In the past week I've received two different emails rallying American Democrats in Taiwan. This indicates to me that people everywhere are fed up with this Administration. One of the event organizers even states, "With your help, I might one day be able to remove that Canadian Maple Leaf Patch I secretly sewed on my backpack for when I go traveling."
On September 27th there will be an Obama fundraising dinner in Taipei, at El Gallo Restaurant. The minimum ticket price is $2,500 NT ($80 US), which is a little rich for my blood, but I wish them much success.
Then, next month, the southern city of Kaohsiung will be hosting "Baracktoberfest." Its MasterCard-inspired tagline reads:
Cover: NT$250
Beer: NT$50
Getting your '08 Absentee Ballot in on time: Priceless
We'll do the paperwork while you drink the beer!
Now, this sounds like my kind of venue. Unfortunately, Kaohsiung is about 5-6 hours away (or 2.5 hours by high speed rail). If I didn't have to work that day, and if I wanted to spend the night there, I would go. But by the time I add in the cost of all that, I could probably just attend the Taipei fundraiser. Oh well, at least I'm going to vote.
I'll admit it; a disproportionate number of my blog entries are about food. This one is no exception.
This afternoon I was craving Duck Noodles (鴨肉麵 yā ròu miàn), so I walked the 4 blocks to my favorite shop, only to discover that they were closed and wouldn't reopen for another half hour. This place must put cocaine in their yā ròu miàn, because I'm addicted. Normally I would have waited to get my fix, but at the time I was very hungry and starting to get headachey. I decided to head back and try a food stand right next to my building. Despite its convenient location, I had never bought anything there.
Like many of the food stands here, the customer chooses from a variety of meats, veggies, and noodles that are on display. These are then fried or boiled, added to noodles, and/or made into a soup. When I first arrived a few months ago, eating at these kinds of places was a bit intimidating. I could recognize the vegetables and noodles, but couldn't identify most of the meat portions offered. I'd end up crossing my fingers and pointing. Fortunately, my Chinese has improved enough so that now I can at least ask what the mystery meat is, and (most times) understand the response.
Today I chose noodles, broccoli, and some type of greens (chard?), then added a variety of protein: tofu, sausage, and chicken hearts. Having missed out on my yā ròu miàn, I considered throwing in a duck head. In the end, though, I chickened out [poultry joke]. The shop added green onions (蔥 cōng, which I learned today), broth, and spices. I'm eating it as I write this, and it's quite delicious. There's enough for two meals, and it cost only $50NT ($1.50 US).
Is it any wonder that I'm always talking about food?!
This isn't a real post. I just wanted to note something for posterity.
For the past 4 months I've been living in an apartment building that has a name, but I never knew what it was. The name is prominently displayed on the outside of the buidling in beautiful gold Chinese characters, but it's written in a cursive style which is difficult to read; therefore, I haven't been able to look up their meanings. Yesterday, a student enlightened me.
My building is called 羅浮宮廷 (Luó Fú Gōng Tíng).
It means "Le Louvre Palace Courtyard."
Damn!
In the past week I've received two different emails rallying American Democrats in Taiwan. This indicates to me that people everywhere are fed up with this Administration. One of the event organizers even states, "With your help, I might one day be able to remove that Canadian Maple Leaf Patch I secretly sewed on my backpack for when I go traveling."
