Turns out that even holidays celebrated in the US are busy in Taiwan. This came as a blessing because this is thetime of year that I knew it would be hardest to be away fro the States. The busy-ness helped with the homesickness andto make it a memorable holiday season!
THANKSGIVING
Worries:
- No turkey.
- No football.
- No friends.
- No family.
Blessings:
- Turkey- Three Thanksgiving celebrations and three turkeys later, I might’ve ended up eating more turkey this year than any other year. The first Thanksgiving feast, in Taipei, was held by American Institute in Taiwan (the pseudo-embassy) and worried me at first because it was a lot fancier than my 21-year tradition of Thanksgiving as sports weekend. The food was delish though. The second was at orphanage with a bunch of people from the US who live in Taiwan, which brought amazing food and great times. This wouldn’t be the only time I went to this orphanage. And to top it off was the pot luck with the other 11 in my program. This was such an authentic Thanksgiving meal because everyone put love into food and we had some great fellowship. We also drew names… just like home.
- Football- An elaborate plan was carried out which involved my mom pointing the webcam at the TV and waking me up in the middle of the night to turn on Skype. If only I would’ve known the outcome of the FSU/UF game before…
- Friends- During Thanksgiving I usually see long time friends when I go home. This year, even though I missed all of those long time friends, I got to spend time with new long time friends.
- Family- I probably missed my family the most of all of these. Nothing can replace family, which is something that I am thankful that I realized this season. No matter where I am or what I’ve done, my family will always love me. This is something that I took for granted when at home. This is also the reason that I knew Christmas would be hard….
CHRISTMAS
We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmasand a happy new year! Don’t know if thebest way to start off the season was to teach 1st and 2ndgraders this song, but it helped when the actual Christmas lesson started. Its hard to teach 5 and 6 year olds Christmaswhen you can’t speak their language and you are in a public school. Giving. The students enjoyed coloring a picture and putting it in a wrapped boxto give to their teacher. Amazing thetype of motivation giving inspires…Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Our ocarina class had a performance atMcDonalds Saturday night. Colorful, loudelementary school performance… now imagine it at McDonalds. The kids showed immense improvements!
Sunday morning welcomed a Christmas service at the localPresbyterian Church. Glad I was able tojoin a family for this time and see how different cultures celebrateChristmas. It even included anaboriginal dance! Awesome how Christmas can affect you even ifyou don’t understand the actual words.
Then we went to what I called “Christmas dinner” because itwas the whole Church who went to this restaurant and ate a ton of food together…my Christmas dinner included sea cucumber , fish face, … but I couldn’t bringmyself to eat the pig stomach. Gottadraw the line somewhere.
That evening, we went to Tim’s house (head of ourprogram). We had a little Christmasparty which fulfilled my playing-with-kids-during-Christmastime requirement forthe season. The only two kids therehappened to be my students, whose parents are Tim’s English teachers. We also sang Christmas carols, thank youAbbie, who fulfilled the Uncle Bob requirement (only without the sweater).
Christmas Eve was spent at school teaching 3-6 graders towrite a post card in English to a loved one. Then to Chinese class where we attempted to sing Jingle bells inChinese- sounds better on my ocarina… Then at home, we opened some of ourChristmas gifts. Knowing that my friendsand family thought of me during this Christmas is what made my Christmas sospecial. I am so thankful for all of youwho love me unconditionally.
Christmas morning- “Get up! Get up, Katie!” I hear Josephyelling as he shakes my bed. Oh, just adream. School? On Christmas? Impossible! The only thing that got me out of bed wasknowing that I could brew a cup of coffee, compliments of Andrew. A few hours at school, then I got a $5, 5minute oil change (on Christmas day). After being a judge at Jeannie’s amazing Christmas performance, I pickedup some delish sweet potatoes and fresh pineapple and banana drink withKate. Then, oh a Taiwanese Santa!
Home to make a gingerbread house (GINGER!), a Christmasdinner of Mac n Cheese, and prep for secret santa. We opened gifts in a circle (fulfilling myfellowship of opening meaningful gifts from loved ones). Then a skype date with my immediate familywhich included watching listening to them play wii.
The Christmas festivities concluded with a Christmasperformance at the Pres. Chuch put on by the ETA’s. A mush pot of acts, including singing,dancing, antics and a magic show that Candy and I put on. A good end to a memorable Christmas.
NEW YEAR’S
Michelle, Kate, Dale and I took a trip down to the southerntip of Taiwan,Kenting. Friday to Wednesday was spentexploring mountains, waterfalls, sand dunes (kinda), beaches, cliffs and thecity of Kenting. I am so thankful for the new long-timefriends that I have met here in Taiwan. A beautiful end to an amazing year, and agreat start to another!
