Rain

 Day 6:

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain. 

A typhoon is passing north of Taiwan bringing much needed rain. When we left Taiwan on June 1, Taichung was in the midst of the worst drought in over 50 years. The city was so desperate to conserve what was left in the reservoirs, water was  shut off for a consecutive 48 hours every week. Rainfalls during the month of June helped alleviate the restrictions. But it is the yearly typhoons that help provide this island with fresh water.

The roofs below my window (aka portal to the real world) are metal. The falling rain created a comforting sound in which to wake. In the darkness of the room, I felt my way to that magical portal. Sliding it open, my skin tingled as droplets of water splashed on the sill. A cool moist wisp of wind rushed into the stale air. I filled my lungs with a cleansing breath. It was a good way to start the day.

Later, from my portal to reality, a life and death drama played out. A mouse on a roof desperately tried to escape three marauding cats. In a last ditch effort to avoid capture, it jumped off the roof onto a nearby wall. Its hopes of freedom came crashing down when the cat in the lead also made the flying leap, snatching away the rodent's last chance of life.

Not everything from my opening to reality is quite as exciting. Most are just the ordinary, day-to-day happenings of city folk. A man hanging his laundry on his back balcony. A woman riding her scooter through the back alley. A rooftop garden.

Just the sounds coming through the open window help soothe away the aches of enforced isolation.

 The jackhammer remodeling a building next door. 

A police siren wailing off in the distance. 

The garbage truck playing its Beethoven's Fur Elise.

If you have ever stayed inside one room without leaving for 6 days, you may understand my unusual sentiments. If you have not, count yourself blessed!

Philippians 4:8

 Days 4 and 5:

Yesterday was a hard day. 

I am naturally an optimistic person and I like to stick to the lighter side of life as much as possible. But, to be totally honest, yesterday sucked (I don't like this word, but no other word quite fit. Please forgive my use of it).

The previous day, I was productive. I created  lesson plans for a social studies unit. I cleaned up my computer files. I read several chapters in my professional development book. I even learned The Cowboy Shuffle. This quarantine thing was going to be ok.

Then yesterday came.

 I struggled to stay focused. I jumped from one activity to another. I paced the room. I thought about the "could've beens". All I wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep.

Fortunately,  today is a new day. A day to look forward  and to look beyond myself (and these four walls).  

This, I cannot do on my own. 

"Therefore, my brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Today, I choose to think about what is true. 

God loves me. 

I was created in the image of God.

Jesus died on the cross to set me free.

I'm forgiven.

Today, I choose to think upon things that are lovely. 

The sun caressing my face as I stand at my open hotel window. 

Today, I choose to think upon things that are pure. 

The sweet message from a coworker's daughter. 

Today, I choose to think upon things that are praiseworthy! 

The beautiful sunset taken from a friend's quarantine hotel.

Today and every day to follow is filled with a series of choices that determine where your mind will dwell. Where your mind dwells, so shall your spirit.

So despite my surroundings, my circumstances, I can choose to live a joyful productive life.

Even here in quarantine.  

Sleep

 Day 3

Sleep? 

Who needs sleep? 

Obviously, not me.

I don't do jet lag well. My normal method of dealing with this necessary evil of long distance travel doesn't seem to be working. In the past, I have found that staying busy, up and active, never pausing, usually pushes to me to keep going despite wanting (no, that's not a strong enough word), desiring (nope, still not there), desperately in need of a nap. 

Here in my lovely quarantine prison, I mean hotel, my movement resources are extremely limited. My options are scarce.

 More importantly, however, is that thing right in the middle if the room. That soft rectangle, with the cozy blankets, and plush hotel pillows. 

Always there. 

Always staring at me, begging me to come relish in its comfort. 

Constantly offering me a place to lay my weary head.

Yesterday, I succumbed to its temptations. After lunch, my brain and body conspired against my will. What could be the harm in a little nap? Well, that itsy-bitsy nap turned into a five and a half hour monster! I just couldn't wake up. 

 With the long deep sleep in the afternoon, I didn't sleep much when I was suppose to sleep.  You know, like normal people, when the sun goes down.

So, here I am stuck in this vicious jet lag cycle. But win this war, I must.

Day 3 is going to be a long day. I will not nap. I will not nap. I will not nap.

I shall prevail.

(I hope)

 

The Passing of Time

 Quarantine Day 2:

Time is weird.

I can't explain it. Maybe it is the lack of routine. Or possible, the lack of the day-to-day responsibilities in a typical day. 

The only two constants in the quarantine day is the room itself and the delivery of meals. Three times a day, a bell rings announcing the arrival of a meal. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These are the only indication of the passage of time.  The bell rings, you eat. I suspect that after 14 days of this routine, my mouth may begin salivating every time a doorbell rings! 

In our quarantine hotel, breakfast typically arrives between 7:30 and 7:45. The food comes from a local breakfast shop.

 One of the most popular breakfast shop food is a dan bin- a Chinese egg pancake. I have yet to receive a dan bin. I have been given a sandwich the last two mornings. Once with tuna. This is a picture of Carl's box this morning. It was a scrambled egg topped with tuna.  The eggs were good. The tuna was not. Don't blame the tuna. Tuna just doesn't fit the western idea of a breakfast food. 

Lunch typically arrives around 11:45. This consists of rice, a protein, and several vegetable dishes. It's a lot of food. I am thankful for that since it gives me plenty to choose from.  I don't know what all the vegetables were, but it was good.

At 5:30, the little door bell announces that evening is here and despite not using the calories gained from breakfast and lunch, it is time to consume more. Don't judge- the next time the bell will ring is 14 hours away! So I eat, again. Once again, rice, a protein, and several vegetables.

The left side of this meal went untouched! Not sure what it even was. I did enjoy the slightly pickled bamboo in the center and the steamed piece of pumpkin. 

Three meals consumed. 

Day 2 of quarantine completed.

Only 36 more to go! 

The Window

 Quarantine Day 1

Ever hear about the best laid plans? 

Before boarding that plane bound for the land of America. We made plans. 

Quarantine plans. 

Good plans. 

Plans of how to spend two weeks of rejuvenating time at home after a crazy summer of travel.

Plans for around the home projects.

Plans of yummy recipes to be tried and tested.

Plans that included a glass of freshly made lemonade, our 7th floor balcony, cushioned swing, and a good book.

Yep. Those plans.

Those plans did not pan out. Thank you very much Delta variant. Due to several cases of the this more contagious strain, the Taiwan government decided  to  tighten up their already stringent reentry routines. One of these being no more home quarantining.

So here I am. In a hotel. For two weeks. (Insert loud sigh).

My biggest concern? Getting a hotel room without a window. Yes, they exist here in Taiwan. Twice we have vacationed without a window. No thank you! Especially not when I am not allowed to leave the room for 14 consecutive days.

But, this evening, I am thankful. Thankful for something as simple as a window. A window that opens. A window that allowed me to hear the morning birds as the first sun rays crept above the horizon. A window that allowed me to feel the late morning breeze. A window where I  caught a few afternoon rays as I watched an unsuspecting neighbor hang her just washed laundry. A window that showed the ever darkening evening sky.

God is good.

Even when our best laid plans don't happen.

God knows what we need. 

Always.

It's Mango Season

It's mango season!

I'm sorry, my USA friends, but the mangos the grocery stores pass off as fresh produce are sadly lacking.

Fresh mangos are amazingly delicious and delectable.

 I love putting them into cold, frothy smoothies.

But, my all-time favorite way of consuming this tropical fruit is in a mango bing.

Bing is the Chinese word for ice.

Fresh, cut up mango, topped with a mound of shaved, frozen milk. Finally, sweetened condensed milk drizzled over the top.

One of the best things a person can consume while living/visiting Taiwan.

Of course, the Taiwanese prefer other flavors such as taro balls, mung beans, and grass jelly. Not me! A mango bing is the perfect "cool me down, it's way too hot" summer treat.

There is only one thing that makes a mango bing even better....

a mango bing with friends!

This past year, I was introduced to a different bing shop that put a unique twist to this Taiwanese treat.

Just behind the mango bing in my list of favorites is this tiramisu bing. Only a culinary genius could have thought of that!

This is shaved frozen chocolate milk. It tasted good but lacked variety in taste and texture.

So, if you are ever in my neck of the woods, stop by. I'll buy you a bing!

Okinawa 2

Have you ever gone to a sequel of a movie expecting it to be just as good as the original and was left wishing you hadn't spent your money?

Well, in the case of Okinawa, it's the reverse.

My first experience was yucky. No other way to put it. 

Just yucky.

I wish I hadn't spent the time and money.

But, I decided to give it a second chance.

I am so glad I did.

It was the perfect ending to my 10 years as a track mom.

It was surprising to me when Carl and our older kids went to Okinawa the first time to learn that this Japanese island is much closer to Taiwan than it is to Tokyo. It's a short flight- just 90 minutes. 

Unfortunately, for us, the Mike Petty Track Meet fell smack dab in the middle of a huge Asian holiday, Tomb Sweeping Day. Airlines were swamped as many Asians traveled to home countries to help clean and restore family members' final resting spots. Our journey to this neighboring island took us the opposite, through Hong Kong, and basically a day's worth of travel. We left our campu at 8 in the morning and didn't arrive until after dark.

But, in the end, it was worth it.

Despite, one day of rain, the weather was perfect. The accommodations were unexpectantly more than we could have hoped for. Access to American style western food made meal times special, especially breakfast! But, more importantly, it was our traveling companions that really made the five-day experience extremely satisfying.

Twenty-two members of the high school track team, plus three track coaches, two female chaperones, and two-parent cheerleaders were the Morrison contingent.

When you have a great group of students, chaperoning is a breeze!

On my previous trip to Okinawa, rain wreaked havoc. Three of the five schools pulled out of the meet due to rain. So, basically, there was no track meet. It's just slightly disheartening to travel (and pay for that travel) for a sporting event, and then have it canceled. This year, it also rained on the day of the scheduled track meet. Fortunately, a rain date was already in place. And, that day was beautiful!

Blue skies. Fluffy white skies. No air pollution!

I wonder what words of wisdom or encouragement is being offered.

It's hard to fit three relay teams onto the winner's podium!

Resting and waiting- the shade was a blessing indeed!

Unlike my the previous trip, we were given passes off the military base. This allowed for some sightseeing. One small group was able to visit Hacksaw Ridge. I would have loved to go, but the previous day I pulled a muscle in my leg and was in no condition to hike the slippery, wet trail.

Fortunately, I was able to join the trip to the castle of the ruling monarchs of long ago.

Overlooking Okinawa.

Slow motion dance. I am sure the slowest dance in the world.

As a mom watching my son RAFT with the other senior track members made the trip even better!

They spent several of the evenings together, just spending time with one another before their individual paths lead them to all parts of the world. They even woke up early the last morning to have breakfast together. 

RAFTing is an acronym that helps prepare people for transition.

R- Reconciliation

A- Affirmation

F- Farewell

T- Think Destination

The week before the track trip, the senior class spent 4 days preparing for the changes that come with graduation and returning to their passport countries. Morrison sets apart time for their departing seniors to work through these issues and time for the class to just be together.

These seniors wanted to make sure they built a strong RAFT to carry them through all the trnsitions of the next two months. 

Okinawa 2 was a sequel well worth the extra lesson plans and money spent. There was no other place I would've rather been!