A House is Not a Home

We interrupt this previously uninterrupted streak of no posts with news from the home front.

July 1996

I met Shelby and the Wenzel family when I was 6 years old. Shelby and I were in the same kindergarten class at Fammatre Elementary. I was in the group that came early and left at lunch, she was in the group that came at lunch and left in the afternoon.

July 1995

She quickly became my best friend, her in her cow-print cow girl outfit and me in my denim with pink and white lace one. We played dolls, read books and even got put on time out for playing with the dinette station when we were supposed to be outside.

Half-way through the year, I was playing in my backyard when I heard a familiar voice coming from over the fence. I said, "Hello? Is anyone there?" I waited. A minute later I heard the rustling of a tree, and a small head popped up. It was Shelby.

We discovered that day that our backyards shared a fence, our houses were right behind one another. You could imagine our little girl giggles and big smiles upon this discovery. Sleepovers commenced, play dates were planned and memories were made.

December 2007

If she wasn't at my house, I was at hers. I would ride to school with her some days, and some days she would ride with me. Her mother was listed as one of my emergency contacts at school, as my mom was one of hers.

2007

I have fond memories of the Wenzel casa. Lots of photos and moose and Mary Poppins memorabilia (Sally is a huge fan) to make things cozy. The Wenzels invited me into their family. Taking me shopping with them, and to the movies, and letting me hang at their home all day, only to climb up a tree, at the end of the night, and over the fence to reach my backyard and thus my bed. We half-joked for years about putting in a gate between our two houses.

Shelby told me a couple of weeks ago that her family is moving, that their house had sold, and that they'd be out soon. I was momentarily gutted. For my friend, at the loss of her childhood home, I know the sadness that comes with this, having left mine. Gutted for her family. And selfishly, a little gutted for myself.

TheWenzel home saw my crew through many dances, hang outs and sleepovers.We swam there every summer and watched movies inside every winter. It was my second home. I knew where all the bowls and cereal were, and felt absolutely comfortable taking anything I wanted from the fridge, or a treat from the garage.

Senior Prom May 5, 2007

Senior Homecoming October 2006

Senior Prom May 5, 2007

Her dad is a big, tall man that used to intimidate me. Shelby told me he liked to be called Mr. Wenzel. So that's what I called him. Until over the years he became less of a Mr.Wenzel and more of a Frank. To this day, I'm not sure if I've ever called him Frank to his face, but he's been Frank in my mind since I was a little girl.

The Wenzel house was our spot.

If he likes you, you know he likes you. He always made me feel like it was a treat, me being over at their house. I'll never forget that.

Her mom calls me "Miss Kristi" and is the nicest lady you'll ever meet. She sewed my costume for Much Ado About Nothing my senior year of high school and I don't think I ever paid her for it. And it had a corset. A corset! She's the best.

I know this is long and rambling, but I wanted to say thank you to the Wenzel family for making my life blessed enough to not have only one great home, but two. You made a young girl feel loved, special, and funny throughout her childhood. I can't tell you the effect that had on the person I've become.

The Wenzel children: Shelby (tall, gray sweatshirt), Paige (middle, pink sweatshirt), and Shane (right, gray sweatshirt)

A house is just a house. A pile of wood and nails and concrete. It's nothing special. Houses are everywhere. Homes are a little more rare. It's the people that make a home. The Wenzel's are good people, and I know their next house will be a just as lovely home as their first, and when I get back in July, I'll be stopping by, saying hello, scoping out where the cereal is, and inviting myself to Thursday Chinese Take-out Night. I love you guys, and thank you for loving me.

Face Time

Sometimes Katie and I get a little frustrated when our Face Time calls aren't answered...

Costco Wholesale is A Whole Bunch of Awesome

Finding out that there was a Costco in Hsinchu was definitely a selling point in deciding to come teach English in Taiwan. So when I got tired of being around weird smelling food, I would always be able to find solace in the Costco food court.

We ventured forth a couple weeks ago and went exploring. I of course was more excited by the prospect than the my companions, but I didn't care. This was Costco, and I needed to see everything!

It was weird to see totally American snacks along side some weird jelly fruit chunk candies.

These are my dad's favorite and I totally thought of him when they appeared in the aisle.

Holla!

And then you see this and remember that you are definitely in Asia as they love their flavored milks here. I've seen Apple milk, but have been too afraid to try it. Maybe someday...

There was a selection of sushi trays, instead of deli platters in the cooler.

I totally thought this was a massive box of otter pops when I saw the colors from down the aisle, and I ran up only to find that I have no idea what they are, as I cannot read Chinese. Sad day.

We had to go on a Saturday, and it was just as crazy here as it is in America. Loved it!

Inner Peace

We had the opportunity to go to a wellness seminar offered by our ward Relief Society. Our translator said that they had hired a "master" to come and teach us moves.

Corina and I were sold. We dragged Craig along. He protested of course, but resistance was futile.

There was lots of kicking of legs, punching of arms, and deep breathing.

We, of course, were the only ones taking pictures.

Pushing out.

Meditating.

Craig and Corina were able to take things more seriously than I was.s

Notice how serious Corina looks compared to me?

And here I was trying to rein in my smile and look all zen. Craig knows the truth though...

Church Potluck

A couple of weeks ago there was a potluck at church for all the English speakers. It was to give us a chance to get to know each other as we all live in different cities and commute to church for the most part.

One of our bishopric members is American, and he hosted the shindig at his house.

 It was beautiful!! Having only been inside our janky apartments during the last 8 months, seeing how the other half lived was pretty exciting!

 I think there were about 15 or so of us and we all gathered for a taco bar. It was delicious!!

 I may have ate 2 burritos and a taco. No judging. I haven't had Mexican since I got here, and while it's no Burrito Factory, it was still pretty darn good.

 Cyrel, the man in the picture above, was taking pictures all night. Mostly without people knowing they were being photographed... He got some real gems.

Corina looking stern, and me looking both distressed and unimpressed at the same time.

Micahel  mid-chew.

Me, hunched over my plate with a big mouth of food. That Cyrel is all about catching the little moments we might miss.

 Corina and I don't have very many pictures together. We're good friends now, but prior to coming to Taiwan, she was just a girl that had heard about teaching in Taiwan through one of Craig and Corina's mutual friends, Emily.

Living in a foreign country where you don't speak the language doesn't allow you to stay not friends for very long.  She's only been here about 3 months, but it feels like she's been a part of the crew since the beginning.

We have similar senses of humor and outlooks on life so we've clicked well.

 All of us.

 Funny poses.

 Craig calls this one the "Granny Bozo" shot. He thinks that I look like the family matriarch surrounded by all her posterity. I DO look like I'm tired and over the experience as many elderly are want to do at family gatherings.

 Jared and Melanie are Class-A  photo bombers. Check these pics!

 

Also, one of their daughters, Ashley, became obsessed with me and spent all evening drawing me pictures and asking me questions.

Ashely: "What's your favorite type of lemon?"
Me: "Errmm? I didn't know there were other types than just yellow lemons."
Ashley: " There are Myer lemons and there's this one that's crossed with an orange, so it's sweeter..."

This chick is gifted. Super smart. She made me a "Thanks for coming" card with all my favorite animals, including " White Guy the Polar Bear".

She's in hog heaven since I just got called to work in primary.