For the most part, my everyday life here in Taiwan is normal.

Normal in the sense of the American life.

My neighbors all speak English. My students only speak English with me. My house is set up like a typical American home. I eat mostly western food. 

In fact, if I stayed on campus all the time, it would be easy to forget that I don't live in America. That was one reason I liked living off campus. 

Having to walk home every evening through the village was a constant reminder of who I was and where I lived. Stack houses are not common in Ohio. Neither is neighbors burning money and setting up tables with sacrifices in front of their houses. I not once was ever able to a conversation with the next door lady that didn't involve charades or asking my daughter to interpret.

Last night, however, that world outside the sheltered Morrison campus invaded our calm serene Sunday evening laziness.

It began with a loud, but not visually satisfying round of fireworks. I didn't know at that time, but it was the beginning of a very loud, very long, very involved god parade.

It wasn't till this ostentatious procession neared our building blasting loud music did I realize the significance of the earlier noisy announcement.

While having witnessed god parades before, I must say this was the longest, brightest most involved display to ever cross my path.

Sprinting to my room, I grabbed my camera to try and capture the elaborate production. From our sixth floor, the details were hard to make out. The following pictures were captured by a friend who was at street level.

Several gods were being carried. 

There were two of these fully electrified trucks. They literally lit up the night.

What is not pictured here are the scantily dressed "pole dancers". Yes, I wrote pole dancers. That's about the only way I know how to describe these girls who ride a top trucks and jeeps, moving and swaying to the blaring music. Not sure I know the purpose of their presence.

To see my view of the parade watch this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfa9VQyZss&feature=youtu.be 

and

I am so glad that I serve a God that doesn't need me to carry him. In fact, why serve and sacrifice to a god