Ahhh, the vac shots, such a traumatic experience. Thumper has never cried so long and so hard since her vac shot in Taiwan. They’re totally no non-sense in the health clinic. Because of it she was more adamant about not getting a shot. When we next got our shot in the US, it was breezy and no tears, because of the nurse’s attitude. At instances like this, I’m very much aware that my kids are very American in their upbringing.
I’m oh so glad Thumper’s now past the phase of crying at every single new class/encounter. It is one developmental period I wouldn’t like to repeat.
Itinerary: Vaccination shot, some Taiwanese food, zhuyin class
Have I mentioned that Taipei has been raining non-stop for the last week? The weather has also turned cold, in the 50’s. We did not bring enough wintery clothes with us. I will need to somehow find the time to go shopping for some jackets. In the meantime, this rain is driving me nuts.
My friends had told me it’s rains alot and wondered why I wanted to go back in December. I said as long as it’s warm it’s fine. And it is. But one thing I didn’t count on was that we drive everywhere in the US. So in a way the rain doesn’t bother us. But here, you’re constantly whipping out your umbrella and really feeling the weather and wetness.
This morning, after a really late start with some Hershey’s homemade hot chocolate, we headed out in the rain to the local health care clinic for the Japanese encephalitis vaccination. I did not tell the children where we were going and by the time they’d finished waiting and we started going into the exam rooms, they started to freak out. First we got measured. Astroboy is almost 100cm and Thumper 115+. Then we had a check up of the lungs.
All this time, Thumper is crying and saying, I don’t want to get a shot, will I get a shot? It’s even worse than in the US.
We made Astroboy go first and he struggled but calmed down pretty quickly after his shot. He’d always been fine with his shots but I think he’s been influenced by Thumper’s crying. Then Thumper just cried and cried and needed her moments to calm down (delay tactics).
Finally the nurse came in and we held her down and she got her shot. I feel so bad for her because I know all that crying and freaking out makes it physically hurt a bit more. But since the Japanese encephalitis is required in Taiwan, we really needed it. It’s actually a total of 4 shots because the efficacy wears off. But we’ll just get 2 for now as the last 2 are just boosters.
We’ll be going back in 2 weeks. Later that night, Thumper said that next time I should tell her not so much in advance but advance enough so she can take her flower blankie with her. I don’t think it’ll help because she says these kind of things often. But I’m surprised at this show of expression of thought and idea. She really is growing up. At times, I don’t even know what/how she thinks.
Given the traumatic experience and the fact that Thumper wanted to ice her injection spot, we walked our way home. Thankfully my cousin was home so then I headed out to get some lunch and grocery shop for dinner as it was already 12 at this time. Taking 2 kids with you really takes up time when you travel.
I walked around the allies in the neighborhood and I finally realized that we basically live close to Telegraph ave. We are one block away from NTU and another few blocks away from NTUE. So there are lots and lots of college kids here during meal times. Because of this they have Indian food and other countries’ food.
There are also lots of bubble tea shops as well and the food is cheap. I’ve been back here twice before in previous years and this is actually the first time I see the shops open, since they open after 11am. Their schedule totally doesn’t match ours.
All this to say, I found my lunch (soy pudding and oyster pancake), and the kids lunch (fried rice). They were not too thrilled with the fried rice and barely ate any. I shepherded them to nap and then went out to open my bank account at Citibank around 3pm while my cousin watched them. It was a nice break from the children, even if I spent that whole time opening up a Citibank account.
The other thing that’s different from bank accounts in the US is that you have 2 pin numbers. Each ATM card has a little chip on them, and the pin associated with it is 6-12 characters long. But when you use the same ATM card overseas, they use the magnetic strip in the back, which is 4 characters long. Basically they are using a more advanced version.
I also tried getting a credit card. But you basically need to have a Taiwanese job, or have mucho money in your bank account for over 3 months before they’ll do it. And most cards have a fee apparently that will be waived when you charge more than a certain $$ amount on it. Since I have neither money nor job, I could not get a card.
I came home, woke the kids up by 5:30 and we rushed out the door again in the rain to go to Thumper’s Zhuyin class at 國語日報 MDN Kids. She kept saying she didn’t want to take classes and was crying when the class started. The lady at the counter was nice enough to let me sit in class with Astroboy. It’s basically lecture style with a lot of practicing of zhuyin. There is an assumption you already know your zhuyin characters. The teacher makes it fun by using a story as a jump off point and the children practice through knowledge of this story.
She of course settled down after 5 minutes in class because she loves stories. Though she still did not want me to leave. I finally managed to sneak out with Astroboy for the last 20 minutes of class (it’s 80 minutes long) and she was jumping around and asking questions to the teacher by the time class ended.
Though the class format itself isn’t what I like personally (lecture style with kids sitting behind desks), I figure I should try it at least once since I don’t have the tools to be teaching her right now at home. It’s amazing that children go to school all day and then have class during dinner time (6:30-7:50). I don’t know how they have the stamina or the brain power. 
So now we’ve signed up for 2 classes, 4 days each. I think that is more than enough for me, esp given these are all at dinner time and I have to drag Astroboy. Poor Astroboy. I wanted to send him to a music class or something just so he has an activity of his own but I have somehow spent all the money I brought with me from the US with all these classes. Sending kids to classes surely are expensive!
After we came home by 9, we didn’t get to sleep till 11. My cousin’s boyfriend was visiting for the weekend and my uncle said it was 秘密貴賓 (mysterious VIP guest) when my cousin went to pick him up. This is almost as anticipatory as getting a present. So we had to stay up and wait for them to come home.
One thing I loved about all this is the fact that Thumper is learning so many more interesting adult conversational Chinese. I’m not certain where you would learn the words 貴賓 otherwise in the classroom, in a practical life setting. Even the words they used in the MDN Kids class were words Thumper doesn’t often encounter, more advanced and academic Chinese words. All in all I’m happy with the classes we’re in. If only the rain would let up!
