Letter 6: I Love Halloween

To Tim,

I bet almost everyone wrote about the wonderful school play, which is really amazing that the actors are only at our age. But what I like most about this Thursday is the Halloween activity.

Since I was small, I have loved Halloween, and pumpkin picking had always been the best part to me. Every year before Halloween, we went pumpkin picking for field trip. I got to pick up one or two small pumpkins and take them home to decorate. Then we go to a museum and make our own scarecrows. That’s when I first learn how to braid. In the night, children in all ages set off trick-or-treating from door to door. You get big blue lollipops with pink bubblegum in the middle, some strange and funny toys, or even some home-made snacks. I also like to wait by the door with my candy bucket on my lap, and see if any of my classmates come.

↑lollipops with bubblegum inside

For the years after I came back to Taiwan, I still went trick-or-treating. But not in our neighborhood since not everyone in Taiwan celebrate Halloween. My family and I went to Tian Mu where you can trick-or-treat in almost every shop during those days. The last time I went out “hunting” for candy was only two years ago, which was the busiest time I’ve ever seen. You needed to stay in line in order to get the candy! Well, I wasn’t out for candy then. I came out for the costumes worn by the people, which are interestingly creative. I once saw an outfit on a child that turns into a car when he crouches, very cool.

From,Allison

Letter 5: Typhoons

To Tim,

Have you ever experienced a big storm like typhoons and hurricanes or an earthquake?

There are two typhoons coming our way, and it is interesting to see that actually the two are actually attracting each other. But October isn’t our “typhoon season”, everyone was surprised to see such two late typhoons. They don’t seem harmful though, since they are far from tearing right through Taiwan.

Earthquakes are definitely a threat to us. The power we release by earthquakes every year is equivalent to at least 8 atomic bombs. Little earthquakes are often, so we are used to it. But you never know if the next one is big, or where it will happen.

↑Double typhoon

From

Allison

Letter 4: My Trip to a Foreign Country

To Tim,

I’m not sure about the picture, but I did a rough guess. Is it from somewhere in Switzerland? I think I have seen that before, maybe on the internet, but I don’t know the story about it. I know little places in Europe; in fact I have only been there once. The picture I gave to you was taken when I was on the Prague Astronomical Clock. The large statue you saw was the statue of Jan Hus. He was a key predecessor to Protestantism and also a Master at Charles University in Prague. (you might know more than I do)

By the way, because of my father works in Brazil, my family and I are planning to visit Brazil in the winter break next year. But I have to get good-enough grades in the big tests, which one of them takes place next week, so I don’t have to study in the break and take another test when school starts.

↑cool rain coats I saw in Czech Republic

From,

Allison