Tea with Confucius

Saturday was an amazing day. Definitely the best since I have arrived in Taiwan. Alex, Matt and I farted around the dorm until three when Kay picked us up. We piled into a big van and set off into the unknown. We had no idea where we were going, what we were doing - anything. We drove just a short while, to the next town over called Guei Shan where Kay's parents live. They own a bunch of land where their house is but it is on a street. It is sort of like a cul de sac but only in the sense that the street ended there. There was a big triangular open area that all belongs to Kay's father. On it they have a big garden, a covered table area, an uncovered table area, and then tucked away in a corner they have a totally covered area which opens up into a different garden. It was a really big area.

Kay's father also owns a temple next to his house. So that was pretty cool. And he looks like Confucius. So I named him that and it stuck. Haha. We called him Papa Con for short and we called Kay's mom Mama. There were so many other people there as well. Two other Taiwanese teachers came, Fiona and Chloe. Then there was so much of Kay's family - cousins, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, daughters. And then there were the neighbors and their families. It was a very big group!

Moon Festival is a mix between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. The amount of food and the total family involvement are Thanksgiving. But the grilling and the overall vibe is more of the Fourth. We had so much food!

During the prepration, we were shooed out of the area because we kept asking to help. They sent us up to a lookout that was amazing. You could see the mountains in the distance looking one way and then the expanse of Taoyuan County the other way. And it was such a beautiful day - so clear and warm. After we walked down the eating began. I'm going to try and name everything: corn, clam stew, bitter melon stew, oysters (two different kinds), some sort of root vegetable that they couldn't translate, shrimp, chicken, pork (two kinds), beef, homemade sausages, and I think that's all. But all of it was amazing! My favorite was the sausages and the pork sandwich. Ah-mazing! I also tried chicken butt, seriously. Not the greatest thing I have ever eaten, that's for sure, but neither was it the worst. It just tasted like fatty meat. But I won't be eating it again.

During the eating, which lasted a couple hours, we wandered down to the temple but first we sat down with Kay's father. He was sitting at a table serving tea. It was awesome. He can't speak any English but Alex speaks a little Chinese. So we communicated as best we could but it was one of those times where you don't need language. So after about 10 cups of tea, Kay came over with her sister and the other Taiwanese teachers. We all started talking and eating Pamelos. They are a fruit that are only around during Moon Festival. They are really good - sort of like a less bitter grapefruit. And if you skin it and wear it as a hat, you have good luck for the rest of the year! Naturally I did it!

We got invited over to another BBQ right next to ours, some neighbors. There were a couple of people with very good English so we made some new friends. Oh, and I forgot to mention the karaoke! Our new friend, Henry, made us sing a song with him that I have never heard before. It was in English but it might as well have been Chinese. Haha.

There is a belief that from 9 to 11 on Moon Festival that a portal (or something) opens and enlightened people can communicate with spirits to essentially tell a person their fortune. Kay's father is one of those enlightened people - a spiritual medium. Alex and I decided we wanted to ask him questions about our futures. It was too special of an experience to pass up. The entire time we were asking questions, the men of the group stand in the temple amidst burning incense and in silent prayer, holding a chair (the seat of the spirits). It was pretty cool to see.

After asking our questions, Henry and Mama pulled us back to the BBQ and had us try Shochu (not sure if that is how it is spelled). In any case, stay as far away from that as possible. I'm not kidding when I say that on Sunday night, we used it for lighter fluid on our on BBQ. Seriously. It is so strong, and the point of it is to feel the burn down your throat and into your stomach. No thank you. But it was a cultural experience. Haha.

We also went back up to the lookout at night time to see the stars and city lights again. It was a pretty cool place up there. And the city was throwing off so much light that all my pictures looked like it was closer to sunset than the middle of the night.

After a lot more karaoke and food, we decided to meet up with some other friends at a bar called Chiefs. So we all hopped back into the van and set out. It was a fun place. They have a Taiwanese band that plays there but they sing in English. And the bass player is friends with some of the guys so we got to hang out with him - Darwin. Haha. Also, a group of the guys are in a band here, the lead singer being Matt, Sarah's boyfriend. He got up onstage for the last song and sang because he is leaving soon! It was a great end!

Such a wonderful day here in Taiwan!