Wednesday March 13th, 2013
For breakfast my host grandmother frequently gives me meat
buns (包子) which is fine by me because meat buns are delicious! Up until today
she has bestowed only two types upon me, one having a solid meatball inside the
bun and the other containing cabbage and noodles. Today was a different kind of
meat bun with vegetables and bits of meat. I’m not completely sure what the
exact contents are but it was tasty. A lovely morning surprise to try something
different. ^_^
That delicious
surprise was much appreciated because I was soooooooo tired. With not enough
sleep and a bucket load of work ahead of me, I purchased a can of double
caffeine coffee. It surely was a lifesaver as it helped Andrea blast through
nearly 3.5 hours of Chinese homework during the first half of school. I could
feel the caffeine intermixing with adrenaline in my veins, causing an
unpleasant uneasiness in my chest. Certainly my lungs and heart were feeling
the effects. But the main thing is I eliminated a mountain of work and stress
from my life. Bye bye sucker!
A downside of the
caffeine/adrenaline juice is that falling sleep during naptime proved a
challenge. I believed I achieved a helpful amount even if concise.
Two more hours of
work after naptime. For the last hour of school, the elective computer class of
I-can’t-participate-without-a-student-number-therefore-is-useless, I relaxed
with J.R.R.Tolkien’s “Children of Hurin.” Nearly finished but not quite, the
book is very interesting. While reading through some parts thoughts like, ‘Wow,
Romeo and Juliet Middle Earth version!’ and ‘Isn’t that like the Greek
mythology story whose name escapes me?’ popped into my mind. This book could
totally be a tragedy play like the ones read in senior year English class! XD Not
finished yet but getting there!
Mentally and
physically dragging at this point, I met up with Maxime in order to finish the
University favorite shop project. As you know, yesterday had some misfortune
with my shop choice but we at least got Maxime’s all taken care of. Crafting a
new plan and adjusting my questions, we were going to attempt the baking shop
seen everyday while riding my bus and shortly checked out for the first time
yesterday. All my fingers were crossed for the store to be open and the shop
owner to be available and willing for less than five minutes of questions.
Getting closer and
closer to the target destination, once in view, I let out a squeal with as much
enthusiasm as I could muster. IT WAS OPEN! WHOO-HOO! THANK YOU LORD!
The interview went
very smoothly except for one pronunciation snag easily solved. Maxime filmed
while I questioned. The shop owner, a woman, was so kind in words and actions.
When finished with the interview, I scanned the shop to purchase desired items.
During this she friendly asked questions like “Where do you come from,” “Why
are you in Taiwan,” “How did you discover this shop,” etc. At one point I asked
if she had a displayed item in stock and she readily helped with a smile. She’s
so approachable and kind that I fell in love with the store even more. The
combination of her personality and the sheer fact that I was surrounded by
baking heaven, this store truly has become my favorite in Taiwan. It’s just so
wonderful! This success refreshed me, resulting in energizing me to walk with a
spring in my step. Store exploration success, school project success, baking
tool purchase success, just all out success!
Speaking of which,
I did indeed buy several items from her stock. One was an Easter chocolate mold
of CUTENESS! The molds were of bunnies, chicks and eggs. They’re just SO
ADORABLE! But then the delightfulness continues with four Asian cookie cutters.
Aren’t they precious?! At the top is the shape of the old form of Chinese
money, now representing luck and wealth. Below is a pineapple, which I plan to
use for making the famous Taiwanese pineapple cakes. ;) The rectangular cookie
cutter is for making a traditionally shaped pineapple cakes and the final
cookie cutter…do you recognize? Can you distinguish its shape? I’ll give you a
hint, I’m towards the north of it. Got it? That’s right! A TAIWAN SHAPED COOKIE
CUTTER! IT’S SO CHARMINGLY ADORABLE! I’ll go crazy with it back in America, I
know it! ^_^
The beloved cookie
cutter selection area. I’ll definitely pay a visit here again before returning
to America. ;D
Not much was in the
surrounding area. Only a few restaurants and even fewer stores, the baking one
being the best of course. ;) The stores were like key and stamp stores so
nothing you go to browse for leisure. For dinner Maxime and I went by a tasty
wrap shop, once eaten before thanks to host father buying a few kinds and
sharing amongst the family a long time ago. Nonetheless, the two of us went in
as explorers ready for something new.
Remarkably the shop
offered samples of both a sliver of their ‘shrimp roll’ and a tiny cup of
soymilk. Testing both of them, my mind was immediately made up for me as I
melted into the tang of each cuisine.
Behold! The food of
the Taiwanese wrap gods! Or something like that. XD
Maxime was also
convinced by the power of the samples to order the same, save for getting milk
tea instead of soymilk. He likes his milk tea. XD
THIS FOOD WAS
FASCINATINGLY DELICIOUS! WHAT KIND OF MAGIC DID THEY USE TO MAKE THIS?! Allow
me to attempt to break down this delicacy’s components. Beginning with the
outside, the wrap is the Asian version of a tortilla meaning thin, layered and
soft. In fact this type was super soft and slightly moist but not soggy nor gooey.
It was the perfect texture and had an appetizing taste too!
Vegetables from
lettuce to cucumber snuggled inside with bits of shrimp. What really blew me
away was the mouth-watering sweet sauce and a strange crunchy unknown
substance. I could not figure out what the heck the crunchy bits were. At first
I thought of crumbled up tacos but then a better-suited idea came to mind. It
must’ve been the same kind of wrap but baked to a crisp and crumbled into tiny
bits. …BRILLANT! Who is the mastermind behind these Taiwanese wraps?! THEY’RE EXTRAORDINARY!
Hehe, can you tell I really loved the meal? ;P
Not wanting to take
a bus but rather get a walk in exercise-wise, I began heading home with Maxime
joining me for a bit. The evening was still young and he didn’t yet want to
head home. So we explored a couple of stores along the way, such as a
stationary-and-book store and reading café. Remember how I found a strange
place near my house with mangas but not for sale? My host father explained that
these kind of places were a rent-to-read area. They are useful to Taiwanese
because buying many mangas can be pricey but more predominately take up a lot
of space, space that isn’t a plenty. Therefore rent-to-read shops are a
practical way for them to get their manga fill in.
Rain suddenly fell
upon our heads and we had to retreat for shelter under the pathway in front of
several stretches of shops. When Maxime turned back to head to his home, I
continued to mine with rain no longer pouring down but just lightly misting.
Back in my room, the ‘favorite shop’ project consumed my night by crafting a
PowerPoint of sugariness. A cupcake background with add-ons of bright sweet
pink and orange colors talking about a confectionary baking shop? I’m very
proud of its turnout! ^_^ It does the shop and me proud! Though it gave me a
heart attack when I tried to open it after saving and closing but said there
was an error and could not open it. Yet when I saved it to my flashdrive, I
could open it from the flashdrive. …Strange…but I’m not complaining! It’s
functional, it’s there and it’s done! Now it’s a very much earned snoozle time.
Good night all! ^_^
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