AHHHHH! How many hours have I wasted trying to get those pictures onto my blog instead of getting ready for my trip? Too many! Now I have less than 2 hours before I have to catch the bus to the airport, and I'm giving up. I'll just have to describe it better to make up for the lack of images. I'll figure out what the problem with the program is when I come back from my trip.

Okay, so Friday night was our Company's Year End Party. Supposed to be a big deal, a 'mandatory' event for us, dress code in effect. I was excited about it at first, but I was quite sick on Friday night, and didn't relish getting out of bed. However, I made it, wearing my favorite pink / purple dress I bought in England. (I realized I have worn the same dress and shoes for the past four occasions I had to get dressed up for: "Romeo and Juliet" at Stratford-upon-Avon, England, "Rigoletto" in Indianapolis, Graduation at Huntington, and then this Company Party. I think since each event was with different people it's okay to rewear the dress, right?)

The food was okay, the speeches were nice. But the real highlight of the evening was the prizes. I did not understand the extent until I got there. They had 25 prizes for the 25 full-time employees, and then they drew names to see who got what prize. In the first round, I won a $1000NT ($40 CND) Starbucks gift card, which is exactly what I was hoping to win, because I would use it much more than an appliance or a thermos, which was what most of the other foreign teacher's won. We all wanted the first prize, a mini-Ipod, until our boss came over and said we would have to give it back if we won it, and then we were all aiming for the second prize!

Anyway, after round one of prizes, and more speeches and games (one which my name was drawn to play - but I won't relive it, it was embarassing, I lost, because they would say the instructions in Chinese, my competitior would run off to do it, and I would have to wait for them to translate it into English for me. Oh well, I was a good sport about running around and looking foolish - trying to gather 10 watches, three business cards, etc). The second round of prizes came up, this one was mostly Hung Bo, or red envelopes of lucky money. I've never before understood the joy of this concept, until I was sitting in the room on the edge of my seat waiting for them to draw my name. This time there were only a few, so not everyone would get an envelope. They kept calling names, and I kept hoping. I felt for sure it would be one of those times when you keep hoping and hoping, and then the last name is called and you get nothing! But this time, I kept hoping, and hoping, and then the last and biggest envelope's name was called: "Car..ole?" He-He!! I won! I was excited, and excepted my envelope from the President of our Company and the CEO of Singapore Airlines. And I didn't have to give it back.

Now, in our culture, it would be impolite to look at how much was in the envelope right away, but I think Taiwanese culture is different - everyone at the table was asking me "How much is it?" So I checked: $8000 NT, or about $325 CND! I was so excited. Carolyn asking "You've won $8000 dollars, what are you going to do?" The correct answer being "I'm going to Singapore!" Don't worry, I'm not going to blow it in Singapore - most of it will go in the bank. But I might just buy a little something special in Singapore. Overall the night was exciting, but I didn't like the lottery prize system. I felt guilty that Carolyn only got a $1000 gift certificate and a rice cooker. (Although out of everyone she was probably the only person that would squeal when they learned they won a rice cooker - she has a very strong domestic / cooking side). I think that year end rewards would be better handed out fairly based on salary and performance or something, but maybe that's just my Canadian mindset at work. And who am I to complain, I came away the winner!

So I leave for Singapore and Malaysia in 2 hours. I'm feeling a little better, although not all better. I'm excited about the trip, and everything is planned within an inch of perfection, so it should be a nice relaxing time. That's my secret to travel, plan, plan, plan beforehand (when planning is a fun way of thinking about your trip to come), and then when you're abroad, you can enjoy every moment without any stress or confusion.

Let's see if it works for me. I'll be back on the evening of February 11th, and will do my best to get photos online!

Happy Chinese New Year to you all!