When my mom was here, usually the first comment she heard was “Wow! You look so young, you could be Amanda’s sister!!” The second comment was then something like “Don’t you think Taiwan is so hot?”
My mom gladly accepted the first comment, but she fought the second one, insisting that Texas was indeed hotter than Taiwan.
Today on her facebook page, she is further trying to prove her point:
Taiwan friends and family…….we, TEXAS that is, win —- we had a high temp of 103 F (40 C) with 28% humidity to make it feel like 107 F (42 C) today!!! It is now 7 PM and temp is 98 F (37 C)!!!…! TEXAS IS HOTTER THAN TAIWAN!!!!
At first, I just agreed: Yes, Texas is hot. We don’t usually get over 40 here in Taiwan.
But, then I started thinking about it. And, while Texas is hotter than Taiwan a few days a year–what about on average or during the year as a whole? So, I did some research and made some comparisons–comparing my two hometowns–Tainan to Bastrop.
As you can see in the charts below–Taiwan is in fact hotter than Texas!
Only for two months does Texas have higher high temps than Taiwan–but during those same months the average temps are the same and the average low temps are higher in Taiwan, so while Texas has high spikes, Taiwan stays hot.
(I only caught the months on one of my charts–so 1-12 is Jan to Dec, and 13 is the yearly mean. And, all temps are in Celsius.)
I used average dew point to compare humidity because as I told my mom, I don’t think comparing relative humidity is accurate for comparison. Then I found this from usatoday.com to back up my belief:
If you want to know how comfortable you’re going to be, you want to know the dew point. Allowing for differences among people and their tolerance for humidity, most people are going to start feeling the humidity is getting out of hand when the dewpoint is above 70 degrees. Dewpoints above 60 are going to make it feel humid, maybe a little too humid for some people.
What’s wrong with using relative humidity?
To see what’s wrong with relative humidity, let’s go to Barrow, Alaska, on an average January day when the temperature dips to -19 and the dew point is -20, the relative humidity is going to be 94.96%. You might be wishing you had another parka to put on, but the 94.96% relative humidity is not going to make you feel sticky.
For more on why relative humidity doesn’t really tell you how humid you feel, and just what is this mysterious “dewpoint” that I’m talking about, go to the USATODAY.com Understanding humidity page.
However, if you are more comfortable comparing relative humidity, go right ahead, and you’ll find that each month, Tainan’s average humidity is higher than Bastrop’s.
When Taiwanese people like to tell me that Taiwan is HOT! I respond with: it is humid, but that both Texas and Taiwan are quite hot. I also make the following analogies: Taiwan is like a rice cooker; you will be steamed. Texas is like an oven; you will be baked!
On Saturday, Lawrance prepared breakfast for me and mom. He made sweet potato “xi fan” (porridge) and fried eggs.
Taiwanese people eat pickled things with their xi fan. Here are some of the pickled things Lawrance likes on his xi fan.
Wanna know what mom’s favorite one was? She loved the Chile Odorous Frying Fish. She loved it so much, in fact, that she asked about taking some back with her!!
My mom arrived late Tuesday night. Wednesday was a national holiday–dragon boat festival–so we had lunch with friends and then met some other friends at the boat races. Thursday and Friday we did school stuff. Then Saturday we had lunch with close friends, visited the Confucian Temple in Tainan, and ended the day with a Bible study.
Taking different trains
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Vendors set up at the Dragon Boat Races
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While she can claim that she saw some races, it was really crowded and ended up not being as exciting as other races I’ve seen in previous years.
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She’s also been braving my moped. :D
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And, she’s met some of my students.
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Corrina is like my big sister . . . and she is also our matchmaker and neighbor, so lunch with her family was special for all of us.
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Mom has also had her first taste of mango bing (ice). YUMMY!
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At the Confucian temple
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Tea time with some of my adult students included an awesome bowl of tropical and the most amazing tea made from lemongrass, sage, and rosemary.
Our Easter Sunday this year was a little different–we were privileged to attend Lawrance’s brother’s wedding.
It started with us going back to Lawrance’s childhood home to help the family prepare for receiving the bride.
The groom, YuHong, had shaved his head into the shape of a heart. __ __
The groom showed us his transformed childhood home into a room to welcome a bride. He was proud.
Placed on all the items were little red circles with the “double joy” wedding symbol inside.
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Traditionally children are to jump on the new couple’s bed in order to ensure lots of children. They substituted with a small bride and groom statue decked out in traditional Chinese wedding clothes. __ __
Another new-to-me superstition was that a bride is not to look at herself in the mirror (don’t remember why, will have to ask). However, it really isn’t followed not, but in honor of that tradition YuHong covered the mirror in the bedroom with red paper. __ __
Double Joys were everywhere–even the front door. And they will stay there till ?? (not sure–a year? till Chinese New Year? till they fall off?). __ __
This wedding banner was placed over the household entrance. I think it is religious, but I don’t know more than that. __ __
TongYuan also needed to be prepared. So, Lawrance, the awesome tongyan master, lent a helping hand. Why tongyuan at a wedding? Well, sweet sticky dumplings represent sticking together forever, a sweet life, and fullness of blessing.
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We also had tea and fruit prepared. Serving the tea and tongyuan were my job. ;)
Honestly, there seemed to be no real purpose for this stop other than to just claim we had stopped by. However, Lawrance took advantage of the opportunity to find out just how many generations of Wu’s have been in Taiwan.
After counting on the ancestor tablet, Law’s dad found that he is the 10th generation of Wu’s in Taiwan and that Lawrance is the 11th generation.
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After this brief stop, we drove about 5 minutes to a grave area tucked between some fields.
Entrance to the tomb area:
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The tomb area was actually quite large. It was a two level area. This photo was taken standing in front of the main “ancestor” structure looking back to the entrance gate.
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Around the outside of the lower area was two tomb like structures. I assumed these were tombs–Lawrance informed me that these were for the gods who protected the tomb and the spirits of the ancestors. One was female and the other male.
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Behind this structure there were 120 people buried.
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The people who gathered to worship at the Wu burial site at 10 in the morning were are all part of the Wu family–so they are all distant relatives. But, for the majority of the people present, Lawrance has no idea how they are related. Some, who had immigrated to the States, traveled from New York City and some from Colorado just to worship their ancestors.
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A few minutes past 10, incense was passed out and everyone (but Lawrance and I) took some. Someone at the front prayed aloud for a few minutes, everyone bowed a few times then they went to leave their incense in the front.
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Then they lined up to leave more incense on the “tombs” of the gods who protect the site and the ancestors.
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Then two stacks of paper money were set on fire–one stack for the ancestors and one stack for the gods.
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After all was done, at about 10:20 or 10:30, firecrackers were set off.
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One thing that dawned on me as we were there waiting for the firecrackers to be lit and were conversing with some of Law’s uncles is that even in death the difference between individualism and collectivism can be seen. In America, we value individualism–being one’s self–we don’t mind doing things alone (ie, it is not necessary to go in a group to get a hair cut).
But, in Taiwan (and many other Asian countries) collectivism is valued–who you are is defined by your relationships. You aren’t “LeEn;” you are “classmate,” “big sister,” and “wife.” And, you probably do feel more comfortable if you could go with a group to get a hair cut–why would anyone want to do that alone?
And so those values can also be seen in how the dead are buried. In America we have graveyards and tombstones for each individual who has lived. In Taiwan, while I guess there may be some wealthy few who do have their own individual tombs, most are buried in mass graves marked with their family names.
Seventeen years ago in late February or early March, I confided in my mother. I finally told her about something I had been secretly praying about for quite awhile.
We were standing at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes when I told her. Her response to my secret prayer? She threw the potato and peeler in the sink, turned to look me in the eyes, pointed her finger at me and very sternly said “Don’t you EVER pray things for other people without talking to them first! Because you KNOW God answers prayer!”
Then she left me standing at the kitchen sink while she disappeared for awhile.
Up until that point, I hadn’t really considered that my prayer for something I felt God had laid on my heart to ask Him for and that I had begun to desire would affect her life. But, in reality, it would affect her life in a HUGE way.
You see, I had been praying for a brother.
On March 30, 1993, Mom and Dad sat my sister and I down to tell us that they were expecting. At first we totally thought Dad was trying to pull an early April Fool’s joke on us. But Mom’s tears and persistence that it was true finally convinced us.
So, we told all our friends and announced to our church on the eve of April Fool’s day that there was going to be a Baby Parmley soon. No one believed us. Many didn’t realize it wasn’t an April fool’s joke till after my mom was clearly showing her pregnancy.
I remember Dad once used Sam as an illustration in a sermon on how God answers prayer. See, Mom and Dad had prayed for a son soon after Sarah was born–that would have been around 14 years before Sam was conceived. To my parents, it seemed like God’s answer was no, but really it was just wait.
So, Sam is the answer to many, many prayers from different people and across time.
A lady at our church was praying for Baby Parmley. As she was praying, God laid the name “Samuel” on her heart. She told us all this story, and soon everyone was calling the baby “Baby Sammy.”
Do you know what the name Samuel means? It is Hebrew for “God heard” or “requested of God.” What a perfect name!
God’s timing is perfect. I can’t imagine life without this kiddo. He’s been and still is a huge blessing!
I am SO thankful that Lawrance was willing to let me go to Texas for a month so that I could meet my nephews and spend time with the rest of my family too!
I’m thankful I was able to . . .
spend time with my very grown up little brother
spend the mornings with my sleepy nephews
play with this cute, cute, cute little one and stealing all the sugars I could
Climb up into the chic-fil-a playscape and have a little fun :D
Eat Mexican food with these two awesome people several times!! :)
spend precious time with precious ones
have the "washing machine cycle of life" get messed up because the car battery died
YuHong and Cindy were engaged on Sunday. This is an official event in Taiwan between the betrothed’s families.
Lawrance's parents with one of the wedding photos at the entry
There are few different ceremonies preformed at the engagement. One ceremony is the presenting of gifts. Here are the “gifts” given from The Wu family to the bride-to-be.
Then Mrs. Wu helped to place the jewelry on her newest daughter-in-law, and Cindy’s mother placed her gifts to her new son-in-law on him.
Like at a Taiwanese wedding, the bride and groom to be are presented with their parents to all present. This is an opportunity to thank the guests who came as well as offer a toast.
In addition there would be a tea ceremony. (But Lawrance didn’t get any photos of that since he was a participant.) I’ll ask Lawrance more about this, and write about it later. I’ve actually never seen it done before, only read about it.
And, there is also an entire banquet feast as well. But, the groom-to-be’s family slips out before the dessert is served. Neither Lawrance nor I know why this is the tradition, but it is. :)
And, there is dress changing, toasting table to table, passing out of candy from a basket by the door as well–just like at a wedding.
Since Cindy’s family is in Taipei, both sides of Lawrance’s family together took a charted bus to the north.
Newly engaged women also give their friends and family members (on her side of the family) a box of cookies or cakes to help announce the engagement. Here are Cindy’s cakes:
And, here is Lawrance with the happy couple!
Since traditionally the engagement is hosted by the bride’s family, Lawrance and I didn’t have a Taiwanese style engagement ceremony. I actually think that is one of the reasons why Lawrance’s parents so freely let the two of us get married in my hometown with my friends and family–in their minds it was similar to the bride’s hosting of the engagement ceremony.
I’m so used to using the euphemism “gone to be with the Lord” to talk about someone who has slipped from this world into eternity, and it pains me that I can’t to described a loved one’s recent death. The sad reality is that when Lawrance’s grandmother, his Apo, died Wednesday she didn’t know the Lord.
This my first time to deal with the death of a loved one who didn’t trust in Jesus for salvation. The hope I can usually cling to at times like this is strikingly absent.
We went back to the homestead yesterday to the viewing (which will take place all week), and Lawrance will go to the funeral next week on Tuesday and Wednesday (without me since I’ll be in the States). The funeral will most definitely be very religious and full of worship but none to the most high God. Please pray for Lawrance and his family too.
Most funerals in Taiwan use white as the color of death, but for Apo they are using red since she died at 88 years old (89 by Chinese calendar). Red at a funeral signifies that there is joy that she lived to such an old age. Five generations (her and her husband count as the first) are listed on the red death announcement that will be given to friends and family. She has lived a very hard life and worked very hard for her family. She lived her entire life in Meinong, and in those 88 years witnessed much change to her town and her country.
She deserves to be remembered, respected, and honored but not worshiped. Again, I ask that you pray for Lawrance this week as his family gathers to worship their deceased loved one.
No, no, not another one for us. We’ve already had two–that’s enough for one lifetime! :)
Yu-Hong and Cindy
Lawrance’s brother, Yu-hong and his long time girlfriend, Cindy are tying the knot before this Chinese New Year.
We’ve been encouraging them to get married for a long time–they started dating a few years before us. Within the last week they’ve planned to have their engagement ceremony on Jan 24th and their wedding ceremony Feb 7th. Lawrance’s mom was like “what is up with my sons and their fast weddings?”
We took three months from the time we decided to get married to the time we actually had our wedding; they are doing it in just weeks.
Two major ceremonies in two different cities, hundreds of guests and less than a month of planning! Plus all the other details that must be attended to to make both families happy. Wow . . . I don’t envy them at all. However, I am SO happy they have decided to get married. They make such a great couple.
In fact, Lawrance and I were so confident that one day Cindy would be family that I invited her to be in our Taiwanese wedding even though I didn’t know her very, very well at the time.
Yu-Hong and Cindy at our Taiwanese Wedding
Why the rush for before Chinese New Year? Well, it’s more auspicious. You see odd numbers are bad for marriage–everything should be even (2, 6, 8–but of course not 4, a homophone for death). Even numbers are good for marriage–even numbers symbolize that the two will stay together. After Chinese New Year, Yu-Hong will be considered 29 and Cindy 31. 29 is especially bad (as are all years ending a decade).
There are so many levels of culture to this that would make a non-Taiwanese person’s head spin.
YuHong is actually, right now according to his date of birth and Western counting, 27 (an odd number).
His birthday is Dec 25th. So, he will not be 29 according to his date of birth until Dec 25, 2011.
But, you have to factor in an extra year for time spent in the womb.
Then, you must remember that you get a year older during the Chinese New Year–not on your birthday.
Years ago, I would have thought and thought about this, and the illogicality of it all would have bothered me, but now I think “well, I’m happy for them. Marriage is good.”
The only sad part of this good news is that . . . I won’t be there. I’m leaving a week from today to head back to America for three weeks. So, I’ve instructed Lawrance to take lots of photos for me. :)
Update: Yu-hong and Lawance’s grandmother passed away on Jan 12, so Yu-hong and Cindy’s wedding will be postponed. To counter the “bad luck” of getting married in a bad year, they had to consult with a fortune teller to help them pick a very, very auspicious wedding date. So, the lunar calendar date of Feb 2nd was chosen–2/2–a good day for couples. Ironically this is April 4th–4/4–on the Gregorian calendar. Ironic not in an amusing way, but in a sad way as it reveals just how futile man’s thinking can be.
Even though I’ve let my blog slip majorly in the past few weeks and months, I couldn’t let my blogaversary and annual tradition of choosing one photo per month slip past.
This will be my fifth year to do this:
2005–was my third year in Taiwan, and I started blogging 2006–my sister got married and my brother came to Taiwan 2007–I moved to a new city, and my cousins came to visit 2008–I met the love of my life; we dated, got engaged, and then married . . . it was perhaps the most perfect year of my entire life. :)
I think I took less photos in all of 2009 than I did in many of the months of 2008. Kinda makes me a little sad, and makes me want to resolve to take more photos in 2010. Anywho, not analyzing anything right now, which I am OH so tempted to do.
Let me get right to the point . . . below you find a month by month look at our 2009 using only one photo per month.
January: We celebrate our first Chinese New Year together in Meinong
February: New Life Bilingual Church in Kaohsiung starts meeting
March: We marry again . . . well, ok, we celebrate our marriage covenant in Taiwan with our Taiwanese friends and family
April: I have my first birthday as a wife (aka, I turn 31)
May: Some of our friends marry . . . and Lawrance is the MC at their wedding banquet
June: We start our summer Sunday afternoon tradition of eating ice after church
July: We go on several dates during the summer . . . Thai food, the beach and more
August: We celebrate our first anniversary in Kenting
September: Sadly Wu Mama is diagnosed with liver cancer
October: Lawrance is a clown (well, maybe he always is one, but at least he LOOKED like one this time)
November: I start studying Chinese again (This is my awesome Chinese teacher)
December: Law’s parents help us to decorate our tree . . . a Wu family first!
We found out this week that Lawrance's mom has stage 3 liver cancer. We've been told to expect her time left on earth to not be very long.
My husband and his siblings are in the midst of making lots of decisions, trying how to provide the best care for their mother and father right now.
We would very much appreciate prayers for the Wu family right now.
The one praise this week has been that Wu MaMa accepted Christ as her savior on Wednesday. After Lawrance shared his testimony, a dear Christian friend invited Wu MaMa to believe and she did. Father is merciful to the end. I am so thankful for his patience and mercy!! Praise Him!
So, in the midst of a heartbreaking situation there is hope.
Right now, I will just leave it at this . . . we thank you for going to the Father on our behalf.
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I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
I don't have much time . . . but I did just want to shout from the mountain tops that my sister gave birth to a BEAUTIFUL 12 pound 4 oz baby boy on Thursday, August 27!! He shares his birthday with two of his great-grandmothers!!
Welcome to the world Clayton Joe!!
I'm in love with this newest little guy!!!
I can't wait to snuggle with him . . . I just hope he hasn't lost his precious baby smell by the time I get to hold him!!
Daddy in Chinese is "BaBa." Eight in Chinese is also "Ba." So, August 8th is "BaBa." So, Father's Day in Taiwan is August 8th.
Actually, many people here are surprised to hear that Father's Day in America is not August 8th but rather in June.
Today is also the 2nd typhoon day in a row. Typhoon 莫拉克 has been perhaps the biggest typhoon I've ever experienced. Officially 6 have died and over 20,000 have been evacuated.
We've had heavy rain and wind for two days in a row now. It was dumping 3-6 feet of rain per hour. And, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau, "the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 144kph."
Signs, plants, and mopeds have been down all over our city, streetlights aren't working, tree limbs are in the streets, and intersections are flooded.
We took Lawrance's parents out to lunch despite the typhoon, but other than that, we've been locked inside.
So, I'd like to let Lawrance introduce his parents to you. So, please meet my in-laws:
Sunday, after worshiping the most high God and fellowshiping with our church family, Lawrance and I took a three hour nap. I guess we were tired. :)
When we woke up, Lawrance asked if he could invite me to the beach. I said, "Yes!! Let's go now, before the sunsets!!"
We got there and were actually surprised to see so many people there! Last time we were there it was during the school year, and we were the only ones there. :)
This beach is only about 8 minutes from our house . . . we should go there more often. And it's cool because the sand is black.
So, here we are last spring and this summer . . . then just dating and now married 11 months . . .
God is kind! :)
I am so thankful to my very generous AbBa Fu (Daddy God) who has given me such a kind, considerate, patient husband who cherishes me, protects me, meets my needs, and invites me to go with him to the beach!! :)
I'm not sure how many of my cousins were given a batch of these to eat on their honeymoons, but I know my sister and her groom got a batch, and so did we.
That's how good they are . . . you will want to eat them on your honeymoon. (Ok, so maybe the real reason you want to eat them on your honeymoon is because you are trying to save money broke after the wedding and they are easy to pack and carry. BUT, being practical doesn't make them any less yummy).
So since I've not enjoyed these treats in nearly a year, I was really craving some. So, I pulled out my grandmother's recipe and made a batch. If you follow her recipe you are going to get a "yeild" of several dozens of muffins. I mean come on . . . it calls for 9 eggs, 6 cups of carrots, and 3 cups of oil!!
At first I was trying to figure out how to half the recipe–but how do you put in 4.5 eggs? Then I figured out she must have TIPPLED the recipe. There was no way I was only going to make a mere 1/3 of a batch . . . I wanted extras to freeze for later.
So, on Saturday I made this GREAT, BIG, HUGE batch of carrot muffins! YUMMY!!!!
I also discovered that Grandmother must shred her carrots because I grated mine . . . . and there is a difference (in texture, not taste). So, if you are wanting to "hide" the carrot aspect from children, I recommend shredding, not grating the carrots. But, if you are wanting them to feel more "hearty" then grate them instead.
So, without further adieu . . . here is my grandmother's recipe for Honeymoon Muffins. :)
6 cups flour (I used 2 cups whole wheat, and 4 all purpose) 3 ¾ cups sugar 6 t soda 6 t cinnamon 1 ½ t salt 6 cups grated carrots 1 ½ cup raisins 1 ½ cups coconut 1 ½ cups pecans 9 eggs 3 cups oil 3 shredded apples (I left the skin on–this makes them SO moist) 6 t vanilla
In large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in carrots, raisins, coconut and pecans.
In separate bowl, combine
eggs, oil, apples, and vanilla. Add to flour mixture. Stir only until
combined. Spoon into lined or greased muffin tins.
Bake at 350°F for 15
– 18 minutes.
Like I mentioned before, these muffins freeze very well. Either let them thaw on their own or pop them in the microwave oven for just a bit and eat hot.
Summer vacation is not here for me quite yet. Grades are due this Friday. And, Lawrance just started working full time two weeks ago (YAY!! PTL for his new promotion from part-time teacher to director of the English program!!) .
Everyone keeps asking me what I'm doing for my summer break. I reply "just being a housewife."
Without exception every Taiwanese friend, student, and stranger I've had this conversation with then expresses their sympathies for me, trying to cheer me up.
What they don't realize is that I need no cheering up. I am SO looking forward to the month of July where I get to be a full time housewife for the first time in my life. I've already enjoyed these past two weeks of laundry and washing dishes . . . it's so much easier and more enjoyable when I can do it during my day as time allows and as my work for the day rather than as a chore I must squeeze in before going to work.
They don't get it.
I don't know. Maybe you won't either . . . maybe you think, "silly girl, wait to you've done ten (twenty, thirty) years of your man's dirty laundry–then we'll talk about the 'joy' you have then."
They also worry about me being lonely being home alone all day. How could I possibly look forward to being home alone all day with nothing to do but take care of the home?
Depending on the situation and/or depth of the relationship, I will remind them that not too long ago I was living alone all day everyday. Now, I have someone to anticipate coming home to me. Now, I get to eagerly wait for him to call me and return back to me. It's WAY better than living alone 24/7.
And, crazy as it may sound, it is way more fun to clear the table, change the sheets, dust the furniture, or what-have-you when I know I am blessing someone else. When it was just me living here . . . OH it was SO miserable "keeping house."
I hated it with a passion.
I secretly wondered if I'd even make a good wife. My married friends were able to manage their households of 3 or 4 or 5 . . . . and me? well, I was struggling with my little household of 1. :(
I know I wouldn't score perfectly in housekeeping 101 (I thank God my hubby is so patient and understanding), but I do know (again, crazy as it may sound) keeping house is a lot more fun and rewarding and joyful when I'm not the only one making the messes. ;)
So, yes, I totally look forward to a "boring" summer of being a stay-at-home wife. I'll be honest: it almost feels as if I get to "play" at being a house keeping wife. I'm all giddy and happy about it. Is it weird that I feel that way?
And, actually, it feels like I'm getting to live my dream. For the latter half of my 20's I dreamed about being married . . . I longed to have someone's socks to wash and underwear to fold.
Speaking of . . . I think there's a basket a clean laundry awaiting me in the other room right now as I speak!
Your Aunt Minda and Uncle LawLaw so wish we could have been there to celebrate your very first birthday!! It makes us so sad that we couldn't be there to watch you enjoy your cake and open your presents! We love you very much nonetheless. Happy Birthday, little guy!!
We love you, Aunt Minda and Uncle LawLaw
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Photos my mother, Nate's Nonny, sent to us so we could see the celebration from afar . . .
So, right after the ceremony, we headed over to a large Chinese restaurant for the wedding banquet.
Law's parents picked out the restaurant, but we were pleasantly surprised that they had chosen a restaurant that was own by a Christan. Very cool!!
Here are some of the banquet highlights:
Before the whole thing started we (the bridal party) were ushered into a little room for a small rest. This was very nice.
We were then introduced and entered the banquet hall.
There were 27 tables at our wedding, which means 270 people. (Ten people per table is the traditional standard. You tell others how many were at your wedding by telling them how many tables there were.)
270 people at a wedding banquet is not considered a large wedding. Small to medium at best. I've been to one with 100 tables–that's 1000 people!!
Also, just FYI, only about 80 people attended both the church ceremony and the wedding banquet. Many just showed up for the banquet, some were only able to attend the ceremony only, and students were invited to ceremony only. So, less than a third of the people at the banquet had been at the ceremony.
After the formal introduction, we sat at the head table at the front with parents, and uncles (and their wives).
After the first dish or so was served, we went "on stage" with his parents
and my best friend's father, Lin BaBa, who stood in as my "Taiwan
father." (I love how the two dads seems as if they are standing at attention.)
We toasted everyone (using cranberry juice, interesting to me since in the States we probably would have used grape juice).
Law and I then did the "couple entwined armed" toast together. :)
After a few more dishes, we sang a Karaoke song together. The only love song I know in Chinese is "The Moon Represents My Heart," so that is what we sang! :)
Then he had to "wei wa" wine. "wei" means to feed someone
something–kinda like a mother bird feeds her baby chicks (and "wa" means "me"). SO . . . he first had to put the wine into his mouth and then
"pour" it into mine. All I could think about was "don't you dare get any
on my dress!" :)
Soon after that the two of us toasted the main family table–parents and uncles.
Next, his parents, Lin Baba (my adopted Taiwanese dad), and Big Uncle joined us as we toasted each table. Waitresses guided us through the entire room, and followed us making sure we all had full glasses.
There were several other Karaoke songs sung.
Law's parents decided on all the dishes that were served. There was a lot of seafood. I ate little, and appreciate the photos people took of the meal since I didn't get to see it all.
When Law's brother and his girlfriend wanted to sing a song, Law "punked" them by making them kiss for a long time. They "punked" him back by making us show him how . . . so we kissed for 9 seconds–the whole room helped keep count. "9" in Chinese is pronounced "joe" which is the same pronuncation of "long."
After a bit more eating and Karaoke, we stood at the door kinda like a receiving line, passing out candy and photos to our guests.
Some of our good friends stayed a bit longer, and so we took a few more photos together.
Traditionally family photos are taken after weddings in Taiwan. Traditionally the bride and groom sit down front and center, and the most important people in the family then sit beside them. With others filling in behind.
They usually look something like this:
or like this:
At the church weddings I've been to here in Taiwan. After the family photos there is then time for photos with different groups of classmates and friends. Bride and groom stay put, guests fill in the spaces and photos are taken.
For a plethora of reasons (namely we are fun-loving Lawrance and Amanda, our photograph liked to have fun, and we were a bit rushed for time) our group photo shots are a bit more . . . um . . . well . . . "lively" than your typical Taiwanese wedding. :)
See for yourself in another slideshow from Abu's photos below:
We didn't want to "hide" before the ceremony. We were already ready; we were already married; we wanted people to know we were glad they were there, so . . . . there was no reason to hide.
The hardest part of standing out and greeting people was helping my groom let go of his wedding planning role and just relax and be in the moment.
And . . . . to answer yesterdays question . . . Great guesses with an Asian focus!! :) But, all wrong . . . I was told that in Taiwan rain on a wedding day indicates that when the groom was a child he used the bathroom outdoors. I thought that was funny since I thought most little boys have done so. :)
And now for a few photos that Abu took before the ceremony started. Mostly they are just us with friends and family.
We live in Taiwan--a little tea leaf shaped island in Asia.
Amanda is from Texas and Lawrance from Tainan. We met, fell in love and married in 2008.
We both teach English and both love to tell others about Jesus. We also both really enjoy laughing, and we both just happen to enjoy "ching cha," a type of fabulous green tea.
