So we survived thanksgiving. Okay, well it was somewhat depressing. We went to a buffet dinner where you could choose between turkey and roast beef. Stuffing was even available. But it wasn't Thanksgiving in the sense that it is a holiday for family and friends. We'll celebrate it this Sunday at church in conjunction with Christmas. (Yes, it will be December 10 and not even a holiday at all)

Taipei is in a Christmas spirit. The shopping malls are decked out in the best American tradition. Christmas music has been playing since before Thanksgiving. Finally, there are even some ornaments for sale. We decorated our tree which is a Charlie Brown tree the day after Thanksgiving as is the tradition at our house. The tree is so small that the first stringer of 100 lights bent the tree to the table with the added weight. Mark then found some LED lights that are about as good as it gets. The ornaments were a problem as the tree was so small so we finally settled on cell phone charms as decorations. I really like it. We have a crystal angel fish (I couldn't find a proper angel), a bell, a star, some red peppers, and some fish. The charms are cute and small. It works. The full sized ornaments, we hung on the patio windows along with the first stringer of lights. Every thing was so expensive that we couldn't just waste it. Of course, the exact same ornaments, made in Taiwan, if purchased in the United States would be so cheap that we wouldn't think twice about throwing things that were not perfect away. But these things were probably made here, sent to the US and then imported back to Taiwan for the American ex-patriots to buy so the cost is dear. This is not uncommon.

But the Christmas music is abundant and sacred. The words "Merry Christmas" are everywhere and not diluted. Since this is a country that is not terribly religious no one minds that the holiday has religious tones. No one understands it, only the capitalism that drives the modern version; they just accept it for what is is and what it has become. Even Bill O'Reilly might like it here.

I have made several more friends. One is from New Jersey, one from Germany, and one from California. We have been doing things together like going to museums. It can be pretty fun. It doesn't replace family or a job that you like, but it is still alright. Irene, from California, is a great person. I met her through church. She and her family moved here for her husbands work, and although they are from California, her family is originally from Hong Kong so she can speak and read Mandarin. She is a treasure, a kind and giving person. She reminds me of all the good things that a person can be.