Well, there's no snow, I can't say it's -13 degrees, but it HAS been a very cold month here in Taiwan! When you're not expecting the cold it feels a lot chillier I think.. Not to mention that our house is made to keep the heat out, marble floors and walls. There have been days when it's warmer outside of our house than in. Ok, only a momentary 'poor me', I know what it's like in Minnesota, Vermont, Canada and Colorado are like right now... There's even snow in the mountains of Hawaii! The cold will only last here for another couple of weeks, and then we'll have another brief rainy season and then back into the hot hot days.
Thomas and I have been enjoying cooking lots of indian food at home, trying to master the art of our favorite cuisine. Not so easy, but a work in progress! My naan turned out as hard as a rock and the samosas had an interesting shell, but the inside was delicious! I have a wonderful mama of a child in my class who's from Thailand and had us over to her home the other day for a mouth-watering feast and a cooking lesson! Not experts yet by any means but practicing practicing practicing... We're thinking of some Thai cooking classes when we're in Thailand in March. We shall see.
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| thomas' new 1000 recipe indian cookbook |
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The traditional fruit and vegetable markets continue to be of great inspiration, and an exciting weekly adventure. We're practicing counting in Chinese and speaking money exchange language by bartering with the locals. (well not really bartering, just mostly paying what they ask after taking 30 seconds to translate in our minds the amount they've asked for!) We end up with bags and bags of fresh produce, and we've only just spent our pocket change, it's magic how that works! We're a funny sight, carrying it all home from the market on our scooter, but manage somehow.
I've been sewing and sewing away, I'm up to 80 cloth napkins for the kindergarten! I've had enough of wasting paper towels and napkins. And my seamstress career has officially begun! Not to mention all of the hand sewn dolls and little gnomes that are coming to life. This will be a fruitful year on the crafting and cooking front for sure!
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| love gnomes |
We're still not sure what next year will hold for us, dreaming and contemplating, planning, rationalizing, and figuring...And applying to various waldorf schools around the US. Feeling drawn toward the upper northwest, Maine, Vermont areas, so theirs an inkling of an idea, which is something. I had my first skype interview which was nerve wracking, but quite easy once I answered the call and settled in for a chat with 6 early childhood teachers sitting cozily in a Waldorf kindergarten classroom. It was funny and fun and we had a great conversation, but still waiting for a follow up.
Thomas is signed up for the 200 hour yoga training with our dear teacher and friend Succharita at the
Yoga House.We are both very excited about it! I unfortunately still need to have my hernia repaired, and so need to be very gentle with my body and can't do as much yoga as I would like. I've rescheduled my surgery for February 16th, and will have ten days at home to heal. Feeling a bit nervous, but also strong and clear about getting myself back in normal functioning mode.
That's all for now, HAPPY (Chinese) NEW YEAR! Entering the year of the Rabbit. We're so so so looking forward to a six day vacation from school, and a trip up to Taipei or up into the Taroko Gorge, still undecided! AND the grand festivities of the most celebrated holiday here in Taiwan. Any good book suggestions? Movies? I'll be lounging at home for ten straight days post-surgery, could use any ideas! Have fun wherever you are and please write me an email, say hello, and tell me some stories...
LOVE. tierney
