Lost childhood?

Okay, I know it's been forever since my last entry, but that's because everything is become more 'normal' the more time we spend here so it's kind of exciting to have found something else that ignites my curiosity.

It's summer here and we've taken to cooling off at the beach for some fun. The first time I noticed the phenomenon of the Taiwanese teenagers burying each other in the sand, I wrote it off as one odd group on one odd day. We've been back to the beach almost weekly and it happens every time. We're talking about older teenagers and young adults, circling around one person in the sand, building a huge hole together then burying a mate in it up to his neck and taking ridiculous amounts of photos. Sometimes they are wearing jeans and high heels. Do they know what a beach is???? What is with the burying??? One theory offered by a friend here is that they are so busy studying during their childhood that maybe they never had fun so they're making up for it now. I don't know. It's a mystery to me and I don't have any photos to share with you. Next week I'll try and get one because this really should be captured.

Adios.

Sabrina

Amazing What You Can Fit On A Bike

Not a lot to say today, a picture says a thousand words. I see this woman almost every morning strapping on as many plastic bottles to her bike as she can. I don't know how she hasn't toppled over in the middle of the road by now!

Pregnant Woman Walks The Streets Alone At Night

I know, I know, it's been a hell of a long time since I posted anything here. I guess the longer you live somewhere the less weird everything seems. 'Tis the evolutionary nature of human beings to adapt. Now I simply swerve the pram to miss oncoming traffic and my heart doesn't miss a beat. I'm localising I think you could say.

But last night I was struck by something really special about this place. I went dancing at a friend's birthday party and, like cinderella, was having so much fun I lost track of the time and had to go running home at 11.30pm. The house is a little off the main drag so I had to walk a little to get a cab, I didn't think I'd have to walk more than one block but it turns out it was a quiet night up that way and I had to walk about five blocks to find a taxi to take me home. Let me draw you a picture... I'm dressed to the nines (given that there are very few occasions for me to do so, I make the most of them when they come around) in a slinky black dress and a face full of make up. If I wasn't five months pregnant (but looking seven) I might have passed for a street worker. As I walked my way to a cab, it suddenly hit me me that I did not for one moment feel unsafe. There I was strolling the quiet dark streets in the middle of the night and if I could whistle, I would have been whistling a tune. There are very few places and times in my life I can say that I've done that. This country offers me something I never had in Australia, a feeling of trust and security in the community around me. For a woman who is often alone at home with one (almost two) children, this is something I cannot put a price on.

A local told me once that someone who ends up in prison in Taiwan for crimes against women and children is dealt with in a very special way - and not by the law. It is so heavily frowned upon here that you never ever see it happen.

It was a great night and I took a moment to say a prayer of gratitude.

Sabrina
http://www.life-coach.net.au

The Singing Garbage Truck

As I was heating my dinner tonight (at 7.30pm) I heard the sweet song of the garbage truck coming down the street and I remembered that I hadn't noticed it for some time. I've been here so long already that I'm tuning out. These are the kind of quirky things I'll remember when I'm gone from here.

Every evening the garbage truck has a little tune going, a bit like an ice-cream van at home. You can hear it coming for some time which is your reminder that you must take your rubbish out to the street and wait there to put it into the truck in correctly divided categories: general rubbish, recycling and compost. It's almost a little social get together when you head out there and see everyone else on the street.

Whilst on the topic of quirky street things, the other thing I'd like to take with me and introduce to the rest of the world is a traffic light that counts down how long it has to go before changing colour or how long you have to go to walk across the road. It's awesome! Do I run and try and make it or not? I've got 15 seconds, yep... lets do it!

Aaaahhhh, must remain conscious of my surroundings, must remain conscious of my surroundings, must remain conscious of my surroundings.

Good night.

Sabrina
http://www.life-coach.net.au

Guanshe - what is it and who has it?

Well it's been a long time between drinks. We've been home to Australia and back to Taiwan since the last entry. Back in time for the sweltering summer... woo hoo!

When you come from a famously friendly country like Australia some things, like manners and consideration of others, are just part and parcel of life. Sometimes we don't even notice we're doing the things we do, until we find ourselves in the midst of several million asians who do not follow the same rules.

There is a Chinese concept called 'Guanshe' (I've spelled it phonetically as I have no idea of the correct spelling). It effectively represents the connection you have with another human being, but not just any human being. The Chinese have Guanshe with certain people close to them or people they feel a sense of obligation to. The rest of the world go to hell. The social symptoms of this fascinating cultural behaviour are: running you over on a pedestrian crossing - even when you're pushing a pram, pushing past you in lines to check outs and escalators, not moving out of your way when you're sharing a small space and need to get by. I was beginning to wonder if they simply have different peripheral vision to caucasians but they don't, they just don't have any Guanshe with me so I don't matter. Sadly, I've sunk to hitting them in the heels with my pram or pushing them out of the way with my elbows...not something I'm proud of but at least I feel like I'm fitting in :)

It's been brough to my attention that the Taiwanese are actually EXTREMELY polite and kind compared to the mainland Chinese, so I guess that's one thing to be grateful for.

So, how do I get Guanshe with them? I'm working on it and will let you know if I ever find out.

Happy days.

Sabrina
http://www.life-coach.net.au

Morning Calisthenics, Dance & Tai Chi

There isn't a lot of activity in Taiwan in the early morning. Most days I walk the streets with Xander (because he didn't get the memo about sleeping in!) and it's a bit like a ghost town. All shop shutters are down, nothing opens until at least 10.00am, sometimes 11.00. Then we turn a corner and find one of the local park areas absolutely full of people! So that's where they all are! It's an amazing ritual of morning calisthenics, dance and Tai Chi that is so beautiful to watch. The photo here of my ladies in red is a bit blurry but they're all carrying bright yellow hand fans which they incorporate into their movements. Some groups are doing serious Tai Chi, some are doing group exercise and some are getting down and funky with 80's pop music. The dancers are crazy, some are on the older side of life and they're all wearing sequins and mini skirts over pants and they groove baby groove. This morning I witnessed coreographic artistry whilst listening to 'Oh Micky You're So Fine'. Absolute classic.

So now I know why nothing opens until later. They're all busy busy busy getting their chi moving before the day begins.

Me, I'm ready for a nap now...

Sabrina

http://www.life-coach.net.au/

Travelling Baby Circus

Tip of the day: NEVER TAKE A CUTE CAUCASIAN BABY TO A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN TAIWAN ON A WEEKEND.

I ventured out today with a friend, another Aussie, who has two gorgeous blonde girls and my blonde son. We thought it would be a nice thing to get out and about and see some of the sights of Taiwan...little did we know that we would be the star attraction.

Ever since we moved here we've known that the babies cause quite a stir amongst the Taiwanese. There is constant photo taking and gooing and gaaing and the occasional poke and prod. And for some reason, whenever they're talking to babies, they do this weird clucking noise that none of us can figure out. We've even come to recognise the Chinese term for 'so cute' because we hear it wherever we go. Some days, however, you just shouldn't leave the house.

There must have been a thousand people walking through these gardens today, looking at a memorial and just having a day out with the family. Here we are pushing prams through the throng and hoping for a nice quiet picnic somewhere. If we stopped for too long we were swarmed...talk about upsetting one's aura!!! The kids were being video'd and photos taken and when we finally found a spot in the grass it felt like we were Santa Clause waiting for the line of kids to take photos with us at Christmas!!! People were literally gathered around us, several deep and lining up to see the crazy white people. They were peering over fences and sending their children up to talk to us and take photos. We were only there an hour and we were exhausted, not to mention the poor kids. Now I know what the poor animals in a petting zoo must feel like.

I think it's time to start charging.

Sigh...it's nice to be sitting at home in the quiet.

Sabrina
http://www.life-coach.net.au/