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Published: February 20th 2011
Cornel Christmas Party
Teacher Carinna sitting on Santa's lapHello all!
Just wanted to give you a few photos to view of the Cornel Christmas/Thanksgiving Party. Although neither holiday is widely accepted in Taiwan - the main religion here is Buddism - as a way to completly immerse the students into American culture, holidays that are celebrated in America are also adapted.
We celebrated Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day and held a party for all the students. The day was filled with activities, such as a "Pilgrim and Native American hat making" project, a reading paralleled with a reenactment of the First Thanksgiving, and finally ending in a Thanksgiving feast of Turkey and corn soup with showing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The students, although not quite understanding the significance of the holiday, every year look forward to this day, as it is also a break from studies. A few days prior to our feast, my two classes (2nd and 5th) made one big turkey with their hands shaping the feathers, and written on each finger is one thing they are thankful for. It was a blast, and many students enjoyed trying to find their "feathers" on the turkey afterwards.
For Christmas, I actually worked Christmas Eve, but
Cornel Christmas Party
Teacher Mary Beth with her Balls of Fire class (Grade 2) I would have had the Day of Christmas off if it fell on a weekday. Unfortunately this year, it fell on a Saturday, but no matter. We did have a rather big shindig for Christmas at the school. Each teacher taught a seperate station, such as cookie-making, ornament-making, Christmas games, and Christmas Cards (my station). While teaching our seperate stations, we set aside times to take our class down for a visit with Santa. Yes, Santa Claus came to Taichung Taiwan a little ahead of schedule. The students all had gifts to recieve - the parents actually bought presents prior to our celebration, wrapped them, and gave them to the school so that each child would open a present. The funny part of the special visit from Santa is that Santa was actually played by my headteacher, who is a girl with very red hair. Naturally all the students knew who Santa really was, but it was pretty comical to see her come up with ideas explaining the situation, and never letting on that she was in disguise. After our visits, and opening the presents upstairs in our classrooms, all the students came back downstairs to sing carols. The two
Cornel Christmas Party
Balls of Fire and their gifts from Santa songs were "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - which the students already knew - and "Jingle Bell Rock" - which the students did not know a single word, but sang with some energy anyways (at least the younger ones). All in all, a very successful time, one which some of my students still talk of and remember.
My roommates and I celebrated Christmas our own way. We each had a stocking with our names, complete with presents from each person. I was the worst present-giver here as none of my gifts were that sentimental - a scarf for Kelli and a bug-zapper for Carinna (ok, I know that last one sounds horrible, but the mosiquitos are horrible here and poor Carinna is always a tasty treat for them!). I won't say what Carinna and Kelli had gotten me, because then I would sound like an even more terrible person at giving gifts....so we'll leave it at that. To sum up Christmas in Taiwan, it was the quietest Christmas Day I've ever celebrated, which truthfully was not bad. I found some Christmas movies to relax to, and mom sent some awesome homemade cookies, which I paired with some hot
Cornel Christmas Party
I with my Eager Beavers class (Grade 5) cocoa (with Baileys of course!). Several Christmas Carolers did visit our apartment complex and sang in the courtyard, so we did have some music to enjoy. So really, not a bad way to celebrate a holiday that is pretty foreign in Taiwan.
If you're wondering about New Years, every year a big celebration takes place in Taiwan's capital - Taipei. It would be similar to, but a smaller version of New York City. Crowds and Crowds of people show up to witness the fireworks display outside of Taipei 101. Unfortunately, I was not there to witness this, I truthfully was not in the mood to push and shove through thousands of people, but I was told by friends who went that it was worth the trial of getting up there. Instead, I went out with some friends to a local club here in Taichung and danced the night away - well at least until 1 am when I couldn't really keep my eyes open. A few other teachers viewed some displays of fireworks around town, but once the countdown and the 5 minute firework display finished, no one stayed around and dispersed back to their homes. I was told
Cornel Thanksgiving Party
Thanksgiving with the Balls of Fire that people cleared out of there in no time once the light show was done...a little different that in America I would say. Chinese New Year on the other hand was something totally different, but I'm going to save that tale for another entry.
Hope your days are finding you well! Ta ta for now!
MB
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