Last Wednesday, we were introduced to our host families. Families sign up for the job, with the desire to share their culture and their lifestyle to the ETAs through the year. Often, from what I have heard, they invite us to holiday events, family events, etc. My family is great: it consists of two teachers, both originally from Aboriginal villages, and their six-year-old son, Cliff. Not only was I invited to a beach volleyball tournament and picnic to celebrate the Moon Festival (more about that in a later post) on Monday, I was also asked to attend a wedding party on Friday night. Having been to few weddings in my life, and certainly none here, I immediately agreed.

We arrived at the hotel at 6, but the party didn't start until close to 7 when the bride and groom arrived. It was explained that the actual ceremony takes place earlier in the day at the homes of the bride and groom, so this was just for celebrating. Apparently, the groom and his family pay for the wedding, so all of his friends and guests are invited to the wedding party. The bride and her family are in charge of the engagement party, so that's when all of her guests come. Usually the engagement party is before the wedding party, but on occasion, the two are combined, so both friends of the bride AND groom attend the same celebration.

There were tons of dishes. Many of them were significant for various reasons, and it was great sitting with my host mother who spoke English and who could explain what the dishes were for. The bride and groom came around and took shots of alcohol as people toasted them. There was also some official from Yilan there- someone told me that before election time, all the candidates go to all the weddings around Taiwan to try and drum up more votes.

No dancing at weddings here. But Kendra (my host mom) told me that in Aboriginal weddings (like hers) they set up karaoke so people can come up and sing to the bride and groom. The bride had 3 different dresses (two of them are pictured below) and after she changed into the third one, it signaled to the guests that the party was over. We all got gift bags containing soy milk (still haven't figured that one out yet...), and left, after taking candy from the bride to symbolize the hope that they have a good marriage and give birth soon.

One of the many, amazing dishes. Seriously, the plates kept coming.

This was a sweet soup with red bean, rice dumplings, pineapple and other little pieces of fruit. You eat it with the hopes of giving birth to a son.

Both the bride and groom are teachers at my host mom's school.


The double happiness symbol. Each half of the character is "hsi" which means happiness. This character is "shuang-hsi" which means "double happiness" and is used exclusively for weddings to depict marital happiness.


All of us with the bride (in her 3rd and last dress) and groom. That's my host mom, Kendra, in the front right with the pink shirt on. (Mom- I know you can't really see, but I'm wearing the shawl you made me!)