All Settled In – September 30, 2005

Eating was the highlight of the day, and I didn’t eat much.

We took Michelle to the park and let her play on the cement slides, but then she had a hissy fit over kleenix and the whole thing devolved into 30 minutes of her crying uncontrollably. Luckily, Taipei is so noisey, I had no problem dragging her among the crowds while she continued to cry.

The incredibly convenient 7-11 right by the house that first appeared on our last trip is gone, replaced by one of the seeming millions of English language schools for small children. For the city with the highest density of convenience stores in the world, there aren’t any convenient ones for us anymore.

The English schools are incredible popular. In fact, there are two in the same building where the 7-11 was. Irene and I went out and collected some phone numbers. Even though they teach in English, it would be nice if we could put Michelle somewhere with Chinese-speaking kids even part-time while we’re here.

She certainly understands far more Chinese that Irene gave her credit for, but she won’t speak nearly as much. She often leaves grandma confused.

We picked up SIM cards for out phones, which is when I snuck in a MOS Burger – and that was the highlight of the day – so now we’ve got Taiwanese phone numbers and can stay in touch with each other without paying international rates.

In the evening, we went out for some drugstore items and passed by Gold-In Tex Fried Chicken – or I should say the shoe store that now occupies that space. Is there nothing the same?! Now all that’s left is KFC and McDonald’s for fried chicken.

Longwang is still on the way, but the track shows the winds dimishing somewhat. Jet lag is still a problem and I’m writing this on Saturday morning. Today Michelle and I woke up at 4:30 instead of 3:30. I’m not exactly looking forward to today. Irene is going to a wedding banquet, leaving both kids with me. Michelle hasn’t been eating at all. Anything her grandparents put down on the table she immediately says, “I don’t like it!” Yesterday she had 2 bowls of rice and a couple yoghurt drinks.

It’s time to take her to MacDonald’s so she’ll see familiar food and hopefully eat.