Happy New Year!!!

Almost everybody went to Taipei to watch the spectacular fireworks at Taipei 101 that cost millions of dollars. For the remaining lazy people like us, we just got contented with what our university can offer. We were catered by a parade of colorful booths probably a hundred selling various Taiwanese cuisines and hosting games, a lively concert by famous local artists, and fireworks display on top of the 7-floored university library. After satisfying our hungry stomachs and that means surviving the heavy traffic of people especially along the food stalls, I, my daughter and some friends sat on the grasses by the lake facing the library, waiting for the countdown to new year. We ate, we chatted and ignored the freezing temperature. After the countdown (ended up with hoarse voices), we then went to a tea shop to continue our chitchats and further went to a movie theater to watch Tom Cruise's MI-4. At about 4:30 dawn, we then proceeded to eat breakfast together till 6:30 AM. I know it's a terrible way to start a new year (that is being outside of the house), as my mom would say, we would end up nocturnals for the rest of the year lol. Hopefully not. I guess this is what we get for being away from home, and having our friends as our only family here to greet the new year with.

Gathering for tea in a checkered black and white teashop after new year countdown.

At the lakeside with friends watching simple firework displays.

Wishing you all a prosperous new year too! May 2012 be better for all of us!

Making up: Pomelo

As forgetful as I was, I left my little girl's school bag in our college library last Friday. When we realized the bag was not with us, it was too late. The library closed for the weekend and for the holiday Monday for Chinese Moon Festival. Hence, we don't know that she's supposed to bring a hat made out of pomelo rind the next Tuesday morning.

When I finally brought in my little girl's bag to her kindergarten school after my 8 am class that Tuesday morning, I was surprised to see almost all of her classmates got cute pomelo hats. My poor baby must have wondered where her hat was. I felt so terrible. Everybody danced and paraded with their funny hats on and got their photos taken. I had no idea. The Chinese tradition of wearing pomelo hats for kids never crossed my mind.

Then a thought hit me. I will definitely make it up to my baby. I will make a special pomelo hat for her. She will have her own pomelo hat. 

Back in our lab, my labmate coincidentally gave us the pomelos left from the Moon fest. Oh yeah, awesome! After dinner, my hubby and I made a cute pomelo hat for my baby. It only took us about 5 minutes to make one. Here's what we did:

Hail the Pomelo!

Opened it up in one minute.

A flower bud on the making lol

My baby looks so cute on this funny hat while holding the fruit :)

Now the hat was modified with a "hair bangs" lol.

Doesn't she look so cute and funny!

The final hat beauty!

My baby was indeed having fun and happy about the pomelo rind hat!

The big sister joined the fun too!

From Chinese culture, I just learned that wearing a pomelo rind hat helps the moon lady see the children better and hence answer their prayers. Interesting. And by the way, a pomelo or Chinese grapefruit is so delicious, juicy and rich in Vitamin C. Indeed, the fruit is both yummy and fun!


Do you like our Pomelo hat too?

Celebrating a home away from home

My six words entry for today:

Celebrating a home away from home

Together with our friends, we celebrated an important Chinese holiday last night, the Moon Festival. It's also known as the Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival. Originally, it celebrates the harvest season and worships the moon way back 3000 years ago. To this day, it's been a tradition where Chinese families and friends gather together to eat mooncakes (mooncakes were all eaten by my kids lol, no photo this time) or pomelo under the moonlight while adoring the full moon's grandeur at the same time. Isn't that romantic? In Taiwan, they celebrate this occasion by having outdoor good-smelling barbecues with their families and friends. Yes, outside in the autumn air breeze. For environmental concerns, outdoor barbecues are not allowed on ordinary days.

Living as international students in this foreign land, our local Taiwanese friends always organized such event and celebrated with us before they went home to celebrate with their own families. Ain't they the sweetest! It's somehow been our yearly tradition to gather together, do some barbecue, eat and have fun under the moon's shining splendor (no, we didn't worship the moon).  Indeed, we had a blast celebrating our own Moon Festival last night. We don't have to feel sad that all our Taiwanese friends are leaving soon for home  while we have no one else to go home to for a reunion (lol). In fact, we discovered our very own family here, right in front of our noses ~ special friends to gather and to celebrate with on our birthdays, Christmas, new years or even ordinary days.

Indeed, I'm blissful enough to find a home away from home, with our best friends (they know who they are). And this alone is worth celebrating for.

Barbecue fun was celebrated just outside of our friends' apartment. 

Vegetables and marinated chicken, pork and beef were prepared for barbecues. 

My kids excitedly joined the fun!

A variety of stuff to barbecue were prepared for our strictly vegan friend, for a non pork-eater friend, and for the meat eaters.

My kids so love the party.

Fish, squid balls, mushrooms, corn, tomato, green pepper, bamboo shoots,  marshmallows, etc were equally yummy.

Our funny Taiwanese friend!

My kids playing around!

Our friends: most are international students from various countries gathering for our own celebration. 

Enjoying the barbecues, men got some beers and some Tanduay rum after. 

Happy Moon Festival!!!

This is my entry for