If You Hear Cackling on Christmas Morning...

It's likely coming from our house. I found a treat launcher for the kidz. With wrapping paper, empty boxes, and flying cookies, Holly and Hurricane should be in prime form. Happiest holidaze to all!

It's December, and That Means It's Time to...

Paint a wall! This year it's the back entry wall by the laundry. Business as usual here. Slowly but surely getting colorful...

Not Feelin' the White Christmas Part

(With apologies to those who are freezing...) We're trying to decorate our Christmas trees today, with doors open and the ceiling fan whirring. It's 75*/24C. Tom is in shorts, and Holly is prancing around in her skin, howling along to the carols we're blasting. We're running later than usual this year, but I always try to finish up before my birthday. Here is a photo of the purple tree.

One Weekend, Two New Soups, Both Yum!

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/rosemary-chicken-noodle-soup-10000001160571/ http://www.bhg.com/recipe/soups/butternut-squash-soup-with-ravioli/

My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

Delicious any time of the year, this cheater risotto has been on my Thanksgiving table for years. Can't imagine celebrating without it. Yum! Sweet Potato Risotto 2 c. Arborio rice; 1#+ diced sweet potatoes; 5 c. chicken or vegetable stock, heated; 2 T. butter; ½ c. grated parmesan; 2 T. chopped fresh thyme; Salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 375*. Put rice, sweet potato, stock, and butter in ovenproof dish. Seal with foil or tight-fitting lid. Cook for 30 minutes, then check and stir. Cook another 5 minutes. (Watch that it doesn’t get too dry at the end.) Remove from oven. Add parmesan, thyme, salt and pepper and stir until creamy. Garnish with pine nuts, if desired. Serves 4-6.

Back Home

The 25-hour-long trip home was 11 hours shorter than the big trip there. Still didn't seem short, but the next trips to Europe will! I am fortunate to have almost no jetlag this time, and I had no problem making it through my classes on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday morning, however, I woke up with a cold. I had nothing on my schedule, so it was a good excuse to catch up on my blogging. As I looked through my photos and reflected on all my adventures, I recognized what an incredibly rich personal and professional experience it was. I would do it again in a heartbeat--ideally with a few different food choices!

City Views

I Have my Limits...

No, I won't eat everything. I draw the line at tentacles, testicles, mystery parts, and anything still alive and prefer my protein sources "sanitized" (no skin, claws, bones...). I had a particularly squeamish experience at our last banquet. We were again sitting at a round table with a large lazy Susan in the middle. The man on my left was kindly serving those around him as the food rotated by. When a full fish on a platter came into range, the woman to my right declared that she wanted the eyeball. "Really?!" "Yes, just stand up and pry it out with your chopsticks," she directed. As he was reaching across me to deliver her "treat," the orb slipped from his grip and landed in my lap. I was thoroughly grossed out, but it didn't phase the woman at all. She scooped the eyeball off my leg and popped it in to her mouth before asking for the other one! See the photos for other examples of where I won't go. One of my former students was serving as my interpreter, and she wanted to treat me to a local specialty. After telling me that her mother advised her not to give me diarrhea--"too late!"--she ordered soup with cuttlefish balls, meatballs made of ground whatever stuffed in sausage casings, and a big piece of snake skin. You can see how much she enjoyed it. Not. I stuck with the dumplings.

A Prince of a Guy

One of the international scholars from the British Commonwealth brought her husband to the conference. He enthusiastically introduced himself as a farmer and explained that he was her consort: "I walk a few paces behind her and carry the book bag. Just like Prince Philip." This comment earned him the name Prince David. He was thoroughly amused when his wife was swarmed with student photo requests after her speech. He quipped, "Good grief! Somehow they've mistaken her for Lady Gaga!"

This Language I Can Understand!

Coming Up in the World

My hotel room on the 47th floor provided some breathtaking views (but note the poor air quality, which was breathtaking in its own way). The room also had a couple surprising features. When I asked about the gas masks, a local told me that they provide them to show they care. [insert comments here]

Warm Welcome, Last Stop

The students from the art academy were out in force to welcome us at the airport and get us safely to our hotel. Can't imagine how many trips they made, but they smiled throughout it all.

Rick Steves Was Right...

Many people know Rick Steves as the travel guru who writes Europe through the Back Door. However, many years ago he also wrote Asia through the Back Door. In it, he said something along the lines of, "Face it: You will get sick in Asia. Stand in front of the mirror and say it until you get used to the idea." Last year I was fortunate to be in my hotel room with a western-style toilet when it struck. This time I was not so lucky. It hit at the start of my college residency. I raced down the stairs to the facilities to find squatters with no lights and no paper. (Fortunately, I was "packing.") My heart sank, but there was no option at that point other than to assume the position. As quickly as possible.

A Tale of Two Cities, Two Hot Pots

Country #1, Hot Pot #1 - Individual, pumpkin and cheese (!) with pork. Country #2, Hot Pot #2 - Shared, broth with pretty much everything thrown in it! Both delicious. The second one perhaps a bit more appreciated because it was so cold outside.

Overdrive

Headed way north for a quickie residency at a fine arts college. Did four presentations in 24 hours. In the remaining time, my hosts entertained me and stuffed me with food, all while worrying about the state of my feet (because I was wearing shoes and socks, rather than boots). In an ironic cultural moment, I went out for noodles and came back to the lounge to find the rest of the faculty devouring a bucket of KFC.

Everywhere and on Everything...

City Views, Taipei

And not a food shot in sight!...

Finally Home

I must have set some kind of record by blowing through five locks on my suitcase this trip! Unpacking now.

Back in Blogging Land

Just arrived at LAX. Two more flights, including a red-eye, before I'm home. Then I need to be ready to teach on Wednesday. Will post more in due course, but it was an incredible experience.

Going to Explode!

After a full and wonderful day--art museum visit, Buddhist museum tour lead by the monk-curator, sunset at a resort on Sun Moon Lake--I begged my overly kind and generous hosts for a light dinner. When they suggested that the four of us share a few plates, I thought I had won out over the 14-course (!) extravaganza they had planned. They dutifully ordered, and we were served a bread course and two small salads. Yay! Oh, wait. The restaurant manager approached the table. He was a lifelong friend of one of my hosts. The "light" dinner then became bread course, two salads, the world's best mushroom soup, a second bread course (to keep up with the soup), rose-lychee sorbet (out of this world!), linguini with pesto-clam sauce, roasted duck, the most incredible steak I've eaten (since last night!). As most of us were hoping for relief from the onslaught, David arrived at the table again to announce that he was making pizza for us (cheese with salad on top). And then there was creme brulee and coffee and tea. If it's possible to gain half your body weight in half a week, I've done it! It's another steamy night here, and tomorrow may be worse, as I'll be in university housing. My future does not look bright as all my hosts seem to be competing to overfeed me.