青山 (Qingshan)
Turns out it wasn't based at the massive large temple near me that is in the direction of everything...but a smaller one in between me and that temple. There's a few between here and there so of COURSE..the question is do all of the temples between here and there do this at some point or another??? hehehe. Thursday ,night (night 2) I got to the MRT station around 11 after playing ultimate all night (and it raining all day- we're on day like 14 of it raining every single day at least at some point....starting to get a little old) and on the way back crossing a bridge near Taipei Main, I could see the fireworks at the next bridge next to my house. Groaning I just gave in and joined in the chaos to see what was up, since sleep was clearly not happening any time soon. Things to know about here- parades happen all the time, varying in size- they do NOT shut down the roads for it. Not for Gay Pride parade of 50000 people running around, not for the Berlin Dream Parade a few weeks back we happened upon (don't ask how that happened to be happening here because I don't know) not for what I call "temple" parades that happen all the time. They just varying in size and this one was massive. The fireworks- oh my the fireworks- were also crazy. I saw the parade stopped, and the traffic behind it stopped to put firecrackers in the intersection and layered up to the knee. Next to that in the street would be row after row of fireworks that shoot up into the air. All of this with people (and buildings!) everywhere, guys with blowtorches setting them off, and not a lick of safety equipment everywhere- you have to love it. I was also the only foreigner I saw in my hour and a half wander..not to mention I'm a sweaty disgusting mess in dry fit clothing carrying a grocery bag and a cantaloupe around. I'm sure I was a sight.
So after experiencing this, the next day I get on a bus decked out like the holiday CTA train. hahaha. There's sprayed snow wreaths and stockings on the windows and tinsel strung from the insides. I had to smile and love it- how can you not?? Christmas is only sort of celebrated here- it's not a big thing.
That being said, working in an English school we celebrate all the big holidays and we have the beginnings of decorations appearing in our school. Christmas lights, a tree, bulbs, stockings, snowmen, etc. My 3 year olds are like...BALL!!! (bulbs) SOCK!!! (Stocking) COOKIE!! (Gingerbread man) TREE!! (Christmas tree) CANDY!!! (a small gift wrapped a lot like candy would be) SNOWMAN!! (snowman!) Not going to lie, they're smart little ones and it's hilarious, but essentially, they're right. I get 2 boys joining my class on Monday whoo whoo. Finally, not all girls. We took a trip to Ikea (which is very near my school) on Thursday morning too- I'll get some pictures up eventually. Have you ever taken a group of 3 year olds to Ikea??? Not sure who decided this is a good idea, but it was like elephants in a china shop! Then I tried to explain that phrase to my Chinese Teacher (Una) and more hilarity ensued. Ikea (pronounced ih kea, not eye kea in Chinese) is the same everywhere, in every country. It just happens to be located in the city here- and there's actually TWO of them in the city area. hahah.
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