Chinese New Year

As some of you might know, Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year as it's referred to here in Taiwan, was last week. My host family went to ChiaYi, which is in south Taiwan, it's strange, we basically drove across the entire country and it only took an hour. Taiwan is so convenient. You can go anywhere in the country no problem, by bus or train or high-speed rail and it's so cheap and fast. anyway. We drove down last Friday after we had dinner with my host dad's family. My host family has a house in this tiny village where people only stay during Lunar New Year and they all have he same ancestors, but they have no idea who anyone is. On New Year's Eve morning, we had to get up early to burn paper, which apparently represented money, and incense and get our food blessed. We hung out with my host mom's family later on. All day and night people were setting fireworks and firecrackers off. Yes, during the day when no one can even see them. It was kind of annoying. At midnight, this bell was ringing and people set off even more explosives.

New Year's Day we went to the temple to burn more stuff and pray for luck and fortune. Then we went back to Ama's (Taiwanese grandmother) for the day. My host little brother (Didi) and one of my host cousins took me out to buy fireworks and frecrackers then me and Didi had fun setting them off. They had these stick like things that you put into a tube and you can hold it when you set it off. I told Didi he looked like Harry Potter and he laughed. Now, I'm learning some stuff about guys. One of them is that they have 2 different laughs. One they use when another man, possibly a superior, says something and they think 'oh, he thinks he's funny, I'd better laugh or I'll get pounded.' This laugh is usually lower pitched. The second laugh they use when they can't control it, in other words, when something actually is funny. This one is usually much higher pitched. Didi has this. The difference between the two is ridiculous. When I told him he looked like Harry Potter (in Chinese, of course!) I thought a cat just got run over. It was that high pitched. Other examples of this laugh include M. Breton and my own father. (the real one, that is)

We spent the rest of the week hanging out at Ama's. Activities included Karaoke, motorcycle riding, Bingo and playing the Sims 3. I think I'm addicted!

I also learned, in the words of the Arrogant Worms, everyone has an Uncle Lou. He's kind of crazy, a little annoying and always around! I met one of these guys in my host family. He kept singing the Mo-Li Hua song (the same Mo-Li as my name. If I knew my name came with a song, I would have picked something else) and he was saying he wants to come to Canada with me to sell stinky tofu. I told him good luck with that. People would smell it and run away. It's not called stinky tofu for nothing. But he was hooked on the idea, which is why I didn't tell him where in Canada I come from.

We were supposed to come back to Taipei last night, but there was too much traffic, so we ended up spending another night and leaving this morning.

I miss indoor heating. I never though I'd say this, but Taiwan is cold in the winter! I guess the no indoor heating thing is a huge contribting factor. It's actually colder in the apartment then it is outside. Maybe some of it is because I'm now on the 27th floor of an apartment building. Speaking of which, I'll give you my new address:

Jasmine Haemel (or 茉莉 if you're feeling brave)
27F-1 No. 251 ZhongQing Rd.
Banciao City, Taipei County
Taiwan R.O.C. 220

Well, I think that all I wanted to say, until next time!

Ah!!! Tomorrow is my 6-monthiversary!!!!