Welcome to Babyland

Last year, as Erin and I were talking with our friends and family about moving to Taiwan, many of them were talking about having kids for the first time.  We noted that the life change they were expecting (like most major life changes) was similar to moving to a new country.  The language they would use would change to incorporate child-related terms, they may find themselves eating different foods, and they would be spending more time with other parents in a similar situation.  We called this new place, "Babyland".

Fast-forward to this summer and now all of those expectant parents are actual parents.  Erin and I planned our summer vacation to visit each of the new baby families over the month of June.  After leaving California our first stop on the Babyland tour was Georgia to see some of my friends from the Army, Brian and Steve.  Both of them had their first kid about six months ago so we were going to meet them and their families at Steve's house in Savannah.

We spent Thursday just getting out to Atlanta.  It was not a good day.  A bad omen was when we showed up at the airport and our shuttle got scraped by another shuttle backing up.  LAX was packed as usual, but the next irritation came when Erin was patted down twice (including once in a little frost-glassed room) even after going through the new x-ray machine.  It didn't help later when I accidentally spilled my frappucino on her.  We then sat on our plane at the gate for an hour because they had to fix a door before we could leave.  When we finally got to our hotel our room wasn't made up.  We got through the day with a great deal of patience, but it was very taxing.

Friday morning we were reminded why we endure the travel as we got to do some sight-seeing in Atlanta.  We started with a tour of the CNN headquarters which was very enlightening to how the shows are produced.  We then had lunch at the Sun Dial restaurant at the top of the Hampden hotel.  The great part about that was that the whole restaurant slowly rotates so that we got a wonderful view of the entire city while we ate.  We finished our tour at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park.  It was interesting to see where he grew up and lived, but it seemed like it could use some better care.  We finally left the city, got a rental car, and made it out to Steve's and Adriennes's place that night.  Brian and Cassie got there later that night.

On Saturday we were all pretty tired (either from travelling, tending to babies, or both).  Fortunately Steve and Adrienne have access to a pool, so we spent much of our day there.  

It was great to just relax and not have to worry about being anywhere.  We really enjoyed catching up and reminiscing with everyone.  The babies of course took center stage with lots of adoring to be done.  There was often something that needed to be done to take care of them as well.  Erin and I were thoroughly impressed at the amount of work that went in to taking care of the babies and the apparent ease with which the parents completed that work.  Since both babies were almost six months old I imagine they all had a fair amount of practice.

After spending time at the pool we went with Brian, Cassie, and their daughter to downtown Savannah for dinner.  While we didn't see much of the city, the part we saw looked very nice.  We ended up having dinner on the rooftop of a pub while we discussed life and having kids.  Our discussions continued late into the night back at Steve's and Adrienne's place as we watched a lightning storm roll through.

After breakfast on Sunday it was time for us to pack up and head back to Atlanta.  It was unfortunate that we couldn't spend more time, but I know we'll meet up again in the future.  Even though our friends are at a different place in their lives (full of feedings, diaper changes, car seats, and strollers), it doesn't mean that they're any less our friends.  Erin and I haven't made a final decision on whether to have kids sometime in the future, but whatever we decide, it's good to know that our friends in Babyland will continue to be our friends - just as we'll continue to be their's.

California Dreamin'

The first leg of our summer back in the US started in California.  With the trip East across the International Date Line we had left around 9 AM on Sunday in Taiwan and arrived around 10 AM on Sunday in California.  Everything went smoothly as our flight from Kaohsiung to Los Angeles was on time, we were able to get our bags, and found my parents outside the terminal as they drove in to pick us up.  That afternoon we were able to have lunch with my uncle and cousin as we drove back to Tulare.


On Monday we were able to relax as we got re-acquainted with America.  This included a trip to Target and the joys of consumerism, washing and drying clothes in a washer and dryer we could understand, and understanding what people were saying.  Later that week we enjoyed eating some of the most delicious Mexican food we've had in a very long time.  There's a lot we've been missing.

Tuesday found my parents, Erin and I driving up to the mountains where my family has always spent summers.  Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park is like a narrow version of Yosemite, but with a fraction of the visitors.  It has always been a place of beauty and peace for me and I was glad to share it with Erin.

For the rest of the week we enjoyed the relaxing nature of the park and it's breath-taking views.  After collecting plenty of firewood we had fires each morning and evening since it was colder than usual.  It was nice to relax in camp, eat some snacks, and read a book during the day.  When we got energetic, Erin and I would hike through the canyon and take in the sights.  On our last day my Dad and I went out fishing, though we didn't catch anything.  It was a very nice trip.

For the following weekend we took a trip out to the coast to see my friends who live in Pismo Beach.  We arrived somewhat late on Saturday night and ended up having some amazing BBQ before ironically sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows (like Erin and I had done all week in the mountains).

On Sunday we went out for some wine tasting.  I had never known there were so many wineries near Pismo Beach.  Though my recent flare up made me cautious about drinking too much wine it was great to have some small samples.  It was also a lot of fun just hanging out with my friends too who I haven't gotten to see much since moving away from Tulare. While we're older now and have wives (and kids) we can still enjoy some really good times and share a lot of laughs.  The wine wasn't half bad either!

Erin and I stayed at the coast on Monday enjoying the delicious seafood and some beautiful trails along the cliffs above the beaches.  However, by Tuesday we had to say goodbye and head on back to Tulare.  We were able to get one last hike in and enjoy a picnic lunch in Paso Robles on our way back though.  It may not have been Colorado, but by the end of our trip I think Erin was starting consider what it would be like to live in California.


By Wednesday it was time to pack up, finish some last minute details, and head back to LA for our flight the next morning.  My parents were kind enough to treat us to one of their favorite restaurants, Lowry's, for a wonderful prime rib dinner.  Even the vegetarian plate that Erin was delicious.  Early next morning Erin and I caught a shuttle over to the airport and we were off to our next destination: Georgia.  After such a wonderful trip we're looking forward to the next time we're able to visit California.

School's Out For Summer

So this post is rather late, but after the hospital stay it has been hard getting back in the rhythm of writing.  It has also been very busy.


By the first week of May the Humira appeared to be working and I started to get better.  I was soon eating more solid food from the hospital kitchen which made me eager to get out.  I was released from the hospital on May 7th which coincided with a visit from Michele, Erin's former drama teacher.  Over that first weekend in May I returned to the comfort of our home while Michele shared her many stories with us.


The next week I mostly stayed home from work as I tried to eat more and get my strength back.  I was feeling well enough by Friday to go in to the school for a few hours and give the staff an introduction to the new student information system that the school would be using next year.


Over the weekend though my condition seemed to get worse.  I was getting the Humira once a week on Friday, but because of that (and a case of thrush I had developed) my doctors had decided that I should quickly taper off the steroids.  In the past it had usually taken several weeks to go off steroids, but the doctors had told me to go from 40mg to none in just one week.  After researching online Erin and I felt that might be too quick so on Monday I was able to get on the phone with my GI doctor and made the suggestion that I go back on the steroids and taper them more slowly.  He agreed and since I still had some steroids left said I could take those.  As I went back on the steroids my condition once again improved.


With this, and our experiences in the hospital, it became clear to me and Erin that we had more ability and necessity to be my own doctor than we had in the US.  We were doing research online of what had worked for other people, determining the drugs and the dosage that we found worked best for others, and indicating to my doctors what we thought we should do.  The relationship felt more liberating than what we're used to in the US, but also requiring more responsibility.


For the third and fourth weeks of May I was going to school for more and more of the day.  Before long I even had enough strength to teach my classes (or at least be there as the students worked on assignments from other classes).  As I felt better I began eating more food and incorporating more types of food into my diet.  I tried not to push myself too hard, but it was difficult as there was so much to get done before school ended.  My improving condition gave Erin and I hope that we would be able to have the summer vacation we had planned.


The last days of May and first days of June were a rush of things to do before we could leave.  I was able to get enough medication for the summer (including the Humira) so that was a relief.  Over the weekend Erin was able to finish up all of her grading and I was able to get the IT systems to a point where I could leave them for the summer (or manage them remotely).  Finally on the night before we left we packed our bags and tidied up our place.  It was such a relief on Sunday to finally get on a plane and head back to the US.  We're very much looking forward to enjoying our summer with friends and family before going back to Taiwan in August.

Spending Time in a Taiwan Hospital

When considering the possibility of living abroad, Erin and I discussed the importance of health care.  I had been in the hospital before for a flare up of ulcerative colitis (UC) and we wanted to make sure that wherever we went I would be able to be treated for this chronic condition.  As we considered Taiwan we saw that they had advanced, affordable health care and doctors that had helped patients with UC.  That said, health care in Taiwan has some differences that I've experienced first-hand as I was recently admitted to the hospital here for another flare-up of UC.


After getting back from Spring Break my condition took about a week to deteriorate to a point where I needed to see the doctor.  Meeting him at his clinic in the hospital reminded me of the efficiency of the hospital.  Instead of an appointment time, a friend at school helps me get an appointment number, kind of like when you are at the DMV and asked to take a number.  I imagine that the doctor sees one patient after another based on their number, but even though I arrived with my number 44 to see number 22 being served I didn't have to wait long before the nurse was ushering me in. 


With some discussion and a brief exam the doctor scheduled me for a colonoscopy the following day sending me out to take care of the necessary pre-work which included a blood draw, chest x-ray, anesthetic screen, and laxative pick-up.  First I pay for all of this, including the doctor visit, which with the national insurance comes to about $40.  I go to the blood-draw station in the hospital, take a number, immediately get called to a booth, get the blood drawn, and are asked to sit for a few minutes (10 min).  Next I stand in line for the chest x-ray around the corner, get a room number, change out of my shirt in a booth, get the x-ray, change back again (15 min).  By this time my number for my prescription (the laxative) has already come up so I go up to the booth and they have it ready so they give it to me and then give me the directions in English (5 min).  Before long I'm back home preparing for the colonoscopy.


The next day the language difference makes things a little difficult.  When I get to the OR they remind me I need to do the anesthetic pre-screen which makes me late.  I should have done it the day before, but missed it in all the directions.  The pre-screen doesn't take long though and I'm soon back in the OR, changed into their pajamas, and on a wheeled bed.  I'm promptly wheeled in to the OR to see my doctor and the anesthesiologist.  The next thing I know it's about 30 minutes later and I'm waking up from the anesthesia.  I spend another hour recovering and hoping to see the doctor, but he's doing more surgeries so I pay for the surgery (about $100) and take a taxi home.  It's not until the next day back in at school that I'm able to ask my friend to call the doctor to see what's going on.  She tells me he's in surgeries again that day, but that I should be admitted to the hospital.  With her hand-written Chinese note and Erin by my side I head back to the hospital.


Admission to the hospital is weird.  We go to the ER with the note as instructed.  They understand the note and after talking to a young doctor I'm getting an IV in my arm and the doctor is helping Erin check me in.  With the IV in I'm not allowed to leave a seating area which contains three rows of hard-backed chairs surrounded by a steady stream of people receiving urgent care.  Erin comes back and asks what kind of room I want.  There's the 3-person room which is covered by insurance, the single room which is about $100 a night, or a single special room which is $120 a night.  Thinking of all the times I'll need to use the bathroom I opt for the single room and she goes back.  She's back a few minutes later to let me know there are no single rooms available.  In fact, there aren't any rooms immediately available and we may have to wait in the hard-backed chairs for up to 48 hours for a room to become available.  We are finally able to get a wheeled bed in some sort of temporary room where my doctor shows me pictures from the colonoscopy.  My colon looks pretty bad, but he doesn't know how soon I'll be admitted and I can't start getting treatment until I am.  After a call to our Chinese-speaking friend (who also happens to be married to a major surgeon at the hospital) I'm soon off to a double room.


I'm glad to have a room, but there are some interesting differences to a hospital room in the US.  First off, the bathroom doesn't include any toilet paper (or even a place to put a roll).  Instead, for the first couple of days I use tissues that my roommate had in there.  There are also no towels and the only trash can in the room is by the toilet for the tissues.  The cleaning guy, seeing my trash in the "wrong" trash can brought me a loaner and Erin brought in fresh towels and tissues.  There are a few roaches that come out at night, but at least there aren't very many mosquitoes.  The bathroom is raised about 6 inches with a short ramp which means I need to lift my IV stand every time I go.  One nice thing is that there are no limits on visiting hours (which many of our friends from school have gratefully taken advantage of).  There is a chair that pulls out to a cot and my roommates have always had someone spending the night.  For the most part they've been quiet and there haven't been too many conflicts with using the bathroom.


This past weekend Erin and I had one of the strangest experiences at the hospital as my rheumatologist, Dr. Chen, came for a visit with his assistant and two nurses in tow.  He is a nice older man with a bit of a religious streak as he has concluded previous visits with talking about a medical Buddha.  With my other medications having little effect we had started on a treatment called Humira just before the weekend.  Humira is usually used for arthritis (not UC), but we had read online that it had been successfully used for UC in the US and UK which is why I was seeing Dr. Chen.  After discussing that the drug can take a while to have an effect and the need to start tapering of the steroids it didn't seem there was anything else.  That's when it got weird. 


Dr. Chen motioned to examine my legs and I said okay thinking he would check for stiffness.  Instead, he starts gripping deep into my legs as he explains the acupressure/acupuncture connection that these "prime meridians" have with my colon.  As I squirm in pain he asks if it hurts and though I confirm it does he just goes on prodding and gripping.  Erin said I looked like I was going to hit him.  Feeling like a really deep-tissue massage this went on for several minutes as he talked about the different connections like a lesson to everyone in the room.  Telling him that I work on computers he presses deep into my feet saying the point is connected to my eyes and that it hurts because I have eye strain.  The most bizarre point comes when he shows me his pen, presses it into my ear and asks if it hurts.  "Of course it hurts," I reply, "your pushing a pen into my ear!"  Finally he pulls out a book in Chinese on the medical Buddha he's talked about before and asks if I can read a section in English for him.  At this point I'm willing to do anything to get rid of him so I just read what is obviously a prayer, turn down his offer of the prayer book for me, and finally say goodbye to him and his entourage.  Afterward, all Erin and I can do is laugh at the pure ridiculousness of the whole situation.

I'm trying to keep an open mind on the experience.  While I grimaced and moaned, I didn't ask him to stop.  The day after, my legs were a bit sore, but my condition did seem to be improving.  How much of the improvement is from the new medications and how much is from the acupressure is anyone's guess.  Either way our hopes are lifting as my condition continues to improve.  It is a frustratingly slow improvement as I miss my internet connection and think about all the work back at the school.  One of the harder parts to accept is the toll this is having on Erin as she struggles to take care of me on top of her already high work load and the friction of living abroad.  She is an amazing woman who has made this foreign experience more manageable and given me hope when I was feeling down.  I'm looking forward to the time, hopefully soon, when I will be out of this hospital, and we can enjoy our summer together.

Bali, Indonesia

After our conference in Kota Kinabalu, Erin and I flew to Bali for the rest of our Spring Break.  While Bali was a beautiful island and the people were friendly we had some difficult times there.  When we first arrived we weren't prepared for the $25 visa on arrival.  We finally found some ATMs on the other side of immigration.  We had to give them our passports, go get some cash, get our passports back, get our visas, and then go back through immigration.  With a delayed arrival and this trouble at immigration we were glad that a driver was still waiting to take us to our hotel.

The next morning we awoke to our beautiful cottage and surroundings.  Within a walled area in Kuta, it was a serene retreat from the many hawkers and scooters on the narrow streets that dominate the rest of the city.  Breakfast was delicious in a similarly decorated courtyard.  Before long we were travelling out to the beach for some jetski action.  After having a great time on the jetski and a hot walk along the beach we had lunch at an authentic Balinese place which was very good.  After spending some time back at our cottage we went out to see some temples and get a drink at a fancy bar on the sea cliffs.  Unfortunately, with traffic we were only able to get to the bar.  It was a beautiful and glamorous place for dinner and drinks.



On Wednesday we slept in and relaxed at the cottage before heading up to Ubud in the mountains.  We had a very nice villa in the city which looked amazing.  That night we met up with our friends from school to catch up on our trips and then went out to see a traditional dance.  It was a very interesting dance with expressive facial and hand motions.

Next morning we got up and went for a walk around the area.  Just down the road from our villa was Monkey Forest Park with a ton of monkeys.  At the center of the park was a temple that could have been out of an Indiana Jones movie.  It was very cool seeing all of the statues and once outside of the city center we felt like we were in a more natural setting.  That afternoon we got a guide to take us around the area.  It was nice to see a nearby elephant cave and rice terraces.  However, as we were going around we often felt like we were just walking dollar signs to people who were constantly trying to get us to buy things.  Everyone was very nice and it was nice that so many spoke English, but it never really felt sincere.  It probably didn't help that we were in the main tourist areas.


On Friday we got up for another walk outside of Ubud which was one of our most enjoyable experiences.  The area is so verdant and peaceful.  That afternoon we went down to the beach towns.  Again we were restricted by traffic (and rain) to get out to see one of the famous temples.  Looking back we spent a lot of time in a car and got to see a lot of the island that day.

Saturday was our last full day in Bali and we made the most of it.  In the morning we went out for some snorkeling and got to see some really cool fish and coral.  After a delicious Italian lunch and gelatto Erin got a pedicure while I had a beer at a bar by the beach.  That afternoon we finally got the traffic situation worked out to go to the Ulu Watu temple on the top of a sea cliff.  Once again there were a ton of monkeys as we watched the sun set.  We then went to Jimbaran bay to have fresh fried fish right out on the beach as a mariachi band played.  It was a nice end to our time in Bali.


Early the next morning we were back in the airport to head out.  It was a stressful situation as our flight seemed to be bumped up 20 minutes and we were once again hit with a fee with no nearby ATMs.  We made it out okay but our trip taught us several valuable lessons.  We may have slacked off recently in terms of planning and being aware of airport details.  We enjoyed Bali and would go back, but we would probably go to the less touristy areas.  Live and learn.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Borneo

I haven't had much to write about for the last couple of weeks as work filled most of the free time for Erin and me.  As it was the end of the third quarter Erin had tons of work to grade.  For myself I've been busy planning the implementation for a 1:1 laptop program and a new student information system for the school.  But in between work we were able to find some free time to visit the former British Consulate in Kaohsiung for some tea and have a nice French dinner in a restaurant called, "Pasadena".


Now that the quarter is over we find ourselves on the island of Borneo in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.  We've been here for the past few days at a education conference at a beautiful resort.  The conference has given us a chance to form stronger relationships with our colleagues and learn about exciting new trends in the field of education.  We're both looking forward to returning to our school and applying some of what we've learned.


We had a chance on Friday to experience more of Borneo as we went on a boat ride up the Klias river.  While it was a long bus ride to the river it was nice to sit back and take in the jungle scenery.  Once there we got on this very nice boat which took us up the river.  Along the way we stopped several times to see proboscis monkeys in the trees.  Their long noses and pot bellies distinguished them from other monkeys we had seen in Kaohsiung.  Included in our trip was a chance to do some fishing and enjoy a nice dinner.  Then on our way back down the river we enjoyed spotting fireflies in the trees.


Today we had hoped to visit one of the nearby islands for some snorkeling, but the weather didn't cooperate.  Instead we ended up doing some much needed clothes shopping and seeing a movie.  Not as exciting as snorkeling, but a relaxing day none the less.  Tomorrow we head out to Bali which should provide some more water adventures.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

It has been an exciting past week for Erin and I as we took our Chinese New Year vacation in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  With only a few days of break we wanted to make the most of them.  However, being one of the biggest travel seasons for the Taiwanese we couldn't get a flight out until the second day of our vacation.


So after our first day off on Wednesday spent relaxing and catching up on work we flew out on Thursday.  Leaving around noon we didn't get to our destination until that night.  As we navigated through the Bangkok airport we saw many more Westerners and more enticing Western food than we're used to in Kaohsiung.  Arriving in Chiang Mai we were able to get to our guesthouse, a sparse (and inexpensive) place along the river.  We still had some energy so we went downtown and found a nice place to eat with a guy playing a guitar in the background.


After breakfast out by the river on Friday morning we were picked up for our main adventure for that day: riding a zip-line.  While we thought we were just going to ride a zip-line we soon learned that we were first going to see a waterfall, than get massages, then do the zip-line course before having a late lunch.  While each of these was very nice it seemed to be mainly a way to fill time while other groups did the main attraction.  It was all very organized and we enjoyed the company of our group who seemed to be comprised of mainly Americans. 

While the waterfall looked nice and the massages felt good, the zip-line course was definitely the highlight of the day.  While wearing harnesses we would each step out onto platforms built high up in the trees.  There, one of our guides would hook us up to a zip-line and then let us go as we glided to the another platform where the other guide was waiting.  I suppose that's your standard zip-line operation, but the attitude of our guides didn't seem all that natural.  There was a lot of joking and playing around as they shook the cables, pretended that something was wrong after a person had left the platform, and letting members push each other off the platforms.  I enjoyed it as they added something new to each leg of the course and kept the mood fun.  It probably helped that we were a younger group of people.  Getting back into town that evening we went out for some delicious Mexican food before doing a little shopping at a night market.

On Saturday Erin and I went our separate ways.  She had found me a rock climbing course which was her gift to me for my birthday.  For herself she found a place to get a massage and a pedicure in town.  I thoroughly enjoyed the rock climbing experience.  They drove me out with a couple of other people to a place called "Crazy Horse Butte" where we got instruction in top rope skills.  It was a technical course with a couple of knots, some new equipment that I hadn't encountered in the gym and several techniques for staying safe on a climb.  We spent the morning going over the techniques and practicing before stopping for lunch.  After lunch we practiced some more on actual climbing routes.  The butte provided a lot of fun climbs to try our new skills and I feel that by the end of the course I was feeling comfortable to go with someone climbing outside of a gym.


That night Erin and I got back together and went out to dinner at a really nice Italian place.  The food was delicious and the wine was up to date.  Once we were finished though I was exhausted and ready to go back to our guesthouse.

Our adventure for Sunday was a trip out to an elephant park.  For the months leading up to this trip we had both been looking forward to riding an elephant.  As we talked to people who had done it though we learned that there were many places where you get to ride, but you feel guilty because the elephants seem to be exploited.  Erin finally found a place online that seemed to balance our desire to ride with treating the animals fairly.  Once we got out there the owner explained how his park was different from many others and we learned about how they take care of the elephants.  It seemed very similar to a nice horse stable.  The elephants were held in captivity for the most part, but they were fed well, bathed, and looked after.  So we got to feed them and learn how to ride them bareback.  They also offered us the chance to help clean them in the pond, but we declined.  It was certainly a memorable experience, but at the same time it wasn't comfortable and not something I think we'll seek to do in the future.

Back in Chiang Mai we made in time to catch our ride out to our cooking class downtown.  While it seemed rather rushed the food we made was pretty tasty.  There weren't any basics covered.  It was all about chopping vegetables up, throwing them in the wok when told, stirring them up and then serving.  They prepared most things for us and then it was like they were reading from the nice cookbook that we got as part of the deal.  I suppose when so many people want to do it that's what one should expect.  Afterwards we went to another night market to do some more shopping.  We got a few nice things before calling it a night.


On our last morning we went downtown for a jog around the city's moat before finding a place for breakfast.  Back at our guesthouse we packed up and went out on the street to hail a taxi to take us back to the airport.  After waiting a while what presented itself to us was an elderly man on a small, sputtering motorcycle with a shoddy looking sidecar.  Not having seen anything else in that part of town we agreed on a price and took off.  The ride was a bit hairy, but we got to the airport and made it home safely.  Just one more adventure for the road!