Author: Catherine Lee

Taiwan1 Comment

Bitterly Bitter and Bitterly Bad Bitter Gourd 苦瓜!

Catherine Lee

There’s only one way to cook it for it not to taste bitter in my humble opinion, and that’s the Hakka style stir-fry. Otherwise it is just disgusting!  Bitter it is, and always will be.  In juice and in soup, pickled and in a thousand other ways.  It is just awful. Definitely an acquired taste! Bitter melon or bitter gourd is very popular here in Taiwan, and yesterday I found some growing just up the road.  So here it is – mostly covered in bags to stop the birds and squirrels from eating it.  Do they really like it, I … Continue reading Bitterly Bitter and Bitterly Bad Bitter Gourd 苦瓜!

TravelsLeave a comment

St. James’ Preschool, Taichung, Staff Trip to Vietnam ~ YES!

Catherine Lee

And I had the chance to go too ~ YES YES YES!  Thank you St. James! A non-stop 5 days in northern Vietnam, 33 of us, staff and their families from St. James’ Preschool, Taichung, and all happening only hours after the St. James’ Preschool Graduation. The graduation was on Wednesday night last week, and the very next day, Thursday, we all gathered, a bit bleary-eyed, at 5:00am for our big holiday trip…. OFF TO VIETNAM, YES! To many people, Vietnam is associated with many negatives ~ war, prisons, communism, refugees and poverty.  Maybe the only positive is the food … Continue reading St. James’ Preschool, Taichung, Staff Trip to Vietnam ~ YES!

Taiwan Episcopal Church2 Comments

St. James’ Preschool, Taichung ~ Graduation 2015!

Catherine Lee

THE most splendid, amazing and exciting graduation ceremony of the year, every year, is the one held by St. James’ Preschool, Taichung, and this year was no exception!  July 15, 2015 ~ it’s usually July 15 and usually held in the Taichung Cultural Centre Auditorium, just across the road from St. James’ Church… (and to get the booking, the principal started lining up at 4:00am on January 1, 2015 – the date bookings opened!) So many VIP visitors for the graduation ~ Bishop and Mrs. Lily Lai, Rev. Charles C. T. Chen and MaryJo, new rector Rev. Lily Chang, former rector … Continue reading St. James’ Preschool, Taichung ~ Graduation 2015!

TaiwanLeave a comment

Typhoon Day!

Catherine Lee

A few days ago the weather maps were showing a row of 3 typhoons all in a line, all in the western Pacific, and all heading in our direction.  The first one, Lin-fa skirted the southern tip of Taiwan a few days ago, and now the second, Chan-Hom is skirting the northern tip of Taiwan.   This map is what it all looks like ~ courtesy of the Taiwan Government Central Weather Bureau.   The third one is actually supposed to head north towards Japan instead of west towards us, but anything is possible in the world of typhoons! Chan-Hom is big, but … Continue reading Typhoon Day!

Advent Church, TaiwanLeave a comment

Congratulations Pei-Wen and Jun-Yien 王俊諺與曾珮雯婚姻聖禮!

Catherine Lee

Wedding Day at Advent Church for one of our former students, Pei-Wen and her new husband, Jun-Yien! Pei-Wen was baptized here at Advent Church while she was a student at St. John’s University and was active in the student fellowship.  As she lives locally, she’s continued to come along, and has brought Jun-Yien too.  Today lots of her old friends and classmates came back to celebrate and to help out, including singing a song for the new couple ~ so wonderful to see them, all looking very smart and very cool! Congratulations Pei-Wen and Jun-Yien, and may God bless you today … Continue reading Congratulations Pei-Wen and Jun-Yien 王俊諺與曾珮雯婚姻聖禮!

FaithLeave a comment

Prayers of the People @ General Convention

Catherine Lee

For the last 10 days, June 25 to July 3, the 78th General Convention of the US-based Episcopal Church has been meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The Diocese of Taiwan is one of those dioceses present, and Bishop Lai led a group from Taiwan to take part in it. Last year during Advent, many of us took part in a highly successful social media project – like a global Advent Calendar – called Advent Word, where we posted a photo a day on an Advent theme, organized by SSJE, the Society of St. John the Evangelist.  I loved … Continue reading Prayers of the People @ General Convention