the street. Adults and children alike run towards it holding bags of garbage instead of loose change and then deposit their unwanted trash into the truck. It's quite the sight, and I find the humor in the situation entertaining still. I've been told that leaving a comment on this blog is a hassle. I would love to hear from my readers whether you have questions or concerns or anything of the sort. I'd be happy to answer or just listen. Feel free to contact me at jlpane2930@gmail.com