Siberian cold front

Word is that a cold front from Siberia is headed our way. Watch for temperatures about 7 degrees Celsius. The Taiwanese grannies in our neighborhood give us stern looks, shake their heads and say, tsk-tsk, beneath their breath when they see that Binbin's shirt isn't fully tucked in and that he doesn't have a hat on.

This past week, Binbin was in the "Elite" daycare for a full week. By Thursday, the teachers and principal developed an effective transitional strategy. The moment Binbin arrived, they offered to go "sanbu", on a walk. Without a moment to consider, Binbin's fearsome and tearful goodbyes became a thing of the past.

He so enjoys his three friends in his class--Libby, Miles, and Chenting--and his teacher, Zengzeng, that after his hearty round of goodbyes in the afternoon, he typically returns to the front lawn to run around for another twenty minutes. On Thursday afternoon, he was particularly enthralled with two black beetles in separate pink and blue plastic cages. School pets that principal Eric would gingerly pluck out and set on the patio before an audience of wide open eyes.

The folks at 7-11 and Quanjia, our convenience stores recognize Binbin, who comes almost daily to purchase a Yakuit, a yogurty drink, for 6 kuai. They are especially friendly at 7-11, where, with a purchase of some 85 kuai, customers receive a little Snoopy souvenir of tourist destinations in throughout Taiwan.

We met a Canadian couple this week, Aron and Chelsey, when they took a break from scouting out abandoned furniture on the first floor of our apartment building to say hello. There aren't too many foreigners in the government housing project, so an instant bond was felt. They came along Saturday morning, on our weekly trip to the traditional market in Ta-chih. They pointed out their favorite famous douhua (sweet soybean custard) place for our benefit (unfortunately, neither of us is particularly fond of douhua, and Binbin can't have it). Then we all walked to the playground at the nearly elementary and middle school. Binbin watched the ad hoc soccer match with curiosity, later borrowing a ball and practicing his nascent kicking skills.