My co-workers surprised me with a birthday cake today. Chocolate and blueberry isn’t a combination that you would ordinarily think of, but it was really good. Taiwanese birthday cakes are lighter than American ones, and they use whipped cream instead of frosting, so indulging in birthday cake here isn’t quite as “naughty” as in the US.
In addition to the candles (I won’t write here how many candles there were. Suffice it to say, too many), there was a little “happy birthday” banner decoration, pictured here.
It was great that they did this. I love birthday surprises.
… and the MSU Beaumont Tower webcam gives me a little taste of campus.
I’ve watched the webcam for several minutes at a time. It’s interesting even when it’s nighttime over there. Watching people going on with their lives on campus is kind of soothing.
Does anyone on campus want to arrange a time to stand on the street and wave to me? 🙂
Today was a good day in several ways. Ian and Evan started their second semester at school, and got off to a good start. Ian especially had a good day at his new high school. He took the train all by himself, and didn’t get lost.
My awesome co-workers in the US sent me a care package – paczka and coffee! What a great fat Tuesday treat (a little late, but still a wonderful treat). We went running this evening in preparation, and so we wouldn’t feel quite as guilty about eating them.
Finally, I was notified that the person in the US State Department who is in charge of the Fulbright program for East Asia wanted me to be invited to a research forum to be held in Hong Kong. It was very flattering that the program officer specifically mentioned me by name to be included in the forum.
Our second (and last) semester is off to a good start. Let’s hope it continues to be a good one.
We spent the new year holiday in Tainan å°å—, where Stacy’s parents live. Here are some images of our holiday.
Pasting up the "chun lian" æ˜¥è¯ which are auspicious banners welcoming the new year.
Three-year-old Leilei gets a hands-on demonstration of the violin from Ian, as Ariel looks on.
The big feast happens on the last day of the year, called "chu xi" 除夕.
Burning paper money for the dead to use in the afterlife is part of the religious aspects of Chinese New Year.
This isn't really part of the new year, but we couldn't miss the opportunity to show a portable toilet in a truck. Call it "pees on wheels."
Carnivals with eats and games are a big part of Chinese New Year. Ian and I try our hands at shooting balloons. I think the balloons have nothing to worry about.
We can always count on Stacy's brother Quinn for fun games. He introduced the family to a variation on Blackjack. Like many Chinese games, it involves math.
Leilei loved using Grandpa's flashlight to look for things in hidden places, and Grandpa got a kick out of helping her.
“It’s funny – when I’m full, I don’t feel like eating.”
A friend of Stacy’s family, “Uncle Uncle,” hereafter also known as “Mr. Obvious.”
I just asked Evan to get my “walkman” when I meant my “iPod.” What the hell happened?
We’re in Tainan for Chinese new year. The whole family is together for the first time in a few years. A mother of two boys, Stacy is loving interacting with her two nieces. Ariel lives in Tainan so we see her every time we visit, but three-year-old Leilei is back from Holland.
That’s Horace (Leilei’s big brother) on the left.
Stacy bought play-dough for the kids. Everyone has fun playing with it. We’re having a ball!
Stacy made a Spoonerism trying to remember the name of the Disney movie: “What’s the name… Hacapanda?”
Ian: I’m all for harpoon guns.
