Happy Chinese New Year!

Marshall,
Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year. Last year was the year of the pig, and this year is the year of the rat. I haven't seen any rats, though, so that's good.
Sorry it has been so long since I've written. I miss you VERY MUCH, but am really glad I had the chance to be with you at Christmas. That was fun.
I just visited some friends in the southern part of Taiwan. Here is a picture of me with Missy and her kids Ethan & Andrea. You can see a giant tiger and a giant dragon in the background.
Love you!
M

Silly King

Marshall,
This afternoon, I got to dress up like a silly king and climb up onto a roof. It was kind of scary because it was so high. But it was fun. Some of my students from last year are doing a project and I'm one of their "actors". I have to dress up in crazy clothes and wear a strange crown.
Anyway, here's a picture of a Silly King on a roof.
I love you very much!
And miss you,
Uncle Mut

Christmas is coming!

Marshall,
The other night, I was able to hang out at one of the dorms where some of my students live. The dorm-parents were going out, and so they needed someone to be in charge in case there were problems. It's kind of like when I take care of you and Stewart if your Mom and Dad can't be around.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and they had a Christmas tree up. Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? I think Pa Tom and Nana Jan put a Christmas tree up recently.
So here is a picture of my friend Semantha and a cool Christmas tree.
I love you VERY MUCH! And miss you.
Uncle Mut

Turkey Day

Marshall,
I didn't take this picture; I found it on the internet. But it's cool anyway, isn't it? Turkeys are funny looking. The good news is that they taste really scrumptous, especially with mashed potatoes. Do you think turkeys are friends with potatoes? Maybe that's why they taste so good together.
Parsnips are the enemies of turkeys and potatoes, I think. Pa Tom told me that you guys were talking about parsnips. Pa Tom doesn't like Parsnips AT ALL!
Happy Thanksgiving to you! I will call you later.
Uncle Mut

Learning to Save Lives

Marshall,
I learned something really cool yesterday! I went to a class called "CPR/First Aid" where I learned different things to do when someone is not breathing. So if anything bad happens, I'll know more and have a better chance of helping. It was interesting.
This picture is of the "dummy" that I had to practice my techniques on. I would press on its chest 30 times, and then breathe two "rescue breaths" into its mouth. It was hard work, actually.
Hey, can you do me a BIG favor? Can you give Stewart a big hug and tell him it is from Uncle Mut? Thanks. Then give Nigel a small gentle hug, too, OK? Thanks.
I miss you guys.
Love,
Uncle Mut

3 New Friends

Marshall,
I went to something called "Junior Carnival" the other night. The 11th graders make a festival of games for little kids, and there are lots of fun games. I was in the "Sponge Throw Booth", where people could throw sponges at my face. It was fun!
This is a picture of three of my new friends. There's Victor, and Vicky, and Claire. Actually, Vicky isn't in this picture, but the girl in the middle didn't tell me her name. She was shy. And Vicky was off playing a game somewhere when I took this picture.
You would have liked them!
You can also see my other friend Walter behind them. I taught Walter last year. He's a really good basketball player!
Guess what? That's right!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!! You're so good at guessing that!
Love you,
Uncle Mut

10 to 7

Marshall,
I went to a baseball game the other night! The United States of America was playing against Taiwan, and it was a really close game. It was 1-1, then it was 3-3, then it was 6-6, then it was 10-6, and finally it was 10-7. The United States won, but it was really close. Taiwan (they call their team "Chinese Taipei") almost came back to tie it at the end.
Do you remember the baseball game we went to this summer with Kaori and Uncle Dave and Amy? Well, this game was much more exciting and it was very loud. The people were VERY proud of their team. There were a few of us who were Americans, and we were proud of our team, too.
Love you!
Uncle Mut