Finally... the Taiwanese Wedding (Part 4 of 5)
At this point I believe the ceremony of union was over and the began.
After what seemed like an infinite number of pictures, Helen went up to change into the gold dress. The food was placed on the table. I was sooo happy to see that most of it was seafood: crab, shrimp, and fish. This was more what I had expected Japanese food to be like. I was happily trying everything without any other meat when I discovered this was only the entree. While I was fortifying against more encouragements to eat from a whole new set of Wangs, Helen was making her rounds with her parents, David, and his parents, toasting each table. After each toast they would get money from the occupants of the table. That's what the gold dress symbolized, money.
When everyone started to finish eating, people pulled out little plastic bags provided by the caterers and filling them with leftovers to take home. I quickly grabbed my own and started taking selecting things that I hadn't yet had the chance to try for fear of ripping the dress. As soon as I started placing one or two of the of the more interesting food in my bag, the others at the table paused in their collecting and started to talk and giggle a little. I turned to FuYung, "What? Am I doing something wrong." She giggled too and said, "No, they're just glad to see you becoming part of the culture." And I was tempted to say The concept of the doggy bag is not new, but I didn't know if that would be rude.
Apparently, my low intake had been noticed by all and they were soon giving me four or five helpings of the food I had already picked out for myself. It wasn't just from our table either. All it took was someone to say what I assume translated to: The American likes fish and extra helpings of seafood was handed to me from at least three tables down. I don't consider myself a light eater, but in Taiwan I felt anorexic even though I'd probably never eaten more in my life and I could barely left my arms with the weight of a three course meal in each hand.
It's now almost a week before I'm back home. I can't wait.
To Be Continued...
Waiting to be on solid Ground
P.S. There are now photos of said event in my albums.
After what seemed like an infinite number of pictures, Helen went up to change into the gold dress. The food was placed on the table. I was sooo happy to see that most of it was seafood: crab, shrimp, and fish. This was more what I had expected Japanese food to be like. I was happily trying everything without any other meat when I discovered this was only the entree. While I was fortifying against more encouragements to eat from a whole new set of Wangs, Helen was making her rounds with her parents, David, and his parents, toasting each table. After each toast they would get money from the occupants of the table. That's what the gold dress symbolized, money.
When everyone started to finish eating, people pulled out little plastic bags provided by the caterers and filling them with leftovers to take home. I quickly grabbed my own and started taking selecting things that I hadn't yet had the chance to try for fear of ripping the dress. As soon as I started placing one or two of the of the more interesting food in my bag, the others at the table paused in their collecting and started to talk and giggle a little. I turned to FuYung, "What? Am I doing something wrong." She giggled too and said, "No, they're just glad to see you becoming part of the culture." And I was tempted to say The concept of the doggy bag is not new, but I didn't know if that would be rude.
Apparently, my low intake had been noticed by all and they were soon giving me four or five helpings of the food I had already picked out for myself. It wasn't just from our table either. All it took was someone to say what I assume translated to: The American likes fish and extra helpings of seafood was handed to me from at least three tables down. I don't consider myself a light eater, but in Taiwan I felt anorexic even though I'd probably never eaten more in my life and I could barely left my arms with the weight of a three course meal in each hand.
It's now almost a week before I'm back home. I can't wait.
To Be Continued...
Waiting to be on solid Ground
P.S. There are now photos of said event in my albums.