tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83028086749761152902010-01-14T22:05:14.797+08:00Miss GioiaRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-28801615808521617442009-12-31T13:12:00.003+08:002009-12-31T13:19:41.139+08:00Goa Wedding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_6259-795964.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_6259-795960.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Our very good friends got married yesterday in Colva Church. It was a fun ceremony, full of fabulous friends. Gioia was a fantastic flower girl. She only had to be carried back to Mommy sobbing once. To be fair, she cried at a part that we had not practiced, where she got swept up into the bridal party and seated at the front of the church away from me and Chris. But for the part that she knew well, the walking up and down the aisle part, she rocked it.<br /><br />Congratulations Jack and Sangeeth! We love you guys. Thanks for including us in your celebration.<br /><br />All of our India pictures are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chrisbeuk/India02#">here</a>. Scroll down to the end for the wedding pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_6261-796012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_6261-796009.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-2880161580852161744?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-16316389770880795822009-12-30T11:01:00.003+08:002009-12-30T11:21:16.222+08:00Old Goa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/india2-754268.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/india2-754265.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We took a drive yesterday to Old Goa, to see some very old churches, do a little sightseeing and eat some yummy food. One of the main <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Bom_Jesus">churches</a> in Old Goa houses the body of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavier">St Francis Xavier</a>, who founded the Jesuits. So interesting, seeing the glass coffin of this very old saint, sitting to the side of the massive sanctuary. I am not Catholic, so I don't really understand the reverence for Saints which extends to dead bodies and body parts, but it is a sight to see.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-1631638977088079582?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-9290035449328574832009-12-27T11:20:00.004+08:002009-12-27T11:46:16.262+08:00Goa Creche<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/india1-781918.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/india1-781915.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We made it to Goa yesterday. The island has a strong Portuguese heritage, and Christmas celebrations are still underway. Many houses have little nativity scenes set up by the door or in the yard. Some are small, and some are very large. This one was at our friend Jack's house. The three kings are each on a path leading to the baby Jesus. As we get closer to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_%28holiday%29">Epiphany</a>, the three kings will be moved closer on the path to the baby Jesus.<br /><br />Photos from our India triip so far are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chrisbeuk/India02#">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-929003544932857483?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-56225337652666802682009-12-25T20:28:00.000+08:002009-12-25T20:28:01.098+08:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5863-769042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5863-769040.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><center>So it turns out that Santa Claus is Chinese. <br /><br />Who knew?</center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5871-751819.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5871-751818.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><center>Hope your holiday is Merry and Bright!</center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5879-751789.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5879-751786.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-5622533765266680268?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-2918556007807784592009-12-24T20:31:00.000+08:002009-12-24T20:32:13.925+08:00Christmas Eve<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/crafty-730462.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/crafty-730451.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Since the movers have packed up all of our stuff in a container, we are staying at the Hyatt. Luckily, Gioia made a little Christmas tree at school, so our room is fun and festive. This year, our Christmas Eve celebrations consisted of eating a hearty afternoon tea, opening presents small enough to carry with us on the flight, doing some Christmas dancing in the room (simply having a wonderful Christmas time...) and taking a picture on Santa's lap in the lobby. Ha!<br /><br />On Christmas Day, we will be flying to India for the wedding - first to Mumbai and then on to Goa on Saturday. Do you think Cathay Pacific will serve Christmas cookies and gluhwein?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-291855600780778459?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-32856171690990933872009-12-24T15:48:00.005+08:002009-12-24T16:12:24.679+08:00In the Nick of Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5826-786982.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5826-786980.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Two flower girl dresses - finished nine hours before the movers showed up. Phew.<br /><br />The green fabric is a raw silk that the bride is also using in the bridesmaids outfits. I smocked both bodices a little differently so that they coordinate but are not identical. The bodices are beaded with tiny glass beads and rice pearls. The bodice of the dresses used the Ottobre "China Grass" pattern from issue 03/08. <br /><br />The bottom skirt is an ivory silk dupioni from my stash. I had another silk that the bride gave me to use, but it turned out not to be enough. With that fabric, the skirt on Gioia's dress was way too short (determined by general consensus), so I ripped it out and used the ivory dupioni instead. If I were really good, I would have made little tulle underskirts, but I could not find the netting fabric in Taiwan.<br /><br />I made matching ivory silk bloomers for modesty. The bloomers pattern was from Oliver + S' <a href="http://oliverands.com/patterns/dresses/patterns2.phtml">tea party sundress</a>. At first I was irritated that the pattern called for bias leg casings, but it actually was a very easy way to construct the elastic leg openings. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5827-786945.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5827-786942.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-3285617169099093387?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-4623721235848669712009-12-20T12:47:00.005+08:002009-12-20T12:56:35.564+08:00Last Taiwan Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5810-782845.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5810-782841.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We had a little White Elephant party last night (Dirty Santa, Yankee Swap, whatever you call it...). Before everyone came, we tried to get Gioia to pose for a picture in front of the tree. The problem was that she wouldn't hold still for the shot. She was too busy dancing to the Christmas music. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5796-760598.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5796-760594.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />In true Taiwan fashion, we had to stop halfway through the party to wait for the <a href="http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977954658&grpId=3659174697244816">earthquake</a> to finish shaking the house. It was a long one. Someone said they saw the chandelier swing so violently that it hit the ceiling. Now that's a rockin' party.<br /><br />It would totally suck if we got buried in rubble less than a week before we left this little island. Yikes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5813-760559.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5813-760557.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-462372123584866971?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-74392883806185053292009-12-15T22:48:00.005+08:002009-12-15T23:07:06.304+08:00Insanity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/crafty-710128.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/crafty-710122.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The movers come to pack up our house in exactly one week. So what am I doing in the meantime, as I wrap up my last week of work and get ready to move my family halfway across the world? Why, making two flower girl dresses, of course.<br /><br />Yeah.<br /><br />I volunteered to make the dresses way before we decided to move home. If I had been smarter, I would have finished them long ago. But life got in the way. So many tasks, like finding a new house in our new city. Things like that.<br /><br />I made a test dress of the pattern this weekend. Thanks goodness it turned out OK, because I had no plan B. I like the square bodice and the really full skirt. The bodice pattern is from the China Grass dress from Ottobre issue #03/08. I made the test dress in a heavy twill from <a href="http://www.chezami.com/exp.ja6?file=cart&pathcode=fabricshop&sessionid=2TG0LO52H6096&subgroup=FA-BW0714&return=WOVENS">Chez Ami's fabric</a> section. It has a really nice drape, making this a good winter dress for Baby G to wear in our new town.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-7439288380618505329?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-42248844311460472582009-12-10T09:51:00.000+08:002009-12-10T09:51:00.710+08:00Apparently We Need to Put Her to Work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/P1070496-717523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/P1070496-717519.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We had our second parent-teacher conference at the Montessori school last week. We learned that our daughter is great at cutting bananas, slicing eggs, making powdered milk and cooking the bread. It seems we need to make Tuesday night dinners her responsibility from now on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/P1060760-740252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/P1060760-740250.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Since we are moving, we have to think about where Gioia will go to school next. Public school, private school. So many choices. Such a big responsibility. I found a Chinese language immersion Montessori program in the city where we are headed. We think that may be the one, but we want to sign her up for the local public pre-school as a backup. Just in case. <br /><br />The weird thing is that no school will take her in the States until she turns three. I am not sure if it is a licensing thing or what, but this means she cannot be in school from January to June. Poor Gioia. I think she is going to be super bored.<br /><br />More Montessori pictures are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chrisbeuk/GioiaSTaiwanMontessori?locked=true#">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/P1060849-717555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/P1060849-717553.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-4224884431146047258?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-23854853810715516802009-12-08T09:28:00.000+08:002009-12-08T09:28:00.272+08:00Zaia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5759-795982.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5759-795979.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />On Saturday night in Macao, we decided to see how Gioia fared at a Cirque du Soleil performance. It was only a 90 minute show, so we were hoping she would not get too tired and chatty. We guessed right.<br /><br />As the lights went down and the music came up, she started dancing in her seat. It was almost more fun to watch her reaction than to watch the show itself. For 50 minutes, she sat at the edge of her seat, eyes fixed to the performers. For the last 40 minutes, she sat back and ate some chicken nuggets, still watching the show. <br /><br />On the flight back from Taiwan, she kept talking about the "crazy man with the egg" (one of the two main clowns) and the polar bear (also a random part of the show).<br /><br />So the experiment was a big success. Zaia itself was standard Cirque fare - trapeze artists, jugglers, tumblers and super strong contortionist peeps - but Gioia's reaction made this show really spectacular.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-2385485381071551680?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-86631300665403510442009-12-07T19:50:00.003+08:002009-12-07T19:52:19.558+08:00Taiwan News Re-enactment of the Elin-Tiger SmackdownThis is the funniest Taiwanese news story EVER.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7i5FlC1MpkE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7i5FlC1MpkE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-8663130066540351044?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-46236101755321353362009-12-06T21:14:00.002+08:002009-12-06T21:26:42.217+08:00Number 15<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5765-734977.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5765-734974.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Gioia hit country number 15 this weekend: Macao* (or Aomen in Chinese). Despite her sober demeanor in this photo, Gioia had a great time. She and I rode on a gondola in the Venetian, where she proceeded to sing three full songs after the gondolier sang. One of Gioia's songs was a very long and complex song about a butterfly. I am not quite sure what it was all about (as it was all in Chinese), but it certainly had a lot of stanzas. <br /><br />We had great Portuguese food, did some shopping, saw a show, swam in the heated pool, ate some more.... it was a great time. Now back to reality. T minus two weeks before the movers come. Yikes. <br /><br /><font size="1">*Is Macao a separate country from China, you ask? Well, good question. For this tally, we are following the country list published by the <a href="http://www.travelerscenturyclub.org/">Traveler's Century Club</a>. So yes, it counts.</font> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5766-734943.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5766-734941.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-4623610175532135336?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-92100567899344455892009-12-02T22:12:00.003+08:002009-12-02T22:28:30.314+08:00Announcement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5745-704112.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_5745-704109.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />There have been a lot of things going on behind the scenes here the last month or so. I have been so busy that I even forgot to take a picture of the mini sweater that I made for a swap last month. All I can show you is the adorable version I received in the mail which now graces our little apartment tree.<br /><br />Our big news is this: after over four years in Greater China, we are now moving back to the United States. We found a place to live two weeks ago and the dog shipped out Monday. Which means there is no turning back now. <br /><br />We have a busy month ahead - getting ready for the move, wrapping things up at work, saying goodbye to beloved friends. But there are fun things in store too, like a last hurrah weekend in Macao, Christmas at the Grand Hyatt and a long trip home, which includes a stop-off at our friends' wedding in Goa.<br /><br />I have decided to stop blogging after this month, though. For some reason, I feel more anonymous blogging in Taiwan and China than in the United States. I just don't have the energy to face the creepy creeps who may come out of the woodwork once we land stateside. People who figure out where you live by the photos you post or the words you write about playgrounds and restaurants. I will continue to write here in December as we transition out of Taiwan, but the beginning of January will mark the official end of this endeavor.<br /><br />It has been a long, fun ride. Four years as expats and three of blogging. Thanks for joining me.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-9210056789934445589?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-47031670969634533802009-11-29T10:59:00.002+08:002009-11-29T11:03:39.224+08:00Thanks!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/thanksgiving09-784281.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/thanksgiving09-784278.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Turkey, pie, friends. So nice.<br /><br />More Taipei expat Thanksgiving pictures are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chrisbeuk/Thanksgiving09#">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-4703167096963453380?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-56925460187459724242009-11-16T16:09:00.004+08:002009-11-16T16:50:26.295+08:00KindleMy husband bought me an international Kindle for Christmas this year. He gave it to me early, which I am so very thankful for given all of my recent traveling. Even though the Whispernet function does not work in Taiwan, I still think it is the neatest thing since sliced baozi (or something...).<br /><br />On my way to Japan last week, I read a book that had been on my Amazon wishlist for a while, namely <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/American-Dream-Power-Wealth-Opportunity/dp/0415952395/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258359459&sr=8-1">The American Dream and the Power of Wealth: Choosing Schools and Inheriting Inequality in the Land of Opportunity</a></i>. I hadn't bought it yet because the book itself was US$35 plus exorbitant shipping costs to get to Taipei. But with the Kindle, it was less than 15 bucks and took two minutes to download. Fantastic.<br /><br />If you are interested at all in social science research, this book is pretty fascinating reading. Heather Beth Johnson, the author, is a sociologist who tries to understand how people make sense of two conflicting ideas in American society. The first notion is of the American Dream, which is the idea that anyone can succeed in America if they just apply themselves and try hard enough. The second is the empirical reality that school choice is very often driven by social wealth transfers, not by income. This means that the kids who get to go to the good schools, the better schools or even the very best schools are kids who are part of families with inter-generational transfers. Families without wealth, even if they have high incomes, often cannot afford to buy-in to the systems of superior education in the United States. They cannot afford down payments on houses in neighborhoods with the best schools, or they are too drained by making reverse payments back to their parents and extended families to make a differential investment in schooling for their kids.<br /><br />Johnson's research is interesting because she directly investigates how American parents rationalize this apparent paradox. How can the American Dream really be a valid concept if people are so obviously impacted by disparate educational systems? That they are placed in a "good" or "bad" school through no merit and/or fault of their own? Apparently we do cling to this concept of success through hard work even when confronted with the obvious evidence that much of our own success or failure was based on a foundation of unearned wealth transfers. Period. Johnson's research shows that even small transfers, like a gift of $1,000 at a high school graduation can have a profund impact on life outcomes for ourselves and our familes. Some of us got much, much more, like college educations and cars and assistance with down payments on condos. Yet when asked how we became so successful, we tend to say "I worked really hard."<br /><br />The problem with this is that it damages the people who were not born into a family with wealth to transfer. We tend to think that these people are not successful through their own failings. They just didn't want it enough, or they were too lazy. Those parents who send their kids to bad schools must not care as much as we do. Johnson's research shows that parents who are sending their kids to less desireable schools actually care just as much about their children's education. They just lack the resources to buy-in to the system, even when they make a reasonable income. Sadly, they also blame themselves for the inability to get their children better access to education. Perhaps they just don't realize that those of us who can buy our kids into the good schools were ourselves beneficiaries of unearned blessings. Where is the merit in that?<br /><br />Johnson advocates for completely equal schooling in America so that everyone truly can start from the same foundation. I think the change associated with that would be so radical, so contrary to our social fabric that it would never be allowed. But maybe we can start by recognizing that the idea that we all have equal chances to succeed in school, in life, is really a big fat myth.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-5692546018745972424?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-31853812812740053972009-11-13T16:28:00.004+08:002009-11-13T16:38:11.137+08:00Narita<a href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3588-763475.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3588-763471.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />As it turns out, I have become a very bad travel blogger. After being in Tokyo all week, I managed only two crappy pictures: one of a flower in the hotel and a picture of the train to the airport. Yikes.<br /><br />In an attempt to somewhat redeem myself, here is a brief recap of this I learned this week:<br /><br />1) Heated toilet seats are super weird.<br />2) Japanese business men like pinstriped suits. A LOT.<br />3) Frank Lloyd Wright designed part of the Imperial hotel, even the glasses in the Imperial Bar.<br />4) Japanese stores decorate for Christmas really early.<br />5) Japanese business women like to wear dark clothes but often wear bright long scarves, much like Londoners. Who knew.<br />6) There are a disproprotionate number of French restaurants in Ginza (pronounced Gin-ZAH, another surprise).<br />7) I definitely like taking the Airport Bus over the train, primarily because Tokyo main station strikes fear into my heart. All those stairs and confusing signs. Goodness.<br /><br />I look forward to getting home to my family tonight. It has been a long and draining week. Perhaps I will have more energy for pictures on the next trip.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-3185381281274005397?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-65320470008307917502009-11-10T09:36:00.002+08:002009-11-10T09:38:09.708+08:00Japan<a href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3580-752600.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3580-752593.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I am in Japan for work this week. It is somewhat busy, but I will try to post pictures if I can.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-6532047000830791750?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-27648965963104033192009-10-31T16:38:00.006+08:002009-10-31T18:05:45.023+08:00Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3549-701038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3549-701036.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Halloween is not a big holiday here in Taiwan, but we managed to find an event to dress up for at the last minute. We attended a Halloween carnival in Da'an park hosted by a local English school. It was an interesting experience. They held a spelling bee for the first hour of the carnival. All the kids wrote the words on paper in the bee instead of saying them aloud, which was a bit puzzling. The crazy thing was that the kids got every single word right, for thirty or so words in a row. So then they went to a tie breaker, an exercise which used words that <b>weren't on the list that they had studied</b>. You can probably guess how fast it ended after that. The first word was "glad" and four of the five kids on stage missed it immediately. Then they did a round to determine who would get second place. It took like four or five tries. Those kids could not spell the words they hadn't studied to save their lives. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3563-777309.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3563-777307.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Gioia's costume was not very elaborate,* primarily because I wasn't expecting to find a Halloween party at all. When we realized we had an event to dress up for, I offered her two options for costumes - cat or princess - and she was way into being a cat. Princess was not cool at all. Which was great because every other little girl we saw in the park today was a fairy princess. Almost to a one.<br /><br />Go Gioia.<br /><br /><font size="1">*For the record, she also had ears, but she refused to wear them.</font><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3561-777258.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3561-777255.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-2764896596310403319?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-1523579395927490202009-10-23T08:15:00.003+08:002009-10-23T10:41:40.055+08:00Project Linus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3547-799217.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3547-799214.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I have come to realize lately that I have a serious problem. Hello. My name is Rebecca, and I am addicted to buying fabric.<br /><br />As I was cleaning out closets this week, I saw that I had yards and yards of fleece that I bought through a co-op when we lived in Beijing (yes, over two years ago) which I am probably never going to use. So I decided to make some blankets for <a href="http://www.projectlinus.org/">Project Linus</a>. Good for sick kids and good for me, as it helps to use up some of the bulky stash.<br /><br />This project was super easy. Last night, I cut out four crib sized blankets (40" x 60") from the fleece, rounding the corners using a dinner plate as a guide. I then serged around the edges of each blanket. And that was it. They look nice. I even made some scarves from the scraps.<br /><br />Now all I need to do is mail them off this weekend. Yay.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-152357939592749020?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-32813346489940871272009-10-17T13:24:00.004+08:002009-10-21T16:57:38.584+08:00Parade<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/parade-780141.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/parade-780137.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We heard firecrackers and drums outside this morning, so we grabbed the camera and ran downstairs. Dancing dragons and lions, large puppet men, lots of firecrackers and smoke. We were not sure what it all was for, but it sure was interesting.<br /><br />Gioia thought it was a little loud, but she had fun anyway. As we walked away, she said "Bye bye monsters." Perhaps we have been telling one too many Halloween stories around here.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3520-727628.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3520-727626.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-3281334648994087127?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-86505789224204478242009-10-16T17:02:00.001+08:002009-10-16T17:03:53.989+08:00Are you kidding me?<blockquote>"I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."</blockquote> - Keith Bardwell, as quoted in the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff">Associated Press</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-8650578922420447824?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-52879166463725036462009-10-15T20:25:00.003+08:002009-10-16T19:15:00.475+08:00Another One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3452-769608.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3452-769606.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />See. I wasn't done yet. Another skirt for the <a href="http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/day_to_day/2009/10/sewalong-lazy-days-skirt.html">make-a-long</a>. I didn't make one last night because.. well.. I was too busy sitting on the couch doing nothing. But I pulled it together today for one more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3436-752082.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3436-752079.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Chris found this Japanese skull fabric at a Bernina event that I dragged him to this summer. I am very glad we bought it, as it is quite different from my normal picks. It is actually a little heavier than a quilting cotton - more like a twill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3436-786957.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3436-786953.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-5287916646372503646?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-64862714365240339862009-10-13T21:21:00.005+08:002009-10-14T20:52:45.274+08:00Skirt Make-a-long Day 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3433-720131.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3433-720126.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />One more skirt for the <a href="http://www.oliverands.com/downloads/Oliver+SLazyDaysSkirt.pdf">Lazy Days skirt</a> <a href="http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/day_to_day/2009/10/sewalong-lazy-days-skirt.html">make-a-long</a>. I used a Japanese linen print for this version. Apples and Alphabets... aawwww. Instead of using the ribbon technique, I just hand hemmed it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3422-744687.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3422-744680.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It's probably too late in the year for linen, but maybe the look will work in still humid Taiwan.<br /><br />(P.S. are you sick of skirts yet? Ha. Just you wait.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3423-744635.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3423-744632.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-6486271436524033986?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-41090408174446418742009-10-12T21:27:00.004+08:002009-10-12T21:38:44.909+08:00Make-a-long: Lazy Days Skirts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3413-799273.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3413-799269.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Melissa of <a href="http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/">One Crafty Mumma</a> is hosting a <a href="http://www.oliverands.com/downloads/Oliver+SLazyDaysSkirt.pdf">Lazy Days Skirt</a> <a href="http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/day_to_day/2009/10/sewalong-lazy-days-skirt.html">make-a-long</a> this week. I had not yet made one of these skirts, so I figured it was a good time to try. I pulled out some fabrics from the stash for this week's sewing.<br /><br />I made a warm-up skirt yesterday with some Japanese halloween fabric. The pattern is really easy. Each skirt takes about 30 minutes to make if you have all of the materials lined up and the iron hot. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3416-781095.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3416-781091.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Since this was the first "real" day of the make-a-long, I made another skirt. I asked Gioia what color skirt she wanted, and she said BLUE very definitively. I used this super cute <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome">Spoonflower</a> fabric which was designed and printed by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5180073">Craft Pudding</a>. The trim on this little skirt was found on my trip to Liberty in London last Spring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3419-781058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3419-781054.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-4109040817444641874?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302808674976115290.post-51914272679211143212009-10-10T16:27:00.003+08:002009-10-10T16:36:15.392+08:00Christmas Card Photo Shoot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3355-773436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3355-773433.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Tis that time of the year again. Our photo shoot was much more successful than <a href="http://missgioia.com/2008/11/christmas-card-photo-attempt-1.html">last year's</a> <a href="http://missgioia.com/2008/11/attempt-2.html">attempts</a>. Gioia is old enough now to be motivated by an ice cream bribe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3396-793648.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3396-793646.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />These are some of the outtakes from the session. We ultimately selected a photo of just Gioia, not one of her and Frankie. But it was a close call.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3389-793618.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://missgioia.com/uploaded_images/img_3389-793615.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8302808674976115290-5191427267921114321?l=missgioia.com' alt='' /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716495313132003666rebeccacoke@gmail.com0