Coming of Age in Tainan

What does it mean to "come of age" exactly? Well, in many cultures, Chinese culture included, people celebrate various ages moreso than others. For example, we celebrated my daughter's first birthday in very unique fashion. Besides the normal birthday cake and gifts, we also put items such as a computer, a ball, paper, a book, and some blocks. The goal is simple - the one year-old will determine what he/she will become when she is older. Take a look at what our daughter decided. Certainly, she will be a physicist.

In Tainan, Taiwan, I had the chance to attend another coming-of-age ceremony celebrating girls who are aged 16. According to many locals, this is the age that traditionally, girls become women. The girls and their families give thanks to the goddess Chiniangma who protects children up until the age of 16. View the video below to see some of the other traditions associated with this ceremony.

To the Markets We Go!

Markets in Taiwan stand out to me as being truly unique. You can get almost anything at these markets, however, what you will find depends on what type of market you visit. I was able to visit traditional local markets, which mainly sell daily staples such as fruits, veggies, meats, rice, noodles, beans, and any other foods locals consider to be important. The other type of market I visited was a night market, something which many locals say you can only find in Taiwan. Night markets here are packed with people who generally are both looking to hangout with friends, get a snack, and/or check out the latest fashions in clothing.

Check out what I found at the local tradional market: