May
21
I guess jet-lag isn't quite done with me yet. I thought I was in the clear but last night I woke up again wide awake at 3AM, thinking it must be around 6. Luckily I went back to sleep fairly quickly and managed to wait until 5:30 before I got out of bed.Yesterday we toured several apartments, some with beautiful swimming pools. There wasn't a single person in them. Nowhere. And it's hot here. If I would have had a pool I would have been in it. After a while I asked our agent why nobody was swimming. It turns out Taiwanese are deathly afraid of the water. He said about 85% can't even swim. I guess during Japanese occupation they weren't allowed to swim, but also they think that ghosts reside in the water. Our agent also informed us that we would have to use a shower cap when swimming because that's what everyone does here and it would make people uncomfortable if we didn't. This is definitely a curious country.
I'll end with a funny picture we saw in the elevator of one of the apartments we visited yesterday. I don't really have any idea what it means, but it sure was funny.
Maybe it means don't let your eyeball pop out if you happen to fall out of the elevator :)
Hubs by
It's telling people what to do if they are in the elevator during black outs...
-Li
How do you grow a daughter?
You begin by choosing a mysteriously beautiful name, when teaching her about all the wonders of what she sees you mix it with passion, you give her a pair of gloves and ask her to help you form the cement to make a giant waterfall in the middle of your house next to the 20ft tree. On a dark lonely drive to a new house you turn up the stereo and introduce her to the Beatles Mr. Kite.
When a windy day comes and she might tell you something that hurts, don't believe it, realize it is just a product of that passion fruit you chose then step back and look at the most beautiful example of what humanity has to offer and know it could not have been without the strong and deep roots of love and care.
You have grown into something more incredibly wonderful than even my dreams allowed me to see- Dad
Nova,
We enjoyed very much your feeling of culture shock. It is one of those things you have to experience to comprehend. The pictures were very descriptive and provided happy memories of Taiwan.
Mom and Dad Walsh
@Li - yeah I figured it was something like that. It was just a really funny picture :)
@dad - you are so sweet! Don't worry at all about the "corny emotional comment" - you definitely fed my creativity :) I love you!
@mom & dad Walsh - I'm glad you liked the pictures. I agree, you have to experience it to really understand culture shock. I hope I described it okay for those who haven't felt it yet.
We miss you all and hope you're doing well!