"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."

Welcome to the oldest city in Taiwan!

One of hundreds of beautiful temples you will see daily in Taiwan. Cameras can never quite capture the color they have.

Kelly, Brittany and I. You will see me with these two quite often ^_^

Above is Fort Provintia, now known as Chihkan Tower, once a Dutch outpost. Built in 1653 during the time when the Dutch had control over Formosa (Taiwan) and began colonization. After the Dutch rule, it was surrendered to the Japanese, destroyed by an earthquake, and later rebuilt. There are libraries of dictionaries and business documents in the Siraya language, which was spoken by the native inhabitants of Taiwan during the Dutch rule.

From the story of Chang'e and Houyi:
The Jade Rabbit that lives on the Moon.

The graves of military officials who contributed to the interest of
 imperial China were guarded with Wong-Jong, or figurines of stone goats,
tigers, and horses. It is believed this horse once guarded Koxinga's tomb
when Qing Dynasty took control of Taiwan. 

Sunlight on the Wuchang pavillion

Dutch Administrator of Taiwan

 

Bixi

Inside the Temple of the Lords of the Three Mountains.

Day is complete with my favorite place to eat, Teppanyaki

The 2013 Taichung Sea of Flowers Festival in Xinshe/Dakeng

Enjoying the beautiful weather in December!

Proposing to my roommate Kelly  ^_^

Theme 1: Alice and Wonderland

Taiwan friends!

Theme 2: Life of Pi. 
Life of Pi was actually filmed in Taichung City, Kenting,
and at the Taipei Zoo in Taipei!

Arrre you achin' faaaa some bacon?!

Reading BOB books with Little Critters.
They went crazy when the camera came out.

My 3rd graders going crazy for Santa.
Even if they knew it was T. Mike & T. Quentis.

Left to right; Back row: Brian, Monica, Betty, Danielle. Next to Santa: Elaine, Diego, Lewis.
Left to right; Front: Paul, Meg, Gerald, Annie, Angela, Kevin, Kyle, BobChad, ME.

A great two hour, all you can eat, Christmas lunch-a-thon at Alice's Party place with the Yves (elementary) teachers. (T. Iris was sick.) Soup, salad, pasta, pizza, wings, fried foods, teas, slushies, ice cream, cakes.

Uncle Michael was my Secret Santa. He gave me the scarf and chocolates.
He's the most helpful guy around!

Happy 6 Months in Taiwan!

T. Laura and I at the Cornel Kindergarten Christmas party!

Some of the Turtles! 

Kelly, Stephanie, Amy, & I. Beautiful girls <3 nbsp="" td="">

SWEETHEART = Jeff from Little Critters!

Gina invited me to Yunlin. (Yun /younn/ means cloud) to watch university students put on a performance called 1956 Equinox Awakening! It was shocking, funny, and very good acting. It explored teenage issues at a conservative time in Taiwan. It dealt with suicide, sex, abortion, homosexual partners, arranged marriages, and just hormones in general. The pressures of young Taiwanese before the now "modern time." Really opens your eyes to appreciate how far Taiwan has come.

Gina and I eating with her friends after the show!

Duck, fried oysters, pineapple shrimp, cabbage, & noodles! 

Christmas Day the English teachers have off (Students and Chinese staff do not).
This was our feast at red door. I was in charge of salad. Holli made eggs Benedict and apple pie,
Kelly made a pizza dip, Brittany fruit, Amy & Rhonda were in charge of meat & buns, Laura made miso soup.
It was a great day of food, friends, wine, games, dancing, and skying with friends and family back home!
I got to see my mom and my sister open their packages over skype. I got to talk to my best friend, Bailey and
see her family while she visited them. I also got to see Deric who will come visit me in two weeks :-D !

Not the first time we've been asked to take a photo with someone's child.

Merry Christmas from Alnitak, Mintaka,& Alnilam. ;-)