June 28 is the last day of school for students. The new school year begins on Aug.30. Our school teachers prepared lessons together and had meetings on July 1, Aug.27 and 28.
Felix joined the school baseball camp from July 1 to July 5, 1:30 pm-4:00 pm. Both of my boys had choir practice from July 1 to July 5, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm and July 28, 1:30-3:30 and performed at Central Motion Picture Corporation on July 29. The teachers and parents elected me as the representative of Small Waterdrop Choir parent association on July 5. I had no inclination to do it, I took it though. It starts in Sep.
I tried to find an in home piano teacher for my sons this summer. Felix's present piano teacher is too busy to come, so we need to go to her studio in downtown Taipei from Aug.29 until National Student Competition of Music in November or until next winter break.
My sons and I spent altogether 3 weeks traveling back and forth between Taipei and Kaohsiung during this summer vacation.
I tried to find an in home piano teacher for my sons this summer. Felix's present piano teacher is too busy to come, so we need to go to her studio in downtown Taipei from Aug.29 until National Student Competition of Music in November or until next winter break.
My sons and I spent altogether 3 weeks traveling back and forth between Taipei and Kaohsiung during this summer vacation.
My boys, niece and her piano teacher's 10 year old son joined 4 day Orgelkids camp & concert in Pingtung from July 10 to July 13. The teachers are from Taiwan, USA and Austria. Before we left for the south, my sons had violin and cello lessons. We stayed at Kung Shang Hotel ($582 with Hotels.com Rewards, breakfast buffet) for one night and at my aunts' places in Kaohsiung for 6 nights.
free afternoon tea
My 13 year old nephew from my cousin came stay with us for 5 days when my husband attended a physics workshop and stayed in Taichung for 4 days, and then I took my sons and nephew back to Kaohsiung by train. His parents divorced and he lives with his grandmother. He experienced different way of life during his stay with us. We watched The Intouchables at home, went to see The Lion King at Showtime, visited a piano teacher Lucida by bus and had an English conversation lesson, two of my piano students came with food souvenirs from Malaysia and Regis had a violin lesson.
The river tracing trip with Fun Outdoor in Pingtung on July 21 was canceled due to rain. My husband went back home from Taichung. My sons and I had a joyful time with my sister's family for one week. We visited Joy Plaza twice in a week! Our first visit was with my husband on July 14. I like the green and bright design full of books. Kids took 3 day private swimming lessons every other day. $1200/hr for 4 kids, $800 for 2.
After coming back from Kaohsiung, my boys performed 3 songs with Small Waterdrop Choir on July 28 and 29 and took 10 day swimming class again at Shulin Civil Sports Center. I love to watch kids swim, especially swim on back, which looks so relaxing. I wish I could do it.
Believe it or not, I'm a kinda temporary single mom. When my husband asked to visit his parents for a weekend, I euphemistically refused to go with him. I said "It isn't convenient to stay outside on my period." He took our sons back to his hometown by train in the end on Aug. 3. I enjoyed being single for a weekend~ reply a letter to Yoko, edit blog and YouTube videos, practice piano accompaniment for Regis, watch movies and do housework.
Regis's played the violin since March 2018. He needs a bigger violin. We bought a Maple Leaf 106, 1/2 size for $5500 this month.
Two weeks later, we visited Kaohsiung again! This time we stayed at my parents' in Taichung for two nights and then spent 5 days with my sister's family and my sons took 2 day private swimming lessons on rainy days.
My junior high classmate and I had a birthday celebration for her daughter and Regis at Little Ding Dong Science Theme Park ($250 per discount ticket) on Aug.19.
My sons and I visited a young pianist Yang Tsao on Aug.24. He gave them a free trial lesson. Felix played Bach Invention in B-flat Major, BWV 785 and Mozart Variation "Ah,
vous dirai-je, Maman" KV265. Regis played Bach invention and Kabalevsky Sonatina in C major Op.13 No.1 Allegro. We really enjoyed and learned a lot from his lesson! The only consideration is the tuition $1500/hr. I bet my husband cares about this expense.
We went hiking at Manyueyuan the next day. Before going back to work, we had lunch at Bon
appetit Buffet on Aug.26. Food was fair.
