Banquet Time with our good friends from Xian-Xiao 正德國中賢孝校區!
It’s the end of the semester and Chinese New Year’s coming ~ so yesterday we were honoured to attend a big banquet celebration, hosted by the Principal, Mr. Lin and Chairman of the Parents Association, Mr. Tsai of Zheng-De Junior High School 正德國中 in Tamsui. A branch of their school, Xian-Xiao (or Hsien-Hsiao) 賢孝校區 is right next door to us here at St. John’s University, and most weeks during term-time, I’m there doing English conversation classes, and others from our church are there doing Life Values and Character Education classes. Then on Saturday mornings, some of their students come to Advent Church for … Continue reading Banquet Time with our good friends from Xian-Xiao 正德國中賢孝校區!
From Tyneside with love….
And the Christmas cards are still arriving (thank you everyone!) ~ the latest one to arrive today clearly had the post office people here completely baffled. Beautiful classical style of handwriting but if you’re not familiar with this style, it’s true, it could be a bit difficult to read. It’s been stamped as saying that the address is unknown, but someone else has clearly worked it out and written on the envelope in pencil…. All the way from sunny Tyneside too ~ and maybe I’ll keep it for next year! Continue reading From Tyneside with love….
Cold weather brings snow to nation – Taipei Times
And today’s neon temperature sign in Sanzhi is flashing 3°C…. A rare sight of snow wowed people nationwide yesterday, from Taipei to Pingtung County. Source: Cold weather brings snow to nation – Taipei Times Continue reading Cold weather brings snow to nation – Taipei Times
Snow?! YES!
Unbelievable. Incredible. Amazing. There is snow on the Yang-Ming-Shan mountains! Not just on the tops, but all over. A light dusting. Very light. But it’s snow all the same! And it’s visible from all over this area. And just visible in my photos, taken this morning. We’re having the coldest temps in Taipei for over 40 years. 4ºC. Currently my phone is telling me it’s 3ºC, so maybe it’ll get even lower overnight. It’s cold cold cold, very very cold. Most people, including me, have no heating in their houses. This is a sub-tropical country, and summer heat is our … Continue reading Snow?! YES!
Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News
And so, a week after the elections …. From a K-pop scandal to mass cabinet resignations, Taiwan’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen has seen on of the most unusal first weeks in a new job. Source: Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News Continue reading Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity @ Taipei
Last night was a very beautiful, very ecumenical Taizé Service for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organized by the National Council of Churches of Taiwan (NCCT), and held in 台灣基督長老教會汐止教會 Xizhi Presbyterian Church, on the outskirts of eastern Taipei – and served by the train line to Keelung…. This year’s theme is “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:9). Praying for Christian Unity around the world, in Taiwan, and in all our hearts and minds this coming year. Continue reading Week of Prayer for Christian Unity @ Taipei
Chinese New Year Celebrations @ St. John’s University 聖約翰科技大學 尾牙餐會 Wei-Ya Banquet!
Chinese New Year is coming, and coming soon ~ YEAH! Our students have all gone home, the local schools have broken up for the holidays, and everyone’s getting ready! Last night was our university Wei-Ya 尾牙, the end-of-year banquet for all our staff and faculty, plus VIP guests. There was food – lots of deliciousness all packed together, lion dancing, singing and dancing shows from our students, and lots of gifts for the lucky names pulled out of a box – red envelopes, an exercise bike, huge teddy bears, and the top prize of an Apple iPhone 6 Plus … And … Continue reading Chinese New Year Celebrations @ St. John’s University 聖約翰科技大學 尾牙餐會 Wei-Ya Banquet!
Punk Tree?!
Yes, right in downtown Taipei, along by the side of the Control Yuan HQ no less, is a tree that looks totally dead with all the bark flaked off, until you look up and see it’s actually quite healthy up at leaf level! Helpfully there’s even a notice next to it giving it’s name as Cajuput Punk Tree. Turns out to be a kind of eucalyptus tree from Australia…. Quite amazing ~ and what a name! Continue reading Punk Tree?!
Totally Surrounded @ Dongmen Market…
Totally surrounded by vegetables, that is! Cannot fail to be impressed by the man at his stall in Taipei’s Dongmen Market who is, yes, totally surrounded by his produce. And just down the market from him is this big tub full of Stinky Tofu on the boil – it’s called Stinky Tofu for a good reason, but it’s not often that the smell is quite so noticeable first thing in the morning! aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! Continue reading Totally Surrounded @ Dongmen Market…
Catherine Lee 