Today I was able to recognize cabbage dumplings in a menu and just asked the clerk to verify if there was meat inside (to ensure my stomach would be full when I was done eating). I have been able to recognize (on some signs) about half the characters and even if I'm not entirely sure of the meaning, I have at least some idea of what it might be talking about. There have even been times that I have recognized all the characters in a sign and actually understood it!
This feels like a huge break through after all those vulnerable moments where all I could do was look at a menu in bewilderment. Granted, I still am left clueless as to most of the foods listed.
For example, yesterday I went and tried to order something besides my typical go-to dumplings and wantons and order Beef Noodle Soup - a favorite food of many Taiwanese. When the food came it turned out I had ordered pork dumplings in beef broth. I certainly recognized "beef soup" in the name, but failed to recognize the significance of the other characters in the name.
Regardless, I still tried something new, wasn't altogether clueless as to what I was getting, and it filled my stomach.
Life in a foreign country is always full of surprises!
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