Really!! What? Really?

Sadly we have left Taiwan and there are so many amazing people and experiences that I will miss, but this will not be a post about that. Check out my next post for that. This will be the comedic side as I have realized certain things that once seemed odd to me or unusual about Taiwan, became over time, just normal everyday life.  I started this blog entry when we first came here and I am finally posting it in its mostly complete form (there are more things I wanted to add but just didn't have time!)

So without further ado- these are the things that made me say "Really!! What?  Really?" when we first arrived,  but now I don't even bat an eye.  (Some of these photos are borrowed from some of my friends- hope you don't mind Nathan Zinzer, I borrowed several from you! Thanks!)

Yes its a well known store that is really named Gas. 

In Taiwan, everybody loves to let their inner child out! This is apparent in many ways- the love of Hello Kitty, huge bows on adult women, colorful cartoon animals on adult clothing, and my favorite, pure joy in riding carousels even if they don't have kids with them.  They make adults pay even if you are only accompanying your child because the adult is apparently the one who also really likes riding.  To not pay, you have to convince them that you as the adult will not be personally enjoying the ride.  :)

FOOD- What the heck!

Too often Freezer BURNED frozen veges.                            
They just don't do frozen veges much here.                           Nutella in convenient keepsake glass cups
                                                                                                   like the ones in hotel room bathrooms!

Dried fish and chips anyone?  A favorite snack-- head and all.  I just never could palate this, but these snacks are everywhere so they were pretty normal to see.

Covering up head to toe in the heat to ensure your skin won't be tanned.  This includes face masks, long sleeves, gloves, and an umbrella when its super hot outside. Sadly Taiwanese people don't appreciate their tanned skin like I would!  I would love it if I could get any sort of tan!

Scooters everywhere!  If you think of how Taiwan went from bicycles to scooters, it makes a lot more sense why they feel that scooters have the right to be on sidewalks just as much as pedestrians.

And these scooters have superhuman abilities like being able to carry anything on a scooter or to drag anything from the scooter, from piles of trash to a suitcase to 5 people! 

DO IT ALL FAMILY MART/7-11, from paying your bills, making copies, getting freshly brewed cappacino and don't forget all the tea soaked eggs you can get. 

Beer and liquor samples in Costco?  No ID needed.

RECYCLING

Living on an island, trash needs to be dealt with in an efficient manner and they do a great job with helping people have the motivation to recycle.  First, recycling bins are everywhere.  Practically every restaurant has a recycling bin or a designated place to put your trash so the employees will recycle it later.  Even the movie theater employees take your trash as you are leaving and help you put it in the right recycling area.  Second, they motivate their citizens by having them pay for all bags of garbage that is not separated out as recycling. Good motivation.  And there aren't regular trashcans hardly anywhere!!!  So in many areas, you have to wait at night until you hear the music of the American ice cream truck, but its not ice cream.  It's the trash man picking up your trash and making you pay for it if needed!!

World Gym ... sleazy strip club or actual gym?  Based on their advertising, it's hard to tell.  And the above sample of their marketing strategy is pretty mild compared to some other classics, like "We want your body" over a scantily clothed woman lying in a provocative position.

Heads and eyes on every seafood item.  And on meat items at the traditional market too! 

Traditional wetmarkets.  Chickens ready to be killed and plucked.  Across the isle are fresh veges ready to buy.  Taiwan recently passed laws to prohibit the unsanitary public slaughter of livestock at markets like this, but it is still happening in some places.

And more about food:

Egg gummy candy? 

Shrimp fishing? I am an expert now!

Coagulated Pig's blood is a staple in many homes and in hot pot meals (which I try to ignore as I am eating the other yummy things in the crock pot.  I know this is not uncommon for some Europeans though, blood sausage anyone? Note: This is not a picture of pig's blood but it looks similar to what's in the left bowl. 

Turnips as a gift.  YES PLEASE! This is a traditional gift because the name turnip sounds similar to some auspicious word in chinese.  I can't remember now, and Todd isn't here to help me know- so just take my word for it.  Kit Kat's are popular for a similar reason but I prefer the kit kat. 

Chicken feet.   A real delicacy but no matter how hard i try I can't figure out why!

Also the most abnormal combinations of food, especially when it involves western food.  Peanut butter, beef, tomato, onion and cheese. YUM!

When appreciating Taiwanese eating habits of animals, you should understand that whatever is eaten of an animal, it is that part of your own body that you will be enhancing (this is how it has been explained to me anyway).  So if you need some enlightenment, eat cow brain.  If your eyes are going bad, eat eyes.  Take a look at the picture below, think about animal anatomy, and decide why you might eat each item (besides to actually get nutrition).  

You got to love how every part of animal is eaten here.  They don't let things go to waste that's for sure.   One friend said "Americans eat meat, Asians eat animals" 

And since we are talking about meat- lets talk about cute dogs.  Taiwan people love dogs.  Dog strollers and little dogs everywhere.  PLENTY of wild dogs because people would rather release them in the mountains than have them put down (ummm, pretty sure the former is not humane).   But don't forget the less common but still available actual cooked dogs. All are accepted and loved!!

Continuing our food theme- let's talk about restaurants!

Barbie cafe- seems like every fancy girly little girl's dream restaurant.

 Wait... No kids menu?  Two high chairs for the whole place?  Remember what I said earlier about how adults seem to often like those kid-like things, this is apparently one example.

Awesomely frilly chairs but ummmm... is that a full service bar?  Yes it is.

I don't think this restaurant is for kids, is it? That's okay we still love the delicious looking but just okay tasting deserts.  My beloved Taiwan really struggles to make desserts sweet like us westerners like them! 

Another concept: Petting zoo meets full restaurant = Bunny Cafe 

And after this we will go eat lunch a few steps away. Not that appetizing at first, but now it doesn't even faze me. They do provide bunny soap to each person so you can wash before eating! 

While we are on the topic of APPETIZING: I introduce the Modern Toilet Restaurant.  You eat out of toilets and urinals, have poop shaped icecream, and sit on toilets.  There is a fascination or lack of embarrassment about bathroom humor that baffles me a little in this.  

Now unless you think I don't like my eating experiences here in general, i want to let you know that I have thoroughly enjoyed so many wonderful food here.  Here are just a few.

GOOD FOOD

Moji! My favorite. Little glutenous rice balls with yummy fillings (or at least the kinds I like have yummy fillings- beware of red bean ones.)  I have no idea what Turkish delight is but this is what I imagine it to be like.

Mango shaved ice!! My other absolute favorite.  Mix the most yummy mangos with shaved milk blocks and add syrup and other fruits.  Heaven on a spoon.

These meat filled steamed bread things.  So good, but yes I think that is highlighter on the top. 

Not sure about that.

Din Tai Feng: I know its cliche to love this place.  But it is so amazing and I love every bite. This is real asian food awesomeness. BTW- Tom Cruise ate at this very restaurant.

Now we are on to my other favorite thing to notice.  Interesting usage of English! (I would like to note that part of my love of Taiwan grows in seeing bad translations because in that translation is the reality that everyone really is making an effort to help expats like me understand and get along here-- something I very much appreciate even if they aren't perfect at doing it.  Nevertheless, finding humor in our mistakes is part of what gets us through life!)

So with that disclaimer- enjoy these humorous mistakes that gave me an extra smile for the day.

I seriously reveled in these small humor moments during a tiring day.

Found in a play area-- I think they wanted you to return the toys back "home" after playing with them.

Run away!! 

Instructions on the bathroom stall are important.  You might not know what to do.  Sadly, this is probably on the wall because people didn't know what to do. 

Ummm... what?  This is an example of a person like me being a translator: way to much random info that doesn't make sense together, not to the point, and rambling, really rambling.  

You should really get a drink here- they are outstanding! 

octopus? and phone, really? nothing else... pumpkin, pirate, popcorn, pencil, pig.  No too easy.

Now this is translated great but I just love how the foreigner is the idiot here.  But if I am being honest with myself,  I do bend that rule and if I am caught, I blame it on the fact that I am a foreigner who doesn't know any better, so well played Taiwan, well played.

I'm glad this sign didn't depict a foreigner! 

I do feel think that making this a cartoon makes it too odd for me.

AWESOME FASHION SENSE

Running shoes with built in socks! Brilliant... or not.

Interesting Hair styles.  It's a feast for the eyes daily!

Expensive cars outside my apartment.  I have never seen so many nice cars in my life! 

And do take note that red lines, although by law mean don't park here, clearly are not observed: neither are ramps which makes life with strollers much more difficult. 

And to end with a BANG:  UP FRONT AND PERSONAL FIREWORKS!!

I went to a local religious ceremony here with a typical parade and it was incredible to see them lighting up fireworks, HUGE Fireworks, within feet of everyone on these narrow ally ways.  You literally could not escape.  One firework flew past my head and singed the guys' coat right behind me. These fireworks were as big as any huge fourth of July firework show i have seen in the states- except that I could touch them. It was crazy. Sadly, no picture could capture it, because I was scared for my life and was shaking the whole time. 

And Taiwan seems to love noise.  While firework shows like the one described above were not as common, you can hardly go a week without hearing firecrackers being set off somewhere.  Apparently to them, it scares away evil spirits, so firecrackers are ALWAYS being set off.  Before openings of stores, on construction sites daily, during buddhist/doaist religious and death parades, and whatever other reason they can think of.  It can be quite deafening close range.  

*****Lastly, the one thing that was soooooo normal that i almost forgot to write it is the absolute love Taiwan seems to have for my girls.  It is a very common appearance to see many people just loving smiling, looking, touching, and especially taking pictures of my girls.  I enjoy my girls too but it is amazing how normal scenes like this were. 

So those were just a few of the things that were abnormal to my life before but that became just a part of everyday life.  Now as I get ready for Tokyo, I am sure that there will be new things that will become a normal part of life that have never been normal to me before.  And I look forward to it!