Fun in the Sun

We are currently staying in another EA country attending meetings. While we (Keith and Page) go to these meetings our kids are having fun in a VBS like meeting. Each afternoon they get to go swimming in one of the three pools here in the resort. The weather here has been great - sunny and 90+ degrees. We have enjoyed our meetings and have learned a lot but the best part has been seeing many of our friends that we have come to know these past couple of years.

We will post some pictures when we get back. We are scheduled to arrive back in Taipei on March 1.

Chinese New Year Rush

We found that during Christmas time here in Taiwan, it in a way was nice because there were no shopping crowds, the traffic was normal, etc.

However, as Chinese New Year approaches - the crowds are unbelieveable!

Also, prices change during this time. The other night, Keith and Wade went to get their haircut. It usually costs them $450 together, but because of Chinese New Year the costs was $600. $600 is about $19 US dollars -- so still not too bad. We heard that the taxis next week will be double their usual price. The reason for these price increases is that this is their way of getting their yearly "salary bonus." People that work for others are given a red envelope at New Year that contains money. These red envelopes are everywhere! Parents give them to children, husbands to wives, bosses to employees, the list goes on and on.

The pictures above were taken at Carrefor. This is sort of like a Wal-Mart. The crowds weren't too bad the day we went there to buy Levi a bicycle helmet. However, I went yesterday and it was packed! There were salespeople everywhere too. It reminds me of being at Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve (which I always avoid at all costs)! I was looking at stirfry pans, and the lady talked me into a really nice one big enough for our large family. She told me it would last 20 years - we'll see!

We Are Moving -- Again!!!

As many of you know, we will be moving again this summer. Counting our time spent in Virginia for our training this will be our 4th move in the last year and a half. Wow!! We have mixed feelings about it really. We have come to really like Taipei. We have met many good friends here and finally are finding our way around after about a year. However, we are excited for Keith to have a "real job" once again. We say this in jest because he has been learning Chinese full time for the last year -- and that is really difficult. Also, the campus in Taichung is really nice and the kids will have access to a pool on campus and also a lot of "green" space which we do not have here in Taipei. Also, the people here tell us that the weather in Taichung is the best on the island. We have included a map so you can see where we live now (Taipei) and where we will move (Taichung). The other two cities highlighted on the map are other campuses of Morrison Christian Academy. Morrison Christian Academy is where Milly, Wade, and Hunter go to school and where Keith will work.

Creature Day at School

Today was creature day at school. As you can see in the first picture above, Hunter was a white tiger and Wade was a cardinal. Milly was a cat but decided to dress at school, so no picture of her dressed up. In the afteroon, Hunter had a field trip to a local park. Page helped chaperone so Levi tagged along.

Milly's band class happened to join the 1st graders at the park because it was such a beautiful day.

Saturday Fun!!

Yesterday we had a real fun day. Janet, one of our Chinese friends, first took us to Riverside Park where we rented bikes and then met with some of Janet's friends and chatted some -- mostly in Chinese. After that we ate dinner (see picture; our family, Janet, and another missionary -- Julie). After our dinner we rode one of the biggest ferris wheels in the world. The view was magnificent although the pictures did not turn out from inside the ferris wheel seats because they were enclosed in glass.

Saturday was also great as Keith learned that State whipped the Tar Heels in basketball. Go Pack!!!