Strange Weather

Today our school is helding the last workshop of the year. Our school invited Dr. Wen to have a technology speed in our school. The speech is very productive. On the other side, the weather is very strange. It can be raining cats and dogs for 10 minutes and after that it stops, and after 20 minutes again down. I did not know what's wrong today. Driving a scooter is very hard. I am wet and cold. I really want to stay home and relax in this weather. I need to pack everything for my tomorrow's trip.

Second Last Day of School

Alan is almost finishing with his school. He will be on the fourth grade next year. Today he had to clean his classroom and bring all his stuffs back home. My baby is growing up, I cannot even believe he will be on the fourth grade. Alan did a great job this year, he studied very hard.

One More Day Left for Ireland

I cannot even believe that tomorrow will be my trip to Ireland. It will be a long flight. Four study tours are going to leave tomorrow. We are going to take the same airplane from Taiwan to Hong Kong. From HK, two study groups will take European flight and the another two groups will take Australian flight.

Peggy, my coworker and I are taking the same plane. They are going to get out in London, and my group will continue our destination to Ireland. It seems very long, and I am hopping that I can sleep and so does my students.

This year's study tour is guided by a single teacher. Each teacher has our own responsibility to take care of our group. I am very excited about it.

At least on the plane, I can chat with Peggy and the sister from the school, so I won't feel lonely. I am hopping that Ireland study tour will be very productive for myself and my students. My principal gave me a lot of work to do during this trip. I have to do it well and right.

I have everything ready for the tour. I need to pack tonight.

Five days to Ireland

Our Sheng-Kung Study tour will go to Ireland. The tour leader this year will me myself. I am very happy to bring 13 kids to Ireland. I am looking forward to go to Dublin. After Dublin, we will go to England, London for two days and one night. I have never been to European countries before. this is my first time and I am hopping that everything will be okay there and coming back safe.

Finals Week!

After month and months or weeks and weeks of hard working, we finally arrived to the finals exam. All he kids and teachers are ready to have a big vacation. We are ready to look forward to have a vacation, time to relax.

Going to Ireland

One of the professors at St. Cloud State University knew that I will go to Ireland and he send me two pictures of the country for me to see.

Famous TV Program 綜藝大贏家 is Here!

Today is June sixth, 2008. It is also Dragon Boat Festival. This festival is very Taiwanese Holiday. Alan and I should go and see the dragon race instead of watch how people make TV program.

Yesterday we watched the famous TV program 綜藝大贏家 and they said 綜藝大贏家，本週要在台南縣麻豆鎮的太子宮跟鄉親一起玩遊戲，送獎金送到大家笑嘻嘻哦！means, they are coming to our town Jiali. Jiali is in the Tainan county. It is only 10 minutes from where I live.

Alan and I were so excited, we were planing to go there to see famous people and take pictures with them.

They supposed to arrive at noon, but the hosts of the program. I really want to see them in the real life, not just on TV.

We woke up a 11:45, it is almost noon time. We went to eat and after that we were ready to go to see them. When we arrived there, they started to record the program.

A lot of people were there. I never see a lot of people like that before. It was so hard to get a good spot and see everything. I was going to take picture with them but it was also very hard.

Alan could not see at the beginning. We were walking around until we got OK spot. Alan could see it at that time. The weather is so nice today, we had a big and bright son. It was so hot.

We stayed there and watched over there for one hour. After that I could not deal with the hot weather. We went home and take a rest for a little while.

After one hour and half of resting, we went to the place of the program again. At this time, people were going home and just a few people left. We could get a good spot. Alan and I were seating in front, behind tables, we could see the hosts closely.

I saw them closely, every one were putting a lot of make up. The ladies had all the colors on their faces, and gentlemen were also wearing make up.

We could see everything that we never see on TV. A lot of people did not know how to play games, and they had to star all over again. This means, they have to record it again. A lot of NGs that I cannot never see on TV.

It is a hard work for people at the back stage. The camarographers and people were setting up the games and other things for TV. They really work so hard to have everything ready under hot and sunny weather.

It was a nice experience for me and Alan can see everything that never happened on TV. It was really nice to see the real TV in life. Alan cannot forget this day.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival

Every June, it is a great time for temple celebrations, folk art festivals, and the Dragon Boat Festival. All these festivals make Taiwan the place to be this month. This month, the festival is on June 6th, 2008.

Poetic Justice
In old China, the Dragon Boat Festival formed an integral part of the Chinese lunar calendar and signalled the onset of summer. The festival commemorates the death of the statesman-poet Chu Yuan of the Warring States Period (about 300 years before the birth of Christ), who, frustrated with his attempts to gain a favorable response from the king for much-needed reforms, threw himself into the Milo River and drowned. His followers jumped into their boats and rushed out to try to save him, and today's Dragon Boat races commemorate this vain attempt.

Another tradition of the season, stemming from this event, is the eating of a delicious rice dumpling called tsung tze. After the poet had thrown himself into the river, the people wanted to preserve his body from being eaten by fish, so they made dumplings of sticky rice which they wrapped in bamboo leaves and threw into the river. Eating tsung tze is a part of the celebrations of every Dragon Boat Festival.

An Ounce of Prevention
The Chinese believe that the onset of summer is a prime time to catch colds, so at this time mothers often make up little sachets containing different spices to help ward off diseases. These colorful little packets, called hsiang pao, are often intricately embroidered and are fashioned in traditional and auspicious shapes. Many come in the shape of animals, and children love to collect them. It is they who will wear them around their necks to prevent catching colds.

In addition to the hsiang pao, sprigs of certain plants are gathered and hung over the doorway of houses on this special day. This is done to ward off evil and sickness throughout the summer months to come.

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, a date which varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. The dragon boat races, held at many areas around the island, are a colorful spectacle which shouldn't be missed by anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese festivals and folk customs.

The best place to watch the festivities in Taipei is along the banks of the Hsintien River near Chung Cheng Bridge and Kao Shion by the Love River. Also, there are demonstrations of folk arts and crafts, plenty of food and drink including, of course, tsung tze!

Standing Egg

Children and adults really love this day. At noon of the dragon festival, children will pick up one uncooked egg, it will stand itself without any supporting. It is so amazing. After that, you can cook your egg.

My CRV is Here

Alan and I were waiting for David to come back from Taichung. We want to see my new CRV, the RV car.

When David arrived home, he said, "Let's go and try your CRV", he is afraid that I cannot used to drive that big car. Alan, my baby was so excited. He was so happy to seat down on the back side and enjoy the ride.

Monday I can drive my new car to work. I have to be very careful with the car because I am not use to it.