Thanksgiving Feast

Pilgrims. Indians. Plymouth Rock.

Common language in American schools this time of year. Well, let me clarify that statement. American schools located within American borders.

When some your students have never even been to America or all, except one or two, have never lived in America on a permanent basis, not so much. As one of my young students, who happens to be of American nationality asked, "What were those people in all the books about Thanksgiving called?"

Some knowledge. Very little experience. Or as we like to call it schema (background knowledge).

This past Monday, we gave them and their parents a little taste of the culinary side of Thanksgiving: turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, fresh homemade rolls, and miniature pumpkin pies. Yummy!

Mr. Myburgh, our principal giving thanks! 

My wonderful parents who helped serve the Thanksgiving Feast!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Junior Carnival

Junior Carnival

One of the biggest highlights of the year at Morrison Academy Taichung....  now just a memory. 

Photographic images captured those memories...

Each year the junior class picks a theme. Ben's class chose to do an old
fashion  Italian carnival.

After months of planning, Saturday work days, and lots of physical labor, the junior class put on a terrific event, not just for Morrison students, but the community in which Morrison exists. 

The junior class!

 

Along with a zip line, bouncy slide, strolling mimes, and fireworks, attendees had multiple entertainment options from which to choose. Ben's booth was a shooting game. He, along with two friends, designed and manned a booth where the participants shot realistic looking air soft guns at a colorful display of balloons.

Parents' responsibilities were serving food. Carl and I were lucky. We sold caramel apples!

 

For five hours we lived caramel apples. What a better way to spend a chilly November evening? 

But my earlier statement is incorrect. More than just pictures and memories of the 2013 Junior Carnival do remain...

For at least a couple weeks, this remnant of La Carnaval will remain with Abbi!

Breaking

Well, she did it again!

I can't even begin to count the number of glasses, plates, and bowls my precious daughter has broken since coming to Taiwan. An entire set of bowls obliterated, forever gone. We no longer have enough matching dinner plates to serve just the six of us. Of course, Abbi isn't completely  responsible for our current status, but she has definitely been a major contributor. 

There are, however, a couple things that she has broken that don't bother me at all. In fact, I am proud of her breaking these. I hope she keeps breaking them.

100 meter freestyle in a 50 meter pool. Abbi holds the lead in
the closest lane!

Early in the swimming season Abbi broke the Morrison school record in both the 50 and 100 meter free style. Later, she broke her own record in both events!

 At their last meet, her coach asked where Abbi got her swimming talent, from myself or Carl. I just laughed. Obviously, neither of us can make that claim! 

Super Sophomores!

2013 Morrison Academy Swim Team + parents

Volleyball?

It's kinda funny. It took a move to the other side of the world to discover something about myself...

I like volleyball.

Its not that I disliked it before. I just didn't have enough exposure to know that I liked it.I should probably qualify that statement. I am referring to watching it, not playing.

Yeah... that would be quite interesting, me playing volleyball.

For the last two months, there has been a lot of that white ball being bumped, served, and spiked. 

The seventh grade boys is one of the nine teams vying for practice time. Last weekend was the culmination of Jacob's season- the tournament.

So last Saturday, 6am saw Carl, Jacob, and myself  on our way to school to catch the team bus to Taipei. That wasn't quite as bad as the swim team's departure earlier in the school year. 5:45am was just a tad bit early for a Saturday. 

They played well. Jacob, despite a slight height disadvantage, contributed greatly to their effort to take first place. In the championship game, they played the best I have ever seen them. They focused, worked together, and made smart plays. Unfortunately, first place was not theirs to claim. After taking the first game, they lost the second. Increasing pressure and tired muscles left them lacking in the tie breaking game. 

Jacob... Number 13.

Outside court...even at end the of October

After their only loss... a difficult, but well played game. 

Growing up too fast!

So what's next for middle school athletes? Softball, of course! (Softball in November and December does seem a little bit weird, but we're not in Ohio anymore!) Go Mustangs!

Finally!

16 months.

That's not a real long time.

But I guess how long it feels depends on that which is being waited upon..   

In this case, 16 months has seemed like an eternity.

Well, maybe that is a slight exaggeration.

But after living most of our lives in a community where a car was a necessity, going 16 months without a family vehicle, seemed incredibly long.

However, that is no longer true.

We bought a van!

Its not new. 

Its not fancy.

It will, however, allow our whole family to go somewhere together.

And that is what matters the most.

I am blessed!

Lunch?

Yes, it happens, occasionally.

Don't tell anyone.

I wouldn't want anyone to think just because I work on a day off, that I am a workaholic.

And sometimes, I get hungry.

So I scamper over to the closest 7-11 and buy me some food.

Strange lunch, I know.

If you live in, or have lived in Taiwan in the past, you could name the three edible items on my desk.

What about the rest of you?

The drink is probably the easiest- an Ocean Spray Cranberry. Delicious no matter where it is consumed. 

The second item is easily identified as an egg, but obviously not a normal hard boiled egg. It's a tea egg. Served warm, I find it much better than it's  American cousin.

The last item is comprised of candied pork, egg, sticky rice, and the defining ingredient- seaweed.

Stop cringing! It really is delicious.

Can you believe that as a child I was an extremely picky eater?

Go figure.... miracles can happen!

Dogs

We miss this guy! We know he is not only well fed and healthy, but loved and happy.

(Thank you Charles Family)

But we still miss our Copper! 

Fortunately, for us, Taichung offers us many chances to see and love on other adorable four legged friends.

 A couple blogs ago, there was a picture of  our neighbor dog in the arms of Abbi. Jacob, in particular, developed a distinct like for her. I can't blame him- she's cute and friendly.

A week before our fall break, I got an email from Carl. Something, he wasn't sure what, had happened to her. All through the afternoon he could hear her desperate whine of pain. Going outside, he saw the neighbor talking to the guard gate