12/9/02             Jonathan’s Taiwanese Chorus Concert at CKS Theater

 

 

 

L to R:  Me, Brian, Arlene (Sr. Scholar), Haskell, Jonathan, Penny (FSE staff)

 

            Jonathan participates in a Taiwanese chorus for handicapped/challenged folks.  He appears to be the only person in it who is 1) white and 2) not handicapped.  However he really enjoys it and I can see how it must be a great experience.  Tonight was their concert so a bunch of us had bought tix off him and came to the small theater at CKS Concert Hall.  I’d told him I would sit next to Penny, his friend who works for FSE.  The other Fulbrighters were in a row near the back.  Penny had a huge bouquet of flowers.  I’d seen lots of flowers throughout the audience and being held at the desk outside.  I commented on their beauty and aroma, the concert started and promptly I began sneezing like crazy.  I was allergic to the flowers.  I glanced back at the others in panic, wondering if I should try switching seats with someone and how to do it without offending Penny; but luckily I had my Allegra on me and popped one quick.

 

            The concert was pretty impressive.  They sang in English, Latin, Chinese, Taiwanese; folk, religious, modern.  I tried to understand the Taiwanese but what I thought was, “Walking along, scared of children” was actually “Fighting with pots and pans, they break in pieces.”  The ended with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” which got in all of our heads and which Jonathan can’t stand.

 

            Afterwards we headed for the ShauLongBau place for eats.  Let me say there is no greater letdown than trekking that cold, long walk while imagining the hot juicy soup dumplings bursting in your mouth, then going and finding out…it’s CLOSED!  Aaargh...Jon, Brian and I stuck it out and headed to Fuhsing S. Rd. for the 24-Hour Cocomay ShauChi where I was really excited to see XiFan; the guys didn’t share my glee and stuck with white rice.  The water really stretches it out, I got a whole pot of XiFan for the same as their tiny bowl of rice.  Isn’t it weird how a food that was invented in a country by poor people to save money in poor times, becomes something people really like and order in a restaurant?  It was a good thing to have since that night was pretty darn cold.