Christmas Event

This weekend there was a huge service project at the church.  I'm not exactly sure what it was...I was told numerous things.  But from what I understood is that it was an activity for local less-fortunate kids in the community to feel included (or something to that effect).  I originally thought it was for orphans, but that wasn't the case.  Anyway, I showed up excited to help out...but after about two minutes I realized it wasn't going to be possible.  Obviously, everything was in Chinese, and it was just mad chaos and would have required me to have a constant translator helping me out all day and telling  me what to do.  Oh well...I tried!

So I left for a few hours but came back for the huge, epic, ambitious stake Christmas program.  I have never (and I've been to plenty) seen a Christmas program like this.  It was two hours long (emphasis on TWO) and featured stage productions, skits, magicians, dance numbers, musical performances, and ultimately ended with the nativity story.  I loved it all, but got weary with the lack of knowing the language.  But it was ok.

Here's a clip of the opening number:

They had instruments I have never seen or heard before.  It was really neat.

What is that!?

Here's a clip of them playing "Away In A Manger":

It fades out quickly because a missionary asked me to take a video for them.

The missionaries did their crazy skit thing.

The magician.

Christmas bells.

The most surprising (but not really) and entertaining part was when they had a performance of the the "Gangnam Style" song and dance phenomenon.  For those rare few who have no idea what this is, "Gangnam Style" is a song from some Korean pop singer named Psy (who will never have to work again just from this one song) that has overtaken the world.  It's pretty much been the #1 song worldwide since September or something.  Anyway, the dance that goes along with it is super popular.  My young students even know it and sing it.

  

I put it on YouTube so click on the link-

The girl in the front was loving it and obviously knew it the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qeFmqvKMoM&feature=plcp

The nativity performance was legit.  One of the American moms here told me they practiced for hours and hours.  Dedication.

The American kids even spoke Chinese...traitors.

Shepherd and Angel.

Joseph and pregnant Mary.

Wise men.

The manger.

And of course they ended with Santa.  He was too busy to officially pose with anyone over nine years old so I had to sneak a few pictures in.

Giving Santa antlers.

It was a great event.  I'm glad I went.  It's semi-bizarre being in this country where Christmas is everywhere (lights, decorations, trees, the music)...but it's not actually celebrated.  So it was nice to go to a church event where it was.

Merry Christmas.

Missionary Lunch

Today I took the missionaries out to lunch for a good American meal.

They chose this place called Wild West Chophouse.

They've been before but I hadn't so it was fun.

This is Elder Kaluhiokalani (say that ONE time fast), from Hawaii, portraying the true stereotype that missionaries can eat anything.

They also brought a recent convert, Rick.  He's from Tennessee originally (shout-out to my brother!), but now lives in Thailand, and commutes to Taiwan for three months at a time, and then returns for a few weeks to see his family.  Great guy.

On the wall behind us you can see a bunch of pictures of people.  These are people who have succeeded in the challenge of eating this restaurants 72 oz steak in under one hour (and you get it for free!...a $50 value).  THAT'S 4.5 POUNDS!! The funny thing is that 15 of the pictures were all missionaries who had done it over the past few years...

...including Elder Kaluhiokalani (not today, but recently).

I just thought it was hilarious that there were missionary pictures scattered all over the wall.  I could never even think of attempting such a feat.  I once did the one pound hamburger challenge at Big Judd's in Rexburg and regretted it for a month.  Woof.

This one finished with 44 seconds to spare!

Flower Field Trip

(Did you notice the "before & after" theme in the title of this post!? It would be a good wheel of fortune round...)

Well, November hardly happened at all.  It's now December and the fall weather is in full display.  Its been raining for a complete week here and I love it.  But just before it got super cold and rainy we were  able to go on a school field trip to see an organic shop and a flower field (exciting stuff!...for kindergartners).  

Heading out on the field trip.

We first went to a place called Earthlife for fifteen minutes and did a mini-tour of their little store.  It was on a super crowded street so we had to do quick get-aways with the students getting out of the busses.  That's always entertaining.

Inside the store I was bored to tears but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

I had no idea what anyone was saying or going on!

But we got free crackers!

Afterwards we took the kids to a flower field which was beautiful.  It was a perfect weather day full of lots of photo opportunities...so forgive me as I'm showing you plenty of them.

The kids were allowed to go out and wander but weren't allowed to pick any flowers (yeah right)!! That's like putting my mom in a quilt shop and telling her to not touch any fabric!

That's the official school photographer in the middle there.

You can see the back of the Wugu Temple in the distant back left.  I did a post on that temple in March.

The cool thing about this field is that it's directly across the way from my apartment.  My balcony overlooks it, as seen below.  Cool huh!?

The kids all loved it and it was a fun activity.  

I'm glad we snuck it in before this epic rainfall and coldness.

December I am sure will go just as fast as the rest of this year.  I have lots of fun things planned so expect more posts to come and more often too.

Taiwansgiving

Thanksgiving (or Taiwansgiving as it will be referred to) was experienced in three separate chapters this year.  I was worried about a lack of celebration being here...but alas, I refuse to go celebrationless.

Chapter 1

Unbeknownst to me, the school I teach at was planning a Taiwansgiving feast for lunch time on Thursday.  That morning I did a small assembly with the students and taught about what we celebrate and about indians and pilgrims and turkeys.  They understood probably about 3% of it, but that's ok.  With the older afternoon students, I did the same, and they understood most of it.  We had them raise their hands and say "I'm thankful for..." in order to get food.  That was nice.

So the uncles, (the 3 handymen who work at the school), roasted us the chickens (heads and all!) that have been living behind the school the last few weeks.  Yum...

(lots of food pictures ahead...apologies)

 

 

Well, hey Bert and Ernie!

 Miss Lucy and Miss Monica (owners of the school) leading the Taiwansgiving events.

 Not quite what I'm used to. 

With one of my little students.

 That chicken was literally alive three hours earlier. 

Well, that was fun.

Chapter 2

We went to Costco on Wednesday night to get Taiwansgiving stuff.  And it was PACKED.  Do they realize that it's an American holiday!?  But regardless, I guess anyone can celebration a holiday where we're supposed to be thankful.

We got the typical stuff for a celebration at our apartment.  Except we got chicken instead of a turkey.  It was easier to transport on a bike.

Martinelli's

Thanks Costco!

Chapter 3

Leave it up to the Mormons to throw the real party.  I was not surprised to discover that church potlucks are the exact same the world over.  There was a huge feast complete with all sorts of stuff from both Eastern and Western worlds.

In America we separate all of our foods on the plate.  Here you use a bowl and mix it all together and use chopsticks.

At the kid's table.

I made an Indian headband.

Sun setting on Taiwansgiving.

I'm thankful for this opportunity to be in Taiwan.  It's been so much fun and time is flying.  I remember last year thinking, "What will I be doing next Thanksgiving!?"...and now that answer has come and gone. 

And I already know where I'll be for Christmas...

Japan!

Can't wait.