I dont know much, but one thing I do know is high quality health care products, and what is not available in Tainan. My mom was a health nut extremist who always shopped in health food stores, I used to work in one when I was an undergrad (then came Whole Foods who put us out of business), my dear friend worked at Vitamin Cottage and this knowledge has just accumulated over the years.
Now Foods brand products are available here but not all. There is acidopholis but no Gabba. I dont know maybe they have it at the Taiwan distributor, but I dont see it on the shelves and their website is all in Mandarin. Now Foods definately has some nice clays (just add water) for the face which would be a toxic free alternative to the masks available here. There is omega fish oils, but not the best brand for it. There is Burt's Bee's (thank God). Once Cosmed carried Dr. Bonners for like 6 months and then poof no more.
If I could supply the local health food stores in Tainan, or have my own, this is a list of essentials based on what I have on my own shelves in my home which I managed to stuff in my suitcase. :
1. Gluten-free products. A gluten-free lifsetyle is not really possible here, which is a shame. Well it is in theory, you can eat brown rice or millet everyday and soba noodles (read the labels the buckwheat is often mixed with wheat flour), but doesnt sound fun to me. I miss having brown rice flour, buckwheat flour, rye flour, amaranth flakes, quinoa italien noodles, sorgum flour and just the dirth of grain variety that is available at home. The grocery store in Mitzikoshi does sell some Bob's Redmill hot cereal products, but thats about it. I would definately import a variety of gluten free flours and bake to my hearts content. The grocery store at Mitzokoshi used to sell German black rye bread, but not lately.
2. Dr. Bonners. I cant imagine a world without this, whether camping or traveling, such a versatile, good for the earth product.
3. The crystal body deodorant. Toxic free and effective. The rock lasts years, and they have a spray one too.
4. Aruvedic medicine and Himalayan Herbals. I discovered this on my travels in India and when I returned to the States to give birth, I noticed the health food stores were starting to carry miniscule amounts of their selection. Add to this, Chyawanprash and Dabur products, Auromere products and the magical plant Neem, neem oil, neem toothpaste, shampoo, it can also be taken internally.
5. Teas. Seems redundant, Taiwan being an Oolong drinking culture. But women here (as anywhere) are suckers for weight loss products and thats why I bought a 2 pound bag of pure South American Yerba Mate. Sure it tastes like crap, its extremely bitter, but I noticed Carrefore starting to carry Yerba Mate blends (cut the bitterness with some sweetness.) Again seems redundant as Oolong also helps metabolize fat and alkalize the blood, but Im a sucker for purity. Pure BrazilianYerba Mate from Nativa Herbs. Zhena's Gypsy Teas need to be here because they come in cool, colorful tins and other than being organic and a fair trade product have some tasty blends. Black teas. There is not alot to choose from in Taiwan, Yellow Label, yuck, lots of tea from Sri Lanka (which is not bad I just am an Assam girl). From my recent Borneo holiday I discovered Sabah Tea, and my all time preference is Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold.
6. Minerals like Colloidal Silver, Dead Sea Mineral products, and the wonderful Ionic Tonic.
7. It would be great to offer the people of Tainan, Colonics and Mayan Uterine Massage. My Taiwanese friend told me it was near impossible to find enemas here, so maybe start out with providing home enema products before the full on Colonics.
8. Yoga classes, real, unadulturated yoga classes, with real ujaii breathing, w/o balls, tai chi, pilates, starting out with sun salutations, followed by 2 legged, then 1 legged poses, floor poses and a coherent closing sequence. (This subjectdeserves its own post).
I could sit here and write about this all day, but got to get back to making breakfast, maybe a bike ride w/Z.
About Me
- Kathy (杜 言 艷)
- Yilan, Taiwan
- I just returned back to the States after 11 years in Taiwan with my daughter. Taiwan is an excellent base for us explore Asia, while living in relative (gun free) safety, while benefiting from a cheap and efficient national health care system. The people are amazing too. I have Taiwanese friendships that are 20 years old and I'm always making new ones! My coworker here in CO is from Taiwan.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The land below the wind
To travel is like having an enhanced, supra-condensed form of everyday life. There are moments of being alone and moments of sweet companionship, everything is magnified. Every conversation, every moment of doing nothing, lying in a hammock, or on some ferry or shared taxi, life seems to be pointing something at me, a destination, a new dream, direction. One veil is lifted from my eyes, one moment at a time. I am given vision, my past, with all its hurts and disappointments, the stark reality of where I am Now, standing on the cusp of what will be and its all working in the background for me, for my good. During one of my first nights in Kota Kinabalu, I had one of those dreams. Sometimes I dream of people I have psychic connections with. Usually its my mom or a brother, an old friend or lover, and I truly believe we contact each other, like an intergalactic, space-time telepathic Skype, they receive me and have the same dream time in their time. This time, I contacted Z’s father and I told him, “listen I guess I’ve been alone these 5 years because secretly I’ve been waiting for you to come around. She has been asking about you and you ought to contact her, you know where to find me. As for me, I’m not waiting around for you anymore.” A lot of psychic baggage was lifted off my shoulders.
Sometimes these cosmic messages get lost in the everyday grind of routine. Its hard to be in a place of undeniable vulnerability when every moment of every day is accounted for, even moments of rest are penciled in. My blood needs to be stirred, I need to be launched out of my comfort zone, maybe I need a little bit of danger, definitely high adventure and I am then so aware of how I am loved, loved by God, the Universe, THE higher power, Christ consciousness, whatever you call It. At these moments when He has my absolute attention (I say ‘He’ because I am in this divine relationship, the Beloved) and I say, “God you have my attention, I am listening”, and then I am wooed, the Universe literally sings me a love song. Not just any love song, but a particular song that once had a special significance to me that I forgot about throughout the years (in this case a song from my Barcelona days that I never told a soul about). And then it becomes more meaningful and personal. Like when we were abandoned by our dodgy driver in Kota Belud, we are saved by angels or stuck in Sipilok from the absence of local transport, we were blessed with personal encounters with endangered animals (in this case an orangutan). What are the “chances” of seeing the rare Rafflesia flower in bloom? So casually my beautifully made, indigenous driver pulls over and the flowers were not even intentioned destination, just by chance, on the way to something also equally wonderful.
There is no good or bad luck, when I am ready to take the chance to buy that ticket, to take the journey, I am truly transported, divinely escorted. In the case of my Borneo experience, my cup truly ran over and I didn’t need to do anything but be there in the position of receiving. It all increased my faith that Z and I are loved and looked after, no need to worry about absolutely anything.
How am I integrating this into my daily life now that I have returned to work, to cleaning my house and rushing to get to work on time? I am not stressing on my floors, no more everyday, 2 times a day, the laundry can wait, and so what if I am late! And if I don’t make it into the gym at lunch, I will survive. In fact I’ve returned with this determination, actually this victory of mind over portion control, in fact I am already always satisfied, satiated. I don’t mind being single nor am I worried about Z being “fatherless”. Her father is Divine and He has given her this ability to re-translate, to be the Alchemist who transforms lead into pure gold. Before the trip I was already content, but I returned with a deeper understanding of content-ness, a fresh experience of Grace that is priceless. So now you see why my trip was such a gift.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Five flavors of life and last year as a dish
One of my language exchange friends had another interesting discussiong about food. We were discussing the five flavors (she is always giving me recipes for Taiwanese foods.) She said that life is like the five flavors and that got me thinking about the past year. The flavors are: sweet ( 甜 tian
), sour (酸 suan
) , spicey ( 辣 la
), salty ( 鹹 xian), bitter (苦 ku
).
I can say what 2010 was not. It was not a very spicey, nor was it bitter. It wasnt sour, but there were moments of sweetness, my daughter, going home for Chinese New Year, weekend island trips, friends. Otherwise, the year was very bland, just working hard, working out hard (is that salty or pungent ?) If I could describe the past year as a dish it might be something peasanty, nutritious, simple,w/o pretentions. Often when I am in a hurry and want something warm and nourishing I will make a white bean stew with carrots and celery, heavy on the garlic, and throw in a couple of pork ribs. If my year could be a Taiwanese dish, it would be rice congee or just a simple noodle soup, fortified with rice wine and black sesame oil.
What am I hoping for 2011? More nourishing sweetness.
), sour (酸 suan) , spicey ( 辣 la), salty ( 鹹 xian), bitter (苦 ku). I can say what 2010 was not. It was not a very spicey, nor was it bitter. It wasnt sour, but there were moments of sweetness, my daughter, going home for Chinese New Year, weekend island trips, friends. Otherwise, the year was very bland, just working hard, working out hard (is that salty or pungent ?) If I could describe the past year as a dish it might be something peasanty, nutritious, simple,w/o pretentions. Often when I am in a hurry and want something warm and nourishing I will make a white bean stew with carrots and celery, heavy on the garlic, and throw in a couple of pork ribs. If my year could be a Taiwanese dish, it would be rice congee or just a simple noodle soup, fortified with rice wine and black sesame oil.
What am I hoping for 2011? More nourishing sweetness.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Which do you prefer?
Since living in Tainan these 2 1/2 years and another 1 1/2 years in Taipei way back when, I have developed some preferences, some of which changed. I will share:
1. Night Market or Morning Market
I prefer the morning market. Of course I love night markets and having lived in Taipei have been to a variety of local ones (outside my apartment in Tamsui near the beach) and the big touristy, packed like sardines ones(Shilin). Night market food is always fun to try but except for Stinky Tofu I am not always satisfied. I love the morning markets, you see people buying what they need for everyday life, food for the night's meal, not just night market food, but handmade noodles, dumplings, black sesame candies, Chinese medicines, free range eggs. I find the clothes are cheaper, the fruit and vegetables are higher quality than the supermarket and of course in Anping the fish is super fresh. I guess I like being a "regular" at the local market and getting preferential treatment.
2. Carrefore or RT Mart
Carrefore has better baked goods, flour tortillas and imported food (pesto, corn chips, brie, whole wheat noodles). RT-Mart can have some real great deals. They had organic green lentils and quinoa, which no one but me was buying and then one day they had it all marked off 50%. RT-Mart also marks down fruits and veggies so often, sometimes I am lucky enough to buy produce by 75%, great for fruit shakes and veggies for my juicer. Carrefore’s marked down fruits are often inedible. I go to both equally, RT Mart is closer to me.
3. Public Transport or Scooter
In Tainan I need my scooter. I have tried public transport here and it was a nightmare, even something seemingly simple like the free bus 88 which goes to all the touristy historical places are at the mercy of the driver’s whims. (In Taipei I always used public transport, which was efficient and cheap. Except for going out on weekends when I needed to share a cab after the midnight MRT train closed.)
4.Rice or Noodless
Noodles are more fun to eat. I have purple rice and brown rice, but noodles are still way more fun.
5. White sesame or black sesame
Black sesame. More fragrant, richer flavor, healthier.
6. Family Mart or 7-11
7-11. I have 2 right around the corner, and I can pay my bills, taxes, transfer money, buy concert tickets, update my phone card, send a Federal Express and buy a cappuccino. Usually I run into an old acquaintance there and once a week I have my language exchange next to middle schoolers having their dinner of Japanese curry in between night English and piano.
7. Foreign Men or Taiwanese Men
I’m afraid this hasn’t been much of an issue since I have been here. Foreign men have a bad rap here in Tainan, sleazy, exploitive, womanizers (of course I know foreign men contrary to that). The majority of local men my age have their own families. Hopefully 2011 will shed more light on this subject.
1. Night Market or Morning Market
I prefer the morning market. Of course I love night markets and having lived in Taipei have been to a variety of local ones (outside my apartment in Tamsui near the beach) and the big touristy, packed like sardines ones(Shilin). Night market food is always fun to try but except for Stinky Tofu I am not always satisfied. I love the morning markets, you see people buying what they need for everyday life, food for the night's meal, not just night market food, but handmade noodles, dumplings, black sesame candies, Chinese medicines, free range eggs. I find the clothes are cheaper, the fruit and vegetables are higher quality than the supermarket and of course in Anping the fish is super fresh. I guess I like being a "regular" at the local market and getting preferential treatment.
2. Carrefore or RT Mart
Carrefore has better baked goods, flour tortillas and imported food (pesto, corn chips, brie, whole wheat noodles). RT-Mart can have some real great deals. They had organic green lentils and quinoa, which no one but me was buying and then one day they had it all marked off 50%. RT-Mart also marks down fruits and veggies so often, sometimes I am lucky enough to buy produce by 75%, great for fruit shakes and veggies for my juicer. Carrefore’s marked down fruits are often inedible. I go to both equally, RT Mart is closer to me.
3. Public Transport or Scooter
In Tainan I need my scooter. I have tried public transport here and it was a nightmare, even something seemingly simple like the free bus 88 which goes to all the touristy historical places are at the mercy of the driver’s whims. (In Taipei I always used public transport, which was efficient and cheap. Except for going out on weekends when I needed to share a cab after the midnight MRT train closed.)
4.Rice or Noodless
Noodles are more fun to eat. I have purple rice and brown rice, but noodles are still way more fun.
5. White sesame or black sesame
Black sesame. More fragrant, richer flavor, healthier.
6. Family Mart or 7-11
7-11. I have 2 right around the corner, and I can pay my bills, taxes, transfer money, buy concert tickets, update my phone card, send a Federal Express and buy a cappuccino. Usually I run into an old acquaintance there and once a week I have my language exchange next to middle schoolers having their dinner of Japanese curry in between night English and piano.
7. Foreign Men or Taiwanese Men
I’m afraid this hasn’t been much of an issue since I have been here. Foreign men have a bad rap here in Tainan, sleazy, exploitive, womanizers (of course I know foreign men contrary to that). The majority of local men my age have their own families. Hopefully 2011 will shed more light on this subject.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thoughts on Thanksgiving
Its that time of year again to be reminded to cultivate thankfulness. The other day my daughter asked me what "mashed potatoes were" after I explained what Americans usually do and eat on Thanksgiving. When I explained how to make them she said, "yuck, gross!" and I laughed. Of course Taiwan has potatoes and I occasionally buy them to make baked potatoes or hash browns, but she prefers sweet potatoes. In her English class she made turkey hand print arts and crafts and learned about 'pilgrims and Indians.' The other night on the scooter she asked me "why did the English people leave England and come to America?"
Really I love Thanksgiving, the food, the fellowship, the 4 day weekend. But my conscious does bother me that I am somehow perpetuating the myth of a first Thanksgiving feast where the Indigenous and White colonists were passing and puffing the pipe of peace. There is this image of one big pot-luck of everyone bringing something to the table, but really if the Native Americans were teaching the colonists how to survive, I doubt the colonists contributed anything to the meal. It really is one big feel good holiday to subdue, contain and mask White guilt for the theft and geneocide of North America (in my humble opinion.) While I am channeling Lisa Simpson, please do not get too annoyed at my bursting the bubble on such a wonderful, family holiday.
I am all for teaching my child and students that cultivating thankfulness is akin to cultivating the presence of God. That gratitude is a lifestyle and not just the name of a holiday. That being thankful for what I have keeps me out of any depressive self pity, coveting for more than I need, and that I actually get a lot help from friends.
Yet is is good to have a holiday and time of year to remind me that gratitude is worth celebrating. If only White America would come to terms with history, take responsibility I think the ripple effects of healing would be worldwide.
Thanks for my Taiwan adventure, thanks for employment, for my daughter and our health, for health care and living in a country where I do not have to worry about affordable access to medicine, dentists, care. For mild 70 degree Fahrenheit winters, tropical fruit and sea food. Thanks for my daughter's fluent Mandarin and my chance to learn it. For friends that help me when I need them most, for friends far away where we easily pick up where we left off. Thanks for Skype and seeing my parents every weekend. Thanks for a long lunch and a gym just around the corner. I am thankful to live in Tainan near the beach. Thanks for a simple life, for not owning too much. Thanks for Grace that covers me so that I never lack.
Really I love Thanksgiving, the food, the fellowship, the 4 day weekend. But my conscious does bother me that I am somehow perpetuating the myth of a first Thanksgiving feast where the Indigenous and White colonists were passing and puffing the pipe of peace. There is this image of one big pot-luck of everyone bringing something to the table, but really if the Native Americans were teaching the colonists how to survive, I doubt the colonists contributed anything to the meal. It really is one big feel good holiday to subdue, contain and mask White guilt for the theft and geneocide of North America (in my humble opinion.) While I am channeling Lisa Simpson, please do not get too annoyed at my bursting the bubble on such a wonderful, family holiday.
I am all for teaching my child and students that cultivating thankfulness is akin to cultivating the presence of God. That gratitude is a lifestyle and not just the name of a holiday. That being thankful for what I have keeps me out of any depressive self pity, coveting for more than I need, and that I actually get a lot help from friends.
Yet is is good to have a holiday and time of year to remind me that gratitude is worth celebrating. If only White America would come to terms with history, take responsibility I think the ripple effects of healing would be worldwide.
Thanks for my Taiwan adventure, thanks for employment, for my daughter and our health, for health care and living in a country where I do not have to worry about affordable access to medicine, dentists, care. For mild 70 degree Fahrenheit winters, tropical fruit and sea food. Thanks for my daughter's fluent Mandarin and my chance to learn it. For friends that help me when I need them most, for friends far away where we easily pick up where we left off. Thanks for Skype and seeing my parents every weekend. Thanks for a long lunch and a gym just around the corner. I am thankful to live in Tainan near the beach. Thanks for a simple life, for not owning too much. Thanks for Grace that covers me so that I never lack.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Weekend Fellowship: Sunday at Guanzihling Hot Springs
The day after I met up with Eric in Yuanlin I went to enjoy some hot springs in Tainan County with Grace and family. I have been to hot springs in Taiwan in Beitou and Yangmingshan in Taipei City which are Sulfuric, Jhiben in Taitung County, and Dungpu and Lushan in Nantou County. There are so many hot springs on my list!
It was about a 2 hour drive there from our place in Anping (maybe less, but with Z and Grace's 2 sons playing and yelling in the back next to me it felt longer.) Before we took a dip we walked around an old temple built during the Japanese Colonial period, walked down numerous stairs into a valley on the side of a small hill that had a large Matsu statue surrounded by lotus and we walked the grounds before checking out the temple and outdoor eatery stalls near the water/fire display. The bee man selling honey (real honey as so much if it sold here is fake, or a mix) gave us bottles of free honey water for us and the kids (Grace is a beauty).
 |
| At the temple entrance a poem that can be read up/down, or right to left |
We went to Grace's favorite bath house to soak, its not the best looking place, there are some new, snazzy hotels with hot springs water pumped into your bathroom tub that are lining the main road. She took me to the original Japanese established bathhouse, which looks its age. The water was fabulous, the smell was not the strong sulfuric, hard boiled egg smell I imagined. It smelled strangely of Chinese medicine. The water was a muddy gray and Z and I had our own huge bath room to ourselves. After about an hour we were getting restless, I could of easily dozed off. I went in intervals from a soak where I was sweating to a cooling off/rest and found a game Z could play with the differnt shapes/sizes of water buckets. The only nuisance was my door didnt lock properly and when it did lock the owner had to unlock it for us to get out.
 |
| Japanese era bath house |
 |
| Grace with the kids walking around town beside the mineral waters |
Grace and her husband treated us to lunch which consisted of a nutritious Chicken garlic soup (free range), mountain veggies, fresh craw fish and fried noodles. Before we drove back to Tainan we stopped at Baihe Reservoir to take a walk, there were lovely views of the water being framed by misty mountains.
 |
| Baihe Reservoir |
More than one website said, " With the exception of the Sicilian hot springs and the Japanese Kagoshima hot springs , the Taiwanese Guanzihling hot springs are the only other hot springs of this kind." For a detailed listing of hot springs click here: Hot Springs Listing . For more details click: Hot Springs in Taiwan .
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| Fire and Water |
http://www.go2taiwan.net/product.php?pid_for_show=24
http://www.saunas.com/FAQ%27s/Saunas%20of%20the%20World/taiwanhotspring.aspx
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Another day in paradise and misunderstandings
You know when life throws a shit pie in your face and you could let it go, some people's natural personality is to let it go and other people's personality is to throw one back and still others is to try and make some sense of it and go back point by point and try and find the truth because it all matters too much. Well that was my Friday at SF (my workplace and Z's school). Another issue happened with A my manager at SF, and this time it has to do with Zen my daughter. Now I know why Taiwan does not have girls softball teams or girls soccer over here.
I got called into A's office because Z kicked s kid's shoe (the foot was not inside). A said Zen has a "kicking problem" and "kicking habit" (which is not true) and is a potential danger to other children. Of course I question her motive I told her I felt this was her critical spirit of fault finding and I felt we were under her magnifying glass again. Z's teachers and I have a rapport and they never mentioned anything about a kicking problem. She made some outrageous statement to me that had to be heard to be believed, my owner was there as an "objective" witness, (she was anything but objective) . My natural inclination is to defend my daughter and question A's line of reasoning and motive.
I kid you not, the principal, (my manager) wanted to know what changes in our routine interaction my daughter and I have had lately (as if that is her business). I told her I drop her off at a playmates for my Thurs night yoga class, she has been coming to my Friday night kickboxing class, and that we rough house all the time. She replied that it was maybe inappropriate to bring her to my kickbox class, and that I should not play rough house w/her. I replied that wrestling and rough-housing was a way we bonded and that my Dad and bros did it all the time and we never had any social problems at school. She replied, "well Taiwanese parents dont play that way with their kids" " I am not Taiwanese" . Then she said vehemently, "well you are in Taiwan now so you have to start doing it our way." And then as a bonus she added, "plus Z is a girl and shouldnt be playing that way anyway." I was so livid I could of soiled my pants right then and there. This is coming from a woman who prides herself on her MA in Child Development from an American university- I mean it was blatant sexism and cultural bias (ethno-centrism) in the same breath. Obviously this was not a conversation, but I chose to be difficult and not just shake may head and agree and brush it off.
Z has had a some cultural adjustments to contend with. I think the first year and a half was hard for her, but I think she has made real progress for a toddler/preschooler. First there was the language barrier and then there was the space issue. Everywhere we go strangers come up to us, (to her) and pinch her cheek, touch her hair tell her how cute she is , give her candy, take her picture on their cell phone w/o asking me or her. She hates the extra attention, she doesnt like to be touched by strangers and she has a blood sugar sensitivity. I think some of her behavior has been a reaction to these adjustments. Now she can speak Mandarin, now she is the one who is exploring other people's space at school (she is a very physical, hyper kid, who grabs her friends and gives them big hugs when she seems them, which is NOT what Taiwanese people do.) So she has been learning how to appropriately respect people's space, not hug them or tickle them, etc. For a 4 1/2 year old I think she is absolutely fabulous.
I got called into A's office because Z kicked s kid's shoe (the foot was not inside). A said Zen has a "kicking problem" and "kicking habit" (which is not true) and is a potential danger to other children. Of course I question her motive I told her I felt this was her critical spirit of fault finding and I felt we were under her magnifying glass again. Z's teachers and I have a rapport and they never mentioned anything about a kicking problem. She made some outrageous statement to me that had to be heard to be believed, my owner was there as an "objective" witness, (she was anything but objective) . My natural inclination is to defend my daughter and question A's line of reasoning and motive.
I kid you not, the principal, (my manager) wanted to know what changes in our routine interaction my daughter and I have had lately (as if that is her business). I told her I drop her off at a playmates for my Thurs night yoga class, she has been coming to my Friday night kickboxing class, and that we rough house all the time. She replied that it was maybe inappropriate to bring her to my kickbox class, and that I should not play rough house w/her. I replied that wrestling and rough-housing was a way we bonded and that my Dad and bros did it all the time and we never had any social problems at school. She replied, "well Taiwanese parents dont play that way with their kids" " I am not Taiwanese" . Then she said vehemently, "well you are in Taiwan now so you have to start doing it our way." And then as a bonus she added, "plus Z is a girl and shouldnt be playing that way anyway." I was so livid I could of soiled my pants right then and there. This is coming from a woman who prides herself on her MA in Child Development from an American university- I mean it was blatant sexism and cultural bias (ethno-centrism) in the same breath. Obviously this was not a conversation, but I chose to be difficult and not just shake may head and agree and brush it off.
Z has had a some cultural adjustments to contend with. I think the first year and a half was hard for her, but I think she has made real progress for a toddler/preschooler. First there was the language barrier and then there was the space issue. Everywhere we go strangers come up to us, (to her) and pinch her cheek, touch her hair tell her how cute she is , give her candy, take her picture on their cell phone w/o asking me or her. She hates the extra attention, she doesnt like to be touched by strangers and she has a blood sugar sensitivity. I think some of her behavior has been a reaction to these adjustments. Now she can speak Mandarin, now she is the one who is exploring other people's space at school (she is a very physical, hyper kid, who grabs her friends and gives them big hugs when she seems them, which is NOT what Taiwanese people do.) So she has been learning how to appropriately respect people's space, not hug them or tickle them, etc. For a 4 1/2 year old I think she is absolutely fabulous.
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