Celebrating 2013 in Taiwan

This year I celebrated the new year with my host family completely differently from any other New Years in my life before.

It actually isn’t a ‘real’ holiday here in Taiwan as it is compared to the West (I’d say). Let me tell you about my evening and explain….

Around 9 pm my host family and I were invited to Stone’s sister. Little Stone cooked goat hotpot, a Chinese traditional feast.

It was a gathering of some of Little Stone’s friends and my host family in her apartment. When I entered the apartment and joined the gathering with my family, some people were very surprised so see me (a foreigner) there. I sat down and everyone seemed really curious to hear about my story.

– What am I doing in Taiwan?

– Where do I come from?

– What do I study?

– What am I doing here?

Haha, I enjoy answering all of the questions! Some moments can be described as awkward, some others were very funny and interesting. One friend of the family lived in Dresden for several years and we were able to speak about Germany. Other’s had never visited Europe or America. But everyone was very hospitable and tried to include me in their conversations and offer me food.

However, when one friend of the family explained to me that this night was a special night in Taiwan because it’s Chinese New Years Eve night, I giggled. He explained that it is celebrated with fireworks in the centre of Taipei and I should go and look at them. (But to be honest, I have heard of the Taipei New Year’s Fireworks before I ever knew I was coming to Taipei).

The goat was cooking in a large pot in the middle of the table. Little bowls with leek, fish balls, mushrooms, noodles, pig blood, tofu and squid were spread on the table so that you can take what you like and add it to the boiling pot. When it is cooked you pick it out with your chopsticks and put it in your bowl. The goat was very tender, the pot kind of spicy.

After the feast we all cleaned up together and prepared the ‘after meal’. Different kinds of nuts were placed on the smaller table in the couch area. We were talking and laughing, people were on their phone’s and had tea or beer. After the atmosphere had become more comfortable Little Stone’s friends weren’t too afraid to ask me for a picture and I let them patiently take pictures with me :).

Then suddenly everyone got up and got out their instruments and started playing Christmas songs. It was very amusing!

Later that night we watched the Taipei 101 firework in the City Centre. You could tell, that New Year is not a deeply rooted Chinese tradition. The firework was amazing, but only a few minutes long. I was definitely surprised when it just finished and people that had traveled for hours got up and left. But as the whole holiday, the firework was different from the ones I have experienced, too. It was short and sweet.

After the firework, we decided to go to a concert right next to the Taipei 101. It was only a mere 10 minute walk and we found ourselves in the overcrowded centre of Taipei, however, it was very well organized and people were really friendly. A famous Taiwanese singer named A-mei was singing on stage, obviously it was sponsored by HTC, which was cool, I thought. A-mei has an amazing voice and everyone sang along to her, couples hugged and kids danced. Everyone was really happy and it was nice to be there with my family. Even though I have to admit, I didn’t really get the ‘New Year’s’ vibe. Nobody was shouting ‘Happy New Year’, no excessive drinking and singing or loud countdown. This year was nice and different. Here I will insert the full video of the fireworks and a video of A-mei. She sings in Chinese (melody sounds kind of familiar ;)). But you should listen to it, she’s very different from Hong Kong or Western Artist.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxMsiZnEbr8]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S28CUTy1600]

My host family and Little Stone’s family and I in front of the Taipei 101 right after the fireworks.

I hope you liked my post and enjoyed the pictures. Much love and HAPPY NEW YEAR from Taipei!