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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Happy Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday Tyler. We miss you and are thinking about you every day.

Here is a photo that the orphanage sent to us of when Tyler was a baby (he's on the left).






Sunday, February 15, 2009

Final Day

We meet with Ms. Kuo, our in country adoption facilitator, one last time. She is encouraged by our situation and expects that in June we should be complete. She tells us it will be a 100 degrees and very humid when we come back. Awesome! Every time we see her she has a gift for us and kind words. This time she has a scarf for Sara and says it will go nice with Sara’s very white skin. I think it is a compliment but we laugh anyways.

We leave for the Science Museum which we find has motorized pandas that you can drive around for the equivalent of 50 cents. Of course Tyler picks a beat up looking one that looks like it was soaked in the rain. Inside the museum there is an entire area dedicated to small children and we are able to spend a few good hours before he starts to get tired. It is probably time to change him anyway.

So there I was carrying him toward the bathroom and I felt it. With his bum resting on my arm he lets at least one go. I imagine there are two big ones in that diaper now. He is all smiles so he and I both know what needs to be done. I casually suggest to Sara who is walking beside me that she take this one, I need to do something. She happily agrees…she’ll be a good mother. At this point a careful self examination reveals that Tyler saving all the dookies for Sara may not be completely accurate as I mentioned before. I may be helping to tip the scales…either way it is not important. Besides I ate stinky tofu last night…I don’t want a flashback.

Arriving at the hotel Ty is clearly tired but fighting it. We decide to use the stroller again but this time we walk around the property. He is sleeping in moments. This allows me time to video tape the city streets.

Half the vehicles seem to be mopeds. In Taiwan, the joke about a moped being fun to ride until a friend catches you doesn’t translate. More interesting is that fact that most people ride mopeds with little breathing masks on. In fact, even just walking around a few people wear masks. Our understanding is that it is because of the air pollution. We have noticed that most days seem smoggy. Is this what L.A. will be like in a few years?

Forget car baby seats or booster seats. In Taiwan you are more likely to see a 3 year old holding on to the back of a moped with no helmet. It is actually pretty shocking for a country that is so industrialized. It was not uncommon to see a small child hanging onto the back of a moped and another between the parent’s legs in front. Oh yeah and we saw two accidents while we were here.

It’s Valentine’s Day. We eat in the hotel restaurant for the first time. As we sit down, we see that tonight is an 8 course meal. It is a no options special for Valentine’s Day. It’s romantic. We can definitely do this with a two year old. Wine is included, a toast, Happy Valentine’s Day! Ty is hungry. He uses the international sign for hunger by smashing his spoon into his plate repeatedly. The first course has just arrived and Sara and I start to identify the situation. We agree that if we have to leave before dessert that will be fine.

The waitress brings some soupy rice for Tyler which proceeds to consume at rapid speed. He hasn’t eaten that fast all week. The second course just arrives. Even with our inexperienced parenting we know a meltdown is only about 10 minutes of idle sitting away. The crayon and paper may give us 15.

I tell the waitress we would appreciate the next courses as fast as possible, explaining we need to leave in 20 minutes or so. She nods and I think we have a good understanding of the situation. Even if she didn’t understand English she sees the kid right? What about my hand moving from back to front in circles and saying faster. This is multi-cultural I hope. Well it’s not.

The next two courses are so delicious….seriously 5 star. Oh and the romance…candle light….soft music…dimmed room and fine linins. Actually it was not romantic because these two courses were spent taking turns walking/running with Ty in the halls to keep him occupied. I mean if you love fine things in solitude and love yourself in an unnatural way maybe it was romantic but again I digress. I have not seen Tyler this happy all week. He won’t stop laughing. Our lives were too uncomplicated before. This is fine.

If you can count you know we left with 4 courses remaining. We will need to imagine how tasty they were. Half price discount doesn’t translate though. The hostess’s English was great earlier. It’s not a big deal, even a 5 star meal here only cost $60 US dollars wine included.

Unfortunately our week is coming to a close. It is time to bring Ty back to his facility. Emotionally Sara is holding up much better than expected. We say bye and get some hugs. The video camera is on so we know we are not going to get the blowing of kisses. We found that by leaving the camera on all the time in the room we got some good video though. So how do you say ok it is time to leave in a situation like this? There were several minutes of lingering after we had already said bye. It is kind of dramatic. Tyler decides how this trip will end. He closes the door in our faces. Even his rudeness makes us laugh.

We get back to the hotel and there is no little boy to reach up and press the elevator down button even though we want to go up.
























Saturday, February 14, 2009

Day 7- Stinky Tofu














We met with 3 social workers all of them very nice. We got a good amount of detail in terms of the mother’s family background. Ty’s mother, grand parents and uncle signed off on the adoption. They are happy for him and the opportunities that he will have. For a number of reasons that I don’t want to get into, they are not able to take care of him. He has been at his facility with Ling since he was less than a month old. We found a couple of his baby pictures at Ling’s facility on the wall. They have some nice pictures that we will need to get copies of.

In between social worker visits we take Tyler to the mall. This time we need to find pants that fit. We know there is only one more day, but a pair of pants that is not falling off of him or up his crack would be nice. They have some more little rides for him at the mall. We have about 1000 pictures of him expressionless on the little rides outside department stores. As soon as we put the camera away he smiles. He is messing with us. He doesn’t like to be a show pony.

After naps we spent the afternoon playing in the room. He has a rock star guitar now and rocks out a bit. More repeated words. “Bye Bye” while blowing kisses is our new favorite.

It’s time for him to go to bed so we bring him back to Ling’s place. We have another night on the town planned by Grace and Edmund. Tonight we are going to Seafood Island. There is a small island in the harbor that is known for great seafood restaurants. To get there we have two options. First is a big ferry boat which looks very nice and new. The second and the one we want is a small flat fishing boat that looks about two hundred years old. This is an authentic experience. We are told that the safety railing on this boat is relatively new. Just a few years ago Edmund explains it was up to you to have good balance.

We toured a Buddhist Temple which was very interesting and serene. The restaurant has lots of fish tanks with perspective dinner items out front. I think I am going to like this. There is a lobster looking creature that has a flat pushed in head. I think we need to eat that. The food was great. The lobster like animal was fantastic. We also had some grilled fish that was out of this world. The mouth of this fish looked like a piranha but the body is like a yellow tail snapper. I can describe the fish well because it was served fully intact. The seasoning and sealed in juices make this so good I may try something similar on our grill back home.

Last night I decided I need to try both the 1000 year old egg and stinky tofu. Back to the night market we go. I am not going to be scared off this time. The 1000 year old egg when cut looks exactly like you would think. Picture a fossil you have seen at a museum. I go for it. The outer eggs tastes just like a hard boiled egg. What’s the big deal? I take a bigger bite that includes the yoke center. That may have been a mistake. The yoke tastes like a fermented raw clam. Sara is not interested at all. I am also unable to even convince Grace to try it. She lives here. Maybe this really was a mistake. My stomach is fine. Why push it though, I leave some on my plate.

Grace tells me that stinky tofu is much better than 1000 year old egg. I have to assume she is correct. Let’s find out. So we approach the stand. Edmund explains that they position the stinky tofu stand at the end of the market because even Taiwan people feel it stinks. It looks like fried dough triangles served with cabbage. Grace orders two plates one for her and Edmund and one for Sara and I. She seems sure we are going to like it.

I grab my chop sticks and inspect one. I smell it but the fried coating is hiding what is inside. I try my first bite. What the? I thought Andrew Zimmerman said the street market stinky tofu tasted like fine cheese. All I hear is Sara saying “why are your nostrils flaring like that, I’ve never seen you do that when eating”. My first bite was a small one composed mostly the fried portion and I don’t want to waste all this food unless I am sure I don’t like it. I also better suggest Sara taste it before I say anything that I am thinking. I don’t want her to miss out. So we do it together. Sara takes a bite and I take a bigger bite. Literally an explosion of flavor and now I know for sure. I just ate shit.

My stomach is doing flips. I start to look around to see where I could discreetly puke if it comes to that. Who eats stinky tofu for the first time without a drink handy? What is wrong with me? Grace and Edmund have already finished their plate. I suggest that they finish our plate as well to which Sara quickly agrees. We all start laughing because it is obvious that I am turning green. There is no more time for politeness. I confess that I am shocked that they can choke that stuff down and that I need to excuse myself to buy a sugary drink immediately.

Tomorrow is our final day with Tyler on this trip. Sara is starting to get emotional and we are still 24 hours out.

Friday, February 13, 2009







Here are the photos from the play ground.






I fixed the commenting setting so you are all free to put comments. We love to read them.

Day 6- Playground

This is the third day that Sara and Tyler over sleep at nap time and we missed our window to get to the science museum before 5pm. Ty and I both want out of the room. He is pushing is stroller into the door repeatedly. It’s cute because it’s not our door.

We pack up and head to the front desk. Today’s attendant didn’t speak English as well as the rest had earlier which stinks because today we need to get a recommendation on where we can take Ty to play. I found some words that triggered her to nod and walk off. This should be an adventure! This should be good, she returns and hands me a phone and motions for me to put it to my ear. It was her boss on the line who speaks fluent English. She recommended the Dream Mall. Honestly this Mall is nicer than most malls in the States. Everything was brand new and it even has a Ferris wheel on the roof.

Without Grace at meal time it is a struggle. Most menus don’t have any English. We found a restaurant that had pictures. For a social study when we get home we should try pointing at a picture in a menu and holding up our index finger to see what happens. Here it works fine. At different points in the meal Sara and I both got up and as we walked away to which Tyler screamed papa and mama. I think we failed to mention that we already gave the agencies the official go ahead to start finalizing our paperwork. The screaming papa and mama didn’t hurt to seal the deal though.
Ty is more regular now. We have had two more chuck full diapers. After our meal Sara handled one of these diapers in a careless manner and result was not pretty. I don’t want to be too graphic but some definitely got on bathroom counter. It’s the Mall’s fault, there was no changing table.

The Mall has a playground for very young kids so it was ideal. Some kind of fan propelled balloon cage with hundreds of balloons bouncing off his head was his favorite. There are many safety signs everywhere but they are not the kind of sign that has a picture of someone doing something with a red cross through it. That would have been too easy. Since we can’t figure out what they say, we approach activities slowly and usually only after we see someone else use them. In the case of the bounce house we had to assume there was a weight limit. So we put Ty in it and did the old lets put one foot in and see if we catch a disapproving look. No bad looks. We made it all the way in and no bad looks. Now we are jumping around with all our weight laughing, fully expecting this baby sized bounce house to explode on each landing.

Tyler starts playing with two little boys. He is helping to build a fort from soft blocks. As they finish he holds the hand of a boy slightly bigger than him and they make their way down the padded steps. Looks like he plays well with others…. Bonus! Oh look, a cute little girl approaches them. Get the camera’s ready…boom...Tyler whips out a left handed slap to her chest. This is when we as good parents rationalize the behavior as him just getting tired and it is time to go.

Now that the # 2’s are coming often, Sara is suggesting I become more active in the diaper changing department. I rolled the dice a few times so far and he is saving the solid waste for Sara. Good kid.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Day 5 – Newton’s law, what goes in must come out

Sara is not napping. I don’t want you to think she has a problem.

Our translator Grace and her husband Edmund took us out last night. It was an all you can eat hot pot restaurant that was truly great. We took piles of freshly shaved beef, pork, chicken, lamb and oh to the seafood. Plates of fresh oysters, crab, whole squids, and fish skins. Yes fish skins. FYI, if you leave fish skins it in the hot pot is turns to salty jelly. I had to try it. I find no reason to ever eat fish skins again though. The shrimp were actually still alive. You get to pick the ones you want out of the tank like lobsters! Sara had issues with their sad eyes looking at her but she got over it on her way to polishing off a bucket of them.

Edmund enjoyed potty humor so we bonded quickly. They then took us to the night market. For those that enjoy watching the Bizarre Food with Andrew Zimmerman show this is taken directly from one of his episodes. Stinky tofu, they let tofu rot to perfection then aptly name it. Buckets of Alcoholic snails! How about some chicken testicles? We saw people eating the “1000” year old eggs, yes I know what you are going to say, sounds like something Aunt Pauline had in her fridge at the lake. We may take a taxi back later in the week for some stinky tofu but no promises. While we ponder going back we found the link to Andrew Zimmerman’s Taiwan episode. See below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILexn0r6STg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SMPkyamuR8&feature=related


We just got the call that Tyler took a deuce the size of epic proportions then chased it with a quick second. Seems like a good time to pick him up. We were able to see where Ty has been living for his first two years. It was actually pretty nice. The government funds his facility. Not too many extras but a 1 to 3 nanny to child ratio and pretty safe. Children in his particular situation are able to stay at a facility like this for the first few years and then are sent to an orphanage if they are not adopted. There are a few kids there who won’t be adopted because they have serious medical conditions. It’s really depressing so I won’t go into details or explain why I am being so abstract.

This is supposed to be a fun blog so I need to change my thoughts. As you can tell this is a stream of consciousness. Maybe if I look around the room I will think of something to say….hmmmm….oh my god….Sara is sleeping! Maybe she does have a problem. Tyler is next to her. Both so peaceful…one of them is definitely snoring…I think it is Ty…it doesn’t sound like Sara’s standard deviated septum snore.

Yesterday at the lawyers office we got to briefly see Tyler’s uncle. He seemed like a nice guy about 20 years old. Outside of a quick introduction to the uncle our translator was busy working with the lawyer on the paper work. This left Sara and I to our own devices. She taps me and says…hey take a picture of him. Of course she had no intention of standing up and taking a picture of this guy herself. We went on to break down this guys facial and bodily characteristics until we were both convinced that he was definitely related. He was a pretty decent looking guy. I’m not just saying this as a potential proud father, but Tyler is probably going to do well with the ladies.

You may have noticed from the pictures that after day one Tyler’s hair got cut. One of the nannies asked us if it would be ok with us if he got his hair done. We happily agreed. I was as the point where I was considering using my beard and mustache trimmer on him. We have 3 cameras going on this kid perpetually…something needed to be done.

Based on Tyler’s earlier bowel issues we are going to play it safe for the rest of the week. We will keep it simple with soupy rice, fruits and eggs. His next hamburger will need to wait until he is back in the States. Maybe we can get Aunt Simone to make a famous milk man Hamburger.

Edmund and Grace run a lumber distribution business. They entertain their Canadian suppliers in Taiwan regularly so he knows where to buy things. He mentioned that many of these business men buy Rolexes every time they visit. I was very intrigued. I can’t go into detail but a little old lady, an alley, and short money was involved. Check out our night market picture where Edmund is flashing his new bling bling.

I am starting to think that toys that make sounds were not a great idea. He and I both know that A is for Apple at this point. His favorite toy only has only 3 buttons A, B, and C. You see where this is going.

It’s time to wake up sleeping beauties.

A night on the town











Sara here. I'm finally up from my nap and I want to say that kids really tire you out. Either that or I have mono.


Here are some photos from our night out. That shrimp kept eye-balling me and I was really grossed out. The last picture was of Tyler's orphange. His bed is the bottom bunk. Check out the outfit. He really needs some help with style!