We have no water, as side effect of the typhoon! Apparently the river swelled, contaminating the water supply, so running water has been cut off until tomorrow.
I hope it is back tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Laundry
How do you dry laundry during a typhoon when you have no dryer? 
Of course, that is assuming that you figure out how to make the washer machine work...
Pics of storm damage at http://picasaweb.google.com/schmmems/Damages#5368518542724296530
Friday, August 7, 2009
Typhoon Morakot
"Morakot" is a Thai word meaning emerald. It is also the name of Taiwan's first typhoon of 2009. We were not scared of the thought a typhoon, we felt very similar to the way we feel when a hurricane is coming in Florida. So the howling winds, side-ways rain, and blowing leaf particles were no big deal to us. 
This morning, we woke up and Liz and I decided to go downstairs to watch some TV. (The boys wanted to sleep some more). So down the stairs goes Liz, until she gets to the landing. I hear a great thud as Liz slips on the wet floor and begins to swim in our living room.
This morning, we woke up and Liz and I decided to go downstairs to watch some TV. (The boys wanted to sleep some more). So down the stairs goes Liz, until she gets to the landing. I hear a great thud as Liz slips on the wet floor and begins to swim in our living room.
Two inches of standing water. Our living room was flooded. I calmly get the shop vac and begin to clean up the water and sent Lizzie to fetch Wally. Together we were able to clean the water away, find the source, fix it, and then resume life normally.
The funny thing is that Wally left my computer on the floor last night. We don't have wireless yet, so we have been sharing a computer. Imagine my surprise to find it almost floating this morning! But it is okay, as I am using it for this blog.
The funny thing is that Wally left my computer on the floor last night. We don't have wireless yet, so we have been sharing a computer. Imagine my surprise to find it almost floating this morning! But it is okay, as I am using it for this blog.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wax on, wax off... or is it scrub the floor?
Our floors are marble, which is quite lovely. However, I have noticed that we all have jiffy feet. It must be from the floors! So while I was shopping, Wally spent time scrubbing the bottom level floor, changing the color from a dull brown to a nice warm brown. I worked on the stairs, and then tackeled the second level...
Before picture. I should explain the color. They use insect coils here, a pesticide that you burn. The ash goes into the air and releases the pesticide. It also makes a terrible mess. There was just a recall on some of the coils, they contained agent orange!
A work in progress. Scrub the floor...
Six hours later...
Now for levels three and four!
Now for levels three and four!
Our New Home
After almost a week of living in the dorms, we have finally moved into our house. We saw many apartments before deciding on this one, but we are very happy with our decision. We almost chose a different one, and were all set to close the deal, until the landlord told the agent that she did not want kids in the place. Whatever!
We have a three bed, three bath house. It has four levels and is very nice. The community that we are in is nestled in the foothills just north of Kaohsiung. It is remote enough to be out of the city, but close enough so that all of the excitement is within a twenty minute drive. Several teachers live in the community, two even walk to work. All of the floors are either wood or marble tile. There is no oven in the kitchen, but there are two gas burners. I have to hand wash the dishes but we are lucky to have a dish drier. Here are some pics. The complete album can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/schmmems/Taiwan2#slideshow/
We have a three bed, three bath house. It has four levels and is very nice. The community that we are in is nestled in the foothills just north of Kaohsiung. It is remote enough to be out of the city, but close enough so that all of the excitement is within a twenty minute drive. Several teachers live in the community, two even walk to work. All of the floors are either wood or marble tile. There is no oven in the kitchen, but there are two gas burners. I have to hand wash the dishes but we are lucky to have a dish drier. Here are some pics. The complete album can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/schmmems/Taiwan2#slideshow/
Friday, July 31, 2009
Trip, legs 1 and 2
We're currently sitting in the Tokyo Airport. The majority of the trip is over, we've survived both a three hour flight and a thirteen hour flight. Our last flight is from here to Kaohsiung and is estimated to take four hours.
The hardest part has been this last layover. Getting off the plane and realizing that we still had at least eight more hours left of traveling was a bummer. But, it is what it is, and we are glad to be safely here.
I will update more once we get to the dorm.
The dude abides.
The hardest part has been this last layover. Getting off the plane and realizing that we still had at least eight more hours left of traveling was a bummer. But, it is what it is, and we are glad to be safely here.
I will update more once we get to the dorm.
The dude abides.
Monday, July 27, 2009
53 hours...
It's amazing how much getting ready for this trip is reminding me of my childhood. Yesterday I talked about burnt cookies. This morning, I went to make the kids some breakfast and found that we are out of milk. Awesome! I can make up some of the powered milk that I have in the cupboard and use that! Sweet.
I made up the milk and tasted it. It was like going on a trip in a time machine. Here's a confession-- when I was little, I used to climb under Jen's crib, steal her bottle, and drink the whole thing. For some reason, Mom only used powdered skim milk in bottles, so tasting the stuff this morning was like sucking on that bottle.
I once took Kristin's bottle, but I didn't drink it. No, instead I sprayed it into her hair and pretended to "style" it. Did you know that when milk dries it has better hold than any gel I've found to date? Boy, I got in trouble for that.
Wait, is that Babs I hear?
I made up the milk and tasted it. It was like going on a trip in a time machine. Here's a confession-- when I was little, I used to climb under Jen's crib, steal her bottle, and drink the whole thing. For some reason, Mom only used powdered skim milk in bottles, so tasting the stuff this morning was like sucking on that bottle.
I once took Kristin's bottle, but I didn't drink it. No, instead I sprayed it into her hair and pretended to "style" it. Did you know that when milk dries it has better hold than any gel I've found to date? Boy, I got in trouble for that.
Wait, is that Babs I hear?
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