Day 1 (Wednesday)
Dad picked me up from the airport and took me to grandparents place. I called mom and told her the news, then I presented grandparents with the note in Japanese Noel wrote. I think it took grandpa a bit to realized what the note was saying and it still took a bit to sink in. Dad and I then went to hang out with third gugu on my father side (plus her husband and son) and then later hooked up with the da-gugu on my father side. The whole family went shopping for maternity cloths for me. I felt very awkward because I really do not enjoy shopping with other people. It felt too imposing on them. I only like imposing Noel and he's the only one that doesn't care too much about shopping, especially when he's tired. Dad drove me back to grandparents to sleep that night.
Day 2 (Thursday)
Grandma went out early in the morning and bought lots of things from the market. Now that I am pregnant has finally sink in, she's prepared to cook me a whole lot of food that's very nutritious. I explained to her that because I am pregnant my digestive system is not good; i.e. I digest very slow and cannot eat a lot. She did not understand what I told her. I explained it to grandpa hoping he can help me explain it to grandma and that didn't seem to help her understand either. The rest of the day was to battle her with food. In the evening we went to eat dinner with grandpa's oldest brother (who's not alive any more)'s children. Although they were not my ideal crowd to entertain with because they are all my elders, I did have a good time learning some family history and getting who's who straight.
Day 3 (Friday)
The minute I woke up I started looking forward to dad picking me up. It was just so hard dealing with grandma. I can deal with all other impositions that comes with staying with them except for the fact that she's forcing me to eat all the time!! I know Noel would say "just don't eat" but she gets offended and she gets mad. I could see her mental problem getting worse and worse because I did not eat as much as she wished. I think I woke father up when I called him. He finally rescued me around noon.
We drove down south with his friend and her sister. They were both very nice and kept on buying me things but not forcing me to eat! How refreshing! We took our time driving down and toured the rest stops which were like mini malls full of famous local products. We got to Tainan and dad checked me in to the best motel I've ever been. It was newly built and cost only about $50. It felt just a bit shy of a luxury hotel! So awesome. We went out to eat some famous southern stuff (coffin bread, some fish thing) and I was looking forward to a great night of sleep without having to worry about my grandparents next to me.
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Day 4 (Saturday)
I slept really late and we went to have lunch and met a classmate of my dad's and then headed toward HuaLian pretty late. Couldn't see much view because the day was dark already but was able to stop by to get some local Taiwan fruit which I do not know how to say it in English. The best I can do is tell you the fruit looks like the Buddha head.
At one point my stomach did not feel well and there was nothing along the highway. So dad stopped by a small police station and borrowed the bathroom for me. It's my first time going to a police station just for the bathroom.
We got to HuaLian after midnight and all the hotels were booked. We were able to find a private home renting rooms out and took refuge there.
Day 5 (Sunday)
We went to have the famous HuaLian wanton and it was sooooo good. The whole shop only sells one thing and everything about the wonton soup was great. It's good enough that I'll make effort to come back to Hualian for it.
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We then went to my childhood nanny's Lee mama's place. I haven't seen her for over 17 years! I saw her before I left Taiwan but that was it. I am pretty amazed that we are still in touch. She welcomed us warmly and insist on cooking us meal. We wanted to get on our way so we have some day light to see the sights but was not able to. We reminisced some and ate her food and then finally left Hualian at around 3pm.
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I had forgotten or never realized how beautiful the east coast of Taiwan is! I think it's more impressive then Highway 1 in CA. I definitely would love to bring Noel here. Although I find the coastal highway nerve racking.
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We took the short cut and went to the newly opened, longest tunnel in Asia back to Taipei, which was full of traffic. We entertained ourselves by joking a lot about the traffic. Dad found me a hotel near the shopping center that I wanted to be, which is also next to a subway station that has two subway lines.
Day 6 (Monday)
Dad picked me to around noon to get luggage from grandparents place. I knew it would be hard to leave the place without eating some of her cooking. She guilts me by telling me that she bought all that nutritious food for me and I don't eat it. So I stayed in hour or so to eat.
Met up with Lee mama's young son and second son in Taipei. It's been so long since I last saw them. I guess I don't really know how these "brother" are like any more now that they are adults. The third brother is a bit more aloof then I expected. I guess that explains why he's more in to asking me about updated photos then updated news. We went to visit second brother's house and I had a good time chatting with second brother's wife. She was very warm and friendly. I think she kinda rescued the two brothers. I guess it's awkward to get to know someone you knew so long ago.
Day 7 (Tuesday)
I went shopping by myself. It was what I liked the most. I cannot truly express what I like because these nice relatives (dad and aunts) keeps on buying things for me. Sometimes they are just too expensive so I don't look at them even though I would like to. This was my chance. I find most chinese sales people annoying because they feel the need to keep on talking as you look at things, as if they want to use all the time and chance they have to influence you to buy the item. Not giving you a chance to think on your own so you might change your mind about buying it. It's the biggest turn offs for me. And when you decide not to buy, they have the saddest look on their face as if maybe hiding those sad looks has never occur to them. More expensive shopping places don't do that to you.
It was great visiting Da-Ayi, grandma and shiau-Ayi, Jeffrey, Sharon and Jason. Jason is so adorable and he looks so much like Jeffrey. Da-ayi prepared a wonderful meal with the best fish I ever had. A lot of veggies and other healthy seafood too. We did not eat dinner with rice which was weird in a chinese household but I think it's just healthier for everybody. Chatted with Jeffrey a bit after he came home and he's still adjusting. He looks like a happy father. Spoke to Sharon about her pregnancy and raising an infant. She's a very nice lady.
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Shiau-ayi took me to mother's second brother's home because grandma lives there. It was great to see second gio-ma, my cousins Daphne, Jay and his wife. I think Jay and wife were tired so they didn't not seem as excited but Daphne always has a lot of energy. She is going to do her master's degree part time which is great. At one point, while sitting next to me, grandma lift her butt cheek near me and farted loudly and then sat back down like as if nothing had happened. I had to stop myself from gasping at what just happened. I guess her generation just grew up with different etiquettes.
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Day 8 (Wednesday)
I had lunch with Grandparents and some relatives including the taxi uncle and his kids. Well, two out of his three kids. My cousin shiau-gene completed his mandatory military service and is now working as an apprentice to a chef. His sister is still very petite has a boyfriend that she was too shy to tell me (her mother told me).
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I went to the old house in wan-hwa that grandparents used to live. Where I spent most of my younger school years because my elementary was just behind the house. I would go to grandma's after school and get some snack, do my homework and just hang out there until mom came home. I miss that place. It's all renovated now to a historical site and I am sad to see that grandparents house is no longer there but the grocery store in front of the house still has it's frame and the address number on a plate stating that.
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Dad picked me up and then we went to the Gee-Long harbor. It has a huge Goddess of Mercy at the temple which had a good view of the harbor. We then went to the famous Gee-Long night market and tried out some local eats. Dad got some famous pineapple cake and green bean cake for me to take back to Noel.
We then went to visit great grandmother who's 97 now. Her health has deteriorated a bit after falling ill last year. She now goes through a period of sleeping for a couple of days and then awake for a couple of days. The day we went she was in a sleepy mode and tells us to leave her along. It was good seeing her though.
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We then went to visit Small-gugu's place and I could see that everybody was very proud of shiau uncle who just became a principle in elementary school. He's now the youngest principle in Taipei at age 41! All the gugu's were there to meet up. It's nice to have dad together with rest of them.
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Day 9 (Thursday)
I had afternoon tea with cousin Liang Huie, her husband and her son. I just realized she's only 6 years younger then mom but because she's in a different generation she calls mom auntie. It was nice catching up with her and meeting her husband. Her husband is very nice and he has many intriguing questions for me. Their son did not have such a good time because he was bored. I made a note to myself to always have something for the kid to do in the future. Let it be a drawing book or a reading book or something that can engage him.
I ended my last night in Taipei by having dinner with Second gio-gio and gio-ma and shiau-ayi and yi-tzan. It was so interesting meeting these elders now that I am an adult. I think it's the first time I see them all for a long time except for shiau-ayi who came to visit me last year. Shiau-yitzan gain respect for me and realized I am an adult from the aunt lily accident. I think that's because his English ability is pretty good (having an non-chinese son-in-law requires that). We had pleasant conversations together. I realized how amazing second gio-ma is. She's truly an amazing woman. I think second gio-gio still sees me as a child and his lectures are still the same.
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Day 10 (Friday)
Dad drop me to the airport but not without stopping by the famous soy milk place to get me some breakfast. It's always sad to say goodbyes. I saw in dad's eye that he was a bit scared and but mostly excited for me to become a parent myself.
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The flight back wasn't so bad. It was a short flight to Manila and then the long wait at the airport but that did not bother me because I was so excited I'll see my husband again soon. The flight from Manila to SFO was decent because nobody sat in the middle of the three seats so we were not as cramped.
Overall I did not get enough of the chinese treats. I still miss it when I came back. Oh well, next time...
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