It's Friday!
Today marks the official day that Elizabeth said something to a Taiwanese person who distinctly heard and understood what she was saying. Every morning and afternoon, we walk through front security gate in our building and the security guard says Hello, Good Morning, Zao, whatever is appropriate for the time of day. He always smiles and tries to get Liz to talk. Well, this morning, she responded by saying “HELLO”. It was great – he really enjoyed it and I got a kick out of her saying HELLO instead of Hi or Zao, which would be so much simpler for her. I think she prefers bigger words: lizard and turtle are two I can think of that she’s said. It’s also her phone voice – HELLO – she says this over and over whenever she plays with a phone, it’s too cute.
Another sight to behold here, people peeing in the streets! On our walk to school this morning, I see a man standing next to a tree, peeing. He’s a taxi driver, he’s next to his taxi, but man, that is so bizarre a sight – right out in plain view and across the street from a REALLY nice upscale apartment complex, wonder if that even occurred to him. I’ve heard (and seen) that little boys growing up here are taught to pee on trees and in drainage areas on the street. I’ve seen little boys in parks just pull down their pants and pee (great, makes you wonder how “clean” all the parks really are!). Now, I must admit that Ashley has peed once at a park here, standing up, but with all her clothes on and it was the first time we were here – she refused to use a squat potty.
One other thing that I don’t think I’ve mentioned before that is different here are the lights. You turn them on and it takes several seconds, sometimes a minute or two, for them to “warm up” and brighten. Interesting, yes, especially at night, when you think you have the room dimmed and then it just gets brighter and brighter.
Thanks for the comments on the blog – I really appreciate hearing how much everyone actually does enjoy reading about our life. To have my life compared to a soap opera – that’s pretty cool!
Another sight to behold here, people peeing in the streets! On our walk to school this morning, I see a man standing next to a tree, peeing. He’s a taxi driver, he’s next to his taxi, but man, that is so bizarre a sight – right out in plain view and across the street from a REALLY nice upscale apartment complex, wonder if that even occurred to him. I’ve heard (and seen) that little boys growing up here are taught to pee on trees and in drainage areas on the street. I’ve seen little boys in parks just pull down their pants and pee (great, makes you wonder how “clean” all the parks really are!). Now, I must admit that Ashley has peed once at a park here, standing up, but with all her clothes on and it was the first time we were here – she refused to use a squat potty.
One other thing that I don’t think I’ve mentioned before that is different here are the lights. You turn them on and it takes several seconds, sometimes a minute or two, for them to “warm up” and brighten. Interesting, yes, especially at night, when you think you have the room dimmed and then it just gets brighter and brighter.
Thanks for the comments on the blog – I really appreciate hearing how much everyone actually does enjoy reading about our life. To have my life compared to a soap opera – that’s pretty cool!
posted by The Armstrongs at
11/19/2004
