A Year in Tainan City: June 2007

A Farewell to Shengli Elementary School

http://www.slps.tn.edu.tw/media/95present.wmv

It is Friday, June 29, 2007, and it is my last day of school at Shengli Elementary. What a year it has been!! I will miss everything about this school starting with my colleagues, the 6th graders as well as other students, and the staff. All have embraced me and made me feel a part of this school and I will never forget my wonderful year in Tainan City, Taiwan. The website (above) shows the many sides of Shengli Elementary School. Enjoy!!

Visiting the Lotus farms--Tainan County: Baihe

The Chinese Lotus flower represents creative power and purity amid adverse surroundings. It is also a symbol of the 7th month, summer.

The lotus flower is beautiful, but what I did not know is that all parts are edible. So, Ariel took me to visit an area (Baihe) which is famous for growing lotus. You can see the expanse of fields containing the lotus. The seeds, found in the center pod, are used in soups, cakes and other foods. The petals can be eaten with other foods placed on it or mixed in soups. And, the roots are dried and when boiled in water make a hot or cold drink.

After harvesting the seeds from the center pod, the seeds must have the outer covering and membrane removed as well as a central bitter green part. Here you can see me "helping" the farmers stripe the seeds. It was very tedious to get just a few seeds ready. What it reminded me of was growing up in Indiana and helping clean beans, corn, strawberries, etc... This family was all working together--even the littlest was helping.

The seed pods.

A sweet, gooey cake.

Is that a smile I see?

Ariel and Tony (a 4th grader at Shengli)

Sun Link Sea Recreational Forest

On my last weekend in Taiwan, the Tiens took me to Sun Link Sea Recreational Forest. It was quite a beautiful place with a lake, trails to waterfalls, and boating.

Lulu and Deborah

Which way?

Deborah and Paul Tien

Lulu and Crazy Uncle

Coffee, anyone?

The final part of our journey took us to a specialty shop for coffee. There were coffee samples of cookies, drinks (hot and cold), porridges, and other novelty items. They also had this beautiful display of orchids in the showroom.

Graduation Day for the 6th graders

It's graduation day and students, parents and teachers gathered to honor the 6th graders at Sheng-li Elementary School. The ceremony consists of speeches, presentation of awards, and teacher recognition.