For most people the Christmas season officially starts the day after Thanksgiving. Well, for me it was a few days later as the Monday after Thanksgiving I was scheduled to teach four classes about the big American holiday that we had just celebrated. I talked a little bit about what Thanksgiving is and then preceded to tell the story behind the holiday. Everything would go well up until I came to the part where the pilgrims met Samoset and Squanto, and then every time the kids would bust up laughing. OK, they are a little strange being Indian names, but not that funny. Finally the teacher I was working with filled me on the joke. In Chinese tofa means hair, and Squanto sounds like the Chinese word for no-hair/bald so I was telling a story about Samoset and a bald guy.
With Christmas rapidly approaching the four of us girls here planned to spend today shopping for presents. The only problem was that the weather didn’t co-operate and scheduled a typhoon on us. We weren’t going to let a little rain dampen our spirits and sallied forth anyways. We had second thoughts when we stepped outside into a river of water, but as we weren’t sure when we’d have another opportunity decided to go shopping went on anyways. We were completely drenched by the time we made it to the train station and Jo, who was already in Hualien, called to tell us not to attempted it. but we had made it so far we weren’t about to turn around and just walk back so into Hualien we went. We were able to do most of our shopping in only a couple stores and by the time and the rain let up before we went home giving us a chance to dry out.
As we went to different stores looking for gifts and decorations, we noticed a common theme. All of the stores had Santa’s, stockings, garland, and trees. A lot of Christmas music was being played. Everyone and their neighbor was wearing Santa hats, but no where could we find anything having to do with the real significance of Christmas. The Taiwanese people in general seem to have a fascination with the idea of Christmas as a ‘Cool’ American holiday, but have no clue what it means or what to do with it. Everywhere I turned there was Christmas, but Christ had no part in it. I began to wonder what influence I have on people by the way I celebrate Christmas. Am I so wrapped up in my little traditions that I have left Christ out? Please pray for us here in Taiwan that in this season, we would be able not just to tell stories and sing fun songs with our kids, but that we would be able to introduce our students and friends to the Living Lord Jesus who makes Christmas truly Christmas.
Christina Furrow
Singchen, Hualien County
