Dragon Boat Festival

In the beginning of June Taiwan is all about the Dragon Boat Festival. Children and most of the adults have a day off and for one week races will be held on rivers all across Taipei. Some years ago I visited one of these races in DaJia Riverpark, but this year I was participating. I joined the VNT (kind of like the Dutch embassy here in Taipei). We had some practice and went to the start full of confidence. It was funny that one of our competitors in the first race was Sanchong. Exactly my hometown here in Taiwan. Although these were all old man and women, they were still pretty good. Ready for starting sitting in our dragon boat, with the paddle in your hands, just above the water, waiting for the BANG of the startsgun. We were already warned that the start is very sudden, there is no 'on your marks'.....'get set'..... 'go'. No it is just waiting for a banging sound. ANd then finally it was there. One long stroke, 10 short strokes and off we were. Although I had a good feeling about our start, we were already behind. We were in 3rd place. The captain, who has a quit easy job banging on the drum to decide the pace, was pushing us to go faster and faster. But our arms got tired and we could not do anything anymore. We came in 3rd behing Sanchung (2nd) and some youngsters (1st). Well that was all for the Dragon Boat Race, we had to become the top 2 to go on a round. After the race I rushed to my work to teach English.

On Wednesday, Aming had to do the rowing. With his work they joined in as a team. But this Dragon Boat Race was smaller and it was part of an political tour. Aming's boss has a lot of connections in politics. He is a member of the green party, who wants Taiwan to become independant. At the moment there are some elections going on and so they could help. The lady of the green party was the flag catcher in Aming's boat. It is interesting to tell you, that these catchers have to lie on the head of the Dragon (in front of the boat) and lean forward as fas as possible to grab the flag. They curl their feet behind the ears or horns of the Dragon's head. This way they will not fall in the water. Aming won twice! But after that it was done and we could go home to take a rest.

We are trying to watch every game of the World Cup, but the last game starts at 2:30 in the night over here. You can imagine that we are sometimes nodding untill we both fall asleep on the sofa.

Tonight Holland vs Japan. Hup Holland Hup!!!!

Update no 3

So besides some late birthday cards (most of all blamed by the Taiwanese post). My birthday last month went by as usual. Now waiting for next year to come. But ofcourse there will be another big day soon. Yes our wedding day. August 21st is the day. We are preparing and organizing and thinking our heads off. Everything has to be perfect for the both of us. It will be a mixed cultural wedding. We are slowly starting to spread all the invites. Even this is a big deal. We were having silver envelopes and well because people usually love red here we decided to print the names and addresses in red on a white sticker. But when I gave some to Taiwanese friends, they inmediatly attended me that in the Chinese culture you are not allowed to write names in red. It appears that this means that that person died. Well how could I've known. But I just waved it away with an excuse that we are a multi cultural couple and so can not live up all rules from the Chinese culture.

Then there is the table-matter. Who sits were. Appearantly the oldest brother of the mother needs to sit with the bride and groom. This is the uncle which will also put a lot of money in a red envelope. So he kind of bought that spot at the important table. But as you can maybe imagine there is also the family. How big is this head table. Well that is what we are discussing at the moment.

Anyways a lot of traditions and wishes to consider and put together without hurting any feelings or breaking any traditions. You'll see in August!!!

After my brithday, my good friend Dewi, set me up to join the Dragon Boat Races with a all Dutch team. Important note is that Dewi herself is allergic to sports and so not participating herself..... The first practice went pretty bad. We kept going in circles, crossing other boats in an annoying way and complaining a lot. All heard was: "He can't stear!" "Left is not putting enought strengt in it!" "The weight is not devided well" "You are counting to fast" "No that was not me, that was behind me!" "Yes it was you, I heard it" "Let's swap places now!" "Left row harder" "Stop" "No don't stop just continue" "You have to use the commands" "Don't give up!" "We're never coming on sore again" hahahahaha it was quit funny. But the second training went very well. With an experienced captain in the boat, we managed to row some strokes. Tomorrow we are having our first match versus Sanchung. Yeah that's right my hometown here in Taiwan. Let's kick their ass!!!! I will let you know what happend to our boat, if we sank or made the finish.

Also me and my girls made it into the final of the Shilin soccer tournament 2010. We were playing with the man and 2 other girl teams. We only lost one game, which happend to be the number one. We were runners up. Which meant a final against BuLian. I have to explain that this team is normally the team which Aming plays for in the 11-a-side businessman competition. So they are all friends. But still we were eager to win. Especially after loosing the previous match with 11-4 against them. Just before that match, the forward of BuLian was warming up and shot on our goal (with our goalkeeper). When she tried to stop it she sprained her wrist. So we had no goalie anymore. I say inmediat red card. Injuring our players before the game even begun. Well it was a tight final. For the first 15 minutes we were equal and a 0-0 was still shown on the scoreboard. Then I guess we got sloppy and tired and BuLian started scoring. Eventually we lost 6-0. But we still won NT3000 as a runner up. And we felt it was not a shame to loos from BuLian because they are known as a really strong team here in Tapei. They play together for years.

Last weekend we went to pick up dad from the airport. He could finally come back to Taiwan after being one year in China. Well I heard he lost a lot of weight, but it was a little bit scary when I saw him. He doesn't look like my dad anymore. He looks like he had been sick for a while. So I am very busy giving him lots of (delicious) foods here. A little bit meat can never heart. But I reckon he is very happy to be back in Taiwan. Now it is his turn to get all the paperwork done according to all the rules.

Lalalalalala...lalalala.... It's time for Africa!!!! Yes the World Championship Football in Africa is beginning. One more night of sleeping and tomorrow it will kick off. I am so excited... ofcourse I followed Holland through the internet, and I know Robben is injured. But I am sure we will do just fine the first matches without him. I am quit nervous about out performance. Can we be as good as the last time (beating Italy and France easily) or is this a too high pursuit. I think the aims are high, but now is the chance for us. Over here the games will also be broadcasted, it is not sure if all games will be broadcasted, but atleast the good, spectaculair games. Aming has a soccer friend who is a dentist during weekdays. He has a basement in his practice with a big screen. That will be our home during the WC. But ofcourse sometimes we will go and watch in the bar or with all the Dutch in Taipei.

It will be fun. To everybody I wish you a very happy and good WC!!!! Let's make it ours!!!

Look at the picture beside. Isn't he cute. It is my little neigbour and he is wearing my wooden shooes (klompen). He loved the sound the make.... so adorable.

Well gotta go it is already to late and I am off to bed!

Love Melanie