6-12 October 2014

Monday I met with Lacie Dance teacher to discuss Fay a girl in Lacie's class that spends the class yelling out in class profanity when she doesn't like something. For example if she has to stand on her toes to long in her toe shoes and it hurts she yells out sh--.  Of if she doesn't like what someone says she yells out f---  you to them or flips them off.  She uses the Lords name in vain through out the class as well.  This is a class of 6 girls.  There is no reason why she should be doing this.  Ballet is very refined and disciplined.  Teacher was nice.  I told her Lacie like her and enjoyed the class, but this had to stop.  She asked me to bring Lacie to the advanced class on Thursday to see if she likes it.  The teacher also wanted me to talk to the head lady of the TYPA program and make a plan of how to handle Fay.  Typical Taiwan response, but if Lacie likes the class Thursday, problem of Fays potty mouth is solved.  Plus I think it is a much better class for Lacie anyway.  I don't think Lacie or the other girls should be subject to Fays trashy talk.  Especial when she is doing it just for attention. 

Lacie brought home a recorder from music today.  So not only is she learning to play the flute now she is practicing the recorder too! YIPPEE!  Love this age!

Tuesday I decided to quit choir.  They are having practice 2 times a week now and the director wants us to practice an hour a day 7 days a week.  The songs are very difficult so I can see why all the extra practice.  It would be one thing if they where in English, but they are mostly in Spanish.  I am having a hard enough time remembering the Mandarin that I am trying to learn.  If they were songs you could just sing at home and practice it would be one thing.  But in order to practice you really have to listen to the recordings and read the music.  I will miss the social part of it.  I have really struggled with this.  I got an email reminding me that I signed up to be the room mom in Lacie's class and the PTA meetings you are required to attend here as a room mom are on Thursday.  That takes me out of choir for at least three Thursdays before the Christmas concert. (Helen the director will not like that!)  Plus I have all the costumes to do for the church Christmas pageant.  I am trying to talk to Sister Baird into adding too and fixing up the costumes we have, instead of making all new ones.  Plus I have never quiet anything before in my life, so this decision was difficult.  I do feel good about it so I made the call to my friend Carrie to let her know.  Just as I did Lacie called me from school and needed me to bring her a pair of shorts.  She had split her pants at school doing a leap for her friends at recess.  That was my answer!  If I had gone to sectional today I wouldn't have been there for Lacie.  I only have this year till she goes to junior high and I am no longer involved in her school life.  I need to be Mommy!  I didn't come to Taiwan to forget that.

I drove myself to the Shihchih Costco today with my friend Dori (Shaner, I have been spelling her name wrong. :( )  I have never been there on my own but decided to try and find it.  I was up for an adventure and I figured my GPS could get me home if I got in a real pickle.  While there I decided to buy a dresser.  It was quiet a task to get someone who spoke English that could help me.  I was sure it would fit in my car.  Everyone else was sure it wouldn't.  Lucky for me I always have a tape measure in my purse.  I pulled it out and measured my car opening and length then compared it to the dimensions on the box.  Yep it was going to fit.  Convincing the 4 Taiwanese helping me was quiet the feet.  Sure enough when I got them to unpack it out of box and turn it the right way it slid in with room to spare.    Dori and I laughed as we put groceries in every nook and cranny of the car.  I joked and said I could pill them all around her and then take a photo.  She joked and said "Don't tell an Idaho girl she can't do something."  Dori grew up on a farm in Kimberly Idaho moving pipe and working the harvest.  We have a lot in common.  Most of all we like to laugh at all the dumb things we do as we figure out how to live in Taiwan!  When I got home the reaction of the guard to the dresser was priceless. He let out an "Ohh" when I opened the back of the car.  It barely fit in the elevator but we got in up and right in front of the mirror in the entry.  I love it.  I will use it for extra storage here and at home in pool area for towels and extra swim suits when we return.

Wednesday Emmie's mutual was on the mountain at Christianson's.  Luckily Shaun Compton took all the girls from down here and Jeremy Klump picked everyone up.  Made it nice since several of us are without our spouses, including Jeremy. 

Adam sent a picture to use today from home.  It was of him and Hunter.  No one has seen Hunter since before we left.  Lacie has been terribly worried about him.  I must admit I have been to.  He is the one who saved me from going crazy with Lacie while building our house.  We all believe angels brought him to us.  He is an amazingly sweet, patient animal.  We would all be sad if he was gone.  Adam said he just came around the corner of the house as he finished spraying.  Adam didn't see from where.  Hunter was glad to see Adam and get his feeder filled.  Adam had spent several days all day out working at our place.  This was the first he saw of him.  YEAH HUNTER IS FOUND!  I sent the picture by email to Emmie at school and showed Lacie as soon as I saw her.  Both girls were so happy.  It made our day to see Hunter and Daddy!

  

Thursday I spent all morning with Lacie in the rain for Field Day.  It looked like the kids had fun.  At one point I ran (Yes, ran!) back up the hill to our condo and got my hat.  It was such a pain to deal with the umbrella in the wind and rain.  My hat was much better.  I had to go buy a shirt for Lacie at the tiger shop (school store) because of course I didn't think about getting her dry clothing when I ran home.  She was soaked and would have been miserable in the air-con the rest of the day.  Several other moms' followed my lead.  YEP it was a good idea and she can use it for spirit week here in a few weeks.  After Field Day I went with about five moms to one of the gals home (same complex as Klumps) and had our first room mothers meeting with a member of the PTA.  It was a coffee.  They like to do that.  It was lovely and this home was amazing.  I really liked all the ladies and have been invited to go to lunch once a month with them.  After the meeting three of us went to lunch at the new King Burrito that opened yesterday.  It was SOOOOO good!  I really enjoy these ladies. 

 

 

Lacie took the Advance Ballet, Point Class tonight; she loved it!  It is over at 6:15p.m.; that will make it so I am late for Mandarin.  It's the best for Lacie, so we will make it work.  Much better class and no Fay swearing all class long!  Lacie said it was way more challenging, which is another plus.

 

Friday Adam sent me a Whatsapp with a picture of him presenting.  He had about a 5minute warning,  I am sure he did amazing.  After all the meetings and dinner he raced with all the Walton guys (2 suburban and his car full of people) to Best Buy in Nampa to pick up the part for our security cameras that he ordered. They got there just at closing.  Then they all wanted to go out with him to our house.  Adam said they couldn't believer our home and how much land was ours.  They spent and hour 1/2 there touring it, playing air hockey and fooseball.  Some of the ladies played the piano so they enjoyed just playing ours while all the guys goofed off.   I am glad they enjoyed our home.  It really is a beautiful home.  I miss it.  One of the guys wanted to know how he would get a taxi if he lived out there.  "Aw, you won't!"  Couldn't believe that taxi is not how we get around and that everyone for the most part around us owns at least one car, and most likely a tractor! :)

 

Today is also Elsie Evan's birthday at home.  Lacie made her a sign that we took a picture of her holding and messaged her so she could be the first to wish her a Happy Birthday.  We also have no school today for the 10-10 holiday.  The girls don't have it on Monday either.  If Adam wasn't in Boise this would have been one of the holidays we would have traveled.  Emmie is a little bent out of shape over not traveling. 

 

Emmie invited all the youth over tonight.  11 of them came.  The others where traveling our had something with family they were doing.  It was fun and nice to have all the kids around.  Some of them went to a movie before and then came over.  Some just met here after the stake service project.  I feed them baked potatoes, sandwhiches, chips, soda and Emmie's favorite; no bake cookies.  The kids just hung out down stairs playing all the things down there.  At the end of the evening they decided to watched "Tooth Fairy" in our condo.  They all left about 10:45p.m.  By time I got done taking some of them home it was 11:45p.m. when we crawled into bed.  Worth it for the girls to have good friends and all the kids to be together.  SO glad they all like to be here.  Just can never get them to all go home. :)

 

Why is 10-10 celebrated?  ... The National Day of the Republic of China, also referred to as Double Ten Day or Double Tenth Day is the national day of the Republic of China (ROC). It commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the ROC on January 1, 1912.

 

During the establishment of the ROC, Taiwan was under Japanese rule, which begin in 1895. In 1945, after surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II, Taiwan was placed under the control of the ROC.

 

Saturday we spent the morning cleaning up the party mess and then just chilled the rest of day.  Lacie and I made Halloween Garlands to decorate with.  Just needed to get in the feeling of the season since it is still 77 plus here. (don't forget the humidity adds a few degrees :) )  I ran in the rain to get the things we needed to finish garland and conference noodles for tomorrow.  They do import pumpkins.  Not sure I will buy one.  Check out the prices in the photo below!  Can't bring myself to spend $26.63 for a pumpkin I usually grow!

Halloween Garland we made to decorate with!

 

Adam is hiking with his guys into Blue Lake.  We all wish we could be there to see the beautiful Idaho Mountains and Fall color.  Adam took Dixie with him.  He said everyone really liked it.  They saw our friend Mike Tanner and his daughter who is Emmie's age (Mallory) at the top just before you hike in.  Everyone wanted a picture with Mike and his gun.  It was  amazing to them he was just walking around with a gun.  You could never do that here.  After the hike Adam took everyone back to our place for a BBQ.  They ate bear, elk and home grown beef.  That was amazing to them too.  Thanks to all our friends the Paul Lewis family, who gave up their meat so Taiwan folks could have a really taste of Idaho.  Can't forget the Idaho Potatoes and coleslaw.  Everyone really enjoyed our place.

 

Sunday the girls and I spent listening to the Saturday sessions of Conference.  It was rebroadcasted today and yesterday at the church but all in Chinese.  We watched it here on Emmie's lap top and made "Conference Noodles".  Can't for go tradition.  I have to admit they were pretty darn good, if not the best ever.  Maybe that is because they are a comfort food to us!  It is strange to be one of those they talk about listening by modern day advances and internet.  I was not surprised that the first talk given in a native tong in Conference was Cantonese, which is a dialect of Chinese and mostly spoken in Main Land China and Hong Kong!  The second was Spanish.  Both not surprising.  I listened with a tender heart as Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong spoke.  I was curious what message the Lord so desperately wanted to reach the Chinese People of the world, he would have it delivered in their native tongue.  A director fulfillment of scripture.... Alma 28:8 "For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his work, yea in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have;..."   Elder Wong's message of Rescue in  Unity and the parable of the man with palsy to be universal in need and tender to listen to. 

 

We really did have a nice day together the girls and I.  We missed Adam.  We have not watched a conference (either April or October) together in over 3 years now.  Between his business travel and going to help with Aunt Billie's place.  I have almost forgotten what those days are like.  I am sadly use to gathering my little girls around and listening to the prophets.  I realized today they are not so little anymore as they sat and took notes and commented on remarks they liked.

 

Conference Noodles

That is it from our corner of Asia.  Hope all has gone well at home this week. 

 

Happy Birthday wishes to ... Can you believe in our large families no one has a Birthday this week!  All though I did hear the Batteen's had a b-day party for Amanda and Aaron while Adam was home.  He enjoyed very much spending time with some of his siblings and parents and a special visit last week with Grandfather.

 

What I love about Taiwan... Our guards.  They are so nice to us.  They are so helpful to us.  They smile and wait on us hand and foot.  It makes it so I feel I can leave the girls alone or when girls and I are here alone, that we are safe.  It is strange how even others in our building know what floor we live on and will push our button and hold the elevator for us.  I guess when you are the only white family in the building everyone know where you belong and who you are!  So strange to be always under the spot light.  Everyone watches us here.  Everyone!