Goodbye chicken adobo. Hello Taiwanese brunch.

For the last 10 years, Warren and I have been sponsoring Joan (pronounced Jo-ann...which I only found out during this trip) through Compassion International. I don't think either of us ever imagined having a chance to see her, but we've been writing each other sporadically over the years. It was really cool to actually meet Joan and her family. Joan and her 9 siblings grew up in Davao City, which is the most southern tip of the Philippines in the Mindanao island. She was a bit shy since she wasn't comfortable with her English and I have no language skills in Tagalog, but we both warmed up throughout the visit.

My two weeks in the Philippines were rewarding and fun. Plus - there was the bonus of feeling really tall. In case you didn't notice, you can look back at the previous pictures!

Top: Joan just had a baby a few months ago. His name is Chris Jairus

Middle: the project where Joan lives

Bottom: Joan's mother, Jenny - her social worker, Joan, me, and Ronald - project director

Warren and I arrived in Taiwan just in time to celebrate the New Year with his family. These pics are the decorations around town. Here's wishing everyone a great year of the Rabbit.

(From Warren)

No surprise, one of the major aspects of life in Taiwan is the food. Everywhere you go and everything you do is connected to the experience of eating with family and friends. Melissa and I have every intention of getting fatter while we are here.

Top Left: Literally within hours of stepping off the plane in Taipei, I (Warren) was rushed to the best local Shao Bing You Tiao joint on Renai Road for a traditional Taiwanese breakfast with my uncle and cousin. Hot sweet soy milk and fried dough, it just doesn’t get any better than that. I had many a meal here during a few summers of my childhood. All together we paid 70NT$ for a three person breakfast – about $3.

Top Right: As a kid I remember loving this reddish pear-shaped fruit -- Lien Wu – which is unique to Taiwan. It has a consistency similar to an Asian Pear and tastes like an apple, but is lighter and sweeter. I could eat through a whole barrel of these.

Bottom Left & Right: We gathered around the kitchen table on the evening of Chinese New Year to partake in a feast of ten separate dishes. As expected all parties were stuffed to maximum capacity while in the background all throughout the night we heard the constant erupting of firecrackers (though they are “officially” banned in the city). The after dinner dessert consisted of what is called a Ba-Bao or Eight Delights. This is actually a traditional Chinese dessert that we ate with eight different parts to it – including red bean, rice, lotus, and dried apricot. YUM.