On the subject of Christmas

I think this deserves a nice blog entry to clear up all misunderstanding about Christmas holiday. I have looked up the traditions of Christmas Day and Boxing Day this morning. Christmas is an import to Taiwan, therefore we celebrate it without knowing too much about why and how, but more and more people are giving one another gifts and setting up Christmas trees now. I also can't deny the fact that Christians celebrate Christmas religiously in Taiwan, too, with Midnight Mass, carols, or even full-on Christmas party with nativity play, songs, dances, and the most important part: getting Christmas gifts.
My dad had some bad Christmas memories when he went to church. His parents didn't go to church so when all the other kids were getting gifts in the church, he got nothing. He told his siblings that maybe it wasn't a good idea to go to church. To his young mind, he wasn't welcomed into the church. I think it's quite sad that the people didn't give him a present, and knowing how hard the time was, the church probably couldn't afford to give him a present then.
Christmas in Taiwan has come a long way. I went to a Christmas party held by church once and it was awesome, although like my father, I didn't get a present in the end. Kids dressed up as trees, sheperds, Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Friends talk after the party and catch up, it was cold, but you can get warm soup and hot bread.
Apart from religious activities, shops attracts people to buy Christmas gifts. There's no long holiday around Christmas Day in Taiwan, but it is a public holiday for Constitution Day so you don't have to work. There's the New Year's Day and normally 2 January is a holiday, too. It can get quite cold in December, so you will see people in thick jacket and sweater on the street. There are beautiful light display in the big cities, and we are getting better and better at celebrating Christmas.
However, when I lived in Taiwan, we didn't have a Christmas tree. My grandma has one and I remember one Christmas, we took a photo in front of the tree and had presents there. I also remember my Christian godmother's Christmas tree and her presents for us: Huge socks! You can put presents in those socks, and my one is red with a golden angel. Fuzzy's one is pink, and has fluffy top. They just give me such a good feeling.
Christmas marks the end of the year for the workers and we are having a Christmas party on 7 December. The theme is Woodstock Revival. I am going as a hippie. Just trying to imagine what I am going to wear right now, and thinking about what to do with my outfit. It's all part of the fun.
I wonder what Richard is going to do. There's a Wild West party in his building and he doesn't have any clue about it. I guess it's a girl thing: we care more about the small details.
Fuzzy doesn't have an exam today. It's the weekend. I am going to check on my experiment and think about what I am going to do tomorrow.
Sometimes, it's fun to think about what's going to happen instead of writing about had happened. However, I want to mention that I had some real nice pizza last night from Dominoes. Thanks, Richard. I am looking forward to the tastiest pizza in Italy now.

WE ARE GOING TO EUROPE

I have been super busy today, spent most of the morning in Mouse House. I was trying to start my own experiment in the morning to no avail. However, it was quite pleasnt in Mouse House. I was talking about Halloween to my boss, and he spent some time in America. That's where Halloween is from, kids dress up and go trick or treating with the adults, adults meet up and see people around the neighbourhood. It's friendly. People who participate in the activity will leave their lights on, and vice versa.
We have two lots of kids coming to trick or treat in Haylie's place, but our door was broken so we had an excuse not to give them candy. I think Haylie doesn't have any candy anyway. I am not sure whether any kids went to my house, though. I shall check with Fuzzy when I get home today.
She has another exam today, and it was Thermodynamics. aaaaAAAAAAhhhhhh, it's the one subject that was difficult. It's an open book exam, but it doesn't mean that the questions are easier. Actually, they are harder. I've done that paper, I should know. Good luck, Fuzzy.
I think Halloween is fun, but I've just missed out going trick or treating. It wasn't popular when I first came to New Zealand and went to high school, and by the time I got to university and trick or treat got popular, I was too old for going trick or treating! However, I had a Halloween party with Megan, Ajay and Farina. It was fun drinking pink (blood) coloured fizzy drinks and dress up. I miss the days that we spent together, but as we all know, all good things come to an end.
Speaking of good old days, I remember spending time with Jennifer, Patricia, Tina, Hongdow, Hongjian, Kevin, Jason and Daniel. We used to be able to hang out together, but now Jennifer, Patricia and Hongjian are all working in Taiwan. Kevin works in Japan as an English teacher, and Hongdow works in Australia. Daniel is studying his masters in Hamilton, but we still haven't had a chance to catch up. Just wondering how everybody are doing.
Another crowd from the university days have also disappeared from Hamilton. I guess everyone has dreams and not all their dreams are in New Zealand. Rachel is in the U.S., Artika is married in Australia, Suk is in Auckland as a lawyer, Kiersten works in Wellington, Jo is doing her PhD in University of Dundee, and I don't know what Hayden is doing. Sarah K is working in Auckland university, Sarah T is working for Landcare, and Toni is still in Hamilton. I saw her riding her bike on the road, Farina is working for AgResearch in Wellington and I haven't seen her for ages. She's up for graduation this week, but she hasn't contacted me. She's married now.
Richard and I watched the second episode of Justice League last night. It was good! I don't think I can ever not like cartoon or comics.
We went to the travel agents to get our Europe airplane and train tickets today. They have made a mistake on my Eurail pass. I have to wait for the correct one to come, and hope they correct the error quickly. 13 days to go now! We are packing our bags this weekend, and I will try to bring as little things with me as possible, but I always brings a lot of things. However, it will be safer not to bring so many things because they may get stolen, and we may lose the bags(!) I hope we can look after what we are bringing, though. It will just be disappointing if we lose our camera or something. Imagine all the pictures lost! Aaaahhhh.
I had kiwi burger combo for lunch, it was yum, and I know I shouldn't eat junk food, but I just love it. I am glad that they didn't kill kiwi burger. It's tasty and not so unhealthy. If you can't stand beetroot then I guess you won't be a fan. I like the burger's box as well, it's got sandals, jandals, buzz bee, All Blacks, Maori Haka, Kia Ora, and all the kiwiana prints on the top. What's not to like?
Looking at the clothes in the shops, I have to stop myself from wanting to buy anything. I have to stop buying clothes, although I don't think I can ever stop wanting new clothes, though. It's the shining clothes that I collect. It's the bright colours, the different cuts, and now I can even shop for Richard. I think I will ask him before buying anything because he's got good taste, and afterall, he's the one who is going to wear the cloth. If he can't stand the shirt/pants, then how can I buy it? This reminds me of Sam buying the turtle dude clothes in Sex and the City. It just wouldn't work.

Walk in the park

Richard went to work late yesterday so he came to hang out with me in the morning. The lab was still very quiet, with people sick and on leave. Steve went to his brother's graudation so he wasn't there, either. My job was pretty simple, I had to start culture for tomorrow's Miniprep and there was 1 litre of LB plates to make.
I brought pizza bread for lunch, and Richard was very hungry. We walked back to my car and drove it to the bakery so he could get food. I got a custard square since it tastes so nice. However, it was so sweet. I had to drink a lot of water when I got back to work. The thread of conversation went to Christmas and Richard said that our kids will have Christmas, with presents in the stockings and they will open them on Boxing Day. Fuzzy and I sent presents to each other on Christmas, and we have stockings so small presents can be put in them. I guess it's time for us to set up the Christmas tree again soon.
Just got an e-mail to remind me that it's almost Fuzzy's birthday. As if I need reminding. She's having a party next weekend, her friends were invited. It will be a good one, with lots of food and lots of fun.
I went back to work but it was a bit boring with just pouring the warm agar broth out. Richard went to give blood after work, I went home to have dinner before him. Fuzzy, Richard and I went for a walk in the park after dinner. It was a bit cold. Kids were climbing up the slide and pushing the scrum machine. Some other people were playing rugby and throwing the ball. Fuzzy just wanted to go to the empty part of the park, and Richard said that people are like that, just wanting to fill the space up evenly. We saw Mica the clown driving his car on the way back, and I joked that he must have been a really good ambulance officer so he could do balloon animals real well. He must had gone to clown school, too. Richard found these remarks hilarious. He also said that Fuzzy's pink jacket made her fast because pink is a fast colour!! Haha.
We watched Roman Holiday before ten o'clock. The old man with the gun walking in front of the newsman's apartment, guarding the princess was so funny. He went home around ten.
I took Fuzzy to uni this morning because she has an exam. Good luck, Fuzzy! She has another one tomorrow morning, and the last one on Monday morning. We are going to Brooke Fraser's concert on Saturday. I am looking forward to that. Just wondering what I am going to wear, though.
Richard and I went to play touch rugby in lunch time. I had to repeat the transformation for two samples because they didn't work. Hopefully, they will work this time round.

Halloween is coming up

It's very quiet upstairs this week, with Tarra and Jenny sick, Frank away on the lightcycler conference, and Ken away on holiday, it's only the big boss Chris and me in the lab. I've been given work to do by Frank so it's all go for me.
I managed to transform ten samples yesterday morning, and went to the photoshoot on top of the tower block. It was a great view from the top, and you can see the stadium and the hospital from top of the tower block. It was also a great opportunity for us to gain some steps for the 10,000 steps challenge walking up the stairs in tower block. It was very sunny and looking up proved to be difficult when the pictures were taken. We walked down and took some more photos on the grass in front of the tower block, too.
Kelly and Haylie are graduating today. She came walking with me on lunchtime yesterday. We walked on the farm track and came back behind the glasshouse. The weather was so good, the sun was shining and the sheep were very cute. Some of them required shearing.
I went home early because I have finished what I have to do early. Richard and I tidied up the garage. He and Bevan played foosball before going back to the house. I went on the computer and played War of Warcraft for a while, but I had to wait for the hearthstone to regenerate so I got offline. I updated my Facebook, and my pet turtle didn't seen to be too happy about his food. It was ok. Fuzzy sent me a Christmas present! Yay. I was going to send Richard a fish, but it just didn't happen.
Richard and I cooked a huge dinner, two pieces of steak and vegetable with rice. It was delicious. We watched Rumble Fish together. I don't get the movie, though.
The evening ended with watching the first episode of Justice League. I drove home and talked with Fuzzy, mum and dad before going to bed. Dad got second hand television and cabinet from Mrs. Phong. There's something wrong with the TV, but dad will fix it so we can have a second TV. He also wants to fix my indicator, which is not flashing. It's been giving us problems for a long time now, hopefully he will fix it.
This year's Christmas Party's theme is Woodstock Revival. I am not sure what I am going to wear yet, but maybe I will go to Salvation Army or St. Vincent to hunt for some 60s and 70s gear. If all else fails, I can wear mum's hippie outfit. I also have a shirt that looks very hippie. I guess I will have to pick some flowers and put them in my hair so I am a flower child!
Halloween is almost upon us. I am not sure whether kids will turn up and ask for candy at our new place or not. I was checking out some outfit you can make for yourself for Halloween. It's so much better than the ones in the shops.

Weekend filled with fun

I check out what's on PostSecret every Monday. It's a place where people send their secret in on postcards and Frank would post it. There are sad ones, funny ones and happy ones. I think it's a great place for people who needs to tell their secrets.
The plan for Europe trip is going well, and we went to Trek'n Travel to get gears for the trip in the weekend. I bought thermos top, quick drying towel, lock for luggage, and sleeping bag lining. I also bought a Europe Phrase book from Whitcoulls. My little book is filling up with destinations and sights that I want to see. Richard bought earplugs, thermos top and pants, and money belt. We went to walk on Riverside Walk and watched the water ski competition. They were going so fast! It was exhilirating. We ate the sandwiches that I made by the river, and I enjoyed the hotdog Richard bought me.
Mum made vegetables, chicken nuggets and fish fingers for dinner. Yummy! We went to Mike and Jasmine's farm Friday night after dinner at home. Jasmine and Mike are both good people, we played drinking games and driving games on Mike's mock model car. I was so tired.
Mike showed us his helicopter in the morning. It was a great machine.
Erin moved on Saturday, Bevan helped her and we got invited to her house in the evening. I made a burned chicken curry because I didn't add water to the spices. Richard brought three beers and we played video fighting games there. I went home because I was too tired.
The Good Year was a nice movie to watch on Sunday. We tried to play badminton, but it was too sunny. We played foosball instead. I am still not very good, but since Richard has played for years, he should be really good. He cooked a manly dinner with huge steak and potatoes in the evening, and we watched The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Holiday.
All the people in AgResearch went to the top of Tower Block to take photos, and we took some photos on the grounds as well. It was fun.