Glove Puppetry, way cooler than you think

Every other Wednesday, all the ETA's get together in Yilan for a workshop. Last week's workshop was on traditional Taiwanese glove puppetry. Before the dawn of television, Taiwanese people flocked to public puppet shows for entertainment. These shows have all the slapstick comedy found in Western puppetry, but overall are more serious dramas. The puppets act out small details like tying their shoes! It reminded me of the puppetry in Being John Malkovich...lol

A 5th grader named Andy taught me some puppet moves like walking, running and spinning. He was a supportive and bubbly teacher. When I asked him, "How old are you?" he said "12 o'clock."

Awwwwww

An aquatic Kenting weekend

  

So I went to Kenting (at the southern tip of Taiwan)!  Visited this guy!  He's a Fulbright researcher (rather than English teacher).  He did this.  Painted abstractions of Kenting's coral reef that incorporate ideas from traditional Chinese medicine.  AND it's on display at Kenting's aquarium.  SO COOL.   

I wandered around the aquarium and took too many pictures of the jelly fish, as per usual. 

There was a giant squid sculpture outside. It was metallic and beautiful. I took a picture with it.  I also went snorkeling and met up with some other lovely researchers.  An aquatic and fun weekend! 

Mango Fields of Kenting

Just returned from a trip to Kenting, a beach-y area on the southern tip of Taiwan.  Kenting is covered with mango fields--on mountains, in valleys, along roads.  I decided to check one out.  Workers were wrapping the fruit in protective bags.  Taiwan seems to really be into non-toxic pest control.  In Yilan they use styrofoam to wrap the guavas.

Welcome to the work week, everyone!  My mind is still at the beach...

Mini-Moguls

[Third graders selling fried chicken and milk tea, 2 items certain to send any Taiwanese child to cloud nine]

Taiwanese school children have an interesting activity called the 園遊會。It's like an American fair/carnival minus the rides.  There are some small games and lots of snacks on sale.  The twist--students run the show!  The students have tickets they can use to "buy" snacks and play games, but also run the stands!  Parents can buy tickets, so the event is like a fund raiser...I have no idea how the students use the money they raise.  It's funny how much children love playing "adult" for a little while.     

[Student uses body to advertise her drink stand.  Talk about entrepreneurship!] 

Hot Springs at Jiao Xi

This Sunday I went boogie boarding at Wai Ai beach. Meeting up with friends at the beach has got to be one of the best ways in the world to pass an afternoon. Afterwards I went to Jiao Xi to bathe at a hot spring.  Taiwan has many hot springs because it is a volcanic island and they come in many different styles.  “Taking hot spring” is cheap, relaxing and many people do it multiple times a week.  

Here I am in front of the Japanese-style hot spring I visited.  I chopped off my hair!  It’s shoulder length.

"Being ugly!" in Taiwan

Bi Hou is a challenging place to work.  It's hard to get the students to focus so teachers always have their game faces on at school.  My co-teacher, Monica, and I often get together to de-stress.  Today we took a stroll along a beach by her house.  Note the following contrast...  

Taiwanese beach

American beach

Taiwan is loaded with beautiful beaches but they're always empty!  Taiwanese people, particularly women, have a serious "fear" of the sun and stay off the beaches.  Today we passed many under awnings enjoying refreshments and singing karaoke.  I asked Monica if Taiwanese people fear "cancer or being ugly?"  Her answer was a  very clear "Being ugly!"  Taiwanese beauty definitely values pale skin.  

Here's a photo of Monica before our walk.  It was boiling outside and she had on pants, a sweater and a protective hat!

The Royal Taiwanese Wedding

Wedding season is in full swing!  My piano teacher, Lan Zhi, invited me to her sister's wedding.  It was this past Saturday, the day after Will and Kate tied the knot!

Before the wedding there was a traditional tea ceremony at the bride's house.  The groom's family came to Lan Zhi's sister's house and she served them tea.  It was a tense and spark-ly affair!  The bride wore a red dress for prosperity.      

After the ceremony, the bride and groom posed for pictures.  Check out that gold nugget!  Taiwanese people don't wear their wedding rings often.  Gold jewelry is like financial security in Taiwanese culture, like hiding money under the mattress.   

 Sweet tea and soup (圓湯）were served for a sweet and harmonious marriage.  

After the tea ceremony the family went upstairs to a marital altar for a private Buddhist ceremony.  

And then off to the wedding banquet！ More than 400 people attended the 12 course lunch.  I snapped a photo of the table for red money packets (紅包)--given as wedding gifts, outside of the event.  These newlyweds made bank! 

Some specimens

A nickname for Taiwanese people is "children of the sweet potato," and I totally understood why the other evening when I was roasting this starchy snack.  

Another oblong specimen to be found in my room as of late is pictured above (though in much greater quantity than 1!).  I think they're stink bugs...or milkweed bugs...you guys know?